Tuesday, March 9, 2010

SXSW Tips: Twitter and South By

Don’t get overwhelmed by Twitter at SXSW! Twitter is basically the easiest way to keep in touch with your fellow SXSWers, but people at SXSW are a chatty bunch. I don’t know about you, but I’m hesitant about allowing Twitter to send my friends’ updates to my phone, given how many people I follow.

But if you do have SMS updates on, I recommend setting Twitter off during sleeping hours, say between 1 AM and 8 AM.

If you don’t have SMS updates on, you might also want to turn on direct message forwarding to SMS. Tell people to DM you if they want to arrange a meetup and you’ll receive their message as a text message. Simply reply back “D username” with your reply, to direct message them back.

I hope you all increased your SMS plans with your cellular provider already! Now would be a good time to call to either add a text messaging plan or increase your allotment.

You may also want to warn your Twitter friends that you’re going to SXSW, and that it’s OK to unsubscribe from you or snooze you for a little while.

Hint: if you’re on AT&T, dial *DATA# to see your remaining text messages for this billing cycle. You’ll get a text message back with your billing cycle date, data usage so far in this cycle, and text messages used so far.

I also recommend using some of the more advanced features of Twitter to stay on top of things.

You can change your notification preferences for specific people by clicking on the Device Settings icon next to their username. This way you can choose to only receive some people’s tweets via SMS.

Search for information in real time on search.twitter.com. Try plugging in event names, venue names, or panel names, if you’re curious what people are thinking at any given time.

I’ve also collated some interesting people on Twitter on my SXSW list.

And of course don’t forget to give out your username when you meet someone new, and get theirs in return!

Get a Free Ride from the Airport Courtesy of the New Pornographers

Flying into Austin for SXSW Music? Matador Records and the New Pornographers have just announced a free shuttle from the airport for attendees! It’s only Wednesday March 17th and seats are limited.

The “Together Shuttle” will be providing complimentary service to the Austin Convention Center and several downtown hotels, with free cocktails and a sneak listen of the band’s new album.

Wanna ride? Sign up now.

SXSW Examiner on What to Pack

Getting ready for SXSW already? The SXSW Examiner has some good tips on what to bring. We heartily second the suggestions of earplugs, allergy medication, and dressing in layers.

SXSW Tips: Documenting Your Experience With Photos

Pics, or it didn’t happen, right? I always bring my digital camera to SXSW with extra memory cards and charged batteries and the battery charger. And a camera cable or card reader to transfer images to my computer. It might help to clear off some hard drive space (and do a backup) before you arrive.

By the way, if you plan on putting your extra camera batteries into checked luggage and it’s lithium, put it in a separate plastic baggie.

Oh, and do turn off the fake shutter sound on your camera. Nothing says “I’m a newbie taking a picture of the panel! Look at me!” like hearing those little beeps. Same for your smart phone: turn off any annoying “fake shutter” sounds if you can.

Before you leave, set your smartphone up to send photographs to your preferred mobile uploading service: Twitpic, Yfrog, Flickr, etc. and your favorite uploading application. I like to set it up so that Flickr automatically adds a “sxsw” or “sxsw 2010” tag, too.

You may also want to post your photos to Twitter using the #sxsw or #sxswi hashtag.

SXSW Tips: Unofficial Party Lists

Given that plans can change at any given moment, I always find it useful to bookmark and/or print out some of the unofficial SXSW party lists. I’ll fold up the printout and slip it into my bag, in addition to having a schedule of my own picks. This can be useful if the daytime party you want to attend is already full.

My favorites are:
Austin360.com’s SXSW on the Side list (all parties and events for SXSW Interactive, Film, and Music)
Showlistaustin (only unofficial events for SXSW Music, with a comprehensive listing of free daytime events)

Don’t forget to follow @SXSWPartyList, too, on Twitter.

Monday, March 8, 2010

SXSW Tips: Bring Creative Business Cards and Swag

Although we’re living in a digital age, many SXSW attendees find it much easier to hand out business cards at crowded and often loud events. Do you have a creative business card that will stand out from the pack? Or maybe some great swag: 1” pings, toys, stickers, or something else? People love free stuff, and that’s how they’ll remember you after SXSW is over.

Don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for all the extra swag you may be bringing home with you from other attendees.

Also, when you go to get your badge at the Convention Center, you’ll also big up the “big bag” of conference materials (this is heavy, and filled with swag). I always go straight back to the hotel, and empty it out, looking for the good stuff. Sometimes it will include really useful geek stuff, like coupons for free wireless or tech gear. Don’t ignore the swag you get in the Big Bag! 

SXSW Tips: Always Be Charging. Always.

So you’ve got your smartphone, your computer, your digital camera, what to do?

First off, when you’re at the convention center, don’t be an outlet hog. If your Apple computer’s power brick covers up free outlets, please bring an extension cord. It’s that weird snake like thing that snaps into your power brick. It’ll also make your life easier at the hotel, right?

Bring a power strip, if you’re got one, and you’ll be the most popular kid on the block during Interactive.

I find it also helps just to bring my cell phone charger with me at all times. It’s small, it’s light, and sometimes a nice bar or restaurant will have an open outlet. Just saying. (I’ve also made a lot of friends at the airport this way.)

Always Be Charging. Always Be Charging. The Convention Center never seems to have enough handy outlets (and your hotel room might not either). Note that wireless connectivity in the Convention Center can be spotty due to the huge number of people connected at once. Some folks like to bring an ethernet cord, just in case, so they can plug into the wall at the ACC.

Each night, before you go to bed, do remember to charge your all of your essential gadgets, like your phone. There’s nothing worse than having a dead or dying phone at SXSW. So charge your phone at night, every night, before your collapse into bed. And if you have a smartphone, take note of various power-saving settings.

Got an extra battery for your digital camera, smartphone, or laptop?

Don’t forget your batteries at home! And put it in a plastic bag if you’re going to put it in your checked luggage. The Department of Transportation (DOT) will no longer allows loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.

The really heavy users of smartphones often bring a spare battery. Now’s the time to hop over to Best Buy if you need one!

Some of the official sponsors are also offering recharging services and/or extra outlets at lounges in the Austin Convention Center. Check out the Chevy Volt Recharge Lounge, open daily at the 1st Floor, northwest corner near 4th/Trinity. 

SXSWi is Taking Over Radisson, Courtyard Marriott, and Downtown Hilton

SXSW Interactive programming will now appear in four locations:
Austin Convention Center (500 E. Cesar Chavez St., with a back entrance on 4th and Trinity, as well)
Radisson Hotel & Suites (111 Cesar Chavez at Congress Ave., two blocks from the convention center on the south side)
Courtyard Marriott Downtown Austin (300 East 4th St., catacorner from the ACC on the northside)
Hilton Austin (500 East 4th St., directly across the street from the ACC on the northside)

Not sure where to go? Each building is represented by a different letter in the acronym ARCH:
A = Austin Convention Center (ACC)
R = Radisson
C = Courtyard Marriott (Courtyard)
H = Hilton

SXSW Tips: Your Laptop

It seems like a no-brainer to bring your computer with you to SXSW. I don’t recommend you lug it around if you don’t have to, especially while you’re out and about having fun at night. This is my sixth time attending SXSWi and I’ve learned you have a much better time if you aren’t tethered to your computer. (I often ask colleagues to text message me if it’s truly an emergency.)

Many people who attend SXSW Interactive prefer leaving their laptops in their hotel rooms, preferring to focus on non-computer activities during the day. After all, you came all this way, didn’t you? Close the laptop, and you might end up learning more and having more fun! But if you absolutely must do some work, there is also abundant and free wireless throughout Austin, like the hotspot in the Downtown Hilton’s lobby.

At the Austin Convention Center during SXSW there will be one WiFi Network, called SXSW2010.

This is the only official wifi network for internet access at the Austin Convention Center, Hilton, Courtyard and Radisson. But personally, if you have time, I’d hike it out to Halcyon, Jo’s, Progress, or The Hideout instead. Way better atmosphere!

Other things to consider bringing: a USB thumb drive, blank CD-Rs or DVD-Rs, the display cable you need for your Apple laptop to plug into a VGA port, and screen wipes. Bring any other tech bibs and bobs you can’t live without.

Additionally, it might help to clear off some hard drive space and backup your files before you arrive in case you plan on downloading photos to your computer, etc.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Download your SXSW Music Highlights

While you could sit on the SXSW Music website and listen to all the bands there (or be pushed towards their MySpace pages), that’s a lot of music to listen to. With SXSW rapidly approaching you might not have the time to get through all the bands. But never fear, the web is here.

Simon D, on his Outroversion website, has went through the bands and culled out 85 tracks that he believes are the highlights of SXSW. Not only that, but he’s wrapped them all up in one archive file for you to download onto your MP3 player of choice:

Two things you should remember if you have the very gall to complain- 1. This took me ages 2. It’s just my opinion 3. If you don’t like it do it yourself… Ok 3 things! If you like the musical stylings that I’ve offered over the past 1 year and 18 days then chances are you’ll like my selections. I’ve left off a few of the better known artists like Eisley, Boxer Rebellion, She Keeps Bees, etc.

More information on Simon’s selection here, or you can head straight for the archive file on Multiupload.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Break Bread for Brad

Mark your calendars for Break Bread For Brad at this year’s SXSW Interactive Festival. Friday March 12th, 5pm-8pm at the Mohawk (912 Red River)

It’s not a wake, but a celebration, and hopefully we can continue the welcome gathering to open SXSW in future years. All who knew (or even knew of) Brad are welcome.

More information: on a.wholelottanothing.org

Upcoming listing

Monday, February 22, 2010

Fray Cafe 10

Date: Sunday March 14, 2010 at 8pm
Place: Red Eyed Fly, 715 Red River

Fray Cafe 10 returns to SXSWi for its tenth year and the enduring magic of true, personal stories told in front of a live audience. This year’s featured speakers include Baratunde Thurston (www.baratunde.com), Political Editor of The Onion, Design scholar and Fray veteran Molly Wright Steenson (girlwonder.com), Film critic David Dylan Thomas (www.straight2dvdmovies.com) Jessica Valenti, founder of Feministing (www.feministing.com). Hosted by Kevin Smokler (www.kevinsmokler.com) who held it down as MC last year.

We’ll also be honoring Brad Graham (www.bradlands.com), whose stories and presence lent so much to Fray Cafes past.

As always, we will have our open mic, so bring your own true story to tell, or just come and enjoy the stories of your friends and neighbors.

Note:

1. We have an hour less time this year. If you’d like to tell a story, arrive early and sign up.
2. No theme. Just truth.

Upcoming listing

Monday, January 11, 2010

Brad L. Graham Memorial Fund and Memorial Services

Friends of Brad have also set up a memorial fund to be donated to the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis to be used “as Brad would have wanted.”

If SXSW Baby has provided you with any utility over the last few years, I encourage a donation.

Updated information on memorial services (as of Sunday, January 10):

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Smith Funeral Home, 2619 Saint Marys Avenue, Hannibal, MO 63401 tel (573) 221-8148.

The funeral service will be on Wednesday, January 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church, 112 4t...h Street, New London, MO 63459 tel (573) 985-8861.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will hold a memorial service and celebration of Brad’s life on Sunday, January 24, 6:00 p.m. at the theatre, with a reception to follow.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Brad L. Graham, host of SXSW Baby, has passed away

Brad L. Graham, host and custodian of SXSW Baby, influential early blogger, coiner of the word “blogosphere,” and a good friend to many, passed away suddenly last weekend. He was 41.

You might have also known him as the Brad in his namesake “Break Bread with Brad” event. Over the years, it became the unofficial kickoff for many attendees of SXSW Interactive, particularly first-time attendees. He described “Break Bread with Brad” as a dinner party for friends, even the ones he hadn’t yet met, and there was always space for a few more. Brad was a great friend and instantly made newcomers to SXSW feel at home, cracking jokes, making introductions, and being the life of the party. Brad brought together many, many people in life, both offline and online, and was even scheduled to be a panelist at SXSW Interactive 2010.

For many people (including myself), our memories of Brad are synonymous with our memories of SXSW, both for the Break Bread events and SXSW Baby (which he graciously invited me to write for in late 2004). I can’t even remember the number of times we closed down the Ginger Man every March, talking into the wee hours of the night, laughing hard enough to cause stomachaches the next day. No doubt we would have been doing the same this coming spring. For myself, and a lot of other longtime SXSWi attendees, South By will seem a little quieter this year, a little less vibrant.

Goodbye, Brad. We miss you. I hope you’re drinking Shiners in heaven.

A remembrance event during SXSW Interactive 2010 is currently being planned. Details to come.

Friday, July 31, 2009

SXSW site relaunch and registration for 2010 is live

The newly redesigned SXSW website was supposed to launch on Monday, along with the opening of registration for the 2010 conferences and festivals, but it appears they threw the switch a little early.

Through September 25, registration prices and hotel availability are the lowest and best they’ll be this year. We’ll dig around the joint a bit later but, in the meantime, you early birds may wish to head over there and make your plans for spring.