UTG @ SXSW 2014: SXSW On The Cheap

March 5th, 2014

Matthew Leimkuehler

For the better part of the first week in March I’m restless. I spend my nights tossing and turning endlessly, as the same questions and riddles race through my head. Over and over, I find myself in a panic, wondering what the hell I’m going to do about SXSW. How will I see everything? What is the best approach for maximum coverage? How will I survive?

You wont. It is that simple.

SXSW is a clusterfuck. It is an industry shitshow and a haven for music lovers international. Everyone who has ever heard a song that gave them butterflies will be attending. There will be more people in Austin for this festival than from my hometown, Kansas City. There is no scientific theory that is going to solve the chaos.

So ultimately, SXSW comes down to one grand decision: are you willing to pay to possibly see whatever band you’re smitten with?

Unlike most festivals; SXSW offers two choices in terms of attendance. You can go all out and buy a badge or wristband for the cost of a small down payment on a heavily used ’90s model Ford Taurus, or you can go rogue. Through the power of day parties, most of which boast no cover with RSVP, festival attendees can manage to see anything and everything they want without having to grab a payday title loan before making their way to Austin.

Here is my advice for attending SXSW on the cheap:

Step one is the most important: RSVP to everything. EVERYTHING. Don’t pick and choose based on what you think you’d like to see. While in theory, this logic would seem to be a way to save time, SXSW is not fool-proof. There is a better than average chance that when you get to your desired showcase, the venue will be at capacity. At that point having RSVPed to everything will come in handy because you can simply go anywhere and see anything. The greatest adventure of SXSW is discovering the next big thing. So live free and bar hop with no plan.

Since the day parties tend to run anywhere from 10AM to 5PM (in most cases), you’ve got rough 7 hours to find, see, and do whatever you want before “the man” starts asking for you badge. Wake up early and get your ass down to Sixth Street before the area starts getting crowded. Take full advantage of the fact that SXSW runs until 4AM and that attendees will be sleeping in. A few years back, I saw Smokey Robinson in a bookstore at 10:30AM with 6 other people. Few things that I’ve experienced in music have ever been so breathtaking.

Furthermore, arriving downtown at a decent hour will allow you to hop in and out of venues with ease for a few hours before the area starts to overflow with concert-goers. At that point, the venues will start to hit capacity and all the lines will become one in, one out. Getting there early will help to up your “band’s I’ve seen” count, giving you more bands for your buck. Hell, if you’re going to attend, why wouldn’t you nickel and dime that shit all day? Make the trip worth your time.

Here’s another cheat to accomplish this:

When the sun goes down and the doors start becoming badge only, make your way to Auditorium Shores and catch the sets on the big stage. Though the entry is suppose to be badge and wristband only, most of the time the venue is overrun by people and lacks the proper security to enforce this rule. Act like you belong and walk through the front gate. In the past, She and Him, Explosions in the Sky, Death Cab For Cutie, and Death Above 1979 have all played this stage. It is worth the walk.

Last tips:

1. You should carry food. Shove a collection of cliff bars in your bag or purse. As you’re standing in line, waiting to see whatever obscure hipster band is creating all the SXSW buzz, munch one. Otherwise, you’ll spend 45 minutes waiting for an overpriced hot dog which will just leave you hungry again 45 minutes later. Plus you’ll lose time that you could be in a line to actually SEE something musical.

2. Wear sunscreen. It is Texas. Regardless of being March, that sun is not fucking around.

3. See ANYTHING in the churches.

4. Don’t get TOO drunk. You have to survive the day and no one wants to step over you OR your puke. However, if you’re planning to drink, download LIKTER for iPhone. It’ll map out all the free drinking parties in Austin for you.

5. Bring a power strip. Plug ins are rare in Austin and everyone NEEDS to charge their phone. If you turn one plug-in into six, you’ll be everyone’s hero.

6. Have fun. SXSW is both insane and magical. If you make the best of it, it’ll treat you well.

Editorial written by Josh Hammond (@endless_rambles). Josh is a Review Writer at UTG and has been attending SXSW for five years.