As most of you know the SXSW Music + Film + Interactive Festivals and Conferences are fast approaching. This week, I’m providing you with 5 different daily tips in various areas (lodging, driving, getting around Austin, etc.) that will hopefully help you maximize your trip based on my own personal experiences.
My focus will mainly be on the Music and Media Conferences (March 17-21), but many of my tips and advice will be general enough that you can apply them towards any part of SXSW.
For Monday’s 5 Tips on Lodging click here
For Tuesday’s 5 Tips on Driving to Austin click here
Todays 5 Tips are about Getting Around Austin:
Based on my experiences in Austin, I still think taking cabs is the best way to go (unless you have a personal driver). Taking cabs and not driving around let you avoid the headaches of having to find parking (not to mention having to remember where you parked) and avoiding the possible fender benders that sometimes happen. Here are some tips for getting around:
1. Share Cabs – This is easiest to do when heading to the 6th St. vicinity from your hotel. You will soon learn that most people waiting for a cab have the same destination as you do. If you don’t have a large group of people with you already, you should consider asking some of the other people in the hotel lobby or that are waiting outside if they are heading to 6th St. and might want to share a cab. It’ll save all of you some money and also you might make some new friends or learn of new interesting parties to go to (we definitely did).
2. Get Digits – A good practice to get into is to get the number of the Cab drivers and Ricksha guys if they offer or even if they don’t and you trust them. It’s kind of amazing how much you can learn about a cab driver or rickshaw driver (cyclist?) in a 10 – 15 min. ride. I’m not talking about making a romantic connection, but they might come in handy. Many of these drivers/cyclists work all day and night taking on this job of cab driver only during the weeks of SXSW trying to make as much money as possible in this time frame. You never know, but you may get stuck at a party way out in the middle of nowhere and they could possibly bail you out and get you back to your hotel saving you hours of waiting around for a cab to be sent or one to drive by. As always trust your judgement on whom you ask for this info from.
3. Working with “Central Cab Time” – Seriously, if you have to be somewhere in Austin by a specific time (after 10 am, if it’s before you’re probably safe) plan on it taking you at least a good ½ hour to get into town if you are taking cabs. Getting cabs between noon and about 2 or 3pm can be insane. I think there was one day that we ended up waiting almost 2 hours for one. Ridiculous, but reality. So if you really need to be somewhere by a certain time, consider leaving an hour early or calling one an hour to ½ an hour earlier than you need it. It’s always better to be early than to miss whatever you were trying to make.
4. Stand Out From the Crowd – If you are leaving a party or show consider walking away from the crowd to have a better chance of getting a cab. You will have to wait around forever if there are 200 other people trying hail the same cab you are. So use some common sense and if there is an establishment (safe location) that you can walk to that isn’t as crowded go there and call a cab. You’ll probably get picked up so much quicker. This is tried and true.
5. Communicate – Most everyone is in a jovial mood while in Austin, so if you get over your shyness and talk to people you may end up having twice as much fun and making some new friends! This is the best way to learn of secret shows, great parties, best places to eat. Especially if you meet Austin natives or current residents. I’ve joked that aside from change of scenery, I sometimes feel like if LA was transported to Austin for this week, which isn’t far from the truth. You almost end up spending more time with your LA friends during a week in Austin than you do in a whole year in LA. I don’t really get that, why spend all your time with the same people? Hanging with one or two friends is cool but venture away from the pack. I promise you probably won’t regret it. I’d advise to keep in mind that you see these people ALL the time (or you could if you really wanted to) and you should make some attempt to hang out with and meet other people. This is such a great networking (especially for artists and bands) and social time and place that it’s a shame to waste it on people you see frequently. You never know who you might meet (just think of who goes to SXSW). You meet festival organizers, music and lifestyle journalists and bloggers, A&R people (if you still care about meeting those), music supervisors, bookers, managers, and of course lots of band boy/girls, artists, and musicians –the list goes on and on.. They are all out there partying, drinking, watching shows, eating bbq, you’ve just got to talk to them.
Check back tomorrow for another Five Tips for SXSW
photo originally published here
