Folks miss out on why major cultural centers attract people. In history it was because of the opportunities from ports and trade, today its still pretty much the same. Pittsburgh is not currently an airline hub for any airline. Meaning if you want to go anywhere other than Philadelphia you need a connection. Its also not adequately driveable or train distance from any city worth going to - Cleveland is your only neighbor, and getting to Philly from Pittsburgh is considerably more painful than Los Angeles to San Francisco (have done both runs routinely I would take the 5 through the central valley over the turnpike in winter anyday). Its also not a city that anyone passes through on a regular basis without making it the destination.
I can take a meeting with even international clients in NYC without ever leaving. They come here. If you're in art, yes you want to go where you can live cheap, but if you want to make a splash you need to be somewhere where there is sufficient disposable income and a big enough transient population to support viral awareness of your art. Pittsburgh doesn't have enough of those things. I think Pittsburgh is a wonderful city, filled with great parks, cheap beer and good folks. But I haven't visited there in years and there is a reason why
I can take a meeting with even international clients in NYC without ever leaving. They come here. If you're in art, yes you want to go where you can live cheap, but if you want to make a splash you need to be somewhere where there is sufficient disposable income and a big enough transient population to support viral awareness of your art. Pittsburgh doesn't have enough of those things. I think Pittsburgh is a wonderful city, filled with great parks, cheap beer and good folks. But I haven't visited there in years and there is a reason why