The first full day of SXSW is today – and if it’s your first time to go, you may get a little overwhelmed. Here are some tips provided by Fazia Rizvi and Ernie Hsiung. Fazia has been to SXSW many times and is very familiar with how things work. Ernie is the genious behind the blog little.yellow.different and was a panelist on How to Rawk SXSW.
Before you even get to the Convention Center, there are some things you may want to keep in mind. Ernie says to get the pocket guide provided for you by SXSW and put it in your badge for safe-keeping. He says to do this because the pocket guide contains the full schedules. He also says to keep yourself hydrated. Keep one-liter bottles of water on hand. Ernie and Fazia both have technology reminders. Fazia reminds everyone to bring their cell phones and laptops while Ernie says to bring an extra power strip. “Bringing a power strip makes you popular…since a lot of geeks there like to go on their laptops in the hallways and lounges (this geek included).”
If you’re not sure about how to manage your time, check out the schedule provided by SXSW. It’s a good idea to know what you want to see before you go in. “Another strategy is to find a panel by a speaker rather than finding a panel by the topic,” says Ernie. “Sometimes a really fantastic speaker can make the difference between a good and a great conference”. Fazia recommends having a backup or two just in case the session isn’t what you expected.
If you can only spend one day at SXSW, you can still have a lot of fun. “Keynotes are always good, and an important part of the SXSW experience,” said Fazia. She also says that many people overlook the gaming trade show. “I think that’s where al the new user interface and real innovations in social media technology are going to come from,” she said. She also recommends the core conversations because they are excellent networking opportunities. Ernie also recommends core conversations and the panels. “I’m a video game fanatic, so I always wander around the ScreenBurn for a little bit,” he said. Ernie also mentions the evening events. “I personally love the events during SXSW that have been created by the blogger/new media community – it’s a nice reminder that SXSWi parties aren’t just about standing around in bar trying to get into some generic web 2.0 party,” he says. He recommends 20×2 and Fray Café.
Keeping these tips in mind will help any first timer enjoy their experience at SXSW. See you there!