When I started the draft for this entry, I listed 5 things I felt were important to get the most out of SXSW - you know the most bang for the best buck. But after my experiences the list changed a bit.
#5 Badge - unless you are doing the film or interactive portion - or you are in the industry - you really don't need a badge. Especially if you are only there for the music - which was everywhere and 98% free.
#4 Money - I got by on next to nothing - and there was soooooo much free stuff ( food, drinks, clothing) - but then of course I live here.
#3 Smart Phone - which I don't have - this should really be #1 - I could have scored so much more free if I had a decent phone ( May 1st pholks! and I may throw myself a party) and it's so much easier to keep to keep track of what's going on
#2 Friends - yeah it would have been a bit more fun with a group or people to hook up with
#1 Plan - maybe move this to #2 - but you need at least an idea - make a plan and be prepared to break it several times - always for the better
SXSW Interactive experience
I somewhat wish I had umm... balls - been a bit more daring and actually tried to get into some of the talks that were going on. Maybe next year.
IgniteAustin Event - robots, steampunk, learned how to pick locks, 3D printing, missed the free ice cream though. Space Squid , a giant brain, music, 16 speakers and a nacho bar, egg drop competition,
Free entry to after party and 2 drink tickets. Dogwood ( ok) Molotov ( will go back)
I discovered a week after the event that I had at one point been standing next to Michael Dell and didn't realize it. - I have a photo as proof ( I don't know who took the photo - it was tweeted from Ignite a few days ago - so props to the photographer)
SXSW Music
Ice Cream Man party at Club Deville. Several good bands including one man lynrd skynrd - 2 free ben & jerry's - Free Blackberry Spark - ( the nehi of malt beverages) and an accidental free beer - always helps to say " the guy at the other bar said the beers were free" - left early to hear Quiet Company - but as I am low tech I did not get cancellation tweet they were kind enough to send - damn! listened to some mellow musicians and left
Wed-Sat. So I had originally planned to list the all the bands and everything else day by day, but then the blog would pretty much have been one giant list. So I will summarize:
4 Days
7 Different venues
67 (give or take) different bands
60 (give or take) total hours
Free - 4 CD's., breakfast tacos, several beers and half a pizza.
I will say the highlights included: Fitz & the Tantrums ( freaking awesome!), Meat Puppets, Wanda Jackson ( covering Amy Winehouse!) and Emmy Lou Harris ( legend!).
Since I am a morning person, I started each day at KGSR's live morning broadcast at the Four Seasons. Up at 3 at the hotel and in line at 4. Saturday's didn't start til 8 so I actually got to sleep in til 5 - woot! Then I was off and running to the next venue. It was amazing.
I volunteered at Home Slice Pizza Thursday and Friday for a few hours - free pizza ( the best!) and beer folks - and of course good music. Cops getting more thorough on checking permits and we were "shut down" before we started. Well not really - most of the bands played acoustic, and we plugged 'em in around 4. Heard they will be even tougher next year
I have no regrets about the amount of sleep lost ( not that much really) or the 4 days spend chasing bands - when perhaps I should have been job hunting. Of course there is always the after the fact find outs - but there is no way to see or do it all and I am pretty happy with all I did - and of course there's always next year.
I am already counting down to ACL later this year.
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