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Ed SXSW 2015

Wowbagger

The Infinitely Prolonged
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So, I am considering the idea of attending South By Southwest, next year. http://sxsw.com/

I was just curious to know if anyone else, around here, had anything to say about that. Anyone else attending? Any warnings not to attend? Any advice if I still insist on attending, despite the warnings?

I'll probably make my final decision before September 12, while the tickets are still at their... "cheapest"... rates.
 
You know, I had the title of this thread wrong this whole time, and no one corrected me?!!!!! :eek: :blush:

I had "SWSX 2015" instead of "SXSW 2015". I revsersed the W and the X.

So, if the mods could fix that, that would be nice. If not, I'll just wallow in the error, then. It's no big deal, really. (I put in a request through the report thingy.)
 
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I have several different friends in the music business that go every year and have tons of fun. They never invite me.
 
Matthew Best said:
Are you going for the film bit or the music bit? Or both? Or what?
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All of it, I think. As much of it as I can handle! I am considering the Platinum ticket, in fact.


..though, there is a small chance I might wait until the next year, and do a collection of smaller events for 2015, including GenCon and one of the PAX conventions, among other things. I will try to make my final decision within the next day or two, while that Platinum ticket is still at its... errr... "cheapest" rate.
 
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I've only been to the music portion - I went a couple of times but this was a few years ago so it all may have changed since then. I didn't bother buying a proper pass. I just got a friend in Austin to buy me a local resident wristband which got me into pretty much anything I wanted to see (I was only interested in seeing live music, rather than panel discussions). (Incidentally, it looks like this loophole may have been closed.) There was a lot of queuing and a few things were full up so you need to temper your expectations somewhat.

Be prepared to have everyone you meet tell you it was better last year.
 
Howie Felterbush said:
Take some hipster repellent.

They're thick as fleas down there.
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Eh, I'm not afraid of hipsters.
I'm perfectly willing to approach them from an anthropological perspective.
Like I did the more spiritually-inclined hippies of Burning Man.
Or, the occasional gangs of drunken buffoons of music festivals, in general.

Matthew Best said:
I didn't bother buying a proper pass. I just got a friend in Austin to buy me a local resident wristband which got me into pretty much anything I wanted to see (I was only interested in seeing live music, rather than panel discussions). (Incidentally, it looks like this loophole may have been closed.)
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It happens that I do have a couple of friends in Austin. But, I have no problem buying a ticket.

Matthew Best said:
There was a lot of queuing and a few things were full up so you need to temper your expectations somewhat.
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So, it'll be a lot of San Diego Comic-Con in that regard.

Matthew Best said:
Be prepared to have everyone you meet tell you it was better last year.
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And, it will be a lot like San Diego Comic-Con, Burning Man, TAM, NECSS, The AHA conference, Maker Faire, etc., etc., etc. in that regard.
(But, curiously, not Dragon Con so much)

Okay, thanks for the tips, everyone!
 
Does SXSW have any kind of skeptical component?

Honest question. Sounds like fun, but I'm wondering if the discussion belongs here.
 
Wowbagger said:
..though, there is a small chance I might wait until the next year, and do a collection of smaller events for 2015, including GenCon and one of the PAX conventions, among other things. I will try to make my final decision within the next day or two, while that Platinum ticket is still at its... errr... "cheapest" rate.
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Keep us posted.
 
AdMan said:
Does SXSW have any kind of skeptical component?

Honest question. Sounds like fun, but I'm wondering if the discussion belongs here.
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Yeah, you're probably right. Perhaps this thread ought to be moved to either Community or Entertainment. I suspect there isn't much skepticism-related stuff at SXSW.

Though, there should be a relatively decent number of science geeks at the Interactive parts of it, at least, for whatever that's worth.
 
There's a chance I might be there next year for the film festival. If so I will probably try to hang on for the music part as well. Depends if I can afford it - hotel prices go through the roof during South By. I was in Austin a few weeks ago and stayed at the Austin Motel for $90 a night - during SXSW it goes up to $160.
 
Matthew Best said:
There's a chance I might be there next year for the film festival. If so I will probably try to hang on for the music part as well. Depends if I can afford it - hotel prices go through the roof during South By. I was in Austin a few weeks ago and stayed at the Austin Motel for $90 a night - during SXSW it goes up to $160.
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That's nothing. During the Berkshire conference in Omaha, rooms can triple and in some cases quadruple in prize. I'm paying $120 next weekend. In May, same room was $400. :eye-poppi
 
I just noticed I hadn't updated this thread, in a while.

But, if anyone cares, I have actually opted NOT to attend SXSW in 2015.

However, I will most likely attend it in 2016!

The reasons are:
1. More people I know have expressed interest in attending in 2016. Hardly anyone for 2015.

2. I know more people attending other events, in 2015, such as PAX East, which is taking place around the same season.

3. Since I also aim to return to Burning Man in 2015, I'm still going to have plenty of excursion time established for the year.
 
Wowbagger said:
All of it, I think. As much of it as I can handle! I am considering the Platinum ticket, in fact.


..though, there is a small chance I might wait until the next year, and do a collection of smaller events for 2015, including GenCon and one of the PAX conventions, among other things. I will try to make my final decision within the next day or two, while that Platinum ticket is still at its... errr... "cheapest" rate.
Click to expand...

Make sure you skip NECSS. I think it's been cancelled.
 
SXSW is the successor to something which was an immense amount of fun: auquafest. The last one of those was in the late 80's or early 90's. Last one I went to was in 1988. Aquafest was held along the shores of town lake, and was mostly focused on music. I got to see Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, and a few others all in one night. Multiple stages. Aquafest got shut down, and I seem to recall (Austinites please correct me) that liability costs were key factors in it losing support. (Maybe it operated in the red every year, not sure).

Each year the missus and I consider heading up to Austin for SWSW. We have yet to go? Why? It's not that far to drive.

Reason: to expensive, too many people, too much, and Austin of today isn't the Austin we grew to love in the 80's and 90's. We avoid that weekend in Austin like the plague, instead visiting that area on less "known" weekends for smaller festivals or events. Or just to visit friends.

Might we overcome our aversion to "hanging out with 30,000 of our best friends we never met before)" next year and taking in SWXW?
Maybe. Depends on if my buddy up in Austin finishes his PhD and has some time off.
 
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