SXSW 2010 – My Strategy
I got my official e-mail from SXSW a couple of days ago. It wasn’t an outright rejection, but it wasn’t very hopeful. The basic idea was “if someone drops out, we’ll give you a call. maybe. don’t hold your breath.”
To be honest, with no tours planned for 2010 (yet) I can see their point.
That said, I’m going anyway. 2008′s strategy worked pretty well (I didn’t go last year, due to the birth of my first kid) and I’m going to improve on it this year. Here’s how.
- (and if you’re coming this year, please e-mail me and let’s hang out.)
Rule #1 – No Wristband? No Problem
There is a TON of free stuff happening at SXSW. I don’t know if “the economy” is going to mess that up this year, but I didn’t have a wristband or an artist pass in 2008, either and I was fine. I went with no expectations and stumbled upon a brilliant plan….
Rule #2 – Flip Your Inner Clock
The trick is totally flipping your schedule where the day starts about 9pm.
Here’s a brief narrative:
9:00am – wake up from “nap” and greet the “evening”. See, most of the stuff happening from 10am-2pm is free, and also open to the public. (I saw the Weakerthans for free with about 100 people last time.) Free music, Free food & drinks. (this is “dinner”)
2:00pm – all the free stuff is done, but the evening stuff hasn’t started yet. This is prime “meeting”/networking time.
4:00pm – Time for bed. This is when I get my best sleep of the day. (Without a wristband, I can’t even get into the evening concerts anyway.)
10:00pm – Wake up refreshed. Venture out for food. (this is “breakfast”)
11:00pm – All the afterparties are starting. More free music, more free food & drinks (and networking)
4:00am – Everything shuts down again. Find a 24-hour food place. Eat “Lunch”.
5:00am – Sun’s coming up, I’m taking a quick nap from about 5-9
Rule #3 – RSVP for Everything
This is where I have dropped the ball in the past. I’m a terrible plan-ahead-er. Plus, it’s not always easy to find out about these parties. This year, I’m playing detective and finding out about (and RSVP’ing to) as many of these free parties as I possibly can. This, I do believe, will greatly enhance the experience. I’ve started the twitter account “@sxswRSVP” so if *you* hear of any good ones, do let me know, and I’ll share what I find.
Rule #4 – Pack a ‘pack
That food isn’t free all the time. Usually it’s only from 10am-2pm. So bring something to pack extra food & drinks into. When your friends are paying $6/slice of pizza, you can be all smug: “hmm… no, I’m good, guys. I think I’ll have some more free chipotle burritos. I took like nine of them.”
I think that’s all.
If you guys know of any of those “RSVP-required” free parties, let me know. I’ll see you there!
-Levi
Willy Says:
