The season of South by Southwest (SXSW) is almost upon us. SXSW is one of the best and worst times to be an Austinite. It’s a time when Austin is flooded with thousands of out-of-town hipsters, overrun by fixies, and Sixth Street becomes even more obnoxious. But with all of the bad, comes a lot of good: movie premieres, big-name as well as up-and-coming bands, a ton of celebrities who host some awesome parties, and the launch of new technologies (think Twitter).
SXSW 2013 will mark my sixth since I’ve moved to Austin (although, one year I decided it was too much and fled the country for the Netherlands). I’m certainly not an old pro, but I’ve been around the block and have attended my fair share of SXSW-related events and what to share some tips on how to not only enjoy, but survive the music portion of SXSW.
Don’t bother with a wristband or badge. This may not seem like the best route to go, but I haven’t once bought either; it’s not worth the expense to me given all the free things happening. Free shows. RSVP for everything! Even if you aren’t sure you want to go or that you’ll have time to make it, RSVP anyway. I’ve seen bands like Of Monsters and Men, Yacht, St. Lucia (I’m actually in this video!), The Decemberists, and Mumford & Sons for free. I also saw Elijah Wood dj at a magazine launch party. Free food. Lots of venues draw you in with the promise of free eats. Last year I was lured into a place for free pancakes. Free pancakes + free (decent) music on a rooftop deck on Sixth Street, can’t beat it. Also, every year Rachael Ray has a big to-do with free food, bands, and more. Free drinks. Lots of places will offer free drinks as well. Last year, the Spotify house had free drinks, snacks, bands playing acoustic sets, and a photo booth! Free swag. This is a big one. I’ve scored sunglasses, tote bags, tshirts, posters, buttons, stickers, CDs, energy drinks, Vitamin Water and more. And you don’t even necessarily have to go anywhere. You can score this stuff just walking on the street.
Find a good place to stay. If you have awesome friends who live in Austin (ahem, me!), stay with them! Otherwise, stay downtown or as close to downtown as possible. Hotels are at a premium, so check out Craigslist, Airbnb, Roomorama, and other similar sources to find cheaper accommodations. It’s also a good opportunity to try couchsurfing and meet some locals.
Eat delicious food. Austin’s known for its food trailer culture, and it’s a pretty easy, delicious, and inexpensive way to eat. Food Trailers Austin is a good site for finding trailers by location or food type.
Walk, bike, or train. The best ways to get around are by foot, bike, or train. Taxis and buses are second best, but still pose issues with regards to getting stuck in traffic (and the expense of taking taxis can add up). Driving is the worst. Not only do you have to contend with traffic, but then you have to find parking–free/cheap if you’re parking pretty far from a venue and hoofing it the rest of the way; or very expensive if you’re parking close and there’s any availability. If you’re carpooling, it might make it worth it; otherwise, I’d avoid driving at all costs. (Especially if you stress out as much as I do in traffic/crowds.)
Connect on Twitter. Twitter is a great place to find out about last-minute happenings. Follow bands you like, venues around town, the official SWSW Twitter account, or just check out the hashtags. There’s nothing worse than finding out about something you really wanted to see until it’s too late.
Use Showlist Austin and Do512 in addition to the official SXSW website. Showlist Austin is by far my favorite music-related site for Austin (I use it all the time, in fact, not just when SXSW is in town). It lists every band playing every day, where and what time they’re playing, how much it costs, and if it’s RSVP-only (with a link to the RSVP site). Oftentimes, bands are playing a bunch of unofficial shows in addition to their SXSW showcase.
Note about RSVPs: It doesn’t guarantee your entrance to a show, but neither does a badge or wristband for that matter. It’ll at least get you towards the front of the line ahead of all those who have nothing.
Make a schedule. Create a spreadsheet (or add it to your phone calendar) with the date, time, venue, address, band, cost, and RSVP info. Be sure to also have digital or printed copies of your RSVP information. Some people ask for it, others don’t.
Throw your schedule out the window. Contradictory much? One of the best parts of SXSW is just meandering around and stumbling upon something awesome. You don’t really have the time to do just that if your schedule is jam-packed. So allow some free time! It’s a great way to discover new bands, relax on the lawn while soaking up some sun, or meet some new people.
Bring your chargers. It might seem like added bulk, but it’ll be worth it. If you’re a social media nut–constantly tweeting, checking in on Facebook or Foursquare, Instagramming, etc. you’ll need all the power you can get. If you need to juice up, head to the Convention Center where you should be able to find plenty of plugs (if others aren’t already using them). Another note about phone usage: with thousands of extra people in town, sometimes the cell networks leave a lot to be desired. You can’t always access your social media outlets, or get to your RSVP information, so take screenshots/save them as photos if you can.
Remember the basics. You know, eat, hydrate, wear decent footwear, don’t get too wasted, get some rest, wear sunscreen, dress comfortably, try not to get arrested, and all those other good things your mama taught you.
