(Read my full story on the You Must Be Trippin’ blog)
Austin is weird, and they are proud of it. Our neighbor to the north is home to the massive annual event that is SXSW, and each year, it is the place to be for anyone who is even remotely interested in technology and the wonderous possibilities of the future. I was there this year as an #HOUSxSw Ambassador on behalf of Station Houston and Houston Exponential representing Houston’s strong community of creators and innovators. This is my latest article as a contributor to the Best Western blog You Must Be Trippin’. Please click the link to read the full story.
If you’ve never been to Austin and are not familiar with the phrase “Keep Austin Weird,” the month of March during SXSW might be the perfect time to get familiar with this quirky part of Texas, which also happens to be the state capital. There is never a shortage of things to do in Austin, but during the massive annual event known as South by Southwest (SXSW) you can multiply your options by a couple dozen points of interest.
Most of which might make your techy heart skip a beat or two.
As a native Houstonian myself, this was only my second time attending this event. SXSW, you see, is kind of a huge deal no matter what part of the world you’re from. Five tracks (or festivals) – Interactive, Film, Music, Comedy and Gaming – take up the entire downtown Austin area for several weeks each year during the month of March. People from as far away as Australia and China come to this event, and the roster of brands who lineup the streets and convention centers, hotels, restaurants and bars, for a chance to showcase their latest innovations in technology runs the gamut from tiny startups to global conglomerates.
It is very hard to see and do everything at SXSW, but half the fun is trying!
I’ll be honest, the first year I attended I was overwhelmed and did not get to see much of anything. That year most of my time was spent wandering the streets of Austin interacting with the massive activations taking place at almost every corner. I still remember the human-sized squirrel mascots that were sitting on some bench casually inviting passersby to download the app they were scrolling through on their iPads. It was very memorable to say the least.
To attend SXSW you have to plan. My recommendation is that you spend a good amount of time before arriving in Austin reading through the event agenda and schedule to find the sessions and activations you really want to see. The official event app is a great resource to filter through this information and to make a personalized schedule for yourself. Keep in mind, however, that in some cases you will have to arrive early to popular sessions to get in line for a seat. SXSW lines can get huge so don’t be surprised if you’re waiting for over an hour to get in!
I waited an hour and a half to attend Arnold Schwarzenegger’s session this year. It was so worth the wait!
Continue reading my full story on the You Must Be Trippin’ blog.
