SXSWi First Timer’s Survival Guide
For those attending SXSW Interactive for the first time, it’s difficult to imagine how big it really is. There’s so much happening simultaneously that getting lost and overwhelmed is almost assured for newcomers without proper planning. Accept you can’t see everything, do your homework, and you’ll get the most of this amazing event.
Planning your schedule
With more than a thousand sessions and events squeezed into 5 days, picking the right sessions is an art to master. I recommend you pass through the schedule at least a couple times, marking the sessions that pique your interest. Start about a week before the event to avoid missing late announcements while leaving enough time to plan carefully. I like to first scan by session type, starting with the keynotes, then the featured sessions, solos and panels, pitch events and so on. Then I usually review time-wise, adjusting overlaps and finishing up with a rough schedule for each day.
Don’t pick your sessions just by the title. While reading the session description is important, I consider checking the speaker profile the best way to predict the session content. Keep in mind that featured sessions showcase heavyweight, quality content everyone will talk about, while smaller sessions hide secret gems. I consider panels the riskiest choices, as many of them end up in shallow conversations.
Workshops
An exception to the schedule planning I mentioned above is booking workshops. These hands-on sessions require an RSVP, so plan a couple weeks in advance, or you may not get a seat. Workshops are among my favorite events to get deeper knowledge and meet people with the same interests, as most of them include group activities.
Trade show and side events
While at other events you can guess an exhibitor’s product or service without asking, at SXSW the range of subjects is so wide that sometimes you’ll have no clue what a company does at a first glance. Getting that information during the show can be really cumbersome, so research the list of exhibitors at http://sxsw.com/exhibitions/trade-show/exhibitors in advance and use your time at the show to go for the most interesting ones.
Even if you think games and tinkering are out of your job scope, consider at least a quick visit to SXSW Gaming Expo and SXSW Create to feel the atmosphere and keep up with the current stage of these vibrant markets.
Schedule meetings before the event
From making warm contacts with vendors to sourcing talent or money, SXSW is among the best networking events you can find. Tables at hotel lobbies are full of people doing business and making contacts. Use this to your advantage.
Practicalities
Always carry a secondary battery or charger, as you’ll use your cell phone all the time. Use all your battery-saving tricks, like decreasing screen brightness and disabling Bluetooth, geolocation and Wi-Fi during the event.
Climate in Austin in March changes from sunny warm days to freezing rain in the blink of an eye. Moving from venue to venue can be pleasant or daunting depending on the weather. Pack light shirts and sweaters, but include a raincoat or a windbreaker.
City orientation
SXSW happens in downtown Austin, with the epicenter at the Austin Convention Center, or ACC. The streets flowing east–west are numbered, and most action happens between 1st Street, just below ACC, and 11th Street. The city’s regular nightlife is concentrated on 6th Street. The streets flowing north–south are named from east to west: Red River, Trinity, San Jacinto, Brazos and Congress. Remembering this easy sequence and arrangement can save you time and phone battery when looking up venues.
Have fun
Ultimately, preparation is just a tool for you to enjoy your time. Don’t stress too much, let yourself to attend some fun events even if they’re not absolutely useful, consider parties as part of the whole thing and get your brain ready for more synapses and real inspiration.
Have a nice festival!
