There are 299 days and 4 hours until South by Southwest 2009 begins!
Accomodations & Amenities
Where to stay and how to survive at SXSW.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
SXSW baby…literally
Perhaps you didn’t notice, but several of your peers are...well, let’s just say that none of us is as young as we were and some of us are starting families. Which means some of us—a lot, actually—are having to choose between attending SXSW Interactive or staying home with our kids. Or trying to juggle both opportunity and obligation.
After spending much of this year’s conference tending to his wee one, Jeffrey Zeldman puts forth the idea of SXSW Parents Cooperatives:
SXSW Interactive is the annual gathering of the tribes. Many of the tribes now have younguns. Attending a two-day educational conference without your kids is not a huge deal, but SXSW lasts a week. The choices are not good: See the whole show but miss your kids for a week? Bring your kids and miss practically the whole show? Attend for only a couple of days, missing your kids and most of the show?
Call the SXSW Housing Desk at (512) 467-7979 and they will do their best to try to place you. Some attendees may be canceling reservations or letting go of extra, unneeded hotel rooms. Who knows, you might get lucky and score a prime location downtown.
Austin Craigslist is full of people offering up their places for rent.
After SXSW 2007 became Twitter‘s de facto coming out party, pundits all over the web dubbed the South by Southwest Interactive conference a potential social web app kingmaker and began speculating about which project would rise to the top next. Marshall Kirkpatrick at Read Write Web handicaps a list of candidates for this year.
A winning app has to be easy for lots of people to use and has to provide clear value to conference and party-goers. It might seem valuable only at SXSW but end up proving itself afterwards due the scale achieved in Austin. ...
Buzz momentum leading up to the event is also very important. If a good number of savvy web lovers have just become power users of an app before SXSW, it stands a great chance of reaching critical mass there.
Finally, it has to perform reasonably well for a high-traffic week. Other than a underwhelming hallway demonstration, Twitter held up better at SXSW last week than it has at almost any time since.
For me, at least as far as SXSW is concerned, I think “the next Twitter” will be...Twitter. It’s just so darned useful for spontaneous organizing and status check-ins (and it appears as though it’s shoring up in preparation for SXSW). What about you? What’s your SXSW killer app?
It’s a little known fact that there are FREE trolleys called Dillos which run through the core of downtown Austin. It’s a great way to check out some of the sites around town, or perhaps you just want to get away from the crowds and find somewhere quieter to eat that doesn’t have a queue.
There are 5 different lines, which you can catch mostly off Congress or the Blue line that stops in front of the Convention Center (only through the lunch hours 11am-2pm).
Stops are marked by a sign with a picture of an armadillo and the trolleys tend to come every 15 to 20 minutes. But note, there is quite a number of blocks between stops. I highly suggest that you refer to the Schedules and Map links I’ve provided below. Take note that each map highlights the various destinations you can reach on the Dillo.
The majority of SXSW events take place in Downtown Austin. All of the official conference events during the day (panels, keynotes, the trade show, etc.) take place at the Austin Convention Center at 4th and Neches Street, on the eastern side of downtown; all evening events, music parties, and film screenings are scattered about town, but there’s lots of stuff you can do without getting inside a car.
Unfamiliar with Downtown Austin? It’s pretty easy to figure out since it’s a grid bordered by water on one side (Town Lake) and the highway on another side.
Many of the streets downtown are one-way. The east-west streets are numerical. Cesar Chavez Street, just north of Town Lake, was formerly called First Street. Cesar Chavez is the southern border of Downtown. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, just south of the University of Texas campus, was formerly Nineteenth Street. MLK is the northern border of Downtown. The north-south streets are named for the rivers of Texas geographically from west to east, beginning with Rio Grande on the west and stretching east to Sabine.
Congress Ave. and East 6th Street are the main drags of downtown, with Congress running North-South and being the street that splits the numbered streets into West and East; hopefully your accommodations are only a short walk from these streets. There’s also a bunch of bars and clubs on Red River Street (most notably Emo’s). If you’re visiting for the Music Festival, definitely familiarize yourself with Red River.
Personally, I have never ventured too far into northern downtown (say, north of 9th Street) or west of Congress when walking around between panels and parties at night. There’s also a action happening on Red River, which is the street hugging the Convention Center/Austin Hilton to the right, two blocks west of I-35. So if you’re hopping to events after conferencing all day, you’ll probably be going up to Red River or north up to E. 6th Street.
Here’s the official SXSW Hotel Map [PDF]. The red splotch is the convention center, and the block labeled 8 is the Hilton. Downtown Austin has a great and very helpful web site of its own, too.
Here’s some PDF maps of the main drags, denoting businesses, restaurants, and bars:
2007 Film Venues Map [You’ll definitely need a taxi or car to get to some of the venues, or ride the Cap Metro bus.]
And if you’re a badgeholder, your program guide for Interactive, Film, or Music will have all this map information repeated, too, in professionally printed form.
The service had been up and running for nearly a year before the conference, but usage of Twitter, the microblogging and/or mobile social networking service, explodedatSXSWlastyear. Thousands of users organized dinner groups, meetups, impromptu parties; engaged in “back-channel” chatter, and just plain kept in touch using Twitter.
And it seems unlikely to be different this year except, perhaps, by adding a few thousand more users to the mix.
Although it’s possible to access and update one’s Twitter status from the web or by using an instant messaging service, at conferences such as SXSW, the most common means of interacting with other Twitter users is via text message from a cell phone or other mobile device. So here’s a big tip for SXSW attendees: If you’re going to be relying on Twitter text message updates to stay in touch with your friends, make sure you’ve got a generous or unlimited text messaging plan from your carrier. While use of Twitter itself is free, text message fees can pile up quickly once your monthly allotted number is exhausted...and that’s likely to happen on day one of SXSW if your pals are as chatty as mine.
If you’ve an internet-capable phone or mobile device, you may want to eschew text messaging with Twitter in favor of the service’s mobile interface at m.twitter.com. (Mobile Twitter is particularly slick on an iPhone. I haven’t seen it on other platforms.) It’s certainly cheaper in the long run, although you won’t be instantly notified of updates from your friends as you would be when using text messages.
This year, there’s a pretty active contingent of Twitter friends and fans (they call themselves “Tweeps") who are organizing their plans for SXSW using a wiki and Twitter. There are at least a couple dozen—and probably whole lot more—"tweet-ups" planned throughout the Interactive, Film and Music events, from simple post-panel glass-liftings to full days of show-crawling.
And, of course, SXSW Baby! has a brand-new Twitter account, so you can “follow” us for updates from the blog and the Baby! Boards as well as occasional “live” updates on important or deeply cool matters during SXSW.
So do you Twitter? Do you find it a helpful tool when you’re at SXSW (or another conference, for that matter)? What’s your favorite Twitter tip?
Site offers music wristband for sale with hotel booking
Once again this year, SXSW has sanctioned a site called SouthByWristbands.com to sell up to two Music wristbands with a three-night minimum stay at one of nine Austin motels or hotels. The wristbands go for $165 each and the room rates range from $92–$190 per night. There are a number of rules and restrictions detailed at the site, but this remains the only official means for non-locals to purchase Music festival wristbands.
Remember, wristbands do not guarantee admission to shows; priority is always given to Music conference badge holders. From the SouthByWristbands FAQ:
A SXSW Music wristband permits admission to the live music in the venues for music fans. A SXSW Music registration badge is a priority credential for those in the music industry (and those who want to see the industry at work). It admits the badge-holder to music industry events at SXSW such as panels, keynote speech, mentor sessions, trade show, receptions, private parties, Sunday barbecue and softball tournament. In addition, Music Fest badge-holders are given priority entry (over wristbands) to Music Fest shows when venues approach capacity.
Looking for a place to crash during SXSW? Flummoxed by the filled-up downtown hotels? Got an extra bed in your hotel room? Don’t forget about the SXSW Baby! Ride/Room Share Board. Lots of folks have posted haves and wants. Maybe you can get hooked up with a budget-friendly crib for the conferences.
Registration Deadline Looms: Nothing like a ticking clock…
Tomorrow marks the first registration deadline for SXSW 2008. All badge prices increase as of the end of the day on Friday, September 28 - add another $50 for the platinum badge, $25 for all others. Hit the registration page for all the details.
While I’ve got your attention (and I do have your attention, right?), it’s worth noting that many of the more popular downtown hotels have already sold out for Music. What’s more, the Hampton Downtown is already booked solid for the whole of SXSWeek - both IA/Film and Music. SXSW HQ says these hotels are selling out earlier than ever. If you’re planning to attend in 2008, and you want to stay within walking distance of ACC, now would be a good time to check out the SXSW hotel page.
The Interactive Playpen—that big pile of Lego and other toys on the first level of the Austin Convention Center that all the kids big and small are nuts over—is a big hit again this year, thanks in large part to the efforts of coordinator (and SXSW Baby! pal) Ryan. The ‘pen will be around all through SXSW Week and Ryan just kicked in a new infusion of playthings and games. If you’re so inclined, pop over and pitch in a couple of bucks to offset the costs of financing fun. And go play!
Howdy folks! Just wanted to let you know that Tappity has created a special page for SXSW attendees to help you make the most of your week in Austin. Now you can see what time the next panel starts, find out where to grab a bite for lunch, and check if your flight is on time, all from your mobile phone.
For those who are already registered and familiar with Tappity, just login to your account and visit the link above. If you’re new to Tappity, or a bit confused, Tappity is a user driven site where you discover, rate, and suggest mobile-friendly web pages for viewing on phones and PDAs. In addition, you can save favorite items to a mobile homepage that’s personalized just for you. Plus, it’s free!
Laptop with power brick and power brick extension cable. Don’t be an outlet hog. Bring a power strip, too, if you’re got one, and you’ll be the most popular kid on the block during Interactive. Always Be Charging. Always Be Charging.
Self-promotional items: got business cards? Buttons? Other swag? Bring it!
Digital camera with extra memory cards and charged batteries. And the battery charger. And my camera cable or card reader to transfer images.
PDA/Treo/Blackberry/Cameraphone and attendant charger, set up to moblog endlessly to Flickr. I like to set it up so that Flickr automatically adds a “sxsw” or “sxsw 2007” tag, too.
Don’t forget to bookmark the official mobile site sxsw.mobi in your phone as well.
Likewise, I’ve configured Dodgeball to say that I’m in Austin (send “switch austin” to dodgeball to change cities; “off” and “digest” are handy commands, too), and configured Twitter to send stuff my phone as well (I also set it to turn off between 1 AM and 8 AM). I hope you all upped your SMS plans already!
Phone numbers: folks to meet up with, your hotel front desk, and a few taxi companies already programmed into my phone, like Austin Yellow Checker Cab, (512) 452-9999, and Austin Cab Company (512) 478-2222.
Printouts of my registration confirmation email, my hotel confirmation email, a downtown Austin map, and public transit options. Just in case.
You can also print out film venues and music venues [PDF] if necessary, and the Austin showlist (highly recommended). The Austin showlist will also have printable pages this year, with an ETA of Monday or so! Regardless, I plan to bring a highlighter to do some dayshow-planning on the plane.
Tentative schedule of panels, keynotes, screenings, parties, music showcases, unofficial events, sightseeing, and more from the official SXSW online calendar, or the Podbop calendar if you’re only going to the Music portion of SXSW . And in that tentative schedule, I’ll have my Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, and the knowledge that plans may fly out the window the minute I wake up.
Comfortable shoes. Very comfortable shoes. Because I will be doing a lot of standing. Maybe two pairs, with insoles, so I can air them out and alternate. Closed-toe because the streets are dirty and the bars are crowded. Leave those slippers and flip-flops at home.
Earplugs, multiple pairs, in case you lose one or have a friend who is unprepared. Oh, heck, just bring the entire box.
Pen and paper notebook, to take notes old school style. You never know when you’ll need it.
Chapstick, lotion, sanitizing hand-gel, tissues, and other comfort items. The Purell is key if you find yourself at an outdoor party with BBQ and porta-potties.
Food for the plane. Snacks that are portable and healthy. Don’t forget that SXSW is a meat-o-rama, so some fruits and veggies will be in order at some point.
Claritin. It’s springtime in Austin, and that means allergies.
Cash in my wallet, ready to spend. Don’t forget to tip the waitstaff! They have to put up with thousands of tourists in their town for 11 days straight.
A light jacket or sweatshirt, because it gets chilly at night! One year it was actually kinda cold in the evenings.
An umbrella or rain poncho, in case of sudden thunderstorms. Yes, it does happen.
As soon as you get there, check into your hotel, go stand in line to get your badge, go back to the hotel to drop off the giant tote bags and flip through the conference guides and take a nap or grab a quiet beer before the insanity starts. And if you don’t have a badge, grab a copy of the Austin Chronicle if you’re there for the Music Fest as they’ll have the entire schedule printed up.
And most importantly be ready to: to sleep too little, eat far too well, listen a whole bunch, think so hard your brain hurts, get way too excited, mix and mingle with tons of fascinating people, trade business cards, put names to faces to URLs, take a lot of photographs, drink lots of Shiner or Lone Star or Red Stripe or what have you, smile until your face hurts, make bundles of new friends, expand your blogroll like nobody’s business, fill up your brain with all sorts of new ideas, talk too much, see a lot of exciting and cool and inspiring things, have a ton of fun, and network like you’ve never done before.
The service had been up and running for nearly a year before the conference, but usage of 
