| Posted by | Message |
SUB 
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 12:05 pm)
Who's going this year? I'm taking the whole week off of work.
ETA: Here's some additional info for any first-timers or those thinking about going for the first time. Things work a lot different at SXSW than most other festivals.
The more popular shows are harder to get into if you don't have at least a wristband. Even with a wristband, you may not get into the shows that you want to go to. There are a lot of things that factor into this and it sort of is complicated. I'll give you a brief rundown of how SXSW works.
In general, there are 3 tiers of festival goers, and most of this applies to night showcases only:
Badge Holders - Badges are at least $500. This is the highest tier and is mostly very rich people, media, artists, hipsters who blew 2 paychecks on a badge. A badge gets you the highest priority to get into a show. You also don't have to pay a door fee to get in.
People with Wristbands - The next tier. These are mostly Austin residents, because they are only made available to them in advance of the festival. You can still sometimes buy wristbands at different venues early on in the festival for $160-200. A wristband gets you priority to get into a show if there are no badge holders waiting. If it's a high profile artist, you better still get there early. You also don't have to pay door fees.
People with nothing - You are last on the list to get into shows. You can still have a great time, but you need to have several backup shows on your list in case you can't get into the one you want to go to. If you want in for a high profile show, you should plan to get there for the first band of the night and just stick around (if they let you). Many official "showcase" shows do not allow people in without a wristband or badge.
With all this being said, there is a lot more to the festival. There are TONS of free shows during the day, open to anybody, and usually don't discriminate on who gets in first. Many of them have free food and drinks. There are also cool RSVP events that only allow people in if you RSVP. This requires some research ahead of time to find all the events. There are some websites that do this for you and you just RSVP to the events that are posted.
There are several "unofficial" SXSW night shows that are free and open to the public. So you can always go to these if you can't get into showcases.
I buy a wristband every year after a bad experience that I had without one. I didn't really plan my week that well one year and I spent most of my time standing in line and not getting into most of the shows that I wanted to get into. With a wristband, I also don't have to pay door fees, so if you go to enough shows, the wristband almost pays for itself. I've used a wristband for 3 years and for the most part, have gotten into almost all the shows that I wanted to. I spend less time waiting in line, which means I get to see more acts. That's the path that I recommend doing if you can get a wristband.
Anyway, if you have other questions, I'd be happy to answer.
This post was edited on 1/23 at 9:42 am
|
| Back to top | Share on  |
WarSlamEagle 
Auburn Fan
Balboa Towers
Member since Sep 2011
13207 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 12:06 pm to SUB)
I've always wanted to go. Maybe once I get out of college and get some money.
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 12:41 pm to WarSlamEagle)
You can actually do a lot without paying too much. There is a ton of free "unofficial shows" during the day, as well as free day parties that have free food / drinks and music. There's a site that will be up when the festival gets closer that allows you to plan your day for all the free shows. You can even search for the parties that have free food / booze, etc.
P.S. You should at least be 21 if you want to get the most out of the festival.
|
| Back to top | |
Andre 
Arizona Fan
Marigny
Member since Apr 2009
716 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 2:06 pm to SUB)
quote:
I'm taking the whole week off of work.
If only
|
| Back to top | |
L Boogie
LSU Fan
Austin
Member since Jul 2009
1924 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 8:27 pm to SUB)
My place of business will be the Spotify house again this year 
Come by and buy a drink from me 
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:00 pm to L Boogie)
Spotify house has free drinks. Are you actually working there?
|
| Back to top | |
L Boogie
LSU Fan
Austin
Member since Jul 2009
1924 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:06 pm to SUB)
Still in negotiations but it looks like they're trying to keep our staff on this year. And okay, fine, free drinks...come let me pour you one and then tip me :)
|
| Back to top | |
MrCoachKlein 
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2010
4008 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:10 pm to SUB)
Me and some buddies might road trip from Oxford, I've never been. I think I might rather spend a week there when won't be so crowded
|
| Back to top | |
L Boogie
LSU Fan
Austin
Member since Jul 2009
1924 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:18 pm to MrCoachKlein)
It does get crazy, but it's a lot of fun.
That being said...if you've never been to Austin and you really want to enjoy the city as a whole, it may not be the best time to visit. Every place is packed, there's tons of traffic and drinks are not cheap (boo).
If you're just in it for the live music, though, there's really no better time to be here.
|
| Back to top | |
Projectpat 
Texas A&M Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
3069 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:40 pm to SUB)
Should be there for at least the weekend
|
| Back to top | |
MrCoachKlein
Ole Miss Fan
Member since Sep 2010
4008 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 9:46 pm to L Boogie)
Has the lineup been released yet?
|
| Back to top | |
Projectpat
Texas A&M Fan
Houston, TX
Member since Sep 2011
3069 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 10:05 pm to MrCoachKlein)
Announced so far: LINK
But it changes so fast, even the week/day of.
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/22/13 at 11:18 pm to Projectpat)
Try this site for the list of bands:
LINK
|
| Back to top | |
Javzz 
Maryland Fan
Member since Jan 2006
1068 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/23/13 at 7:51 am to SUB)
Should be off of work, never been. ACL was a let down for me, think this will be more my scene.
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 1/23/13 at 9:34 am to Javzz)
Yeah this festival is nothing like ACL or any of your other big festivals.
Acts I plan on seeing include:
Clutch
Eagles of Death Metal
Queens of the Stone Age (if they actually play)
Alt-J
Thurston Moore
Alien Ant Farm (for nostalgia's sake)
Third Eye Blind
Black Pistol Fire
Cold War Kids
Dawes
The Eastern Sea
Frightened Rabbit
Local Natives
Midlake
Polyphonic Spree
Quiet Company
Ra Ra Riot
The Sheepdogs
Surfer Blood
Vampire Weekend
Boats
I just updated the first post with an overview of how SXSW works.
This post was edited on 1/23 at 9:43 am
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 3/6/13 at 12:15 pm to SUB)
Bump.
less than 1 week away!
|
| Back to top | |
L Boogie
LSU Fan
Austin
Member since Jul 2009
1924 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 3/6/13 at 12:18 pm to SUB)
So excited! My favorite time of year.
|
| Back to top | |
SUB
LSU Fan
Member since Jan 2009
2372 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 3/6/13 at 12:23 pm to L Boogie)
Anyone going to the Belmont on Thursday? It has a pretty sick lineup:
The Flaming Lips
Alt-J
The Joy Formidable
Frightened Rabbit
Atlas Genius
Surfer Blood
Guards
|
| Back to top | |
TFTC
LSU Fan
New Orleans, LA
Member since May 2010
7694 posts
| re: SXSW Roll Call (Posted on 3/6/13 at 12:24 pm to L Boogie)
I would be remiss if I didnt urge everyone going to SXSW to go see Mount Moriah atleast once... they are playing multiple times..
vocals remind me of a young Dolly
|
| Back to top | |
