Andrea Moor: Key Takeaways from SXSW

By Andrea Moor

Music Journalist

This being my first legitimate attempt at experiencing SXSW, I got my fair share of parallels of navigating a beyond-full schedule. As obvious as some of these points may seem, I must emphasize what my firsthand experience was navigating the week of events.

First and foremost, time management is of the utmost importance. Not knowing what you’re going to be doing a good chunk of your time due to last-minute lineups, is something that can be easily avoided. Most big-name acts will have a date and time outlined for their acts. If these acts are of interest to you, you must ensure it works with your schedule. If it doesn’t, make time for it. This obviously applies to other acts you want to see, regardless of their audience size. You should clearly know what your day-to-day will likely look like during this week.

Secondly, there are dozens upon dozens of opportunities to partake in free events. While bigger-name acts often come at the expense of pricey badges, there are ways to indulge in the work of different creatives. To learn of these free events, I’d advise you to follow and stay updated with the social media pages of Austin venues you like, and that you can attend (on the account of not being 18+ or 21+). I’d also advise you to stay updated with artists that you know will be performing throughout the week since there are always acts that come together at the last minute. Such as myself, I was able to see artists and groups such as Coco & Clair Clair, They Are Gutting A Body Of Water and Dream, Ivory, completely for free (the only catch being the expense of getting there and having to pay for parking). A lot of events happen to be all ages and free of charge, so don’t feel that you have to be a certain age or spend hundreds on badges to partake in SXSW.

Rest and meals are something you should also keep in mind. With SXSW being in the heart of Austin, it’s safe to say that several joints will not supply meals that satisfy you or your budget. If you know what you want to attend ahead of time, I’d suggest looking into the area you’ll be at, on the off-chance that your venue doesn’t have something you’d like. This way you can be familiar with the location and have an idea as to how much to budget for. With this in mind, you should think of what you’ll need to get the most out of your days at SXSW. If you know you benefit from a power nap on eventful days, maybe take one in your car before an event you really care to see. There were instances during this week when I left earlier than I intended since I was tired and hungry; next time I will keep snacks handy in the car because it’s not easy finding parking.

Aside from the weird fluctuation of the weather, streets shutting down and the packed venues, I was super fortunate to experience SXSW and see some of my favorite creatives. Your best bet is to be prepared! I say this since I’ll also be referencing this when next year comes around. Witnessing art like this, motivates and instills fuel in how I perceive and curate art. I love being located in an area that harps on the promotion of art in different mediums. It makes me excited for what’s to come.

Featured Image by Andrea Moor.