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Can somebody explain to me what SXSW is? I was always under the impression that it was a music festival in Austin, but it sounds like over the last 3 years it'

by blhack 16y ago

Can somebody explain to me what SXSW is? I was always under the impression that it was a music festival in Austin, but it sounds like over the last 3 years it's morphed into some sort of "social media" expo/convention. Has the entire world gone completely insane? A huge, publicly traded, multi-national consumer electronics company opens a place for people to spend money, and this is the most memorable part of SXSW? "Well, sonny-boy, let me tell you about the best SXSW ever! Apple opened one of their stores right in the festival and let me give them my money! It was great!"

waterlesscloud 16y ago
It started as a music festival in the late 80s, though "music festival" doesn't really cover what it was even then. It was from the start more of a showcase for indie bands to make their mark than a festival in the same sense as most other fests. Bands with little exposure (but hopefully much talent) would be invited by the curators, and reps from all the record labels would show up. It was a chance to make a name for yourself. There's also a music biz conference that goes along with it. They eventually added a film festival, and it's become a launching pad for indie filmmakers in the same way the music side did. It's not Sundance, but in some circles it's even more influential as it doesn't back off from genre material. It also has a biz conference for film. In the last 10 years or so, they started playing up the "interactive" side as well. Basically a conference for new media, internet startups, etc. That's been gaining ground and is now an influential event in that arena as well. It seems like it's on the verge of being a little too big these days, with not entirely favorable comparisons to ComicCon becoming more popular. It might outgrow its usefulness in the next couple of years, but right now it seems to be on top of the world in several arenas.
wallflower 16y ago
> Can somebody explain to me what SXSW is? The best succinct statement I've heard: "SXSW is Spring Break for nerds"

by blhack 16y ago

waterlesscloud 16y ago

It started as a music festival in the late 80s, though "music festival" doesn't really cover what it was even then. It was from the start more of a showcase for indie bands to make their mark than a festival in the same sense as most other fests. Bands with little exposure (but hopefully much talent) would be invited by the curators, and reps from all the record labels would show up. It was a chance to make a name for yourself. There's also a music biz conference that goes along with it. They eventually added a film festival, and it's become a launching pad for indie filmmakers in the same way the music side did. It's not Sundance, but in some circles it's even more influential as it doesn't back off from genre material. It also has a biz conference for film. In the last 10 years or so, they started playing up the "interactive" side as well. Basically a conference for new media, internet startups, etc. That's been gaining ground and is now an influential event in that arena as well. It seems like it's on the verge of being a little too big these days, with not entirely favorable comparisons to ComicCon becoming more popular. It might outgrow its usefulness in the next couple of years, but right now it seems to be on top of the world in several arenas.

wallflower 16y ago

> Can somebody explain to me what SXSW is? The best succinct statement I've heard: "SXSW is Spring Break for nerds"