SXSW Virgin

I'm sure that it must be hard to believe but I am a SXSW Virgin. Here are my main questions for now:
- How do I keep track of all of the parties?
- Do you need invites?
- Where should I eat?
- What are good cafes to chillout in?
- Do I need to rent a car?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rusty Hodge on January 23, 2008 at 11:42am: Definitely bring a pair of shoes that is good in wet conditions, and an umbrella. It will likely rain during the daytime (hot rain). Thanks for reminding me Ted, I may have forgotten the rain!!! (And got soaked last year until Merin found me an umbrella at a gift store).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith on January 23, 2008 at 11:46am: Just FYI - Hoek's has moved! It was closed when I was there for ACL, and thank goodness they're not gone for good. Some of the best late night pizza ever. Long live heavy metal pizza!

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/448326; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rachel Masters on January 23, 2008 at 12:08pm: Hey Ted! What do you keep a spreadsheet of?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by cubikmusik.com on February 9, 2008 at 6:04pm: I use a spreadsheet to keep track of what shows, parties are on, where and what times.
Maybe its the project manager in my but I try and have it organized by 1/2 hour-1 hour intervals.
Also, if you have one show/party that you can't get into you then check your spreadsheet and see what else you can try and get to.
Its not possible to see everything and its probably unlikely you'll see everything on your list but with more info. organized the easier it is.
Lastly-you'll pick up tips of other shows throughout the day(s) so having a piece of paper to keep track of it is handy.

Hope that helps. :)
C; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by EWKrause on February 26, 2009 at 11:42pm: As opposed to using SXSW Sched app? I'm just starting to play with it, but it seems pretty functional.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ewan Spence on January 23, 2008 at 12:07pm: You don;t keep track, but Twitter helps...
Invites, sometimes, or just bat eyelids...
Have a good breakfast, grab some health bars (Cliff bars are wonderful) and snack on them all day.
Eating is optional, but if you;re doing any of the film events, the Drafthouse cinemas are veritable smorgsasborads at great prices.
Chill out? Just sit down wherever you are and put upa sign!
No. A taxi in the mornign if you're more than a block away,but otherwise just good shoes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keely on January 25, 2008 at 4:56pm: i also really found that it helped to be on dodgeball and change my city to austin. that way, i wasn't littering up twitter with messages that folks back home had to wade through. also, dodgeball (as you know) gives the bar address where you are.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by michael on January 23, 2008 at 1:40pm: don't eat at the free myspace hot dog truck no matter what.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by corey denis on January 23, 2008 at 2:59pm: awesome bus schedule link; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shani on January 23, 2008 at 2:32pm: No need to rent a car. Regardless of where you're staying, Austin has a great public transit system. Here's a link the bus schedules and maps: http://www.capmetro.org/riding/schedulesandmaps.asp. They're cheap and if you have a student ID, they're free.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Shani on January 23, 2008 at 4:52pm: that might work ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aubs on January 23, 2008 at 6:13pm: WOW - some of y'all definitely have prepared for this much better than I have in the past. That said, it's my 4th year, and I've managed to make it through all 10 days without too much outside effort. A few things that I also agree with:
- Water: If you can get a case to keep in your room (kitchen or not) it's worth it.
- Emergen-C and Airborne (or any Vitamin C): Take religiously
- Nap WHENEVER YOU CAN. There are times when your body will be needing one and it may be worth skipping a panel (or two) if possible...Interactive tends to run VERY late in the evening (moreso even than Music) so listen to your body.
- Don't forget to eat. I know that sounds silly, but I had given up cheese last year for Lent, and let me tell you, finding food in between a panel or show proved to be hard. Pack some Zone or Odwalla bars (or even some of those breakfast cereal bars) - I ended up losing 5 lbs in 10 days w/o trying. (NOT HEALTHY)
- Comfy shoes are a MUST. I also stopped at a drugstore and got some insoles for a low pair of heels...my feet were killing me by day 3. Rainbow flip flops did me well too.
- Extra hair rubber bands. You'll use 'em, it gets HOT in the sun.
- Pedi-cabs are the way to go for music...quicker than walking and worth the $$ if you're trying to get from one side of the city to the other in 10 mins.
- Extra earplugs. Hear-os are awesome and the waterproof ones work pretty well too.

I think those are the main things. Don't stress too much - there's always a drugstore w/in walking distance, and just be flexible: some of the best bands I saw I hadn't heard of or planned on going to, as I just tagged along with friends, new & old. You'll have a blast, guaranteed.; ▶ Reply to This