My friend, who admitted to having a good time, downplayed the importance of the event, saying I could achieve the same results without the expense of traveling to New York from Connecticut by having readings locally. Secondly, I'm not exactly sure how to answer your question. Anytime you meet a genuinely good actor, kiss their feet, hold onto them for dear life, whether they live in Connecticut or New York City. The best actors in the United States live in New York City, it is true, but that doesn't mean that every actor in New York City is great, or even good. Collect your community of actors wherever you can find them.
Audiences are similar.
New York City sometimes has great audiences but more often than not they're as provincial as any you might find elsewhere. Don't worry about audience, worry about collaborators. If you've been most pleased with actors you've worked with in New York City, by all means continue to come here and find them. I have been involved in many readings in the past and am looking to continue. A film producer saw a play of mine in London and gave me a screenplay deal.