First, Some Pointers for SXSW Interactive (particularly helpful for the unfamiliar & SXSWi newbie):
1. Live with sacrifices. SXSW Interactive is just like a major music festival. You can't see everyone. Some panels are taking place at the same time. Don't waste time deciding and then miss out due to long lines; just make the sacrifice and get where you need to be early.
2. Prepare to wait in lines. No matter how much you plan, if you try to see the best speakers/biggest panel topics/etc. you'll be joining a crowd. So get there early and wait. If there's no line, by chance, then you have time to Tweet and Facebook about how much fun you're having and make your friends jealous. Or get some coffee since you won't have slept much the night before.
3. Text. Tweet (DM). Email. Call. That's the order of communication. Get used to it.
4. Enjoy Austin. Pick out at least two types of food you want to get while you're in town, plan meals. Tex-Mex, BBQ, Breakfast Tacos, you name it. Also, check out a couple of shops and buy something for yourself or someone who couldn't make it. 2nd Street District is pretty posh and women-centric; South Congress is the most diverse and will be best for menswear or gift-giving. Try not to pack too many clothes, it'll probably be hot and you'll probably want to take a couple of hours and walk into some shops between panels or meals.
Some recommendations:
Coffee – Progress on East 5th St. or Jo’s on 2nd Street or Halcyon on 4th Street
Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch – HopDoddy’s on South Congress or South Congress Café on South Congress or Taverna or Lambert’s on 2nd Street or Frank’s on Colorado St. or Moonshine on Red River St.
Dinner – G’Raj Mahal off Rainey Street or Park Side on 6th St. or Haddington’s on West 6th St. or Buenos Aires on East 6th St. or Eastside Showroom on East 6th. or Perla’s on South Congress or Whole Foods off West 6th St. & Lamar Blvd
Shopping – Women – 2nd Street & 6th & Lamar Area; Men – Stag & Service on South Congress; Gifts – South Congress Area; Must See Shops – Mellow Johnnys Bike Shop (Lance Armstrong’s place) and Waterloo Records (one of the last true local music shops left in the US)
Exercise & Health (as if you’re that disciplined) – Run on Lady Bird Lake trail, go to one of Austin’s 22,000 yoga classes, check out Milk & Honey Spa off 2nd Street for a massage
Other – Alamo Drafthouse – The world’s best movie theatre, check it out if you can squeeze in a film (does not apply to Interactive badge holders only, but you may luck out).
5. Set up your party RSVPs before you get here. If you're not on the list before you take off for Austin, you're already at the bottom of the list when you arrive in the nation’s best airport.
6. Build in travel time. Either from your hotel or walking, SXSW speeds the world up while slowing transportation down tremendously. Don’t expect to find many cabs after 1:30am unless you’ve called far in advance and given a specific address. Pedicabs are helpful if you’re within a mile of downtown.
7. Business cards. Bring plenty. Don't over-share. Make Notes in your phone with contact info, download the Bump app or email/text people the moment you meet them.
8. See some shows! If you hover around the Red River area, or check out places like Lambert’s (2nd Street) or Continental Club (South Congress), you shouldn’t have to struggle to find some good music. Lots of bands play in the days before SXSW Music (if they aren’t on the official roster) and plenty of tech companies bring in great bands and DJs. Bazaarvoice has a great DJ on tap for its party on March 12th and has arguably the best party location with Lustre Pearl, just a few blocks from the Convention Center.
SXSW Interactive Best Bets on Speakers, Panels, Meet Ups & Events: Visit sxsw.com/interactive for additional info.
Start Day - March 9th
“Keeping Loyal Consumers Engaged by Shaking Shit Up”
Ben Lerer, Thrillist CEO/Founder March 9th 2pm
“What’s The Next big Thing in Social Networking”
March 9th 5pm
A Celebration of American Startups @ ACL Live March 9th 6:30-12pm
Learn for your Employer & Self Day #1 - March 10th
“Can You Tweet That? Social Media & The Law”
March 10th 9:30am
“Entertain or Fail: Brands as the New Publishers”
March 10th 9:30am
“Why Rappers Are Better Marketers Than You”
March 10th 11am
Ben Casnocha, author “Start-Up of You” & Reid Hoffman, Greylock Partners (LinkedIn Chairman)
“The Startup of You: 21st Century Career Strategy” March 10th 11am
“How Brands Build Advocates by Anticipating Needs”
March 10th 12:30pm
“Bridging the Lawyer-Social Media Divide”
March 10th 12:30pm
Baratunde Thurston – Director of Digital, The Onion
“How to Read the World” March 10th 2pm
Metabridge & Digby VIP Lounge
March 10th 2:30-7:30pm @ 401 E. 6th Street
Dennis Crowley, foursquare CEO
“Making the Real World Easier to Use” March 10th 3:30
“Best Practices for Supervising Millenials” with Betsy Flanagan, VP Social – WellsFargo
March 10th 3:30pm
“Your Marketing Sucks: Why You Need to Think Local”
March 10th 3:30pm
Foodspotting Street Food Fest @ 2nd & Congress March 10th 4-10pm
“The White House on the Road” with Jose Rico Exec Dir, the White House Initative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics The White House
March 10th 5pm
Rainn Wilson, actor, SoulPancake founder
“The View from Inside Rainn Wilson’s Brainstem”
March 10th 5pm
The Cloud Lounge by HP @ The Belmont March 10th – 12th 10pm-2am
Learn for your Employer & Self Day #2 - March 11th
“The State of Social Marketing”
March 11th 9:30am
Steve Case, Chairman – Revolution LLC (AOL, with LivingSocial CEO Tim O’Shaughnessy)
“Tapping Into America’s Secret Sauce: Entrepreneurs” March 11th 11am
Google Lounge @ Rainey Street March 10th 1 11th 11am-10pm
Women in Tech Meet Up
March 11th 11am
“Large Enterprise Social Media Professionals, Unite!” Meet Up
March 11th 12:30pm
“Brands as API: Connect Differently”
March 11th 12:30pm
Customer Experience Meet Up with Sean McDonald
March 11th 3:30pm
Social Curation Meet Up
March 11th 3:30pm
“Big Data: Privacy Threat or Business Model”
March 11th 5pm
The .net Seven Second Pitch Challenge @ Mohawk March 11th 8pm-Midnight
Mashable House @ Buffalo Billiars March 11th 9pm-2am
Learn for your Employer & Self Day #3 - March 12th
“Expanding Our Intelligence Without Limit”
Lev Grossman, inventor/entreprenuer & Ray Kurzwell, TIME magazine March 12th 2pm
“Content As a Means for Social Change”
Biz Stone, co-founder Twitter March 12th 3:30pm
“Big Brands and You: Make the Love Connection”
March 12th 3:30pm
Bazaarvoice Party @ Lustre Pearl – March 12th 6-11pm
Relax & Enjoy Austin Day - March 13th
“Pinterest Explained: Q&A With Co-Founder Ben Silbermann”
March 13th 11am
“Getting the Most out of Google+”
March 13th 3:30pm
Interactive Awards Pre-Party & Ceremony @ Hilton Austin March 13th 6-9pm
Interactive Closing Party @ Stubbs March 13th 8:30pm-2am
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