The Best of SxSW
We've had such a great time in Austin meeting people, going places, scooping swag and dining out! These are our best of people, places, things and thoughts around SxSWi!
Lessons Learned
Since this was our first time, we had a lot to learn! Here are our best tips from the now seasoned SxSW veterans.
1. Get your badges the night before the conference. Seriously you do NOT want to stand in that line.
2. Bring a backpack! You may come to the convention center with your computer and phone but you will leave with a lot more!
3. RSVP to the blogger lounge and spend some time in there! You never know who you're going to meet or whats going to happen.
4. Get off your phone and talk to people. Some of us need to realize the social in social media means in real life too, not just internet land. Meeting people is part of the experience!
5. It's not all about the sessions so don't bog yourself down with your schedule go with the flow and get out and about in the city. You will learn way more networking and talking to people than sitting in a session.
6. Go with the flow and ask the locals for recommendations. The city is amazing so explore it.
Things overheard at SXSWi
- "I think I sat on you earlier." (Ashley to the Room 77 Sumo Wrestler street team)
- "I'm a filmaker"
- "There's no peddling in the street!" - Austin PD
- "Badges! You don't need no stinkin' badges!"
Street Teams
Our favorite Street teams were Room77 with their sumo men and pink panties and RecBob! RecBob was having fun everywhere we went with games, awesome outfits and of course inflatable Bob!
Trover was also a great street team! Their team went around giving tours that ended with a shot of tequila. They could be spotted all over with their giant orange balloons roaming around the city!
Just learned about @trover! The team is taking people on tours to show off the city! Follow the orange balloons! http://pic.twitter.com/8ihdQ2vBWe also appreciated the pink ladies that handed out beauty supplies! Always a win in our eyes.
The Hootsuite bus was also a cool street team!
Great meeting the @invoker Ryan Holmes and the @hootsuite owl tonight! #SXSWi http://pic.twitter.com/yIx1SEj7Best Events
Choosing parties to go to was just as overwhelming as making your session schedule. We managed to find the right parties though! No matter where we went we always met great people!
Silicon Prarie Cereal Bar! What a great idea! There was a lot going on in the middle of the day at this party and lots of yummy cereals to choose from. The Greater Des Moines partnership and Big Omaha did a great job and it was a pleasure to meet them.
