Tips & Thoughts For Your Los Angeles Trip

• Flying into Los Angeles can be about as relaxing and enjoyable as wrestling a hungry grizzly bear, but the stress level evaporates by orders of magnitude if you can avoid flying into the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Burbank Airport (BUR) can get a bit overcrowded at times, but there are rarely long waits for luggage or treks of miles and miles to get from your gate to the exit.

• Long Beach’s airport is an even better experience (seriously, waiting for your ride to arrive there is a treat. If not for all the airplanes, it would make a great park), but it is a bit of a distance from LA. The drive into town will be aggravating if there is traffic, and you can take my word for it. There will be traffic. Oh, yes. There will be traffic. “But I’m flying in at midnight on a Tuesday,” I hear you cry. “Surely there won’t be any traffic then!” Fine. Do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you.

• If you own a GPS, bring it with you. If you don’t own one, but are renting a car for your trip, accept the rental place’s offer of a GPS. Particularly if it has the capability to use updated traffic maps or quickly calculate alternate routes. And no matter what the GPS or anybody else tells you, plan extra time if you must go through the 101/405 interchange.

• If you are looking for a chance to break into movies, there are many conferences and conventions to help you finish that script, learn how to direct, or network with those in the know. Some of them offer free classes, too, with no obligation. It’s a great way to learn what you are doing before typing FADE IN:.

• The Figueroa Hotel (939 S. Figueroa St.) suffers from its downtown location (nothing really happens downtown outside of Lakers games), but it has a beautiful lobby and pool area, appropriate for the many meetings you will be having, and a lot classier than the standard “meet me at Starbucks.” There are many less expensive options for lodging in the downtown area, so you can always just use the Figueroa for your meetings or to impress anybody who you might need to wow.

• Countless highlights await you in LA. The mahogany tradition of the Musso & Frank Grill, the hip healthier options of Wahoo’s Fish Taco, and the hundreds of gourmet food carts that have sprung up in recent years are all certified LA experiences.

• Want to get a glimpse of the gears behind movie magic? Volunteer to be an extra on an independent movie set. A casual perusal of Craig’s List will usually unearth plenty of opportunities to work long hours for free, but you can see the cameras, the acting, the directing, and all the other fun details. Plus, if the producers are smart, they will provide some good catering to offset the lack of a paycheck. (Hint: bring a book. And a crossword puzzle. And a smartphone with a couple dozen games on it. Lots of hurry up and wait).

• Make sure your cell phone has plenty of minutes and the bill is paid in full. There are no payphones to be found anywhere in town, and since everybody in the world started carrying cell phones, hotel phone rates are ridiculous.