Diatribes by Joah

My Favorite Pics: January

I got on Instragram this year and have a renewed interest in photos. I've managed to snag a few cool pics in 2012 thus far and figured I'd share some this week. These are from January.

I know it looks like the Eiffel Tower, but my year actually started on a rooftop in Tokyo.

Then Deva and I hopped over to Kyoto.

Followed by a trip to the ESPN Winter X Games in Aspen.

There were a lot of cool people up there.

I was there too.

I'll post some February pics next.

I want to run the Olympics

There, I said it. That is my professional goal, and I honestly think it’s possible. Too many people are unable to state goals clearly, fewer are able to take the steps required to reach their goals and some people think publicly sharing your goals decreases the likelihood of them actually happening. All of these things are nonsense. Do you think Kobe Bryant hides the fact that he wants to win a 6^th NBA title? Does Tiger Woods hide his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ majors record? Do you think Gavin Newsome, the former mayor of San Francisco and current Lieutenant Governor of California, is denying a desire to someday be Governor of the nation’s largest state? I don’t think so.

A ton of people have helped me get to a point where, at 28 years old, I can legitimately say my professional goal is still within reach. The best way for me to thank them is to continue pursuing this goal and, hopefully, someday reach it. A few people may use this information to put themselves in my professional path, but I’m OK with that. If I’m meant to be the Chairman of the IOC, it’ll happen regardless of someone’s attempts to stifle me. If it’s not meant to be, it won’t be and it won’t be thanks to any naysayers.

The Olympics represent so many of my core interest: geo-politics, economic development, cities, sports, marketing, culture, and entertainment. In the future, the Olympics will also represent technology, lifestyle, mobility, urbanism and global citizenship.

I felt it appropriate to share this goal for a couple of reasons: 1) A lot of people wonder how and why I do all the things I do. 2) A lot of people have no idea of all of the things I do. Both groups probably have no idea if any of the things I’m doing will help me one day be the head of the Olympics. 

For those who know all the things I do sharing this goal will hopefully give you a better understanding of why no single thing is enough. You take out any one of the things I do and I may not be able to get the necessary acumen or qualifications needed to handle the responsibilities of the IOC chief. That’s my honest belief. And, to that point, I won’t be doing too many things that don’t help me someday get there unless it has a very high human impact like a civic or nonprofit cause.

This is not to say that the things I get involved with are for the sole purpose of one day being the IOC chairman, that’s silly talk. My point is that nothing I do today is disconnected from what I want to do in the future.

For those of you whom have no clue of all the roles I have, it’s important you look beyond the titles: director of market planning at Bazaarvoice, co-founder and executive producer of Style X, style contributor to Huffington Post, board member for AIDS Services of Austin, Vice Chair of the Austin Music Commission, co-author of Real Role Models.

What these roles mean is that I’m well-rounded and bring a robust perspective to the table. I’m not a pigeon-holed kinda guy. I’m more Renaissance in my thinking. Why does any of this matter? Well it’s simple: the future of the Olympics will be much more diverse and expansive than they are today.

So how do the things I’m doing today prepare me for this future role?

Well, Bazaarvoice is an industry-leading Internet software company that understands consumers, content and commerce. That link is becoming more and more important for both media enterprises and major retailers and brands, and this connection will prove invaluable for the Olympics as they have to manage their role as part-event, part-brand with the explosion of social media, global connectivity and urban living. Bid cities will need to understand not just the economic impact the Olympics has, but also the branding effect it has and who stands to benefit or lose from this impact. Cities like Beijing and Los Angeles have seemed to do a much better job of understanding this aspect much better than cities like Athens and Atlanta. I’m learning a ton about consumers, big data and technology at Bazaarvoice and I’m sure this will be critical for my future gig.

Candidly, Style X has plugged me into the fashion industry quicker than I’ve seen anyone break in without being a hot new designer Vogue czar Anna Wintour fell in love with or a fashion photographer like The Sartorialist’s Scott Schuman. What Style X allows me to do is connect within an exclusive industry while simultaneously disrupting it. I liken this to what Money Ball did for MLB or Fantasy Football did to the NFL, and I want to find the next Fantasy Football-like business venture for the Olympics. Being linked with the fashion industry through Style X gives me a great case study to demonstrate an ability to uncover hidden value by doing market research and exposing gaps in the industry or major events like SXSW.

Being a blogger is super integral to what I think I could bring to the Olympics. I learned this first-hand while doing media analysis and research for the current IOC chair during the Beijing Olympics. Bloggers, unlike traditional journalists, focus on the human elements, the interesting elements of an event rather than the newsworthy ones. Bloggers want superfans, not just eyeballs to please advertisers. The Olympics need to tap back into the superfans. The Olympics need to learn from what FIFA has done with World Cup…actually, what adidas and Nike have done with World Cup. As a blogger and social media wonk, I’ve learned some key lessons about building an audience, and think the IOC could make a ton more money from sponsorships with companies like Visa if they can deliver a superfan base.

Also, the Olympics should be a much bigger platform for place. Sure, we all know the hosting city and NBC or whoever is doing the broadcasting does a series of segments about the respective city, but the focus on place is still missing. The Olympics should celebrate creative energy, highlight urbanism and champion global citizenry. None of this is possible if the only place-minded activities happening are about sponsorships and news segments. My service on the AIDS Services of Austin board, the Austin Music Commission and the like are ways for me to better understand how to create a heightened sense of importance and support for place-based causes that the entire world should get behind like supporting people affected by HIV/AIDS and supporting live music and the Creative Class. The Olympics should be finding ways to tap into the education, health and human services needs of the cities they take place in and channeling that into a global awareness and fundraising initiative for causes. The Olympics should involve creatives around the world in an effort to celebrate global citizenry and a lifestyle of excellence similar to the excellence exemplified by gold medal winners. We can’t all be Olympians, but we can all excel at something.

Most of all, the Olympics should remind us that we all share this planet (cue the Captain Planet song) and we all have a purpose and challenge in life to fulfill that purpose. It should also be a reminder of the struggles and successes of humanity and the opportunities before our generation. There are races to win and records to be broken; some in sports you love and others in sports you’ve never watched. This is akin to the life goals we are challenged to meet; some of which we share with others and others we face alone.

I decided to share this goal of mine because I think regardless of whether or not I reach it, it’s important that you know everything I’m doing is teaching me something that serves a purpose today and in my distant future. I’m training just like those Olympians, and you too should train regularly. How hard you train to meet your life goals says a lot about how important winning is to you. And when that DJ Khaled “All I Do Is Win” song comes on, I want to be able to rap is truthfully.

Another thing wrong with our education system...

Y Rappers R Better Marketers (And M&A Experts) Than U

I just attended an awesome discussion led by Bill Pauls and John McHale, creative directors at Internet marketing & branding agency SapientNitro, titled, “Y Rappers R Better Than U”. I've attended half a dozen panels during SXSW Interactive since it started yesterday (Baratunde Thurston's keynote was badass too), and this one is by-far the best one thus far. Not only did Bill and John do a good job of setting the mood (Nas' Illmatic was playing as I walked into the room), but they also did a great job of balancing their desire to speak as the discussion leaders and moderators with the insights from the people in the room. It's amazing how many moderators don't listen to the audience, especially considering many people in the audiences as these panels are social media, startup or marketing wonks themselves.

The room was energetic, engaged and the speakers well-prepared and informed. The core messages or themes they shared were that:

1) Stay legit. Rappers understand that before you can grow your brand, you must protect it. Jay-Z has maintained his hustler mentality whether it be about the drug game or the marketing game.

2) Always be on the lookout for a bigger venue. Rappers are like highly-trained tech incubators when it comes to uncovering new opportunities and unlocking new value. Run-DMC's iconic "Rock This Way" song with Aerosmith is just one example.

3) Name check. Rappers have crushed the marketing game by being pros at name dropping without overly saturating their brands. Rappers like The Game and upstart guys like Big Sean are name checking regulars.

4) Master social. Sure, brands have done a good job with social media as they've become more versed and developed case studies, but rappers like Soulja Boy have really paved the way for rap's seat as the social media kings. Take that John Mayer.

5) Fuck the rules. Excuse my French, but this is an important one. Ice Cube has gone from a hard-core gangsta rapper in NWA to a rom-com daddy actor and maintained his authenticity by saying "fuck the rules", but doing so in an organic, balanced way from Boyz N Da Hood to Friday to Barber Shop to Are We There Yet?.

6) Manufacture controversy. 50 Cent comes to mind, but there are other examples in the rap game that brands should pay attention to. Don't be afraid to challenge your competitors a la Apple's "1984" commercial.

7) Reflect culture. Project culture. This seems like the other end of the loop from point #1 about staying legit. This is where you see so many rappers constantly speaking to their audiences through other forms of pop and urban cultures.

The discussion about rappers being expert marketers triggered another thought: rappers are highly experienced at handling mergers and acquisitions.

Think about it: Rap started in the late ‘70s, but didn’t really get profile until the 1980s with Run-DMC, The Beastie Boys and Def Jam out of New York. What else was happening during the 1980s? Did you see that movie Wall Street with Michael Douglas and Michael Sheen? Leveraged buyouts and a ton of M&A activity led by New York’s finance industry.

Since that time, rappers from LL Cool J and Vanilla Ice to Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa have been the winners or losers of mergers and acquisitions in the rap game. To that effect, I wanted to share some highlights of the last 25 years in hip-hop history and the M&A activity that has paved the way for the most powerful music marketing force we have today.

Mergers in the rap game are partnership that yield visible business results and amplify rappers' brands.

Merger Winners

Run-DMC & Aerosmith - The aforementioned "Rock the Way" track may seem more like a partnership, but really it was a significant merger of rock and rap...paving the way for mergers like Jay-Z and Linkin Park or even the late DJAM & Travis Barker.

Dr. Dre & Eminem - Not a merger in the sense of two equal parts, given the fact that Dr. Dre helped Em get his start, but by the time 50 Cent's career was launched by these guys it felt less like a rapper launching a career and more like a successful brand launch.

Jay-Z & Kanye West – Speaking of great partnerships, Watch the Throne has produced a hit album, but more importantly produced the most successful rap tour duo ever put together. This merger has yielded considerations by other rappers of taking a shot at a similar feat a la Lil' Wayne & Drake or Nas & Common. Chances are, they'll be more AOL Time Warner than Exxon-Mobil.

Jay-Z & Beyonce - The world calls it a marriage, but from a marketing and business standpoint this is a straight up merger. Probably the single-most important merger in the pop culture world since Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie don't push product outside of the movies they act in. Perhaps this is why Wiz Khalifa is dating Amber Rose; only problem is Rose has yet to show she has talent beyond her rear-end.

Merger Losers

Master P & Snoop Dogg - Sure, this move by Snoop helped him escape the grip of Death Row's Suge Knight, but it didn't exactly produce a successful, sustainable business.

Common & Erykah Badu - I actually like that Common song "Come Close" feat. Mary J. Blige, but I agree with the criticism he received during his partnership with Erykah Badu that he went a little soft. At least too soft to represent Chicago. His merger with Kanye West resurrected his career.

Acquisitions in the rap game are all about battles. Rappers have brands that carry weight and that weight is tested through battles. The winner gets the spoils, and sometimes - like Jay-Z and Nas - the battle itself isn't the real acquisition play.

Acquisition Winners

50 Cent - Fiddy is never afraid to gamble with an acquisition. Ja Rule and Fat Joe have both had their street cred and popularity acquired by Curtis Jackson's enterprise in the last decade.

Rick Ross - However, 50 Cent has taken an L of late to none-other-than Rick Ross. Rick came in the underdog, but left with a W next to his name thanks to the progress of his Maybach Music releases over the last few years.

T.I. - Houston rapper Lil' Flip never stood a chance when he challenged Atlanta's T.I.'s self-appointed designation as "The King of the South". T.I. immediately put Lil' Flip's business into non-existence upon the acquisition.

Nicki Minaj - Did you listen to Kanye's "Monster" featuring the Barbie Doll rapper herself? Yeah, she pretty much bought all of Lil’ Kim's 1990s glory in one verse.

LL Cool J - An acquisition expert and veteran having waged battles with everyone from Kool Moe Dee to Canibus. He hasn't maintained his relevance years into his career in the way Jay-Z or Common have, but he is one of the early innovators in the hostile takeover business of rap music.

Jay-Z - Sure, "Ether" gives plenty reason to pause when chalking up an L for Nas, but it's clear to see who the king of rap music for the last 15 years (post-Biggie & Tupac) is and he is most definitely from Brooklyn, not Queens.

Common - "I Used to Love Her" is one of the greatest, most important, hip-hop tracks of all time, but surprisingly pre-comedy Ice Cube got serious and shortsighted about his lyrics and tried to squash Common's statement. Common fired back and proved to the world that he was here to stay, no matter how big of a competitor he'd have to face.

KRS-One - Before Jay-Z and Nas there was KRS and MC Shan. One of those guys is still regarded as a legend of hip-hop, the other one not so much.

MC Serch - Not many people remember MC Serch, but his 3rd Base track "Pop Goes the Weasel" helped to put fire on Vanilla Ice's career. Serch went on to executive produce Nas' masterpiece Illmatic.

Acquisition Losers

Prodigy - One-half of notable, Queens-based rap duo Mobb Deep, Prodigy and Jay-Z never seemed to get along...mostly because Jay-Z was always in the seat Prodigy coveted but could never grab. Jay-Z closed the case on this one with "The Takeover" on The Blueprint.

Common - Just as Ice Cube tried to bully Common in his early days, it seems Common has taken a jab at Drake and his crooning. We'll see how this ends up, but it's already started as a failed acquisition attempt by Common. Sorry, no new fans for you.

 

*This may become my next book topic, so be on the lookout for more in the future, and remember where you heard this theory first.

My SXSW Music Guide (for badgeholders; wristbands may apply)

Don’t be lazy. I’ve already done most of your homework; listened to nearly all the bands and musicians, looked at all the showcases and venue lineups, and made this fairly easy to disseminate when you’re scrolling through your iPhone on Thursday at 7:30 trying to plan your night. I don’t care about day parties much because you should use the daytime to stumble into things and people and places. Plan around the night, not the day. Save energy for 1am, 2am if you care to, or just blow your load in the early evening. It’s up to you. Three sections here: panels worth seeing, artists worth seeing, and showcases/venues worth seeing. Use it as you may. Don’t judge me for my musical taste and I won’t judge you for jumping on some band’s bandwagon two years after they played at SXSW. - Joah

Speakers & Panels Worth Seeing During Music

(Does Not Include Style X or Fashion-Related Panels during SXSW)

Filmmaker Richard Linklater ("Slacker") reunites with his "Dazed and Confused" breakout Matthew McConaughey and "School of Rock" star Jack Black, for his latest comedy, "Bernie." All three will be on hand to discuss working together. Wednesday March 14, 2012 2:30pm - 3:00pm @ Austin Convention Center  

Bruce Springsteen's artistry has drawn worldwide acclaim and honors. His recordings include time-tested classics of rock and acoustic-based albums celebrating folk traditions. His live shows are fervent celebrations of the communal power of music. Springsteen keynotes SXSW in conjunction with the release of his 17th studio album, 'Wrecking Ball' and the kickoff of the 2012 Wrecking Ball Tour. Thursday March 15, 2012 12:00pm - 1:00pm @ Austin Convention Center  

Content has been declared king for decades, but good content, alone, is no longer enough. In today's digital media age, artists must also have brands that are well-defined and compelling to achieve commercial success and longevity. Look at the many aspects involved in creating, cultivating, disseminating and monetizing artist brands - sound, image, marketing, social media, distribution and retail strategy. Speakers include Kevin Liles, Kendrick Lamar. Thursday March 15, 2012 2:45pm - 3:45pm @ Austin Convention Center

Queens rapper Nas, widely considered to be one of the most accomplished and talented artists to ever hit the mic, established his place amongst the hip-hop elite with the 1994 release of his debut album, Illmatic. The impact of his distinctive lyricism and thoughtful storytelling reaches far beyond hip hop culture and has earned him a global audience of millions. Throughout years of multi-platinum album sales, critical acclaim, controversies, and fame, Nas has undoubtedly solidified his position as one of the greatest rappers of all time. On the heels of his collaboration with Damian Marley, Nas is currently preparing his next studio album. In this special SXSW Interview, Nas will be joined in conversation with Steve Stoute, his former manager and longtime friend. As the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Translation, author of The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy, and former music executive, Stoute has been an instrumental figure in utilizing the power of hip-hop culture to revolutionize the way brands connect with audiences. Friday March 16 3:30 pm – 4:30pm @ Austin Convention Center Room 18ABC

Steve Stoute, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Translation, is joined in a special conversation with Dan Charnas, experienced journalist, author of The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, and current editorial director of InteractiveOne. Charnas' previous work with The Source, Profile Records, and American Recordings provides him with a unique perspective for the conversation. The discussion will look at how hip- hop has spurred creativity and spawned enterprise throughout the global economy as the predominant cultural force of the new century, a phenomenon Stoute calls “The Tanning Effect.  Saturday March 17 11 am – noon @ Austin Convention Center Room 12AB

Artists Worth Seeing

March 13

8pm – Arianne Moffatt, Teengirl Fantasy, Motopony

9 – il Abanico

9:20 – Theophilus London

9:30 – Heartless Bastards

10 – Ume, B. Bravo & The Starship Connection, Love Inks, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, The Xcerts

10:10 - Santigold

11 – Bear in Heaven, Scorpion Child, Yellow Ostrich

11:30 – Beach Fossils, Tycho

Midnight – Schoolboy Q, Caveman, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

1am – Kendrick Lamar, Cities Aviv, Matthew Dear, Soldier Thread, Polica

 

March 14

2:10 – Teeth & Tongue

3 – Michael Kiwanuka

4pm – Alabama Shakes

5pm – Honeyhoney

7pm – Mars Red Sky

7:10 – Quiet Company

7:30 – CFCF

8pm – Andy Suzuki & The Method, Anenon, Cities Aviv, Javelin, Blood Orange, Fidlar, Maneja Beto, Say Hi, The Young Evils

8:15 – Anoraak, Maya Azucena

8:40 – Mux Mool

9 – Big KRIT, Sharon Van Etten, Tribes, The Xcerts

9:15 – Yuksek

9:30 – Housse de Racket

9:35 – Choir of Young Believers

9:45 – Action Bronson

10 – Chrissy Murderbot, Friends, Cherri Bomb, Cashier No.9, Daughter, Foy Vance, Jimmy Cliff, Lila Downs

10:10 – Kimbra

10:15 – Vondelpark, Katey Red

10:20 – Miguel

10:25 – Korallraven

10:30 – Shigeto

10:45 – Mannie Fresh

10:55 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Jr., Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire

11 – Teitur, Theophilus London, xxxy, Youth Lagoon, Twerps, Zola Jesus, Lee Fields & The Expression, Anna Ihlis, Dry the River, Screaming Females, Three Blind Wolves, Turbogeist

11:15 – Alabama Shakes, Juvenile

11:25 – Tycho

11:30 – U.S. Royalty, Pujol
11:35 – Wavves

Midnight – Bomba Estereo, Mahogany, Miike Snow, John Tejada, Django Django, Neon Trees

12:10 – Nguzunguzu, Dirty Ghosts

12:15 – Bear Hands, Doomtree

12:20 – Matthew Dear

12:30 – Andrew Bird, The Octopus Project

12:40 – Prodigy of Mobb Deep

12:45 – Gary Clark, Jr.

1am – Cowboy and Indian, Carrie Rodriguez, Octo Octa, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Astronautilus, Delhi 2 Dublin, The Men, Motion City Soundtrack, Three Blind Wolves

1:05 – Eve 6

1:15 – Andre Nikitina, Com Truise

1:20 – Slaughterhouse, Ume

 

March 15

5:45 – Little Hurricane

6:45 – M. Ward

7 – Polica

7:45 – Say Hi

8 – Electric Wire Hustle, Fiona Apple, Reptar, Shigeto, The Shins, Sarah Jaffe, Turbogeist

8:20 – Soldier Thread

8:25 – Yellow Ostrich

8:45 - Stalley

8:55 – Tanya Morgan

9 – Carrie Rodriguez, Yukon Blonde, Love Inks, Dry the River, il Abanico

9:05 – Jukebox the Ghost

9:15 – Kendrick Lamar, Lila Downs

9:20 – Teeth & Tongue

9:30 – Charlie XCX

9:45 – Com Truise

10 – Fanfarlo, Jonquil, Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Lee Fields & The Expression, Korallraven, Quantic, Shining, Two Galants, Walk the Moon

10:15 – Soft Metals

10:30 – Robert Glasper Experiment, Purity Ring, Nneka

10:40 – Curren$y

11 – CFCF, Class Actress, Jessie Rose Trip, Kaiser Chiefs, Punch Brothers, Stalley, Wale, YACHT, Mux Mool, Royal Canoe

11:05 – Truthlive, Schoolboy Q

11:15 – Big KRIT, Miguel

11:30 – Grimes, The War on Drugs, Steve Aoki

11:45 - Roge

Midnight – Arianne Moffatt, B. Bravo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Das Racist, Delta Spirit, Honeyhoney, Kendrick Lamar, Miike Snow, The Temper Trap, Friends, Jimmy Cliff, Seapony

12:10 – Talib Kweli, Sons of Kick

12:15 – T.I., B.o.B.

12:30 – Nicolas Jaar, Seun Kuti

12:35 – Sharon Van Etten

1 – Chairlift, Cloud Nothings, Ed Sheeran, Neon Indian, Niki & The Dove, Van Hunt, VHS or Beta, Youth Lagoon, Purity Ring, Big Sean, D.I.M., Doomtree, Flight Facilities, Kindness, Nite Jewel

1:30 – The-Dream

 

March 16

Noon – Gary Clark, Jr.

1:15 – Punch Brothers

1:30 - Quantic

2 – Fanfarlo

4 – Blitzen Trapper

5 – Heartless Bastards

7 – ANR

7:30 – M.Ward, Electric Guest, The Midgetmen

7:45 – The War on Drugs

8 – Ed Sheeran, Idle Warship

8:05 – Purity Ring

8:30 – Tycho, The Staves

8:45 – Quantic & Alice Russell

9 – Little Roy

9:15 – AraabMUZIK

9:30 – Ben Howard

9:40 – Zulu Winter

10 – Alice Smith, Delta Spirit, Eve 6, Housse de Racket, Paul Wall, The Big Pink, The Cool Kids, Caveman, Kindness, Nite Jewel, Pujol

10:15 – Bear Hands

10:30 – El-P, Glen Hansard, Bomba Estereo

11 – Bad Rabbits, Big Deal, Blitz the Ambassador, Built to Spill, Reptar, Thundercat, Adam & The Amethyst, Team Me

11:20 – Ghosting Season

11:30 – Asher Roth, Grimes, Juanes, Daughter

11:40 – Rapper Big Pooh

Midnight – Alabama Shakes, Candy Claws, Citizen Cope, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, SPEAK, Spoek Mathambo, Chairlift, Daedalus, Flight Facilities, Howler, Talking to Turtles, The Drums

12:10 - Sepalcure

12:15 – Das Racist, Knife Party

12:30 – YACHT

12:50 - Nneka

1am – Blitzen Trapper, Break Science ft. Talib Kweli, Cloud Nothings, Lost in the Trees, Mother Falcon, Neon Indian, Niki & The Dove, Skrillex, The Ting Tings, Tia Carrera, Vampillia, xxxy, Akina Adderly & The Vintage Playboys, Juicy J, Slum Village

1:15 – Blackalicious

 

March 17

Noon – The Big Pink

1 – Justin Townes Earle

7 – The Bright Light Social Hour

7:45 – Norah Jones

8  - The Cult, Michael Kiwanuka, Roge

9 – Blouse, Erin Ivey and the Finest Kind, Yuksek, Justin Townes Earle, Quantic & Alice Russell

9:55 – The Muthafuckin’ eXquire

10 – Breton, Charlie Mars, Fanfarlo, Penguin Prison, Django Django, J Roddy Walston and The Business, Lunice, Soft Metals

10:15 – Keane

10:20 – Freddie Gibbs

10:45 – Quiet Company

11 – Anna Nalick, Best Coast, Duck Fight Goose, El-P, Grace Woodruffe, Cashier No.9

11:45 – John Mayer, Chuck Ragan

Midnight – Daedalus, Flying Lotus, Thulebasen, Wavves, We Were Promised Jetpacks, T Bird and the Breaks

12:15 – Anoraak

12:30 – Lucero, M.O.P., Jimmy Clif

12:50 - Nneka

1 – Allen Stone, Beach Fossils, Flosstradamus, Hudson Mohawke + Lunice = TNGHT, Jukebox the Ghost, XV, Teeth & Tongue

1:10 – GZA ft. Brownout & Grupo Fantasma

1:20 – Katey Red

 

Showcases & The Venues Worth Checking Out

Party Host/Sponsor – Venue

March 13

Pitchfork – Mohawk

Yours Truly - Swan Dive

March 14

Pandora – Antone’s

Dummy XO – Barbarella

Halo Cyan – Barcelona

ASCAP – The Bat Bar

Chevy – Chevy Sound Garage

Ghostly International – Club Deville

Warner Sound – La Zona Rosa

Life or Death/R.A.P. – Lustre Pearl

The Agency Group/French Bureau Export – Mohawk Patio

Transgressive/Rockfeedback - Red Eyed Fly

NPR – Stubbs

March 15

Auditorium Shores

Surefire Agency – Barcelona

IHEARTCOMIX - Beauty Bar Backyard

Pitchfork – Central Presbyterian Church

S.O. Terik – Clive Bar

Paradigm – Club Deville

Elephant Room

The Roxy’s AustinRox – Empire Automotive

Yours Truly/Gorilla vs. Bear – Hype Hotel

Paradigm - IFC Crossroads House at Vice

Audible Treats – Kiss and Fly

Warner Sound –La Zona Rosa

Dickies / Filter – Lustre Pearl

Secretly Canadian – Mohawk Patio

Music Matters – The Stage on Sixth & Patio

AOL Music – Stubbs

Style X/Charming Charlie – Victorian Room at the Driskill

March 16

Biz 3 – 1100 Warehouse

ACL Live at the Moody Theatre

Billions Corp. – Antone’s

Madison House – Beauty Bar Backyard

FryeDay  - Buffalo Billiards

S.O. Terik – Clive Bar

Keep a Breast Foundation – Empire Automotive

Blacksmith Duckdown – La Zona Rosa

Dickies / Filter – Lustre Pearl

Playing in Traffic – Maggie Mae’s

AM Only – Mohawk Patio

KUT – Radio City Stage Convention Center

Communion - St. David’s Historic Sanctuary

Third Man Records – The Stage on Sixth

March 17

Nat Geo – The Stage on Sixth Patio

Thrasher – Scoot Inn

KEXP – Radio City Stage Convention Center

Captured Tracks – The Parish

The Windish Agency – ND

Sounds Australia – Maggie Mae’s Rooftop

Auditorium Shores

Lucero Family Picnic – Cedar Street Courtyard

Clive Bar

Deseo Central Lounge

Warp Records/Brainfeed – Empire Automotive

Hype Machine – Hype Hotel

SBTURKS – The Madison

Stubbs

My SXSW Interactive Guide

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 5^th St. or Jo’s on 2^nd Street or Halcyon on 4^th Street

Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch – HopDoddy’s on South Congress or South Congress Café on South Congress or Taverna or Lambert’s on 2^nd Street or Frank’s on Colorado St. or Moonshine on Red River St.

Dinner – G’Raj Mahal off Rainey Street or Park Side on 6^th St. or Haddington’s on West 6^th St. or Buenos Aires on East 6^th St. or Eastside Showroom on East 6^th. or Perla’s on South Congress or Whole Foods off West 6^th St. & Lamar Blvd

Shopping – Women – 2^nd Street & 6^th & 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 2^nd 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 (2^nd 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 12^th 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 9^th

 

“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 9^th 6:30-12pm

 

Learn for your Employer & Self Day #1 - March 10^th

 

“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: 21^st 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 @ 2^nd & 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 10^th – 12^th 10pm-2am

 

Learn for your Employer & Self Day #2 - March 11^th

 

“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 10^th 1 11^th 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 11^th 5pm

 

The .net Seven Second Pitch Challenge @ Mohawk March 11^th 8pm-Midnight

Mashable House @ Buffalo Billiars March 11^th 9pm-2am

 

Learn for your Employer & Self Day #3 - March 12^th

 

“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 12^th 6-11pm

 

Relax & Enjoy Austin Day - March 13^th

 

“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 13^th 6-9pm

Interactive Closing Party @ Stubbs March 13^th 8:30pm-2am