Picking the best panels of any day during SXSW is so subjective as to be nearly impossible. So instead of pretending to know the interests of the average SXSW badge holder (is there such a thing?), the following is what I plan to do. You can follow along if you like or leave a comment and tell us what you would do differently at SXSW on Saturday, March 12.
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This night owl will have to start the day with a very large coffee. Pack to survive, then leave the house with plenty of time for traffic, parking and general mayhem.
9:30 a.m.
It’s Not Tv, It’s Social Tv
If you’re like me, your brain may not be firing on all cylinders this early in the day. You’ll be the one wearing sunglasses and nursing a “Trenta” in the back of the room. But don’t worry, you’ll tell yourself, it’s TV! It’s social media! But then Twitter’s Director of Media Partnerships, Chloe Sladden, will walk through the door, and you will remember that you are at SXSW and big names come to this thing. Even at 9:30, in the wee hours of the morning.
Try to talk to Ms. Sladden.
Bladder health break.
11 a.m.
Drawing Back the Curtains on CSS Implementation
This is where you ease yourself into more complicated ideas. I’m going to this one because I like to know the whys and hows.
Ask Tab Atkins from Google Chrome about his rad name and primo job.
LUNCH.
12:30 p.m.
Sausagefest: Getting More Women Into New Media & Tech
Good to have this one after lunch, eh?
Meet with your new friends in the ladies room.
2 p.m.
Keynote: Seth Priebatsch
The next big thing is social media, plus games. I think. Seth Priebatsch, “Chief Ninja” of SCVNGR, will undoubtedly explain it better than I.
Ask Sth what his beef is with vowels.
3:30 p.m.
Bloggers vs. Journalists: It’s a Psychological Thing
This is where I geek out. Jay Rosen, press critic, writer and Associate Professor of Journalism at New York University, has a brain chockfull of insights and common sense. Believe me, I have been reading his every tweet for some time.
Try not to stutter too much when you ask him a question.
5 p.m.
An Interview with Mythbuster Adam Savage
Do I have to explain this? And do I have to bring my own hardhat or will they be provided?
Leave this interview early (sorry Adam!) to make sure you get to Esther’s Follies in time to snag a seat next to Doug Benson.
6 p.m.
Doug Loves Movies with Doug Benson – Live Podcast Taping
This is the highlight of the day. I need to start working on my name tag. I’m thinking “Julie & NOT Julia.” (If you listen to the podcast, you know.)
Try to get Doug to have dinner with you. After you eat alone, laugh your ass off some more at:
10:30 p.m.
Comedy Showcase: Comedy Death-Ray Presents
Get some sleep, because it starts all over again the next day.
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See our panel picks for Friday or check out any of the previews we’ve done so far.