Spring Break for Creatives: My SXSW Experience

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South by Southwest: It’s kind of like Spring Break for the creative class, only with the possibility of more intellectually stimulating conversation. But it’s more than that. As a tech geek writing for Webtrends who is also a freelance multimedia storyteller, I found SXSW to be an inspirational learning experience.

Late last Sunday night I returned home to Portland, Oregon from the 24th Annual South by Southwest, a conference held every year in Austin, Texas that showcases the very best in Interactive Media, Film and Music industries. The ultimate goal of SXSW organizers is to produce an event that acts as a career-building tool for creative people (and for the companies they work for) and to bring people together across a wide spectrum of interests to share ideas.

The eleven-day festival and networking extravaganza is known for introducing unknown talent to the world and giving all who attend unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional evolution. Walking the halls of the Escher-like Austin Convention Center (and the various venues scattered throughout downtown Austin) are every possible category of industry individuals imaginable: content producers, musicians, filmmakers, songwriters, web designers, bloggers, record labels, film distributors, press, and burgeoning students. Add alcohol and social opportunities, and you’ve got a magical space in time called SXSW.

Here is a very small sample of my personal 2010 SXSW highlights, starting with:

Nearly 12,000 people attended SXSW this year, a huge increase from the 700 or so who attended the first festival back in 1987.

There were more than 400 panels, presentations, workshops, and book readings held at SXSW Interactive. More than 80 stages in Austin showcased bands playing their hearts out during SXSW Music, sometimes playing several times over the course of 5 days. Eight screens showed movies during SXSW Film which ranging from indie shorts to the world premier of the latest Saturday Night Live movie McGruber. Suffice to say, there was never a lack of things to do.

For instance, the following SXSW Interactive panels impressed me, starting with:

I also caught more than 15 bands (often more than once) during SXSW Music. Several now battle for the title of Most Bestest Band EVAR:

  • First Aid Kit “Tangerine” (video)
  • Efterklang “Modern Drift (video)
  • Surrounded “Safe Tomorrow Sun” (video)
  • WhoMadeWho “Space for Rent” (video)
  • The Invisible “London Girl” (video)

While I can’t speak for any of the other 12,000 people who attended this year – or the countless numbers who’ve attended the conference during its 24-year run – I can say for certain that anyone who knows me at all, in either professional and personal capacities, will now be enjoying the residual benefits of my SXSW learning experiences.

I’m definitely going again next year, and I hope to see you at SXSW 2011 as well!