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EDDIE LANDSBERG
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Are AIR BNBs OK to use for short term rentals?

First, mea culpa...  AirBNB is how I made the transition from South Jersey to Manhattan while looking for work. 

It was a great experience, not without a few stories to tell. 

The catch is that many AirBNBs in NYC are illegal.  For one, home rentals of less than 30 days are not permissible unless the owner is present.   In addition, NYC is in the middle of a crackdown that AirBNB in its defense has described as draconian and the City argues is necessary. 

Until recently, there was a general "everyone does it", "no one cares" and "the chances of getting caught are very low" attitude.  On the other hand, it was still worth considering hat you may be renting from people who are running illegal businesses in flagrant violation of their own leases and to the annoyance of their own neighbors.  The problem is that many of the hosts don't even live in the apartments and are neighbors with in and out backpackers who are arbitrarily being provided with the  keys and codes to the building.   (We had a problem with a suspected neighbor hosting in and out tenants, and even had one of the person's drunken guests banging on our window during the wee hours of the morning.

The situation gets even worse in the case of illegal "dorm" conversions. I once stayed at a  place where my bedroom consisted of a bed surrounded by a curtain in a dimly lit living room, and there was even a guest crashed out on the sofa.  (Needless to say, the place smelled like weed.)   To make things wore, I had no way of knowing what I was getting into until after I arrived. 

Then there are the ones whose hosts live in the apartment and decide to take on tenants, but don't want the neighborhoods to know  These are the ones that make you realize you're getting into something by sending you detailed streams of texts on how to access the property when you arrive.  It is very clear that they are pleading with you not to be auspicious and they expect you to do your part by doing things, for example by not letting people see you enter the building with lots of luggage.

But to be clear, not all AirBNBs are illegal, and some can offer wonderful experiences. 

Consider some of the advantages...
  • They offer hassle free booking
  • Unlike "message board" listings, you don't have to worry about sending money to a total stranger
  • You can put them on your credit card
  • You can cancel (with a small penalty) once you find a better place to live
  • They can be way cheaper than a hotel or signing an actually lease
  • Customer service is pretty good 

Then again, there are some downsides too...
  • They often look cheap when you see the daily rate, but then you find lot's of added on fees when you go to check out
  • You sometimes have to navigate between different AirBNBs for longer stays and there's no guarantee that housing will be available at a similar rate if you suddenly need to extend your stay (especially if you landed a great deal)
  • Screening an AIR BNB can be very difficult.   You communicate with the host online, and show up only to discover that the place consists of nothing more than a lock box and a bunch of security cameras

In the end, my advice is simple:   Weigh the options.   Of course, you can ask agents such as myself if they can help, buy be aware that it can the very difficult if not close to impossible to find CHEAP, furnished, short term summer rentals especially at the last moment.   

As you do this remember:   Never give information or wire money to a person that you have never met before.   (Read more about Real Estate Wire Scams here.) 

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​Eddie Landsberg, MA, Ed.M, B.Mus

An internationally respected music theorist and performer, Eddie was born and raised in Philadelphia and began classical piano training at the age of 5,  starting Jazz Studies at Philadelphia's famous Settlement Music School in his teens.  Switching to Hammond Organ in his mid 20's, he received his first organ lesson from the legendary Shirley Scott then studied Jazz composition and performance with Blue Note Recording artist Big John Patton.  He also received guidance from Austin Mitchell (a favorite accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald) and began performing alongside Byard Lancaster and other "old school" Philly and East Coast Jazz and R&B legends.  After recording several CDs which received national air play ( NPR, WBGO and hundreds of radio stations across in the U.S), Eddie became one of the original factory demonstrators for the original Nord Electro, touring Europe to promote their product.  Shortly after, he moved to Japan where he spent almost 20 years teaching, leading bandstands and running his own venue which was featured on NHK and in magazines throughout the country.  While there, he also did vocal and performance coaching for Victor Records, and was involved in promotions for Yamaha Motorcycles and the Mori Building (celebrating the opening of the famous Roppongi Hills Complex.)
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Eddie currently resides in Astoria, Queens and is creator of the "7 Secrets of Jazz and Soul" Jazz improv series.  


Education: BA in Music, Thomas Edison State University MA Liberal Studies (focus onEthnomusicology and Critical Jazz Studies), Rutgers University (Capstone with Honors) Ed.M, Rutgers University, specializing in Adult Education
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Recordings | Publications | Interviews 


エディ・ランズバーグ、MA、Ed.M、B.Mus
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エディ・ランズバーグは、国際的に尊敬される音楽理論家兼演奏家で、豊かで多様な音楽的背景を持っています。フィラデルフィアで生まれ育ち、彼はわずか5歳のときから音楽の道を歩み始め、クラシックピアノのトレーニングをスタートしました。ティーンエイジャーの頃、フィラデルフィアの名門セトルメント音楽学校でジャズスタディに没頭しました。そして20代半ばでハモンドオルガンに転身し、伝説的なシャーリー・スコットから初めての指導を受けました。その後、ブルーノート・レコーディング・アーティストであるビッグ・ジョン・パットンの指導のもと、ジャズの作曲と演奏の技術を磨きました。  エディの音楽的旅路は、エラ・フィッツジェラルドのお気に入りの伴奏者であるオースティン・ミッチェルなど、著名なアーティストからの貴重なアドバイスで彩られました。彼は「オールドスクール」のフィラデルフィアや東海岸のジャズとR&Bのレジェンド、バイヤード・ランカスターなどと共演し、音楽シーンに不朽の足跡を刻みました。 エディの創造的な旅は、全米で放送されるなど、高い評価を受けたCDの制作につながりました。彼はまた、革新的な楽器であるノードエレクトロのオリジナルファクトリーデモンストレーターの一人として、ヨーロッパツアーを行い、製品の宣伝に貢献しました。 その後、エディは日本への大きな転機を迎え、ほぼ20年にわたり教育者、バンドリーダー、独自の名門会場の経営者として活動しました。彼の仕事は、NHKでの出演や国内の多くの雑誌での取り上げられ、広く認知されました。この期間中、彼はビクターレコードのためにボーカルとパフォーマンスの指導を行い、ヤマハモーターサイクルと森ビルディング(有名な六本木ヒルズコンプレックスのオープニングを祝う)のプロモーションにも貢献しました。
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現在、エディ・ランズバーグはクイーンズのアストリアを拠点にし、「ジャズとソウルの7つの秘密」ジャズ即興シリーズのビジョナリーです。
学歴:
  • 音楽学士号(B.Mus)、トーマス・エジソン州立大学
  • 芸術修士号(MA)リベラルスタディ、ラトガーズ大学(エスノミュージコロジーとクリティカルジャズスタディに焦点、優等でキャップストーン)
  • 教育修士号(Ed.M)、ラトガーズ大学(大人の教育を専門とし、特別研究で優等)
エディの録音、出版物、インタビューを通じて、彼の驚異的な音楽の旅に深く没頭してください。

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The information on this site is presented as general information and for marketing purposes only and does not constitute  personal or professional advice.  Please refer to DISCLAIMER and Terms of Service.

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  • FRONT PAGE
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