During South by Southwest, Austin transforms into a celebrity-studded, pop-up happy haven. With exhibitions and events spread across Texas’s capital city and more than 270,000 participants during the span of ten days, festival goers should have a plan in place to better their chances of having the experiences they hope for.
Thankfully, Red Fan has some SXSW veterans in the office, including vice president of client success, Dawn Weston. She’s been attending South By since 2013, she’s helped coordinate official panels and planned a few unofficial events over the years too. If you’re in it for the full experience it can require some commitment but it’ll be worth it —Dawn’s had her share of celebrity sightings to prove it. After attending the event year after year, she encourages those preparing for this year’s festival to keep the following tips in mind.
Understand your goals
In 2023, SXSW will host keynotes, featured speakers and sessions across 25 tracks. To maximize your limited time, you should clarify your priorities beforehand. Understanding why you are attending the festival in the first place allows you to choose wisely and feel accomplished at the end of the day. Have some ideas in mind? The SXSW website allows attendees to add their favorites to a personalized schedule today!
Arrive early
SXSW is known for attracting some of the biggest names across various industries (Barack Obama even gave a keynote speech back in 2016). Understandably, prominent speakers are bound to attract large crowds. Rather than writing off your chances, select your top few choices and arrive as early as two hours before to claim your spot.
Strategize your location
When planning which sessions to attend, location is key. Consider time and place when crafting your lineup for optimal results. Rather than navigating downtown traffic in a time crunch, plan to stay in one area based on the top session you hope to attend that day.
Use available resources to prepare
Veterans agree that SXSW can feel like information overload, and the series of events spread throughout the city can make it challenging to keep it all straight. Fortunately, a robust website and app help attendees get the most out of the experience. Keeping tabs on outlets covering the event, such as Eater and the Austin Chronicle and following reporters and industry experts on Twitter are additional ways to stay in the know during the action.
Stay curious
Although prioritizing preferences is important, keeping an open mind often leads attendees to discover their new favorite speaker or learn more about an industry or product they didn’t even know existed. Expand your horizons by attending a panel or activity outside of your original plans.
Take advantage of freebies
Although badges aren’t cheap, not everything at SXSW has a price tag attached to it. The expo at the Austin Convention Center, the event’s hub, offers free items daily. Outside of the expo, companies such as Kendra Scott and Tito’s have been known to incorporate free products and services into their marketing strategies to engage South By’s attendees. Your job is to keep your eyes open to spot the freebies.
Schedule down time
For a festival of this length and magnitude, rest and relaxation are critical. Down time while out and about can include posting up at a coffee shop or attending a small-scale networking event. Other opportunities to decompress include yoga classes, massages and other spa style services offered by vendors throughout the event.
Explore Austin
This tip is especially important for non-locals. While it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and entertainment SXSW offers, Austin has a rich culture beyond festival grounds. Pencil in time to explore the city’s museums, parks, shopping, food scene and night life. You’ll be glad you did!
