SXSW: First Time Review
On March 11th, we packed our bags and headed to Austin, Texas to attend our first South by Southwest conference. For those who don't know, SXSW is a 22 year running, week long interactive, film, and music conference intended to expand our knowledge, introduce us to like minded creatives and avoid sleep at all costs. Overall, the conference was a productive and worthwhile trip that I'm looking forward to hitting for many years to come. Below are my thoughts, as a first timer, of what was most beneficial and things I'll do my best to avoid in future visits.
Due to my habitual procrastination on matters like these, I didn't prepare my schedule prior to arriving. This ended up being a minor issue as the printed scheduling materials were often more informative than the website. This made choosing what to attend and getting there on time extremely easy. Although I was warned by friends claiming a complete lack of organization, this was a nice contradiction and a pleasant surprise.
My greatest mistake was the number of panels I sat through. Each new panel I expected an improvement over the last, and each time I was disappointed. Rarely would the discussion stay on topic and even more scarce were panelists who displayed their true expertise. I would fully agree with the recommendation of Swiss Miss, that panels should feel more personal and less like a teacher to student set up. I'm told the panel “Designers & Developers” lead by Liz Danico was able to involve the audience, stay on topic and provide an amazing presentation. Unfortunately I missed this one, but if the reviews speak the truth, all other panelists should look to Liz and the other talented participants for next years panels.
Outside of panelists, I began to notice a trend early on. Any session that was outlined as technical, or skill based, seemed to underperform and went off topic. On the other hand, the inspirational or instructional sessions offered the most benefit, continually offering useful insights to everyday issues. Although you may not learn how to work with developers more effectively or manage an online community; these sessions jump start your ambition and enthusiasm to do great things. Two of our favorite sessions were Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh's keynote and "Turning Wine into Gold" with Gary Vaynerchuck. Although neither fell into the category of our everyday skills or techniques, both offered advice that can relate to nearly any task, on any day.
The most beneficial part of SXSW comes after the days sessions are over and you've had your Casino El Camino burger. The after parties and events were unbelievably valuable in meeting new people and sharing knowledge gained throughout the day. Without the time spent drinking tasty beverages and riding mechanical bulls, the conference as a whole will suffer dramatically.
SXSW is an event I'll attend for years to come, if not for the educational value, simply for the result of being around so many talented creatives. The experience ingrained the understanding that those in our industry are truly great people, doing amazing things.
Photos courtesy of Narisa and Alex Harris