#SXSW - you NEED to be there

It’s well known that everything is bigger in Texas. We’ve already talked about ACL, but I wanted to talk to y’all today about another big deal in Austin...SXSW. Now, for those of you literally living under a rock, SXSW stands for South by Southwest. SX is a conference/festival/party comprised of three major components; music, film, and (my personal favorite) interactive. Tickets are INSANELY expensive, which is why I usually tend to just hit up all the parties (#postgradprobz), but if you’re able to afford them they’re well worth the money. Packages vary, but I’ll let the SXSW website explain that if you’re really want more details.

www.sxsw.com

Now, you may be thinking, “Okay, so music and film are obviously just a bunch of concerts and movies.” That, my dear reader, is where you are wrong. Both music and film not only showcase upcoming talent in both areas, but also host conferences for aspiring filmmakers/musicians with a number of panels on a plethora of topics. For example, remember that Spring Breakers movie? James Franco and Selena Gomez were both in town to promote the film, and stuck around for a Q&A sesh after the film’s screening. 

http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/2828695/selena-gomez-ashley-benson-spring-breakers-sxsw-premiere-05/fullsize/

So when I say you’re getting a bang for your buck ticket wise, I mean it. I can’t even begin to give a list of the performers heading to Austin without getting a huge swell of jealousy over the fact that this year I won’t be there (go explore the SX official website because there are literally SO. MANY.).

http://www.eonline.com/news/517951/lady-gaga-announces-debut-sxsw-performance-says-she-can-t-wait-to-rock-austin-all-the-details

If you’re in town, head to Waterloo Records at the corner of 6th and Lamar (across from Whole Foods) for some free shows including acts such as The 1975 (C is crying while reading this... they are her FAVES), Jake Bugg and Cash Cash. They featured Macklemore and Ryan Lewis pre-Thrift Shop blow up, so you’re bound to see the next big thing! Perez Hilton always hosts a party and it's usually a great lineup of who you need to NOW.

Moving on to Interactive. Y’all know that we are BIIIIIIG techies and that love being the first in the know about new products and startups (I know, huge nerds. Whatever). So Interactive is my absolute all time favorite section of SX because that is where all that goodness is presented. This year, we’ll see a lot of talk regarding wearable technology for tracking exercise and other activities (think Fitbits) as well as apps like Whisper, 3-D printing and other hot topics in the tech world. One of the Mythbusters, Adam Savage, will be a keynote speaker for Interactive this year, along with astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

http://variety.com/2014/biz/festivals/sxsw-forget-music-and-movies-interactive-is-where-the-drama-lies-1201124750/

As I mentioned before, tickets are pretty pricey. Living in Austin, I wanted to experience every part of SXSW but wasn’t sure how to get around not having a wristband to get into events. Luckily, there’s a website devoted to every single free SXSW party and after-party that you can attend! All you have to do is RSVP, which the site can do for you (make an account and RSVP for everything. It’s SO worth it), and you’re basically good to go. A number of celebs tend to hit these parties and 6th Street, such as the boys from Workaholics (true story, I met Blake downtown and have photographic proof), Andy Cohen from Bravo and even tech geniuses like Bill Gates. You seriously never know who will show up last minute and who you’ll accidentally bump into en route to the ladies room of your favorite bar. 

If you have the chance to go either to SXSW itself or even just the parties, GO. You’ll get to network with awesome people while being in one of the best cities in Texas, and you’ll leave with an unforgettable experience and the desire to come back the following year. 

Who would you most like to bump into at SXSW? Tweet @ModernMagnolias and let us know! (Amelia would like to bump into and take a selfie with Andy Cohen or Seth Meyers!)