8 ms·

Looking to Get Creative? Leave the Echo Chamber. Drink. Skip SxSW.

45 points by startupstella 15y ago

caseorganic 15y ago
SXSW is a very efficient place to go if you stick to the sidelines, hang out at a nearby coffeeshop and do work. You end up meeting more people that way, seeing familiar faces, and getting more done. Every year I've been there I've gotten things done more quickly (business deals, press meetings, customer feedback) simply because of the sheer volume of people there. The key is to pick a spot to camp out at, and invite people to meet you there. It creates stability and easy collaboration. I am always surprised by the new and old people I run into there. Easier than spending a week or month going back and forth on E-mails trying to meet. Allowing serendipity to run it's course is quite efficient. The creativity comes from the conversations and living knowledge in small groups and hangout sessions vs. the panels and the ads. There are many layers to big events like this.
- startupstella 15y ago
  I totally agree with you. There are huge business development advantages to having all of your potential partners in one place for a few days. My point is that the environment doesn't really breed creativity as opposed to collaboration.
- pfraze 15y ago
  Yeah, I actually got a lot of work done by just moving from talk to talk with my laptop, filling the spaces with work and using the topics to learn and be inspired. It was a great way to think creatively and get non-coding done.
- saryant 15y ago
  I'm making the drive up from San Antonio this weekend to do just this. Anyone near Cafe Medici who wants to talk Scala, .net, whatever this Saturday, email's in my profile.
drivebyacct2 15y ago
Is it bad that I picture SxSW and groan, and then picture it full of pseudo-nerds who think they're nerds because they own an iPhone and then groan even more?
- jdrock 15y ago
  That's not an accurate impression of SXSW. There are many companies and folks there doing fascinating things and solving hard problems. If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center, you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW.
  - derefr 15y ago
    > If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center [also known as "SXSW"] > you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage [also known as "not SXSW"] > to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW. So, in other words, you get a benefit out of SXSW... by not going to SXSW, and doing something else instead.
    - dshanahan 15y ago
      I do this this is accurate. Going to Austin during SXSW can be really valuable, exciting, and inspiring. Paying for a badge and doing the panel circuit isn't worth the money or time away from what's outside the CC.
    - untog 15y ago
      Depends how strictly you define "SXSW". Point is that SXSW is a huge networking opportunity whether you go to the panels or not- friends of mine got to chat with staff at Foursquare, Spotify, and all manner of other organisations, just by going to their SXSW "space". There are very few other events that can claim that. (I mean, where else can you watch Dave Tisch speed-eat grilled cheese sandwiches?)
- chasing 15y ago
nwenzel 15y ago
So then the question that follows is how do you prevent any niche gathering, digital or real world, from becoming an echo chamber? Don't all like-minded groups eventually become echo chambers? Even HN runs a risk of becoming an echo chamber as a group of like-minded people that quickly popularize a news story and then comment/respond in similar fashion. I'm not saying that to bash HN. I love HN. I learn more from the stories and comments than any other source. I think "regular news" (RN?) is mostly a mix of garbage and entertainment. I like having like-minded individuals to learn from. I don't want to spend time in groups that talk about which Hollywood celebrity of the month is getting married/divorced/hired/fired/honored/dissed. I think a diversity of participants, diversity of opinion, and diversity of passions is a good start. I think we have that here (even if in a somewhat narrow slice of diversity). After that, do we just hope for the best?
- alaskamiller 15y ago
  You start with yourself. A lot of people spend time knowing which Hollywood celebrity of the month is getting married. If you shut yourself off from that you're just creating your own little bubble. We always live in bubbles. The only thing you have is figuring out how much you're willing to leave the safety and comfort of that and learn something new. Instead of dismissing it as useless.
minipark 15y ago
Has the site been hackernews'd? It seems to be down right now. Is there a cached version somewhere else?
- timjahn 15y ago
  Unfortunately, it has. :( Working on it though. Ironically, I can't even get to the site to start a migration over to WP Engine. Sorry about that!
  - startupstella 15y ago
    fucking SingleHop.
  - rachelbaker 15y ago
    If you have a backup of the site - you can install a caching plugin. That will help with the load until you can move to Cloudflare or move the hosting to WPEngine.
    - rachelbaker 15y ago
      Correction: *If the site comes back up..
    - timjahn 15y ago
      We have a caching plugin (which performs well under normal conditions). The problem is the server (or lack thereof). We're moving over to WP Engine tonight.
- redorb 15y ago
  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=cache%3Awww.entrepreneursunpluggd.com%2Fblog%2Fskip-sxs&oq=&aq=&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e50b7ed8b228eb18&biw=1920&bih=1019&ix=sea&ion=1 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&outpu... cache, although loading slowly
davemel37 15y ago
There are actually two types of creativity, one much more powerful than the other, and while I can't speak for SXSW because I have never been there, from your post I can infer that the creativity you are referring to is limited at an event like SxSW, but the much more powerful creativity is abundant at a large gathering of like minded folks. Here is how Napoleon Hill breaks it down. Synthetic Imagination: "Through this faculty one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations. This faculty "creates" nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation of which it is fed." "Creative Imagination: Through the faculty of creative imagination the finite mind of humankind has direct communication with infinite intelligence. This is the faculty for which hunches and inspirations are received. It is by this faculty that all basic or new ideas are developed. It is by this faculty that thought vibrations from the minds of others are received. And it is through this faculty that one individual can "tune in to" or communicate with the subconscious minds of others. The faculty functions by ONLY when the conscious mind is vibrating at an exceedingly rapid rate, as for example when the conscious mind is stimulated through the emotions of a strong desire." These desires that make the mind vibrate at an exceptional rate are: "The Desire For...sex,love, fame, power, money, music, friendship, harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement, mutual suffering, autosuggestion, fear, narcotics and alcohol. " While I am not a psychologist, and Napoleon Hill formulated these concepts close to a century ago, so I can't speak to where "Creative Imagination" really comes from...I certainly believe that there are strokes of genius that are not simply arranging old concepts into new combinations, but more like paradigm shifts that completely change the way to see a problem and create for it. I would think that an event like SxSW would have thousands of people whose minds are vibrating at an extremely high rate, and It is probably a great place to trigger true sparks of genius.
peterwwillis 15y ago
Looking to get creative? How about doing something which actually develops creative thought? Getting drunk does not sharpen your mind, nor does it help you explore new venues of thought (other than whatever you typically self-inhibit as a sober person). Play trivia games. Learn a new [natural] language. Paint. Write a song. Go and socialize with people you have very little in common with - look for new connections. But leave the alcohol behind.
- lrobb 15y ago
  Getting a buzz from booze may boost creativity: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338406/title/Vodka_delivers_shot_of_creativity http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338406/title/Vodk...
- Buzaga 15y ago
  I`d say any activity that lets your mind wander is helpful for creativity, Ive had a lot of 'clicks' while drinking... If you don't like drinking, don't drink, I honestly don't see the point in drawing a line on how people you don't even know should work to get creative
funkah 15y ago
Huh. I've found SxSW can help stimulate ideas, because you end up talking to so many different people and break out of your normal routine. It's not an echo chamber if you don't live in the bay area. It's pretty miserable for other reasons though, I doubt I will ever go again.
epikur 15y ago
The link currently redirects to a page that asks for my email, and the "skip this step" button doesn't work. This is a bit frustrating.

45 points by startupstella 15y ago

SXSW is a very efficient place to go if you stick to the sidelines, hang out at a nearby coffeeshop and do work. You end up meeting more people that way, seeing familiar faces, and getting more done. Every year I've been there I've gotten things done more quickly (business deals, press meetings, customer feedback) simply because of the sheer volume of people there. The key is to pick a spot to camp out at, and invite people to meet you there. It creates stability and easy collaboration. I am always surprised by the new and old people I run into there. Easier than spending a week or month going back and forth on E-mails trying to meet. Allowing serendipity to run it's course is quite efficient. The creativity comes from the conversations and living knowledge in small groups and hangout sessions vs. the panels and the ads. There are many layers to big events like this.

startupstella 15y ago
I totally agree with you. There are huge business development advantages to having all of your potential partners in one place for a few days. My point is that the environment doesn't really breed creativity as opposed to collaboration.
pfraze 15y ago
Yeah, I actually got a lot of work done by just moving from talk to talk with my laptop, filling the spaces with work and using the topics to learn and be inspired. It was a great way to think creatively and get non-coding done.
saryant 15y ago
I'm making the drive up from San Antonio this weekend to do just this. Anyone near Cafe Medici who wants to talk Scala, .net, whatever this Saturday, email's in my profile.

drivebyacct2 15y ago

Is it bad that I picture SxSW and groan, and then picture it full of pseudo-nerds who think they're nerds because they own an iPhone and then groan even more?

jdrock 15y ago
That's not an accurate impression of SXSW. There are many companies and folks there doing fascinating things and solving hard problems. If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center, you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW.
- derefr 15y ago
  > If you just go the panels and hang out at the convention center [also known as "SXSW"] > you're going to miss out. If you have a personal network that you can tap into and leverage [also known as "not SXSW"] > to meet more folks, you get a huge benefit out of SXSW. So, in other words, you get a benefit out of SXSW... by not going to SXSW, and doing something else instead.
  - dshanahan 15y ago
    I do this this is accurate. Going to Austin during SXSW can be really valuable, exciting, and inspiring. Paying for a badge and doing the panel circuit isn't worth the money or time away from what's outside the CC.
  - untog 15y ago
    Depends how strictly you define "SXSW". Point is that SXSW is a huge networking opportunity whether you go to the panels or not- friends of mine got to chat with staff at Foursquare, Spotify, and all manner of other organisations, just by going to their SXSW "space". There are very few other events that can claim that. (I mean, where else can you watch Dave Tisch speed-eat grilled cheese sandwiches?)
chasing 15y ago

nwenzel 15y ago

So then the question that follows is how do you prevent any niche gathering, digital or real world, from becoming an echo chamber? Don't all like-minded groups eventually become echo chambers? Even HN runs a risk of becoming an echo chamber as a group of like-minded people that quickly popularize a news story and then comment/respond in similar fashion. I'm not saying that to bash HN. I love HN. I learn more from the stories and comments than any other source. I think "regular news" (RN?) is mostly a mix of garbage and entertainment. I like having like-minded individuals to learn from. I don't want to spend time in groups that talk about which Hollywood celebrity of the month is getting married/divorced/hired/fired/honored/dissed. I think a diversity of participants, diversity of opinion, and diversity of passions is a good start. I think we have that here (even if in a somewhat narrow slice of diversity). After that, do we just hope for the best?

alaskamiller 15y ago
You start with yourself. A lot of people spend time knowing which Hollywood celebrity of the month is getting married. If you shut yourself off from that you're just creating your own little bubble. We always live in bubbles. The only thing you have is figuring out how much you're willing to leave the safety and comfort of that and learn something new. Instead of dismissing it as useless.

minipark 15y ago

Has the site been hackernews'd? It seems to be down right now. Is there a cached version somewhere else?

timjahn 15y ago
Unfortunately, it has. :( Working on it though. Ironically, I can't even get to the site to start a migration over to WP Engine. Sorry about that!
- startupstella 15y ago
  fucking SingleHop.
- rachelbaker 15y ago
  If you have a backup of the site - you can install a caching plugin. That will help with the load until you can move to Cloudflare or move the hosting to WPEngine.
  - rachelbaker 15y ago
    Correction: *If the site comes back up..
  - timjahn 15y ago
    We have a caching plugin (which performs well under normal conditions). The problem is the server (or lack thereof). We're moving over to WP Engine tonight.
redorb 15y ago
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=cache%3Awww.entrepreneursunpluggd.com%2Fblog%2Fskip-sxs&oq=&aq=&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=e50b7ed8b228eb18&biw=1920&bih=1019&ix=sea&ion=1 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&outpu... cache, although loading slowly

davemel37 15y ago

There are actually two types of creativity, one much more powerful than the other, and while I can't speak for SXSW because I have never been there, from your post I can infer that the creativity you are referring to is limited at an event like SxSW, but the much more powerful creativity is abundant at a large gathering of like minded folks. Here is how Napoleon Hill breaks it down. Synthetic Imagination: "Through this faculty one may arrange old concepts, ideas, or plans into new combinations. This faculty "creates" nothing. It merely works with the material of experience, education, and observation of which it is fed." "Creative Imagination: Through the faculty of creative imagination the finite mind of humankind has direct communication with infinite intelligence. This is the faculty for which hunches and inspirations are received. It is by this faculty that all basic or new ideas are developed. It is by this faculty that thought vibrations from the minds of others are received. And it is through this faculty that one individual can "tune in to" or communicate with the subconscious minds of others. The faculty functions by ONLY when the conscious mind is vibrating at an exceedingly rapid rate, as for example when the conscious mind is stimulated through the emotions of a strong desire." These desires that make the mind vibrate at an exceptional rate are: "The Desire For...sex,love, fame, power, money, music, friendship, harmony of two or more people who ally themselves for spiritual or temporal advancement, mutual suffering, autosuggestion, fear, narcotics and alcohol. " While I am not a psychologist, and Napoleon Hill formulated these concepts close to a century ago, so I can't speak to where "Creative Imagination" really comes from...I certainly believe that there are strokes of genius that are not simply arranging old concepts into new combinations, but more like paradigm shifts that completely change the way to see a problem and create for it. I would think that an event like SxSW would have thousands of people whose minds are vibrating at an extremely high rate, and It is probably a great place to trigger true sparks of genius.

peterwwillis 15y ago

Looking to get creative? How about doing something which actually develops creative thought? Getting drunk does not sharpen your mind, nor does it help you explore new venues of thought (other than whatever you typically self-inhibit as a sober person). Play trivia games. Learn a new [natural] language. Paint. Write a song. Go and socialize with people you have very little in common with - look for new connections. But leave the alcohol behind.

lrobb 15y ago
Getting a buzz from booze may boost creativity: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338406/title/Vodka_delivers_shot_of_creativity http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/338406/title/Vodk...
Buzaga 15y ago
I`d say any activity that lets your mind wander is helpful for creativity, Ive had a lot of 'clicks' while drinking... If you don't like drinking, don't drink, I honestly don't see the point in drawing a line on how people you don't even know should work to get creative

funkah 15y ago

Huh. I've found SxSW can help stimulate ideas, because you end up talking to so many different people and break out of your normal routine. It's not an echo chamber if you don't live in the bay area. It's pretty miserable for other reasons though, I doubt I will ever go again.

epikur 15y ago

The link currently redirects to a page that asks for my email, and the "skip this step" button doesn't work. This is a bit frustrating.