sxsw 2014 tips

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SXSW 2014 tips from Spots

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We asked Spots who attended SXSW in 2011, 2012, & 2013 to give us their tips for a great/exhausting/productive/fun conference. Here's what they gave us.

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Page 1: SXSW 2014 Tips

SXSW 2014tips from Spots

Page 2: SXSW 2014 Tips

DS.

Page 3: SXSW 2014 Tips

People & Location > Topics. Plan your panel schedule around who’s speaking, and how convenient it will be to get to from your last event,

rather than strictly focused on the topic of their talk.

Page 4: SXSW 2014 Tips

Rainey Street. Where it’s at for chill front porch music showcases,

good craft beer, and avoiding 6th Street.

Page 5: SXSW 2014 Tips

Eventbrite & Google. It’s worth it to do the legwork in Feb & March to find the free events and parties. Smaller venues, better

conversations, great food & drinks.

Page 6: SXSW 2014 Tips

Swag on the Street. The best swag you’ll find is

walking around downtown Austin.

Page 7: SXSW 2014 Tips

Austin (Coffee) > Seattle. Progress. Flat Track. Juan Pelota. Bouldin Cafe. Jo’s.

Not Easy Tiger. That’s a myth. Don’t bother checking. We swear.

Page 8: SXSW 2014 Tips

The “Houses”. Actual houses, open all day, sponsored by the likes of

Mashable, Pandora, Airbnb, Brooklyn Brewery.

Page 9: SXSW 2014 Tips

EB.

Page 10: SXSW 2014 Tips

Don't buy food or drink. It is free everywhere during the conference.

So are concerts, before the music part starts.

Page 11: SXSW 2014 Tips

Don't bring your threespot bag. You think if you're going to be away from your hotel all day you need stuff, but you don't. Pen, paper and your iPhone

charger are about all you need. And your ID.

Page 12: SXSW 2014 Tips

See the city. Don't spend your entire day in the conference center. Hit the sessions in other places, and walk if you can. 

Page 13: SXSW 2014 Tips

KG.

Page 14: SXSW 2014 Tips

Embrace serendipity. Have a plan, but be ready to throw it away for

something better. Some of the best things I did I didn't plan for.

Page 15: SXSW 2014 Tips

Get to sessions early. More than once I couldn't get into one because

it was already full. 

Page 17: SXSW 2014 Tips

Review the attendee list. Try to set up a few coffee/beer meetings with interesting

people while you're there. The sessions are usually too big to have any meaningful conversations.

Page 18: SXSW 2014 Tips

Silicon Valley is the new Hollywood.

Don't get too caught up in the hype—find really tactical sessions and workshops to balance out the big-name

interview/roundtables.

Page 19: SXSW 2014 Tips

Eat a salad Or something healthy. But only once.

Page 20: SXSW 2014 Tips

LO.

Page 21: SXSW 2014 Tips

Find out in advance if any of your clients are attending

Find them/connect. It's nice to see them out of context.

Page 22: SXSW 2014 Tips

Keep your eyes open. Most of what I learned there I saw in the

"wild", not in sessions. 

Page 23: SXSW 2014 Tips

Track down the RVIP lounge. It will change your life. ;-)

Page 24: SXSW 2014 Tips

MG.

Page 25: SXSW 2014 Tips

ALWAYS BE CHARGING!

Page 26: SXSW 2014 Tips

Bring a water bottle and use it for water. Walking, drinking,

listening, talking = thirsty

Page 27: SXSW 2014 Tips

Bring a warm sweater. Conference rooms (and Austin) get chilly.

Page 28: SXSW 2014 Tips

Don't be a slave to finding the free food.

It's there, there is a lot of it. There will be more in an hour, somewhere else. I had some

incredible free food. But my god it was lovely to sit down at a restaurant, get served, drink

lots of water and diet coke, and order something from a menu. All by myself.

Page 29: SXSW 2014 Tips

Go to (some) things on your own.

It's a long week, give yourself space.

Page 30: SXSW 2014 Tips

Do your research. Have a plan, but don't be a slave to it.

(seems no duh)

Page 31: SXSW 2014 Tips

Also research non conference things.

Google Village, the Spotify House, the Canada House - all amazing in their way. Get on VIP lists - again, do some

research, get on a list or two but don't stress if you don't. 

Page 32: SXSW 2014 Tips

Have some freaking fun! It's amazing! Be open and soak it in. 

I wish I was going with you!

Page 33: SXSW 2014 Tips

MK.

Page 34: SXSW 2014 Tips

Twitter Hashtags. Especially for secret events and free food/swag.

Page 35: SXSW 2014 Tips

Don't have a plan The best things I ended up doing were not planned. From Exploring Google Village, Miike Snow concert, meeting

people from R/GA, concerts etc. Don't be afraid to break from your schedule.

Page 36: SXSW 2014 Tips

Talk to people in line Simple, but a few of the attendee's I spoke with in line have become good friends and are great for networking. One even helped

me find my apartment in Brooklyn. SXSW is a great opportunity for networking,

recruiting and promoting Threespot.

Page 37: SXSW 2014 Tips

NC.

Page 38: SXSW 2014 Tips

Take some time to distance yourself from the conference (doesn’t

need to be physical distance) to absorb all the information that’s coming in.

Page 39: SXSW 2014 Tips

Don’t go so big on the first night that you’re out of

commission for the rest.

Page 40: SXSW 2014 Tips

WC.

Page 41: SXSW 2014 Tips

Take time to decompress because it’s a lot to take in. Never underestimate the amount of good a salad will do your body. Or going back to the apartment

and watching a Will Ferrell movie.

Page 42: SXSW 2014 Tips

Check your social network and find people you know who are there for the

conference. I was able to see people I hadn’t seen in 15 years last time.

Page 43: SXSW 2014 Tips

See You inAustin!