Anybody going to SxSW this year?

[ballz2wallz]

Anybody be going this year? Ever since last year I've promised myself I'd be going every year. Now is the time to plan.

[Linzyhop]

in big words for those not as cool as you in the know.

[ballz2wallz]

Allow me to elaborate!

Our History

South by Southwest (SXSW, Inc.) is a private company based in Austin, Texas, with a year-round staff of professionals dedicated to building and delivering conference and festival events for entertainment and related media industry professionals. Since 1987, SXSW has produced the internationally recognized Music and Media Conference & Festival.

In 1994 as the entertainment business adjusted to issues of future growth and development, SXSW added conferences and festivals for the film industry (SXSW Film) as well as for the blossoming interactive media (SXSW Interactive Festival). Now three industry events converge in Austin during a Texas-sized week, mirroring the ever increasing convergence of entertainment/media outlets.

In addition to the SXSWeek events, SXSW is also involved in North by Northeast (NXNE), held in Toronto, Canada in late Spring, in association with NOW, an alternative newsweekly in Toronto.

Why Austin?

The first South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) was held in 1987 in Austin, Texas. Despite the fact that Austin was not a Top 20 major market at the time, the background and character of the city made it a perfect location for the conference. Austin was considered a fairly cosmopolitan town for its size because of the University of Texas, which draws people from all over the world. As home to the state government and Texas Legislature it has also always been a popular party town, with a reputation that goes back to the 19th century when numerous nightspots and bars were populated by General Custer's troops after the Civil War. These nightspots are located in the same areas where the 6th Street and 4th Street club and bar scenes now exist.

Austin's eclectic music scene goes back to early in the city's history (from Mexican, German and colonial origins) and encompasses a wide variety of music including country, folk, jazz, blues and rock. Central Austin boasts more original music nightclubs in a concentrated area than any other city in the world.

The classic problem facing Austin musicians was being isolated from the rest of the world here in the middle of Texas. SXSW was a way to reach out to the rest of the world, and bring them here to do business. To do that successfully, SXSW needed to appeal to people other than local artists whether they were from Austin, Ft. Worth, Chicago, Toronto, Munich or Tokyo.

National interest in SXSW was immediate. For years, music businesses on both coasts had been intrigued by what was going on in Austin. The cosmic cowboy, blues, punk and other scenes had already proven that Austin was a receptive place for bands to be creative. With SXSW, music industry executives gained a good excuse to visit.

International interest in SXSW began the second year due to many Austin and American bands finding their first success in Europe. Conversely, there was a lot of interest from SXSW registrants in the international bands who came to perform. SXSW now has offices in Ireland, Germany, Australia and Japan who help bring SXSW registrants to Austin.

The music event has grown from 700 people in 1987 to nearly 10,000 people. As Austin has grown and diversified, film companies and high-tech companies have played a major role in the Austin and the Texas economies. In 1994, SXSW added a film and interactive component to accommodate these growth industries. SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive events attract approximately 7,000 people to Austin every March.

SXSW's original goal was to create an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas. That continues to be the goal today whether it is music, film or the internet. And Austin continues to be the perfect location.


Personally, I'm more interested in the music south by southwest festivals + conferences , as it's one of the best festivals of the year. All the newest, next big bands are going to play there. If you want to know who you'll be listening to in 2008 or 2009, check them out at this festival first!

[Linzyhop]

too many words.

me tired.

explain in one short sentence.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

too many words.

me tired.

explain in one short sentence.

Biggest annual music festival in the nation, called South by Southwest

[Linzyhop]

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Biggest annual music festival in the nation, called South by Southwest

thank you.

never heard of it.

[7960]

I'm going to the country music festival. Not SxSW whatever that is.

[ballz2wallz]

Originally Posted by 7960

I'm going to the country music festival. Not SxSW whatever that is.

The CMA one? The one here in Nashville?!!!

We live states apart now and we'll finally get to have a beer together?

[Linzyhop]

i'm guessing he's going to the one at Gillette that's every year. I work those usually and plug my ears against the country music so they won't bleed.

[7960]

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

i'm guessing he's going to the one at Gillette that's every year. I work those usually and plug my ears against the country music so they won't bleed.

I don't go for the music....it's beer-fest! I've never actually heard the music

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

The CMA one? The one here in Nashville?!!!

We live states apart now and we'll finally get to have a beer together?

Sorry. Unless you're coming to New England.

[Linzyhop]

yea!!!! do I win a prize?