Sxsw 2014 (south By Southwest)

[Canas]

For you NG'ers that have never heard, SXSW is the largest film/music/media festival in North America. It's one part trade-show, with hundreds of exhibitions and speeches by representatives of massive corporations. It's one part film festival, where celebrities ranging from cool to crazy (Seth Rogen --> Nick Cage, or vice-versa) premier independent films and rub shoulders with industry giants like IFC. One part gaming expo, with keynote speakers and developers sharing trade secrets and shedding light on the behind-the-scenes work of game development. And finally, one-part massive music festival, featuring 700+ music artists ranging in fame from Coldplay and Kendrick Lamar, to lesser known indie heavyweights Kurt Vile and Phantogram, all the way down to bands with fans you could count on one hand.

Which begs the question:
Any of you NG'ers headed to Austin (or living in Austin) headed to this years SXSW Festival?

Yours truly will be in attendance, covering the festival as a member of the press, and perhaps we could meet up and discuss our boners for whatever musical/gaming/film act we're looking forward to.

And for those of you lazy NG'ers who are either too young, too stupid, too lackadaisical, tl:dr, of too ADD to give a flying fuck about this 'mass-media' nonsense, please continue talking about dicks as per usual.

[Zachary]

You should cover why SXSW pays no money to performers, yet the tickets cost hundreds of dollars...

[Sekhem]

i went a few years ago

not interested in going again

have fun if you're going

[Canas]

At 3/3/14 04:49 PM, Zachary wrote: You should cover why SXSW pays no money to performers, yet the tickets cost hundreds of dollars...

This video

Many artists have their travel costs covered by their record labels or the sponsors holding the events. It's sort of a win-win in that case, Coca-cola slaps their name on an event, presumably to sell Coca-cola, while covering costs for the artists they feature.

Naturally this isn't the case for everyone. Naturally the majority of the money winds up in the hands of the rich white people in charge of everything, but that's the way society is organized and not necessarily an issue with SXSW specifically.

Exposure cannot be understated. If you're an artist flying under the radar and paying your own way, the opportunity to have your work heard by a gigantic conglomerate of media outlets and record companies is worth far more than the travel costs alone. Bottom line is that when you're in the business of selling art, you aren't obligated to make millions. Artistry has nothing to do with financial gain, and the artists who are concerned about making money probably make enough money to afford heading to SXSW regardless.

I could rant about this forever, but I guess the main point is hype. Hype can easily overcome and offset the menial financial burden of attending a festival of gigantic magnitude.

[CiviLies]

I can't afford to go, but I've always wanted to. Are you going, OP, and if so, are you going to update the thread with everything you saw there?

pixpl0x

[HeavenDuff]

Massive event. I'd like to go sometime in the future. Too bad it's so far away from home.

[beheadedbymuslims]

At 3/3/14 05:24 PM, Canas wrote: I could rant about this forever, but I guess the main point is hype. Hype can easily overcome and offset the menial financial burden of attending a festival of gigantic magnitude.

nicely put

i've followed sxsw for a few years now but i'm not attending this year. maybe next year if i can finally get enough cash to go but have a good time in honor of this young soul who wishes to be in your place

[TNT]

I've been attending the free consort events at SXSW since 2009, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to go this year because of work.

Some of the bands I've seen: M. Ward, Explosions in the Sky, Cold War Kids, Bowling for Soup, The Strokes, Blue October, Shiny Toy Guns, The Cult, Dawes, Deer Tick, The Flaming Lips, and several other bands I've forgotten.

[Canas]

At 3/3/14 06:19 PM, CiviLies wrote: I can't afford to go, but I've always wanted to. Are you going, OP, and if so, are you going to update the thread with everything you saw there?

pixpl0x

Indeed I am going (which you would've made note of if you read the post in it's entirety), and as far as updates go that's hard to say; to be honest as part of my assignment I have to make constant Instagram/Twitter/Facebook updates as events happen, and whether or not that'll translate to Newgrounds.. well....

At 3/3/14 06:40 PM, HeavenDuff wrote: Massive event. I'd like to go sometime in the future. Too bad it's so far away from home.

I hear ya, you're from Montreal, no? Slightly more of a distance than Calgary.

At 3/3/14 06:52 PM, beheadedbymuslims wrote: i've followed sxsw for a few years now but i'm not attending this year. maybe next year if i can finally get enough cash to go but have a good time in honor of this young soul who wishes to be in your place

Thanks mate. It's certainly a financial burden (luckily I don't have to pay the ticket costs, but airplane/hotel costs are a total of $2000). But as an artist myself, my main arguments for attendance are the same as aforementioned: exposure. It's a journalistic opportunity like none other, and the potential gains (and the experience of seeing all the artists) far outweigh a mere 2 grand.

At 3/3/14 07:15 PM, TNT wrote: I've been attending the free consort events at SXSW since 2009, but sadly I don't think I'll be able to go this year because of work.

Some of the bands I've seen: M. Ward, Explosions in the Sky, Cold War Kids, Bowling for Soup, The Strokes, Blue October, Shiny Toy Guns, The Cult, Dawes, Deer Tick, The Flaming Lips, and several other bands I've forgotten.

Ah shame. I've managed to see a few of those bands myself over the years. But my list of "must sees" is literally more than 50. Should be incredible.

[KillerSkull]

I wish I could go to SxSW. It seems like a fun event, plus I'd get to visit Austin. Do me a favor and have tons more fun on my behalf.

[Canas]

At 3/3/14 11:58 PM, KillerSkull wrote: I wish I could go to SxSW. It seems like a fun event, plus I'd get to visit Austin. Do me a favor and have tons more fun on my behalf.

I can do you that favor good sir

Never been to Austin myself, and it's a bit intimidating showing up in a brand new city without knowing a single human being. But meh, lots of free beer

[Shauna]

My dick...is just so ridiculously large man. Just so crazy..

*whispers in your ear* and so hard right now.

[KillerSkull]

At 3/4/14 09:59 PM, Canas wrote:

At 3/3/14 11:58 PM, KillerSkull wrote: I wish I could go to SxSW. It seems like a fun event, plus I'd get to visit Austin. Do me a favor and have tons more fun on my behalf.

I can do you that favor good sir

Never been to Austin myself, and it's a bit intimidating showing up in a brand new city without knowing a single human being. But meh, lots of free beer

Austin is an amazing city! Everyone is real nice and you should be fine. The city is pretty easy to navigate, though traffic for big events such as this is a pain.

[Canas]

At 3/4/14 11:43 PM, KillerSkull wrote: Austin is an amazing city! Everyone is real nice and you should be fine. The city is pretty easy to navigate, though traffic for big events such as this is a pain.

I'll be hoofin' it most of the time, and most likely renting a bike, assuming thats a thing that people can do.

Mostly, i'm excited about tacos.

[Lepy]

I kinda want to go. Last year, I had the option but I didn't take it. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT NATHAN BARNATT WENT AND I GOT REALLY FUCKING SAD.

I live like a few hours away from Austin so I definitely wanna try to go at some point in my life. But honestly, I kinda see SXSW as a music and movie thing and I'm not really big on popular movies or music. It sounds like ultra fun to go with friends or something, though.

[Minion777]

I would like to go, but im already going to Vegas.

You should go to Vegas.

[Canas]

At 3/5/14 02:37 AM, Lepy wrote: I'm not really big on popular movies or music. It sounds like ultra fun to go with friends or something, though.

That's just the thing. It's a festival for INDIE music and INDIE movies, and although there are a few 'popular' events like the iTunes fest, the main point is to highlight relatively unknown artists

[Canas]

Wrote a massive festival preview if anyone's interested in any of the 51 bands (and the free 51 downloads I've put up)

:)

http://thenewlofi.com/2014/03/sxsw-2014-festival-preview/

[DM692]

Considering the fact that I live in Alberta and the tickets are apparently "hundreds of dollars" I won't be attending, but it certainly does seem like an interesting experience. Maybe some year.

[Canas]

At 3/9/14 12:51 PM, DM692 wrote: Considering the fact that I live in Alberta and the tickets are apparently "hundreds of dollars" I won't be attending, but it certainly does seem like an interesting experience. Maybe some year.

I live in Alberta, that didn't stop me. :)

[Canas]

For those of you wondering how the festivities went, you can see/read my entire photojournal here.

[Minion777]

Nice to know you werent run over.

[FRAYDO]

At 3/16/14 07:15 PM, Canas wrote: For those of you wondering how the festivities went, you can see/read my entire photojournal here.

FRAYDO likes this.

[Canas]

At 3/16/14 11:30 PM, Minion777 wrote: Nice to know you werent run over.

Yes, however I was only a few steps away. Even with all the bullshit one sees on the internet, you never quite get used to the real world sight of blood on the streets and people bawling.

[Richard]

At 3/4/14 11:44 PM, Canas wrote:

At 3/4/14 11:43 PM, KillerSkull wrote: Austin is an amazing city! Everyone is real nice and you should be fine. The city is pretty easy to navigate, though traffic for big events such as this is a pain.

I'll be hoofin' it most of the time, and most likely renting a bike, assuming thats a thing that people can do.

Mostly, i'm excited about tacos.

Tacos are best made by really old as dirt people, or young people in hip taco trucks. Look for a restaurant that is clean, and has a kitchen staff that consists of the most ancient people possible. I mean these people have to look like they are one minute away from being mummified.

[Canas]

At 3/17/14 09:39 AM, Richard wrote: Tacos are best made by really old as dirt people, or young people in hip taco trucks. Look for a restaurant that is clean, and has a kitchen staff that consists of the most ancient people possible. I mean these people have to look like they are one minute away from being mummified.

That was my exact experience at the festival. There was an artsy hip taco truck just a block away that served most of my needs, and the other taco joint I frequented had a chef that had to actually remember the Alamo