It’s almost time for SXSW! But before you leave, here’s a few things you should remember to bring, do, and buy before you leave for Austin....

• LAPTOP: It seems like a no-brainer to bring your computer with you to SXSW. However, you may not want to lug it around while you’re out and about having fun, especially at night. Many people who attend SXSW Interactive prefer leaving their laptops in their hotel rooms, preferring to focus on non-computer activities during the day. Close the laptop, and you might end up learning more and having more fun! But if you absolutely must do some work, there is also abundant and free wireless throughout Austin, like the hotspot in the Downtown Hilton’s lobby. (Personally, I’d hike it out to Halcyon, Jo’s, or The Hideout instead.) Bring any other tech bibs and bobs you can’t live without. Additionally, it might help to clear off some hard drive space and backup your files before you arrive in case you plan on downloading photos to your computer, etc.
• CHARGER, POWER STRIP, EXTENSION CORD, ETHERNET CABLE: Don’t be an outlet hog. If your Apple computer’s power brick covers up free outlets, please bring an extension cord. Bring a power strip, if you’re got one, and you’ll be the most popular kid on the block during Interactive. Always Be Charging. Always Be Charging. The Convention Center never seems to have enough handy outlets (and your hotel room might not either). Note that wireless connectivity in the Convention Center can be spotty due to the huge number of people connected at once. Some folks like to bring an ethernet cord, just in case, so they can plug into the wall at the ACC. Each night, before you go to bed, do remember to charge your essential gadgets, like your phone. There’s nothing worse than having a dead or dying phone at SXSW.
• LAPTOP BATTERY: Don’t forget your batteries! Put it in a plastic bag if you’re going to check it! Effective January 1, 2008, the Department of Transportation (DOT) will no longer allow loose lithium batteries in checked baggage.
• SWAG: Self-promotional items: got business cards? Moo cards? Stickers? Buttons? Other swag? Bring it! People love free stuff, and that’s how they’ll remember you after SXSW is over.
• (NOT TOO FULL) LUGGAGE: Don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase for all the extra swag you may be bringing home with you.
• CAMERA: Digital camera with extra memory cards and charged batteries. And the battery charger, if necessary. And a camera cable or card reader to transfer images. Again, it might help to clear off some hard drive space (and do a backup) before you arrive. Oh, and do turn off the sound on your camera. Nothing says “I’m taking a picture of the panel!” like hearing those little beeps.
• CAMERA BATTERY: same goes for camera batteries. If it’s lithium, put it in a separate plastic baggie.
• CAMERAPHONE AND FLICKR: iPhone/PDA/Treo/Blackberry and attendant charger. Turn off any annoying sounds or embarrassing notification sounds, or else you’ll drive everyone around you insane from hearing those little iPhone typing sounds or an SMS notification wind chime. Before you leave, set your smartphone up to email photographs to Flickr. I like to set it up so that Flickr automatically adds a “sxsw” or “sxsw 2008” tag, too. Also note that cellular connectivity in the Convention Center can be unreliable due to the huge number of cell phones in one location. I’m guessing AT&T will definitely be spotty with all those iPhones in one confined area at the same time… so don’t be surprised if you can’t get onto Edge.
• SXSW MOBILE SITES AND SXSW SMS: Don’t forget to bookmark:
  
  • the official mobile site sxsw.mobi
  • The iPhone-formatted SXSW Interactive schedule
  • the SXSW Interactive Companion at webclips2go.com/sxsw08
  • the iPhone-formatted Music Schedule at sxswinfo.com
  • Your personalized SXSW Calendar at calendar.sxsw.com/myevents
  • You might also want to bookmark istwitterdown.com

  Don’t forget to sign up for the SXSW SMS list. Simply text “join” to 47979. You can also look up panels, films, and bands via SMS. Text ‘find panelname’ or ‘find bandname’ or ‘find filmname’ to 47979 to get schedule listings. Adding the short code to your address book makes it even faster!

• DODGEBALL: Configure Dodgeball to say that you’re in Austin. The short code for Dodgeball is 36343 ("dodge"). Send “switch austin” to Dodgeball to change cities. Broadcast your whereabouts to your friends by sending “@place name” and broadcast a message to all your friends by sending “! your message here” to Dodgeball. “Off,” which turns Dodgeball off to the night, and “locate,” which tells you where your friends last checked in at, are handy commands, too.
• UPCOMING: Community event site upcoming.yahoo.com is a must if you’re attending SXSW Interactive, as many of the official and unofficial evening events and parties are listed there. Other attendees also self-organize outings to go bowling, visit the Rodeo, or meet like-minded folks. So don’t forget to RSVP to all the cool parties! And sign up for Kick! while you’re at it.
• TWITTER: Twitter is basically the easiest way to keep in touch with your fellow SXSWers, but people at SXSW are a chatty bunch. I’m hesitant about allowing Twitter to send my friend’s updates to my phone this year, given the high volume of messages sent out last year. Bookmark the mobile Twitter site, m.twitter.com in case the volume gets too high. And if you do have SMS updates on, I recommend setting Twitter off during sleeping hours, say between 1 AM and 8 AM. If you don’t have SMS updates on, you might also want to turn on direct message forwarding to SMS. I hope you all increased your SMS plans with your cellular provider already! You may also want to warn your Twitter friends that you’re going to SXSW, and that it’s OK to unsubscribe from you for a little while. Hint: if you’re on AT&T, dial *DATA# to see your remaining text messages for this billing cycle.
• PHONE ADDRESS BOOK: Enter in the numbers of folks to meet up with (handy to have in case SMS or email is too slow). The SXSW Headquarters line is (512) 467-7979. Also enter in the phone number to your hotel’s front desk and airline customer support numbers and bookmark Orbitz Mobile, for airport delay information and flight status, if you’re flying into AUS. I would also add a few Austin taxi companies into your phone, like Austin Yellow Checker Cab, at (512) 452-9999, Austin Cab Company at (512) 478-2222, and Lone Star Cab at (512) 836-4900. In Austin, I’ve had bad luck trying to hail a cab from the street (unlike NYC) so calling ahead is always, always recommended. And in the rare instance that you want to call 411, use Google’s free 411 service, at (800) 466-4411.
• CONFIRMATION EMAILS AND SUCH: Just to be safe, bring printouts of your flight itinerary, SXSW 2008 registration confirmation email, hotel confirmation email, the SXSW Baby! guide on where to eat during SXSW 2008, perhaps a downtown Austin map, and schedules for public transit options like the free Dillo or inexpensive Airport Flyer. Just in case.
• MAPS OF FILM AND MUSIC VENUES: You can also print out film venues and music venues [PDF] if necessary. Hint: if you bought a Badge, they will give you this stuff in the Big Bag. Look for the pocket guide inside the tote bag. If you only have a film pass or music wristband, or are winging it, you should print out the maps for yourself.
• YOUR PERSONALIZED SXSW CALENDAR: By now you probably have a tentative schedule of panels, keynotes, screenings, parties, music showcases, unofficial events, sightseeing, and more from the Personalized SXSW Calendar (you can any event using the “add to calendar” link) or your sched.org calendar. Print it out and/or sync it to your iPhone/PDA/etc. Google also recently introduced gCal sync with Outlook if you’re wondering how to get .ics files into your Outlook; use the “Import Calendar” function. Make sure you have the correct time zone chosen for Austin. I find it’s always good to have a paper copy, just in case. Do one last sweep of the schedule, knowing you may not make it to 50% of the stuff you choose. What you really need at SXSW is both your personal picks and the master lists and schedules. Bring your Plan B, and Plan C, and Plan D, and the knowledge that any of your plans may fly out the window the minute you wake up. Be flexible, but bring a game plan. If you’re really dying to get into something (especially a popular panel or small-capacity party), arrive early.
• FREE PARTIES LIST FOR MUSIC: Print out the free day time events from Austin showlist (highly recommended). The Austin showlist has printable pages! Look for the “printable” links above each day. Also, bring pens and a highlighter so you can easily choose what you want to see. I recommend printing out the entire schedule from showlistaustin.com since plans can change very quickly. It’s way easier to make plans for the day during breakfast or find a backup party if you have the entire Showlist schedule with you. As I mentioned earliier, you really need both your personal picks and the master Austin showlist and evening schedules on hand.
• MP3 PLAYER: For the plane, an mp3 player, filled with a ton of music from the the unofficial SXSW BitTorrent file.  And don’t forget your charger for that device, either!
• GOOD SHOES: Wear the most comfortable shoes you own. Now is not the time to break in new shoes. You will be standing, a lot, especially if you’re doing SXSW Music. Purchase padded insoles, for shock absorption. Bring multiple pairs of comfortable shoes, so you can air them out and alternate. Closed-toe shoes work better, because Sixth Street gets dirty, and the bars are crowded. Sometimes it rains, so don’t bring any shoes that bleed if they get wet. Leave those flimsy slippers and smelly flip-flops at home.
• EARPLUGS: Bring good ear plugs. I like to bring multiple pairs, in case you lose one earplug or have a friend who is unprepared. They don’t take up space, so why not bring the entire box? This is especially important for the Music Festival. And who knows how good thick walls of your hotel room are?
• A RESTED BODY: Get plenty of sleep before SXSW because you’re going to need it. If you arrive in Austin tired, you’re only going to get more tired.
• SLEEP MASK: This + earplugs = awesome power nap time! Sometimes you just need a disco nap.
• PEN AND PAPER: Handy if you want to take notes old school style. You never know when you’ll need it. Also good for writing on the back of business cards.
• COMFORT ITEMS: Chapstick, band-aids, travel size lotion bottles, extra hair ties (if you have long hair), sanitizing hand-gel (Purell travel size), tissues/napkins, floss (for post-BBQ cleanup), breath mints/gum, eye drops, vitamins/Emergen-C, stain stick and handi-wipes (for sticky BBQ messes), and Woolite single wash packets, in case you need to hand wash something. The hand sanitizer is especially handy if you find yourself at an outdoor party with BBQ and only porta-potties during the Music Fest.
• SNACKS: If you’re flying, bring some food for the plane. Also consider bringing snacks that are portable, healthy, and non-perishable. Don’t forget that SXSW is a blur of beer, BBQ, and tacos, so some fruits and veggies will be in order at some point. Bring dried fruit, nuts, granola, trail mix, instant oatmeal, apples, oranges, crackers, other things to nosh on, just in case. You probably shouldn’t eat only queso and brisket the entire time you’re there, and you’ll be pressed for time, often. The food in the Convention Center’s tradeshow area...leaves something to be desired. Bonus: if you have a room with a fridge (I think you can get them for a small fee at the Hilton) or kitchenette, visit the Whole Foods (via cab or Dillo) and pick up some healthy snacks and water.
• WATER: Stay hydrated. You’re going to be drinking, talking, standing, walking, and more. Drink lots of water, especially if you’re spending a lot of time at open bars. Of which, you’ll probably be doing a lot, so pace yourself. If you’re flying, have an empty water bottle for the plane, so you can get through US security at the airport, and then fill it up later.
• MEDICATION: Claritin. Nose sprays. Eye drops. More tissues. It’s springtime in Austin, and that means allergies, thanks to ragweed. Note: there is a CVS on Congress and 5th Street, but the pharmacy is only open Mondays through Fridays, 8:00am-6:00pm. This particular CVS location is also closed on Sundays.
• MONEY: The average tourist spends $24 a day in Austin. You’ll probably spend more if you’re eating, drinking, and parking or taking cabs. That convention center latte isn’t going to be cheap either. Have lots of small bills on hand and don’t forget to tip the waitstaff! They have to put up with tens of thousands of tourists in their town for 11 days straight. 
• A COAT AND FLEXIBLE CLOTHING: Dress in layers. Bring a light jacket or sweatshirt, because SXSW can get quite chilly at night, and the Convention Center is highly air conditioned! Austin spring is very unpredictable. It might be hot and humid the whole time you’re there, or it might be overcast and drizzling. Dress code tends towards the casual but hip. Pack accordingly.
• RAIN PLAN: An umbrella or rain poncho, in case of sudden thunderstorms. Yes, it does happen! And it’s not pretty, especially if you’re at an outdoor show and it starts hailing on the band playing.
• HUMOR, PATIENCE, AND A SMILE: Please don’t forget these at home. Be friendly. And know that even if you didn’t get into that one panel, party, screening, show, or club, there’s plenty of fun elsewhere during SXSW.

TO DO AS SOON AS YOU GET TO AUSTIN

1. BREATHE: in that sweet Texas air! Mmmm.
2. LODGINGS: Go check into your hotel as soon as possible. Drop your bags off.
3. REGISTER: Go stand in line at the Convention Center to get your badge as soon as possible (lines will get long, heinously long) and bring a pen or something to fill out the registration form.
4. GET THE BAG: Go get your “big bag” of conference materials (this is heavy, and filled with swag), go back to the hotel, and empty it out. I usually take out the conference guides/schedules, the Austin Chronicle, and party invites, and leave the rest for *cough* later. The pocket guides are key to SXSW survival. You can fill up your iCal all you want, but sometimes, you need the pocket guide. Don’t lose it! They run out every year. Interactive attendees, be sure to look inside the Conference Guide for a special note from Bruce Sterling who unfortunately cannot make it to SXSWi this year. Platinum badgeholders, note that the SXSW Music pocket guides and materials often aren’t ready until a few days into the Interactive/Film conferences.
5. BREATHE AGAIN: Take a nap or grab a quiet beer before the insanity starts.
6. GET THE PAPER: Going to SXSW Music? If you don’t have a music badge, make sure you have a copy of the Austin Chronicle (Austin’s free alt-weekly) as they’ll have the entire showcase schedule printed up inside. This can easily be removed, and folded up. Also don’t forget to cut off the “tail” of your wristband.
7. GET READY: Expect exhaustion—relax when you get home! You can always sleep on the plane. Right?
8. GO: And most importantly be ready to: have fun, introduce yourself to strangers, to sleep too little, eat far too well, listen a whole bunch, think so hard your brain hurts, get way too excited, mix and mingle with tons of fascinating people, trade business cards, put names to faces to URLs, take a lot of photographs, drink lots of Shiner or Lone Star or Red Stripe or what have you, rock out, smile until your face hurts, make bundles of new friends, expand your blogroll like nobody’s business, fill up your brain with all sorts of new ideas, talk too much, see a lot of exciting and cool and inspiring things, have a ton of fun, and network like you’ve never done before.

Austin, here we come!

Posted by kathryn on 03/04 at 12:31 PM