#SXSW — Doing it Right!
Each year an influx of approximately 200,000 people swarm downtown Austin, TX to attend a portion of the SXSW Conference and Festivals. It’s a fun filled ten days of the celebration of education, technology, film and Austin’s greatest art form; music.
Getting There
Southwest Airlines has proven to be the best airline to get you there. Why? First perk; your bags are free to check! Secondly, they will get you there come hell or high-water! No matter what delays you may experience, the airline staff is dedicated to providing the best service possible and alternate travel arrangements should there be any delay at an airport while you are trying to get there.
Where to Stay
AirBnB is your best bet for affordable and comfortable housing. If you prefer a hotel, JWMarriott, Intercontinental and Omni are conveniently located in the heart of Austin.
How to Communicate
Twitter. Hands down. After all, it made its debut at SXSW! Again, people are happy they are at SXSW and tend to use their social media accounts constantly to connect with other attendees during the festival. Use #SXSW during the festival to identify private events, after parties and/or special engagements.
Although you will find lots of charging stations, it still makes sense to bring a few fully charged power bank cell chargers.
Getting Around Town
Ride share pick-up and drop-off locations will be strategically placed through-out the city for your convenience. SXSW shuttles will also run between venues.
Everyone can stand to use some exercise. Most venues are within walking distance. Wear good walking shoes! Adidas and Rockport still make a great walking shoe.
Try a pay-per-ride bike or scooter which be placed about town.
Walking is still a great way to see the creative advertising that dresses Austin during SXSW.
Good Health
Take Emergen-C each day of the festival and drink lots of water. Don’t worry about finding a place to eat. Great food is on every street corner.
The weather is usually nice in Austin this time of year so pack light. Try to bring a good light carrying case to collect information and SXSW promotional goodies.
Safety
Some of the outskirts of Austin are not the greatest of areas. Do not walk alone at night. Always watch your surroundings and keep your belongings on you. Even though Austin law enforcement @Austin_Police has done an outstanding job of managing the crowds, they are still outnumbered during the event and cannot be everywhere at all times. Be smart.
Doing Business
Despite the large crowds you’ll encounter, this event is still by far my favorite. Why? Because of the diversity of people it brings together. If you work the event correctly, the return on your time and travel expenses will be handsomely rewarded. The charm of Austin itself seems to have a calming effect on people. Most attendees are happy to be there. That said, I’ve found that CEOs and decision makers who attend are more approachable and inclined to do business at SXSW. Getting an appointment with these people in a normal prospective cold-call situation would generally be impossible otherwise.
A great place to setup meetings is the Four Seasons Hotel @FSAustin located at the south end of the city and situated on Lady Bird Lake. The lobby lounge is comfortable, relaxing and you cannot beat the impeccability of the service.
Each year the event gets even better than the last. Make it a point to get out there to do business. And most of all, stay to enjoy a film and a few concerts!
