SXSW 08 WrapUp
14
March
Wow! SXSWi 08 was incredible! I had a great time attending panels, hanging with old friends, making new ones, meeting internet famous folk, eating, and drinking. Did I mention drinking?
There was an awful lot of walking involved too. Yikes! The Interactive portion of SXSW took over the entire Austin Conference Center. Oh well, it’s not like I don’t need the exercise.
Most of the panels I attended were good. Some of the technical ones were below my expectations. I found myself thinking: “I already know that” too many times. This probably means I need to go to conventions or meetups that are more focused on a singular aspect of the web.
The Core Conversations concept got a bad rep early on. So I didn’t attend any of them. Something about not being able to sit or hear well if you didn’t get there early. Also, another friend of mine didn’t like the idea of sitting in a circle talking when we get better info using that format over lunch and dinner.
Two Suggestions for SXSWi 2009
I think it’s time to start rotating people on the panels. We can almost predict the presenters at this point. If a panel calls for more than three people, then at least one of those people should be on a SXSW panel for the first time. Pass the torch.
Also, regarding tech panels, can we get a rating on them (e.g., newbies, intermediate, guru). I understand presenters are aiming for a skill-set sweet spot. But it’s aggravating to attend a panel thinking I will learn something when I know the material just as well (if not better).
The List
I wish I had the time and energy to detail each day of the conference. But I barely had time to make it to 10:00am sessions! So, here’s my official SXSW List (subject to changes and additions as I remember them):
Favorite Things About SXSWi 08
- Meeting a bunch of great people
- Eating good food
- Feeling like part of a community
Least Favorite Things About SXSWi 08
- The weather in Austin was cold, windy and sometimes wet. Fail.
- The hiccuping wi-fi (well, after Sunday anyway)
Favorite Panels
Least Favorite Panels
Most Heartwarming Experience
Blacks in Technology Meetup with Jeffrey Bowman
Most Bizzare Experience
Riding in Irina Slutsky’s TechCab Confessions with Jason Toney (1:08:38 thru 00:57:30)
Most Annoying Experience
Watching Ms. Budget Fashionista lose her shit with George Kelly in front of folks ready to clock her train.
Most Overated Beverage (tie)
- Shiner Bock (I just don’t get it)
- Bulleit (I shiver just thinking about how it tastes)
Most Overated Event
Favorite Food
Favorite Dinner Conversation
Favorite Parties
As a rule I don’t stand in long lines to attend “big name” parties. Therefore, the frog design / SXSW Interactive Opening Party and Frrvrr Launch Party rocked because I walked right in (with a little VIP help).
Least Favorite Parties
I heard the Laptop Battle at AMODA was disappointing. My crew opted for pancakes at Magnolia instead.
Most Used Gadgets/Accessories
- Power Supply
- Clarence’s iPhone
- (Everyone else’s) Digital Camera (I have serious camera envy now)
Favorite Reveal
Things I Missed But Wished I Didn’t
- 10 Tips for Managing a Creative Environment
- 20×2 v. 8.0: “What’s the Difference?”
- FM 2.0: The Future of Internet Radio
- Fray Cafe 8
- How Piracy Will Save the Music Industry
- Pimp My Non Profit - Real Non-Profits Kicking Ass with Online Technology
- Respect!
- Roll Over Gutenberg, Tell McLuhan The News
- Social Networking and Your Brand
- SXSW Clicks: Web Designers
- The Heather Gold Show: Opting Out
Most Referenced Song In My Circle
“Touch My Body” by Mariah Carey
Most Overheard/twittered Phrases
- “______ rocked!”
- “Ballroom A?!”
- “Do you have a car?”
- “He’s drunk as hell.”
- “I gotta pee.”
- “I’m blowing off panels for the rest of the day.”
- “I’m drunk as hell.”
- “Free food at _____.”
- “Free liquor at _____.”
- “Long line at ______.”
- “My feet hurt.”
- “My back hurts.”
- “She’s drunk as hell.”
- “That sucked!”
- “What’s your twitter name?”
- “Where are we eating?”
- “Where is the _______ party?”
Most Referenced Non-Web Celebrities
- Amy Winehouse
- Britney Spears
- Justin Timberlake
Blissfully Reconnected
Baratunde, Cecily, Denise, George, Jason, Lanie, Lynne
Met For The First Time
- Angela Benton
- Anika Myers Palm
- Anil Dash
- CC Stinson
- Chris Brogan
- Clarence Smith, Jr.
- Erica
- Ernie Hsiung
- Gillian
- Irina Slutsky
- Jonno
- Melissa Acedera
- Rannie Turingan
- Shaun Inman (and wife, Leslie Inman)
- Stephanie Sullivan
- Twanna
- Violet Blue
- (more when I find where I put business cards)
1. Amber | March 14th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Love this wrap-up. I MUST go next year!
2. Chris Brogan... | March 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
What a great write-up. Thanks very much. I agree about BattleDecks II, and probably some of your other stuff as well. : )
Great meeting you briefly. Maybe more next time?
3. Lea | March 14th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Hi there, I noticed that you didn’t enjoy my panel very much. I’m sorry to hear that, but I am interested in hearing some constructive criticism as to what your expectations were and what specifically you thought was the worst aspects? I will be doing my write-up about my experience about preparing for the talk, regarding decisions I made, etc. and want to address peoples concerns during the aftermath.
Please know I respect all feedback, positive and negative, and am seriously interested in knowing how I can improve.
4. JW Richard | March 15th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Sounds like you guys had a blast in my backyard! Ah well, perhaps next year for me. I do, however, have a Dallas WordPress Camp coming up that I’m excited about.
5. jbrotherlove | March 15th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Lea, this is the third panel on “self-branding” I’ve attended within the past year and somehow, I’m not getting much useful information from them. Perhaps the phrase or topic “self-branding” is too broad for an hour-long panel?
I’d like to publicly admit that I’ve been a fan of your work for years so there’s a possibility that I had unrealistic expectations about what I would learn from your panel (your written series on the topic added to my optimism).
Specifically — and this came up during Q&A — I was disappointed that you covered two businesses (financial institutions) in your presentation rather than individuals, as the panel title “self-branding” suggested. In fact, the description states “…this session will focus on a freelance or studio perspective” and I didn’t feel like that was adequately covered.
In short, while the material was thoughtful, I didn’t find it applicable as a freelance designer/developer who is attempting to build a brand.
6. Lea | March 15th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hi, thanks for that feedback. That’s actually pretty much the same type of concerns I’ve gotten about the presentation. I will definitely address why I didn’t decide to go towards different individuals a bit more. You are right, the topic is rather broad, and I had a number of ways I could have approached it and to some, it was not specifically applicable enough to actually run with the next day. That being said, I do have my reasons.
Could be flawed, sure, but it wasn’t just a casual decision to go with the way I did.
Anyway, I am glad you did enjoy my written series. I’d be happy to chit chat with you about any concerns you have regarding self branding that I missed during the talk. Just shoot me with an e-mail or an IM and I’d love to go back and forth with each other’s thoughts on how to approach a personal brand that wasn’t addressed in the articles or presentation. I like to talk, haha.
7. tamar | March 17th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Love this site. On the conference, thanks for doing the heavy lifting — shlepping to get there, forking over the cash to cover costs, participating fully, and writing up in such detail and clarity here. Public service award goes to …. you, and with much gratitude. I especially appreciate your honesty, which you express openly without abandoning courtesy and respect, for self and others.