About South by Southwest
The first South by Southwest festival (nicknamed SXSW or “South by”) was held in Austin in 1987, when the city was much smaller. It was a music festival only, and the purpose was to help promote Austin musicians globally and to bring international attention to the growing city. As the city grew, the music festival gained more popularity each year, and film and interactive components were eventually added. SXSW went from a small series of concerts to a major multimedia festival that receives international acclaim and helping Austin to continue to earn its place on the map as the “live music capital of the world.”South by Southwest 2009 Dates
The full week will last from March 13-22. The individual components are on the following dates:Interactive: March 13-17
Film: March 13-21
Music: March 18-22
The South by Southwest Music Festival and Conference
The SXSW music festival contains hundreds of acts each year. Unlike the Austin City Limits festival, which primarily features already-popular artists, there are hundreds of small and unknown but promising bands hoping to be discovered at the SXSW. For several nights, bands play in various venues across town (though primarily concentrated in downtown Austin). The SXSW 2009 music lineup includes Melissa Auf der Maur (formerly of Hole), The Crystal Method, Peter Bjorn and John, Cursive, Explosions in the Sky, and Fastball.While there are plenty of them, the music portion of the festival is much more than just concerts. There is also a music trade show, a record convention, a guitar show, panels, interviews, lectures, and so much more. South by Southwest 2009 is featuring Grammy-winning producer Quincy Jones as the keynote speaker for the music festival.
The South by Southwest Film Festival and Conference
South by Southwest’s film festival is a showcase of international cinema from around the world. There are actual film screenings (108 films at the 2009 festival) of everything from documentaries to dramas, and film awards given out for the very best. There will also be a major trade show in combination with the interactive part of the event, where create folks and filmmakers can learn about industry trends and new technologies.Another major aspect of the film festival is the conference; it involves panels, conversations, and speeches from hundreds of movers and shakers in the film industry.
The South by Southwest Interactive Festival
The interactive part of the SXSW festival is becoming increasingly popular, and is becoming a major annual event for those involved in blogging, social media, and other interactive and creative aspects of the Internet.There are talks, panels, and interviews with major bloggers, new media experts, designers, and web developers. There is a tradeshow hosted in combination with the film festival, which is full of information on new tools for the digital age. There is a major forum called Accelerator, which features presentations from companies with cutting-edge services and products, in addition to web awards. There is a video game-focused portion of the interactive festival called ScreenBurn.
Buying SXSW Badges
SXSW badges (the passes) are pricey, but there are different packages depending on which parts of the festival you choose to attend. You can buy a pass for just one of the three parts of the festival, which range from $375 to $650. If you spend a little more, you can also buy a gold badge, which gives you access to both the film and interactive festivals, or a platinum badge, which gives you access to all three, in addition to some other perks.Prices steadily increase as time goes on until the festival, and the walkup rate for passes is even higher (over $1,000 for the platinum), so buy your badge as early as possible to get the lowest rate. Students can attend the film festival for a discounted rate.
The South by Southwest Parties
One major perk of the festival is the huge amount of parties and lounges. Major publications, alcohol companies, and other businesses and organizations host parties and events all across town, some private but many open to the public without SXSW badges. Almost all offer free alcohol. There are music parties, film parties, and interactive parties.
Where to Stay in Austin
If you are coming to South by Southwest from outside of Austin, be aware that all of the city’s hotel rooms are usually booked during this popular time of year. If you know that you’ll want to stay in a hotel room during that week, be sure to reserve a room many months in advance. When buying your SXSW badge, you have the option to register for a hotel room through the site.p] If you can’t find any open hotel rooms or want something more roomy, you’re in luck. Many Austinites leave town and rent their apartments and homes out during the festival. Craigslist.org's Austin section is a great place to find advertisements for properties for rent during the festival week (look under "sublets/temporary" and "vacation rentals").Additionally, there are plenty of vacation rental homes available in town. Consider using a vacation rental by owner site such as HomeAway.com or VRBO.com; rental home owners advertise their properties and travelers can inquire directly for free. Again, be sure to book far in advance.
Disclaimer:I have worked for the company that owns HomeAway.com and VRBO.com, but that’s not why I recommend them; as a traveler, I truly believe they are incredible resources.
