My guide to hints and tips about SXSW (South By South West), specifically the interactive part of the conference.

Introduction and thoughts about the conference

Here is a run down of a number of tips that I have collated from my first visit to the SXSW conference in Austin Texas, I went with 3 other people, and had a ticket for the Interactive part of the conference. There is are also music and film sections. With excellent company, and a couple of people that had prior experience of SXSW we had an awesome time, and the conference was an excellent experience. I enjoyed it so much so that I am keen to go again next year. It was like being back at University, but so much better, because there was no pressure to learn anything from the sessions and so you could enjoy them, or blog or tweet, or leave, etc.

Getting there a day early to register, and registration process, etc

We arrived on the day before the conference begun, and the first day that registration was opened. We all went back to our hotels, then got to registration in the main exhibition centre for about 8 or 9. Going at this time ensured there were no queues. Note you get sent a quick code QR badge via email. But remember you probably haven’t got on wifi by now and don’t have any data signal, so make sure you take a photo of the badge/QR code whilst you’ve got signal. But to be honest going at that time makes little difference, and showing your password will get you your pass, lanyard, and drinks and bag voucher. Go round the corner and you can pick up your free canvas bag. The bag is nice and worth keeping, the paper and leaflets are not. What is worth keeping is the SXSW mini-guide and the full size brochure of the event which is a good keepsake.

Make sure you registered with SXSW social and that you upload a photo - this will ensure less waiting at registration time.

Getting to the lectures on the first day

On the first day in the morning there were only 2 lectures worth attending and they were in the AT&T centre (1-2 miles away). We had two problems (i) we arrived in time for the second session, but because the room was quite small, most people in the first session where remaining in the room, and despite the long queue of people wishing to attend, we were told by organisers that it was unlikely we would get in, damn. And (ii) we waited for a shuttle to take us, but it took 30 minutes to get there! As the driver didn’t know the way. So the tip is don’t use the shuttle service on the first day, as some of the drivers don’t know where they are going. And if you’re attending a session in the AT&T conference centre, then go super early, especially on the first day.

Choosing sessions and when to get there in order to get in

You should download the SXSW app for you iPad and iPhone, and in combination with the site, make sure you have logged in (make sure you register with the SXSW social, a link you will get sent in advance), and the sessions you star will be synced between the apps and the website. Using the time during breakfast to work out what to attend is a good idea (though doing so before you get to the conference is a very good idea - but make up your mind on the day, based on who’s speaking, the location, and what you friends want to attend).

To get to sessions depending on the popularity you probably want to arrive 20 - 30 minutes early. Some of the more popular sessions you want to arrive even earlier. Be careful about where it’s located, as if you’re over the ball room B C on level 1 for one session and then in room 18 floor 4 for the next, that is right all the way around the building and takes a good 10 minutes or so to walk.

Another good idea is grabbing a seat / table with a power supply and grabbing a coffee between sessions / during lunch, and spend that time planning out the rest of the day.

Tip on Room 18abc

Note for the SEO (Google & BIng) session we were in room 18abc on level 4, one of us rushed a head and went all the way round to the escalator, we instead went up the stairs on the way round, up to level 4. This was quicker than walking all the way round to the escalator. Additionally it took us a different route to the room, and where we were there was only a short queue, so this is a good tip that’s worth noting when this room is busy.

Leaving sessions

Note there is no issue leaving sessions mid way through or early. In fact if you need to be somewhere in advance it is practically mandatory to do this. Whilst most of the session are interesting, some are not as good as billed, and for these one’s you may wish to leave early and do something else.

Tech in sessions

What I found worked best was either using the iPad or the MacBook Air, I either wrote notes or typed up notes. I kind of make the judgement call based on how I felt. But it’s also better to use the iPad if you’ve got drawings in the presentation as you can quickly transcribe them. On the other hand check out the link on SXSW, if they share their slides before hand you can follow them on the MacBook Air and take screen grabs to add to your notes.

Always remember it takes a few minutes to pack away your tech, so do so a few minutes earlier before the session ends so your friends are waiting for you in order to leave.

Parties

We only went to one party, but my advise is find someone who is arranging a party before you go to SXSW, as they can ensure you get on the entry list, and get a free drinks wrist band. It’s free drink so make the most of it.

Trade show

The trade show opens a few days in, have a walk around it and enjoy it, play your cards right and you can get free T-Shirts and other free stuff.

Hotels and getting there

My recommendation is spend extra on the hotel in order to get a good quality place to stay, and make sure it’s near the town centre. A 5 - 10 minute walk is acceptable, but any longer and you’ll have to get a taxi, and getting a taxi at night can be a nightmare. Book for the SXSW early as well to ensure the hotels available are close by. You may think about taking a cheaper place as you’re only going to be sleeping there. But remember staying at a cheap motel makes it more likely there is going to be noise, or people having late night parties in their room. And don’t cut the price of you hotel by getting a hotel further out - you will end up well and truly paying for that in terms of taxi fare.

Going out and getting home

There’s plenty to do at night in Austin, either spend the evening at a restaurant and finish the night off at a hotel bar, or head to 6th Street for some cool atmosphere, or go to a party. Getting home at night becomes increasingly difficult the later you stay out. You’ll need to flag a taxi down when you’re out, and this is more likely at a hotel. Also being at a hotel increases the chance someone might be arriving in a taxi, and you may be able to get the taxi driver to agree to take you. Note that taxi’s have two sets of lights, we think the two small sets of lights on top mean it’s occupied but the two large lights on the side means its available, no lights definitely means it’s available.

A rare occurrence was the rain storm we had on the Saturday night, and it was impossible to get a cab. So we managed to borrow umbrellas from the Hilton, which helped somewhat. We then made our way further out of town and lucked in when a taxi arrived at the hotel we had got to.

When you go out you do not want to take you bag of tech, and very likely you won’t want to take a coat. So make sure at least one of you is staying by the convention centre so you can drop your bags and coats off before going out.

Getting to the airport on the last day

On the last day of the conference and the day before everyone is going home. So you cannot get a taxi on the day. Don’t even try to get a taxi by ringing on the day, you’re not going to get one. If you’ve got private numbers of taxi drivers that might work, but they are likely to be too busy. So what you should do is at least the day before arrange for a taxi to pick you up at a particular time on the day you are leaving. If you haven’t booked a taxi, some hotels have an airport shuttle (if you’re lucky). Alternatively you may be able to flag down a taxi, or a taxi may arrive at your hotel to drop someone off that you can take, depending on whether the taxi driver agrees.

Where to go for coffee and plug sockets / computer space

Note the best place we found to go to take a break, get a coffee and work on our computers was the Residents Inn / Marriott, right near the convention centre. There was 2-3 breakfast bars with power sockets that you could work at, and a Starbucks where you could get coffee, perfect place to meet, get a coffee and work on our computers.

“Go off the beaten track”

Go off the beaten track, i.e. don’t watch sessions that are immediately related to your work or your main interests, some of the less popular, more obscure sessions can be fantastic. For example the session on “Drawing conclusions” - encouraging people to draw more, and also “Laws of Subtraction” - how taking away things can make things better.

Breakfast and lunch

Again the Residents Inn / Marriott is a great place for breakfast (all you can eat continental or english breakfast) and the staff are lovely. And go there for lunch and have make yourself burger - again all you can eat. An alternative good breakfast or lunch is a breakfast taco. I had cheese and ham, and cheese and bacon, and they were yummy. Apparently you have to have breakfast tacos in Austin.

Conclusion

So they are my tips, I’d love to hear you tips, so send them to me and I can add them to the list!