Tip & Trick guide in 10 easy steps, #afterthebreak!
What I learned from SXSW
1) Download the official APP!
- It’s amazing. Simply amazing. Constantly being updated with changes, new additions, cancellations, etc. I used it for everything: Concert lineups, venues, day parties, night parties, speakers, directions, way points, etc. You can’t milk the most from the showcases without it. If this is your first time in Austin, it is the best tool to learn all about downtown.
- Update often & start marking all your favorites. Have a backup show just in case yours is sold out or packed.
- Doesn’t kill your battery either.
- Use this program for Venue Schedules. Might find something unexpected.
- The APP links to the online schedule. If you don’t have an android phone, the webpage is a great tool.
2) Do512 is your friend, lover, and all around best friend for the Official / Unofficial Parties.
- Bookmark this webpage — http://do512.com/
- When doing my research for Austin. I kept getting directed to the webpage, Do512, where over 100+ official/unofficial parties were being setup for the festival. I bought their pass to signup for everything automatically If this was my only SXSW, wanted to do it right and not have an excuse for missing a party. That’s why I paid for the small fee. Because, as you know, this is a party festival music and free booze. You can spend $30 and do the same or just go through the list & pick and choose. Most are free, without badges or wristbands. Just gotta sign up. If you are credentialed, most parties will let you in with or without a RSVP. They want the business.
- Their search engine highlights all SXSW artists with their schedule for day & night shows. If their is a particular artist you wanna see, use their filter and you can discover all their planned shows. Way better than the official app for artists.
- If you do sign up, then expect their brilliant daily festival newsletter that pinpoints you to all the various day shows and their recommendations. Every morning after my shower I would read their recommendations, plan my day, and notice all the things I missed.
- Almost every artist has a planned Day Show. Worth remembering when scheduling conflicts arise.
- These free, RSVP events, can and mostly are open to the public! Get their early to avoid the craziness.
3) WARNING: Unofficial parties do not find under the guidelines of SXSW Badges or Wristbands.
- One of the biggest disappointments of the whole festival was finding out that the coolest part of the festival was not open to credentialed members. Places like Fader Fort, Myspace Secret Shows, etc. are all only RSVP-first come first serve events. If your social media savvy, speedy, you will no problem gaining access to these events. I had a pass to Fader that I RSVP a week before the festival to get. The lineup wasn’t noteworthy and the venue was far from downtown. I missed Kid Cudi at Myspace because I was stuck in line at another show.
- These lines are long, and the events will be extremely packed. If you like that stuff, then enjoy. I’m not one of those people.
- Twitter is the greatest marketing tool for these event planners and they use it. If you don’t have a mobile app or account, I suggest you pick one up. While I waited in line, I followed along to see what new buzzworthy showcase was going to be announced. Search ‘#sxsw’ and they update frequent. If something happens, people will tweet about it. Makes the scavenger hunt new & exciting.
- The hunt programs don’t close until they say. Secret passes were revealed the day of show in case you missed it, but you have to get to the location fast. Had multiple opportunities to snag one. Just chose not too. I much rather jam pack my schedule with new & notable acts then waste most of my day parked on a Austin street corner. Just not fun. Don’t recommend it.
- Like catching a Big Fish…you sacrifice your day in pursuit of these buzzworthy – blogged/talked about showcases. Sure they make great stories to your friends.
- Luckily, Each SXSW venue has their own headliner that happen usually around 1am. Some are buzzworthy on their own right. Problem is, when there is so much goodness…you got to choose which one is better. That was one of my biggest issues.
4) If you Drive…best garage is on Brazos & 2nd street.
- If you can grab a hotel in the Downtown limits for a outrageous price, do it! Start saving your money now. You’ll thank me later. It will give you a base to recoup and re-energize in-between shows with quick overnight turnaround. I had to transport myself two & from the city every night…through bad traffic, crazy drunken crowds, and all the weirdness that came out at night.
- Next option is pick up a bike and ride into town. The locals do it. Equally great idea for quick exercise.
- The final option is driving. We did. From the outskirts. We picked up a hotel for $200 a night with car rental. Great deal. The only downside is riding into town early & staying until 2am. One road in, One out. That’s Texas for you.
- The Parking Garage mentioned above is only $10! Everyday. 10 Floors. Never closes. Two ins & outs. Close walking distance to all venues. Best find on our first day.
- Between 6pm & 7pm, everything gets quiet. Because we drove…we chose to chilled in the Hilton’s lobby and recovered before the night showcases. On Wednesday it was the only time I saw my teammates that whole day until we wrapped.
- You will hit traffics, possibly people around Viceland. It’s a crazy region to drive through at 2am.
5) Use the Convention Center as your main base of operations
- Talk about a welcomed surprise. ‘The Saloon of Austin’ or ‘Hall of Justice for Movie & Music Freaks’ really had everything prepped for all us electronically crippled wanderers. A home away from home. Cowboys & Cowgirls drinking from the electronic outlets, sleeping on floors, working away from home, eating, chatting, is a regular site within that compound. I even joined in on Thursday afternoon. Not far from the battleground of 6 street, the convention center is really the heart of the festival.
- One of the notable non-concert things I experienced here was the Flatstock 38 showcase which is the annual poster music poster convention featuring all the amazing unseen concert poster bill designers in one room. Selling all their iconic pieces of work. I grabbed a few — *cough* Kii Arens *cough* — which now hang on my wall. Always wanted to collect them, now I know how.
- There was also a Tech Showcase, didn’t spend so much time there.
- If you focus only on 6th street, you will miss out on all these great events & keynotes. Make time and go explore. If you get tired, stop and kick your feet up.
- This is the only reason why you buy the Music Badge Credential…even though they don’t check it.
6) Comfy shoes
- Need. Don’t leave home without them. With cushion. You’re gonna be on you feet for a VERY LONG time. Long days do take their told. Most venues have places to lean on, just not many seats. Those seats are hoarded by other concert goers. Do what you can. In the end, standing room only.
- One of the perks of getting to a venue early is pigeon holding a spot for the day. Walls are great. Luckily, no matter what show you see or whatever time you arrive…you can sneak a spot when the last band ends and the crowd of sober adults return to the bar. Push. Push. Push.
7) Murphy’s Law is Justin’s Law:
- Everything will start late. Remember, Patience is a virtue.
- Concerts are notorious for running late. This was one of the most painful experiences of the festival. Later the show, the longer the wait. A+ talent take their time. With all this music going on — back to back to back — delays are expected. Which is great if your other show was running late.
- Audio problems plague it all.
- If you want good spots, it’s best to plan your schedule according. Give your self some breathing room. Best time to arrive is right about the previous act finishes. That way when the bar crowd goes for another round when the music stops, you have perfect space to make a move to the front.
- If you’re not concerned about spots, then roughly 30 minutes before. Bigger shows do reach capacity quick, but I never had a problem.
8) Be a tourist…
- You’re in Austin. Cultured musical city of the mid-south with great southern history. To get the full experience check out the following — State Capitol, Congress Ave., Willie Nelson Statue, Paramount Theatre, The Driskell, Stevie Ray Vaughn Statue, and some BBQ places.
- You never know what you’ll see. Like, the pictures directly below.
9) …and have fun.
- You’re in for a musical journey lifetime. It’s the comic con for music freaks.
- If you love live shows, this is the mecca. If you’re an artist trying desperately to make a name for yourself or coming back after a long hiatus Austin is where you forge your name.
- You’ll hear of heaps of bands from Los Angeles, New York, From Across the Atlantic, but it’s the music that speaks for itself.
10) Austin is Weird.
- In the best way.
- You might find yourself lost and never want to return to where you call home. Like many of the citizens I met on my travels. The inner conflict start to swell three days in.
- Austin: the oasis in the desert that beckons visitors from all over the world.
- Promise to keep it weird. That’s the pact you take when you arrive for SXSW.
