First Time? That’s Okay.

We’ve got you covered on the tips that can help make your life easier during this long week.

As SXSW approaches, you may be wondering what to wear, what to bring, and how to prepare for a conference of this capacity.

First, create a schedule. There are hundreds of panels, so planning in advance is essential to making your experience the best it can be. Once you have created a schedule of the panels you plan to attend, download the SXSW app to your phone or tablet for easy access at your fingertips.

Be prepared for your plans to fall through. More than likely, you will find yourself in a situation where you don’t make it to a panel or you have two panels going on at the same time and you must choose which one to attend. It is common for things to not go as planned at SXSW, so don’t fret about it.

In regards to getting around between panels, you may want to plan for long walks around Austin. You should definitely consider wearing comfortable shoes since there will be a lot of walking in between panels.

Take a break throughout the day. SXSW Interactive can be overwhelming and exhausting so be sure you take a few minutes throughout the day to take a break from everything. Also make sure you are getting a good amount of sleep each night.

Join the conversations on social media! Most panels will have a specific hashtag that you can search to see what others around you are talking about. Also be sure to check out the main SXSW hashtags and accounts to see what’s happening around you. You never know when you could stumble upon a surprise.

Electronics are important at a conference like this. Bring a power strip for all those chargers. You will become everyone’s best friend when you open up more outlets.

Bring snacks and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

Get to the conference early. Parking meters and garages fill up quickly the week of the conference. Getting there early will increase your chances of finding a spot.