Elbows Music Blog Community

worth going: a qualified yes.  depends on your patience for massive lineups, crowds, last-minute changes, not getting into what you want to see and general chaos. But there's nothing else like it.  That said, I've gone six years running and even now, seven is not for certain.



whole week: if you're only interested in music, then arriving Tuesday and leaving Sunday will do you. But staying an extra day for the Sunday is nice if you can swing it - you avoid the insanity at the airport and Austin is back to its lovely chilled out self.



how many times: depends - usually as many as they can.  On average, if they've got some buzz and are in demand, you're looking at anywhere from 5-10 shows over the week for most.



accomodations: you can look, but downtown hotels are already blocked off by the festival and reserved for registrants/badgeholders.  That doesn't mean that stuff isn't available, but you won't get at it online.  Try calling hotels.  Also, check out craigslist, investigate lodgings a little out of downtown, etc.



cost: depends - as much or as little as you want.  Travel depends on where you are, lodgings for 5 nights would be on average, off the top of my head, around $1000 for five nights but split that amongst however many people.  Drinks are cheap if you're not picky.  Same for food if you like BBQ.  Badges are ~$500 but may not be worth it to you.  Wristbands are around $170 and are good value. You could just do free stuff and pay nothing, but if you're coming all that way then missing out on the night shows seems silly.



press: difficult, depending on who you are.  It took me years to get to a point where I was getting a press wristband. Am going to pitch for a badge next year, see how that goes. some coverage of the conference would be necessary. But if you email the press office they will send you instructions on how to apply.

What Frank said. I did just fine with a wristband last year, there were maybe one or two things i couldn't get into with it.

I agree with SFCritic, but I'd tend to say you don't need to bother with any of this wristbadge stuff.  I just went along to enjoy myself, went to some day-parties, and at night paid my way into one or two showcases where I could stay most of the night and get drunk with my pals. 



I'd even recommend not bothering to do writeups or interviews or whatever while you're out there.  Just enjoy it.  I am far happier doing interviews in a calmer environment where people are less tired and less harrassed.  I think if I decided to 'do' SXSW rather than just go I would start to hate music.

Me neither, I was just a bit more liberal in what I felt I 'had' to see.

i just went to party

Pay attention to who is playing immediately before or immediately after the band you want to see. Even if you're seeing an upstart, there may be a long line if they're sandwiched between big names.

Eat at Mekong River. Clean your plate, because you'll long for those curry leftovers later :)

i don't have a smart phone and have no internet on my current cell (and i like it that way, since i'm online ALL DAY LONG for work), but SXSW definitely convinced me i need an iphone or something at least one week a year.

I learned that the human body is capable of handling many gallons of beer.

i went down there with four cases of delicious upland wheat (last minute sponsorship) and i only had 4 beers all week long. not just from my private stash, either. 4 total.

Posted by: kobestarrIll be in eboro for the fesival toad! Cheers guys - lots of food for thought there!! Hmm - the bottom line is - its worth going!! K*

 

it's worth going at least once.



whether it's worth going over and over again is questionable.

i usually prefer smaller festivals, too. but i also love festivals that are in towns and take place at multiple venues like SXSW.

Buzz - ie with beds and showers ;-)

in fact, i've talked to a few folks about trying to get something like that together here in louisville (on a small scale, anyway) to showcase what the city has to offer.

Hey Cheers chaps and chapesses!

Toad i was at eboro year - and it was mega - i hope to be able to come everyyear for the rest of my life. I was there mainly for the comedy and hope do get more in this year and cover some of the shows and just get more practise reporting and concert/ show type photography.

I'll be there in the first weekend of august so if you're around it would be cool to say howdy!

Are you.......green and slimey?

K*

Ha ha!

That would be Mega! I'd love to do a radio spot.

I think I have written or said the word "Mega" over 60 times today - i cant help it! Is that a bad thing?

K*

I can't believe you found a photo of my dad, Tsuru!

@Toad - did you get the email I sent you about doing a radiospot when i come to Eboro? I'm up for it man - holla me. Though i can't get the private messages to work here - it keeps on asking for a category for the message........

K

Posted by: derek@inyourspeakersI'm particularly interested in the showcase aspect of SXSW. What (logistically speaking) does it take to put a show (or multiple shows) together?

 

dunno, but it helps to be brooklynvegan.  dude presented like a quarter of the shows this year.  SXBV!



gotta decide if I'm going next year soon, passes (and hotels) go on sale start of August.  hoping to upgrade my media wristband to a badge; that'd sway me...

I disagree - DO make a detailed schedule.  Be prepared to totally ignore it, because as NJU says, it's never going to work out that way, but it's worth having a Plan B at your fingertips!

8 months to go and badges are now on sale. I'm not ready for this.

Posted by: Nialler9Right. I'm going Platinum this year. If anybody is hotel-sharing let me know, otherwise it'll be an expensive 10 days. hello@nialler9.con

 PLatinum! someone's being fancy, though if you're coming all this way you may as well.  but at least you won't be paying for much food or drink...

I am not looking for hotel-mates until the new year; too many people I know are still maybes and can't commit one way or the either.

Go, don't buy a badge... potentially buy a wristband, but to be honest I used mine on two occasions last year and I had friends without them that still got into the same shows. Stay outside downtown, get the bus in and turn your hotel room into a crashpad.

I had an absolute blast last year... was underage, still got absolutely trolleyed using fake ID, saw some brilliant bands and met a ton of people. It was expensive, flying all the way out from London, but looking back I'd say it was totally worth it. I met so many people, and if I were to go back I'd meet even more (it takes a few days to get used to the amount of stuff going on!).

I'd say go for fun, avoid the business aspect if at all possible. The panels aren't incredible, and most of the showcasing businesses aren't going to blow you away...

As for showcases, I put one on last year for Strangers In Stereo (now dead, but coming back soon), which was a moderate success. My main pointer would be to put a lot of emphasis on the venue location; 6th street is money as the ability to have music blaring out of open doors is useful; our venue was a little off the beaten track and combined with shit weather on the Sunday, we pulled less people than we might normally have (on a lineup featuring Chew Lips, My Gold Mask, Chiddy Bang etc...). If anyone wants to talk to me about a show hit me up one will@strangersinstereo.com, happy to give pointers from my experience.

I've got a room to share with 3 others in the Radisson Town Lake from the 15th to the 21st.

Email me if you're interested in sharing - hello@nialler9.com

congrats dude - that's very cool!

have fun!