What to expect when attending SXSW alone and how to make the most out of the conference.
Attending South by SouthWest (SXSW) has always been on my bucket list. So when I had the chance to choose a conference or festival to attend through Pressboard as a personal growth opportunity, I hardly hesitated. After your first year at Pressboard, the company pays every year to send you to a conference of your choice, anywhere in the world! How great is that?!
I wasn’t thinking of much else back in August when I decided that SouthBy (what the cool kids call it) was going be my conference of choice. But when it came time to book my trip in the new year, I (almost) started doubting my decision for a few reasons.
- The election results. No more to say on that.
- I wouldn’t have a partner in crime at the conference with me; it’d be just me, travelling to SXSW alone.
Long story short, I obviously sucked it up and kept telling myself, “Anita, you’re going to SXSW. You’ve wanted this for years. You’re going to make the most of it!”.
So I did, and I don’t regret it one bit. Sure it took a bit more effort on my part since I didn’t have a wingman with me, but nothing great happens inside your comfort zone, right?
For those of you who haven’t yet taken the plunge (but are curious about what it’s like), here are my impressions from the week as well as some advice for anyone tackling SXSW alone:
Days are easy.
The interactive conference track at SXSW is jam packed with amazing sessions on the media industry, advertising trends, immerging technologies and so much more. It’s actually easier to coordinate which panels and sessions you want to attend if you’re flying solo, plus you’ll meet interesting people at these sessions that share similar interests (always a bonus when you’re on your own!). But as all the wise SouthBy veterans told me, don’t set your heart on anything because there will be line ups, and you might not get into your desired session. A backup plan is key.
There’s free food and drink everywhere.
And I mean everywhere. Alcohol is easier to come by than water, so make sure you’re keeping hydrated, especially if it’s a quintessential hot and sweaty Austin day.
Keep snacks on hand.
You’ll spend a lot of your days in lineups, which means skipping lunch here and there. Keeping something with substance on hand is never a bad idea. I kept a protein bar (and wine gums) on hand, always.
Nights are challenging.
If you can will yourself to start the night solo, you’re bound to meet some very amazing people and make a memorable evening out of it. The hardest part is always that initial move of stepping into a sponsored house, bar, shop and getting a drink, solo.
Play it fast and loose with plans.
You might make plans for lunch – but at SXSW, things change on a whim. “Lunch” can mean 12:30pm or it can mean 3:30pm – and sometimes it never happens. Never take it personally if your plans keep changing. It happens — just go with the flow!
Your phone will die.
It’s inevitable. Keep at least two portable phone chargers on hand, always, especially if you’re not staying at one of the core venue hotels.
Book early.
I’m so grateful that I booked the minute everything went on sale. I was staying in the heart of the action. That made it so much easier as a solo festival-goer to make myself go out in the evenings, or even to take quick breaks during the day.
Bottom line: If you can muster the courage to attend an event like SXSW alone, you’ll be exhausted, but so exhilarated and full of inspiration. You’ll meet some of the smartest, coolest people in the media industry and come back with new ideas for your own company.
If day five Anita could go back in time and give day one Anita some words of wisdom, it would be, “Get out of your comfort zone. You’ll meet cool people and have fun. I promise.”
