As the SXSW madness approaches us, a festival of this magnitude can be quite overwhelming. Whether
you are a first time attendee or a SXSW veteran, here are some of the items we packed in our
#SXSurvival2016 guide:
THE BASICS:
It goes without saying that SXSW is a marathon, and no matter how much you pace yourself,
keeping your energy up is a definite must. We suggest a regimen of Vitamin C, caffeine and lots of water.
Keeping something such as Advil on hand is also not a bad idea. Dressing smart is clutch. The weather in
Austin this time of year can change very quickly from sunny and 85 degrees to cold and rainy. Regardless
of how hot it is outside, the rooms inside the Convention Center can be chilly. So make sure to dress smart.
Have a sweater or jacket on hand (preferably water resistant), and make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
We suggest Toms, Converse, Havaiana Flip Flops or even a pair of comfortable, light weight boots, that
have been broken in, of course. SXSW is the worst time to break in a pair of new shoes.
STAYING ORGANIZED:
Between your necessities, and all the random cool SWAG that will be thrown at you this week, it’s very
easy to accidentally set something down or lose something important in the process. The key is to keep
those hands as empty as possible so that you can consume as much of the complimentary food and
libations SXSW has to offer. The Solution: We recommend The Q Card Case, created by Austin based
device that makes your stuff smart, and hard to lose. Now your things can let you know when they're about to be left
behind. It's kind of like an affordable sanity protection system.
KNOW YOUR A,B,Cs of SXSW: ALWAYS BE CHARGING:
With more smart phones, iPads, and other crazy internet gadgets per capita, it’s not a surprise that the
networks get overloaded and there can be trouble connecting at times. However, this is also a huge strain
However, remember to plug in your external charger every night. They take a several hours to
charge. You should also consider bringing a 3 way outlet splitter. That way you can use any outlet
by sharing with people who are already using it. Another solution, is to purchase a cheap couple buck
extension cord from Amazon or any store with an electronics department, so you aren't tethered next to the
outlet the entire time.
Getting Around Town:
It is an understatement to say traffic is an issue during SXSW. However, this year with both the President and the First
Lady speaking as keynote speakers, there will be extra road closures and precautions taken. The president is planned to
speak at 2:30 p.m. at the Long Center this Friday. His motorcade route is schedule to proceed through several downtown
streets -- these streets will be closed to regular traffic. Additionally, the President plans to make a other stops that
day “And nobody moves until he’s ready and then he starts his path and nobody moves again until he’s virtually completed
that path,” commented Mayor Steve Adler. The mayor recommends that employers allow for Austinites to work from home
on Friday. While the entirety of President Obama's stay in Austin has not been announced, the First Lady will be speaking
on Wednesday, March 16th. Click the above map for a detailed list of road closures, dates and times. However, when you
can, walk, bike or rideshare. For those who have never used Lyft or Uber there are promotions for both services, providing
free credit for first time users. For those who are familiar with the service, you know it's amazing.
SXSW PARTIES:
Know where the parties are, and get on the list for the ones that require RSVPs. A great article to check out
on how to tackle this beast is "5 ways to find the best SXSW parties and RSVP," By Music writer and
guru Greg Ackerman. For all the Eventbrite Parties, we suggest you go paperless and download the
Eventbrite App. Don’t have time to RSVP? for $40, RSVPster will make sure you’re on the list to 100s of
unofficial parties and events during SXSW, saving you the stress and hassle of filling all those of RSVP
forms. Planning an event during SXSW? Check out ATX EventSpace. Helmed by native Austinites, the
site is designed specifically for anyone coming into the city looking to book a last-minute party for the
festival. ATX EventSpace features a collection of some of the best bars, restaurants and event spaces
available near downtown, with more being added on a daily basis.
SXSW MUSIC:
Not sure what to check out? We suggest you check out our friends over at Hippohonk. These kids have
listened to hundreds artists and rated them in a concise, easy to understand list. Additionally, Unofficial
SXSW Guide offers a great, comprehensive list of FREE Music Events & Parties! Are you a musician still
looking for SX gigs? GigTown is sponsoring a huge party at Shiner's Saloon and they are opening up the
headlining spot to new GigTown artists. That means the slot is only eligible for artists that signed up
between February 1st - March 1st. Not only is this a great gig with a crapload of people getting weird, but
you're also going to get paid $500 for your hard work. Our friends at the Eye in the Sky Collective, the
lovely folks that bring you Float Fest & Austin Music Video Fest,will help judge & make the decision on
who gets to headline the 6th Annual Future of Music Showcase - So be ready!!
NETWORK YOURSELF:
Contrary to popular belief, SXSW is actually a conference and can be a great way to network. If you
don’t already have business cards, we suggest going through the official printing sponsor for our Open
Door Showcase, Post Net. They print everything from business cards to banners, signs, promotional items
(like apparel, pens, koozies, cups, and a ton of other SWAG items). Out of Austin? Not to worry, they ship
as well
WHERE IS THAT SECRET PARTY POPPING UP?
We frequently receive questions about who are the best Twitter accounts to follow for SXSW — Twitter is
the fastest way to keep in the know regarding the fest. RSVPster previously listed a must-follow Twitter
accounts here, but thought the list could use an update. Consider this list one massive Follow Friday and
be sure to follow @RSVPster for the latest party information, rumors, RSVPs and more. If you think this
list is missing a must-follow account? Tweet RSVPster to let them know.
Official:
@sxsw
Unofficial SX-news/updates/party RSVPs/rumors:
@RSVPster
@CameronatSXSW
@SXSWhoa
@atxhipsters
@sxswparty
@do512
@unofficialsxsw
@SouthbyFreeNoms
@SXSWCoOp
@SXSWPARTYGIRLS
@SXSWISLIFE
@sxswpartylist
@SXSWtweet
@FreeatSXSW
@SXSWhine
@austinmusicppl
@SXSWunderaged
Party Sponsors/Blogs/Music/Entertainment websites:
@chronsxsw
@chronevents
@austinchronicle
@austin360
@austin360music
@360sxsw
@culturemapatx
@austintownhall
@pastemagazine
@musicawardsSXSW
@bvSXSW
@TheFader
@IFCsxsw
@sonicbids
@AUSXSW
@mischiefonline
@THEILLMORE
@VICE
@hypem
@mxdwn
@EITSCollective
@Urbanedesign
@MidtownIndependenceTitle
@javelinabar
@leasebuddies
Venues (there are many more bars to list, but here’s a few of our favorites):
@MohawkAustin
@CheerUpCharlies
@HotelVegasATX
@WhiteHorseATX
@ShangriLaAustin
@EmpireATX
Additionally, there are a few twitter handles that we at Lucid Routes suggest you follow:
@lucidroutes
@atxeventspace
@unofficialsxsw
@socialquencher
@g_ack
@jacobstetson
@visitaustinTX
@SXSWMF
@festisocialclub
If you keep these things in mind, you will be sure to prevent being a #SXSWFAIL
