Amy's Blog

I crossed an item off of my bucket list last week.  I attended South By Southwest in Austin, Texas for the very first time.  Not only was it my first time attending SXSW, it was also my very first trip to Austin.  There were so many great things about the week and my stay in Austin, that I’m seriously thinking about making it an annual trip!

Here is my SXSW Ten List

1. Be strategic – I spent an afternoon reading about SXSW online a couple of weeks before I left so that I would have a good idea for what to expect and which shows that I wanted to see.  I made a few notes on my iPhone note pad.  It would have been better had I written out each day with pen and paper and made some notes about what I wanted to see and do.  I don’t need to have every minute planned, but having a general idea for what to accomplish each day is much more productive and will help to make the most out of the visit. The time in Austin goes by FAST.  Along these same lines, I should have paid more attention to the genres of music and types of show cases instead of just scanning schedules for band names that sound “good” or that I half way recognize.  Had I done that, I may have discovered more new bands to start following afterward.

2. Bluegrass – Bluegrass is ALIVE and well, not just in ATX, but all over the country! I really enjoyed seeing many talented bluegrass bands!

3. Utilize Social Media – I’m on Twitter, but I could have done a better job at following bands and other SXSW info pages leading up to the trip.  It is also a great way to stay connected and informed during the festival.  In fact, I missed a band that I really wanted to see because I didn’t think to check Facebook for schedule updates for an outside showcase on a day that it poured!

4. Celebrity Sightings/Know Who People Are – Not every black guy wearing sunglasses and riding in a Range Rover or Escalade is a famous rapper.  Nick Lachey is a former member of 98 Degrees.  Did I know this when we were all at the Four Seasons having drinks?? NO.  I had to be a stalker and secretly snap a picture of him and text a friend to find out who he was.

5. Accommodations & Transportation –   My cousin was so sweet and nice enough to let me stay at her place during South By.  She’s moving away from Austin this summer, so I’ve been thinking about what I will do next year if I decide to go back.  From what I experienced, I think my best bet is to start saving my pennies and then watch the calendar and book a hotel downtown.  Yes, it is pricey, however, it is the most convenient and efficient way to experience South By for an out of towner.  I had a car (big mistake) so I wasted valuable time driving all over the city and waiting in traffic. I also spent money on gas and parking.  THERE IS NO REASON TO HAVE A CAR IN AUSTIN DURING SXSW!  Staying downtown saves money on gas and parking and time in traffic.  Some people utilize Uber, but there is a cost and you run the risk of getting caught in traffic.  I think to get the most out of my experience that I should plan to stay downtown.

6. Safety First – Don’t try to confront a guy after he hits you with his jeep and drives off leaving your arm bruised up.

7. Have an “In” – It is all about who you know.  Having an in with a band makes the experience that much better.  Or it can be something as small as making friends with a bartender or a cashier at Whole Foods.

8. Badges – Buying a badge is definitely not an essential to having a good time and seeing tons of bands. And sometimes I think it is more of a status symbol or fashion accessory.   However, I’m considering buying one just so that I have a chance to get into some of the official parties.  Maybe it will lead to more noteworthy celebrity sightings!

9. Remember – I took pictures and made notes of bands that I liked.  Next time I need to remember to pack a poncho.

10. Be On Time – I was really sad that I showed up 30 minutes late to a show and missed 90% of a band ‘s set.  I was really looking forward to seeing them and was super disappointed.