5 ms·

What does SXSW even do for the tech industry? Is it just advertising for companies and people peddling themselves as influencers?

SpicyLemonZest 7y ago
Yes, but that’s not a particularly charitable way to look at it. It’s like the old world’s fairs - it’s a conference where everyone gathers to look at new stuff and say “whoa that’s cool”.
thrav 7y ago
Twitter launched at SXSW. The interactive conference is a lot of things, and was historically a great place to get many eager first movers trying your thing overnight.
steveklabnik 7y ago
Remember that SXSW is more than just tech. It is like three connected conferences: music, film, and "interactive" aka tech.
- michaelbuckbee 7y ago
  and gaming and comedy.
  - philpem 7y ago
    That's one heck of a broad church...!
- ritchiea 7y ago
  Oh yea I agree, SXSW music & film are great. But as someone who’s been to SXSW I don’t understand the point of SXSW “interactive”. And in this article it’s talking about big tech companies backing out. Really what I’m saying is who cares if tech pulls out? Its the worst part of the conference. I can’t imagine anyone other than Austin beer & discount ice sculpture sellers would mind if SXSW interactive disappeared forever.
  - steveklabnik 7y ago
    That's fair. I think that, like many things, it's very important to a specific group of people, and irrelevant to many others. For a long time, SXSW was the cool place to launch your startup, and many people who still run in those circles remember launching their startups there, and have fond memories, etc.
  - zwegner 7y ago
    I mostly agree, but you're forgetting an important part of the tech presence: a lot of those companies hold public parties with free beer and food. I've had plenty of VC-subsidized consumables through the years (though I don't know that I could remember a single one of the sponsoring companies... so maybe not very effective advertising).

SpicyLemonZest 7y ago

Yes, but that’s not a particularly charitable way to look at it. It’s like the old world’s fairs - it’s a conference where everyone gathers to look at new stuff and say “whoa that’s cool”.

thrav 7y ago

Twitter launched at SXSW. The interactive conference is a lot of things, and was historically a great place to get many eager first movers trying your thing overnight.

steveklabnik 7y ago

Remember that SXSW is more than just tech. It is like three connected conferences: music, film, and "interactive" aka tech.

michaelbuckbee 7y ago
and gaming and comedy.
- philpem 7y ago
  That's one heck of a broad church...!
ritchiea 7y ago
Oh yea I agree, SXSW music & film are great. But as someone who’s been to SXSW I don’t understand the point of SXSW “interactive”. And in this article it’s talking about big tech companies backing out. Really what I’m saying is who cares if tech pulls out? Its the worst part of the conference. I can’t imagine anyone other than Austin beer & discount ice sculpture sellers would mind if SXSW interactive disappeared forever.
- steveklabnik 7y ago
  That's fair. I think that, like many things, it's very important to a specific group of people, and irrelevant to many others. For a long time, SXSW was the cool place to launch your startup, and many people who still run in those circles remember launching their startups there, and have fond memories, etc.
- zwegner 7y ago
  I mostly agree, but you're forgetting an important part of the tech presence: a lot of those companies hold public parties with free beer and food. I've had plenty of VC-subsidized consumables through the years (though I don't know that I could remember a single one of the sponsoring companies... so maybe not very effective advertising).