a change of scene....

[HTH AMPS]

I've been thinking of upping sticks to another country for some time now, but the practicalities of this are of course a big obstacle.  There is the cost, plus I have no savings or job to go to.

Anyone done something like this before, or recently?

Downside is that I have a fairly decent business repairing/modding valve amps where I live now and would lose all of that and have to start again from scratch wherever I settled.

It just seems too pie-in-the-sky right now. 

Anyway, I'm just putting thoughts out there at the minute, not entirely sure what advice I'm looking for - problem shared I suppose.

 :?

[Nadz1lla]

I've got a dream that I'd love to make a reality at some point - I want to move to Canada. Although I know my job is quite high in the list of things they're looking for in people emigrating to Canada, I too have no savings and a whole bunch of debt. It sucks because a couple of years doing my job over there where they pay the correct salary (not like here where we are underpaid to the tune of several thousand pounds) will clear my debts completely and I'd be actually quite well off considering the lower (in general) cost of living.

So I'm in the same boat, mate. Want to do it but really impractical at the mo. But I have the added down-side that they won't take me with my debts.  >_<

[_tom_]

I tried it and failed to find work in Canada :( Best thing to do is to just stop umming and ah-ing and just go for it. I was thinking about it for ages and thought I'd never do it, but in the end booked my plane ticket and the rest happened! Was only there for about 3 months but was still the best summer of my life.. I'm hoping when I get more experience in my current job field I can start to look into going out again and staying for longer as I loved it there!

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I have a mate who went to Canada and got a job within a month...he was thinking about it for years and years and he now never wants to come back and can't say I blame him. He was lucky enough to have someone keep him under their roof for a few months which obviously helped a lot but I'd say go for it. I understand it's a big decision but I hardly know anyone who isn't in debt, you could just go for a holiday first and see if you like it

[HTH AMPS]

Canada is definitely appealing with their healthcare system much like the NHS - I would need that with the arthritis drugs I take otherwise it'd cost me a small fortune through private healthcare. 

I reckon it's something I'll think on more seriously once I have some savings (and no debts).

[Alex]

I have worked and lived in three different countries - Germany, USA and now UK. It is a major change and there are so many problems attached to it that you really need to work out the long-term perspective. Even if you manage to sort out half of them in advance, from my experience just as many will pop up that you haven't thought about. It is very difficult, and you will need significant savings.
Are you looking at Canada? Seriously... so many nicer countries in the world than that cold place. If you want cold, you can go to Sweden. Great health care, lots of rock/metal interest, very civilized and in the European Union, so everything legal is sooo much easier. Plus they speak English very well.

[hunter]

I have worked abroad for years. Got all paid by the company that got me over, but going all alone?

Maybe you should seek work for one of the up and coming builders in the US, like Dave Friedman in LA. Now that would be quite something! You would meet all the big guns in the guitar scene.

[_tom_]

Seriously... so many nicer countries in the world than that cold place.

Dunno about you but to me this is heaven!

[HTH AMPS]

I have worked abroad for years. Got all paid by the company that got me over, but going all alone?

Maybe you should seek work for one of the up and coming builders in the US, like Dave Friedman in LA. Now that would be quite something! You would meet all the big guns in the guitar scene.

I haven't asked Dave yet, but I've asked a few of the others that I know - just not the cash in it for someone to take the risk of flying me over to the US (much as I'd do that in a heartbeat).  I've also asked PRS and was talking to Peavey for about a year, but it all went tits up in the end.  Cornford said it was great me doing the custom one-offs, but they had no requirement for anyone doing that.  I've also known Jeff at Matamp for the best part of ten years, but that would never work out.

The thing with Dave Friedman is that our amps are along the same lines, so theres not much we'd bring the the table that the other doesn't already know and he already works with the guy from Metroamps anyway.  Not that I'd turn down an offer to work with him. 

I've also known Trace at Voodoo Amps for a long time, but again, I don't think he really has the need for someone to design amps and one off's with him - Trace is a killer custom-amp tech himself.

Peavey were quite unique in their Custom Shop with one-offs, but it looks like the economy killed off that idea that I was possibly going to be part of.

[Alex]

Are there no Europen companies? I really should stress that if you don't have an American passport many companies will not hire you because of the bureaucracy, and might just give another reason. The rules have gotten tougher and tougher. We were talking about this at work (I work at a UK university) how we can't get internships for British students in the US on their year abroad anymore, because of the visa problems (student visas in the US work differently, you don't get a right to work quite often, apparently, unlike the UK).

So when they tell you "no demand, bad economy", in reality it might be that the real reason is "would need a work permission". If you were an American just living down the road they would probably give you a chance for a few months to see how it goes.