Tuesday, March 9, 2010

SXSW Tips: Bring Good Shoes

Wear the most comfortable shoes you own. Now is not the time to break in new shoes. Especially because the Austin Convention Center is nearly 900,000 square feet of space!

Expect a lot of walking, especially to get from one panel room to another. Budget a good 10-15 minutes to get from point A to point B.

Plus you will be standing, a lot, in long lines, waiting for a table at a restaurant, talking to new friends at parties, or taking in live music. Hours of standing on end, which you may not be accustomed to.

I typically purchase padded insoles, for shock absorption.

Bring multiple pairs of comfortable shoes, so you can air them out and alternate. (I really like DC brand sneakers because they have padding and are wider than most.)

Closed-toe shoes work better, because Sixth Street gets quite dirty after night after night of parties, and the bars are often really crowded.

Sometimes it rains, so don’t bring any shoes that bleed if they get wet. Leave those flimsy slippers and smelly flip-flops at home.