Most of the e-mails I get about SXSW is about wristbands. This is the easiest way to explain it.
For all SXSW evening shows, there’s basically three types of people: Badge Holders, Wristbanders, and people who pay the cover for that one show.
Priority is given in that order, meaning that if there’s a line with 400 people wearing wristbands, a badge holder can roll on in and bypass all of you.
I’ve only been to SXSW twice (2004 and 2005), and both time I had a wristband. In 2004 I got to see just about everything I wanted to see with very little problem. In 2005, it was a different story. I was shut out of a ton of shows that people with badges were getting in really easily, and it definitely put a minor dent in my time.
The festival is only getting bigger, too, so I can’t imagine how things are going to be this year.
It’s not impossible, this isn’t all doom and gloom. There are hundreds of shows going on at the same time, and I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll enjoy with your wristband, but I just wanted to give you my personal experience.
Another thing I noticed last year was an increasing amount of day shows requiring badges, too. Not a lot, but a few that I took notice.
Now, the second question is, where do I get a wristband? They go onsale in a few of the larger music stores in Austin a few weeks before the festival. So you either need to live there, or know someone who can get one for you.
I’ve seen a few websites where you can buy them at a markup, but I’d make sure they’re legit.
If anyone else has comments, questions or suggestions about this, feel free to post them to this topic. Hope this helps.
Actually, I think last year the only place you could buy a wristband was at Waterloo Records. And a badge is not a guarantee you’ll get into a show. Last year’s Barsuk showcase with Harvey Danger and Nada Surf had a badges line AND a wristbands line…both a mile long. But the badges will have priority entry ahead of wristbands and shows will sell out. A limited number of single admission tickets will be sold at most venues the night of the show, but I’ve never witnessed anybody actually chancing a show this way, so I think it’s pretty negligible for the most part.
Having been disappointed with the Barsuk showcase, I’m going with a badge this year to prevent that. And with so many people at the festival competing to get into the same shows…it does put a damper on the show-hopping when you’re one of the mere wristband mortals. I’m sure the music festival is going to be insanely crowded this year, judging by how fast the hotels have sold out.
A few more notes on wristbands: it doesn’t get you into a 21+ venue if you’re not 21 yet, and most SXSW venues are 21+. And the limited number of wristbands WILL sell out in advance. People line up on the morning they go on sale, some time in February usually; the number they put on sale is greatly determined by the badges they’ve sold, the number needed be showcasing artists, and the people volunteering. Last year’s info:
WRISTBANDS will go on sale on Thursday, February 24, priced at $110 ONLY at Waterloo (maximum two per person, cash or credit card only).
When the first 2000 wristbands sell out OR on Monday, February 28 (whichever comes first) the price will change to $130 and will be available ONLY at Waterloo and Encore Movies and Music (maximum four per person, cash or credit card only).
When the second 2000 sell our OR on Wednesday, March 9 the will increase to $150 available ONLY at Waterloo and Encore (maximum four per person, cash or credit card only).
These prices include tax and all service/credit card charges. Wristbands will only be sold in Austin, on a walk-up basis, as long as they last and the cannot be reserved in advance or purchased over the phone or on the internet.
(This is all from LAST YEAR, folks. They haven’t announced anything about this year just yet.)
Also, the wristbands are heavy duty single-use plastic things with RFID chips in them to prevent counterfeiting, so no good hoping you can trade them around from someone else. Once it goes on your wrist, it stays there.
I know it puts a damper on anybody traveling from out of town, but the wristbands were really started as a courtesy for people living in Austin, who had to put up with the convention taking over their town. My recommendation is to find a nice person who lives in Austin to buy one on your behalf, post a plea to your blog, ask around on a mailing list or two…
Out of towners -can-, I repeat, can buy wristbands without having to contact an Austinite, but you have to buy it in a package deal along with a hotel room. I hear these packages are difficult to get because not very many are available. They are available here starting today:
http://southbywristbands.com/
This is the only official way to get wristbands from out of town.
How much do the badges cost? and are they on sale yet?
Badges = official conference admission from SXSW.
Meaning you get the panels, the keynotes, the trade show, all of the shows, a big bag full of swag and a guide to the music festival.
They’re $525 here:
http://2006.sxsw.com/register_to_attend/
Southbywristbands.com looks really good at first glance, but I imagine most people getting wristbands have either already made thier hotel reservations, or are crashing with friends.
Plus, the only hotels they have are quite far away:
Drury Inn – Highland Mall ($75/$75/$75/$75) (919 E. Koenig Lane at N. IH-35)
Red Lion Hotel ($119/$119/$129/$129 (6121 N. IH-35)
Doubletree Hotel ($139/$139/$139/$139) (6505 N. IH-35)
Drury Inn & Suites North ($79/$79/$99/$99) (6711 N. IH-35)
My boyfriend and I went to SXSW last year, and he went in 2004, and had no trouble getting into shows we wanted to see. One night we were standing in line at La Zona Rosa to see a BBC Showcase (Be Your Own Pet, Louis XIV, Kaiser Chiefs, The Futureheads, Hot Hot Heat) and the wristband line was moving way faster than the badge line simply because the badges are checked and scanned. Boy, did the badge holders look a little more than pissy while the wristband line was moving quite briskly. Badge holders get priority, but it’s not like they stop the wristband line to let all the badge holders in, so it is first come first serve in that sense.
As far as prices go, last year the first batch sold in a matter of hours and on the first day the price had already gone up to $130. We were standing in line to get ours for $110 when they announced (at Waterloo) that the price had just gone up. I’m fairly certain that the second batch of 2000 goes on that first day, as well. As far as I know, Waterloo is the place to buy wristbands, but I was just informed that two years ago you could get them at Albertson’s.
I was fortunate enough to have a badge last year and all people registered with a badge could buy one wristband. I took 4 passes from my friends of mine and went down and bought 4 extra wristbands for some other buddies who were coming from out of town…So find someone with a badge, ask if they wouldn’t mind coming down to the registration area and you buy their extra available wrist band…then buy then a beer and have a great weekend….ps. the cost of the wrist band for badge registrants was $100
They DO stop the wristband line to let badgeholders at the smaller venues like Parish, so I wouldn’t count on the wristband line to move faster than the badge line. Also if I’m not mistaken the wristband price for badgeholders was $125.
I think the badge thing is way over rated, you are missing the point if you pay up for a badge if you are just a fan, and not in the industry. Who would want to go to panels, etc? Most of my badge friends blow all of that off. Free music, free beer all day long, then catch a few bands at night with your wristband. That’s a pretty full day and night. The badge will get you into a few more shows, but most of them you can just catch in the summer when they tour.
i hear what you’re saying bill, but some of us live in cities where we don’t get 1/10th of the bands that are going to be playing sxsw, so we want to plot out ways to see a zillion bands in a few days….
people who take a more relaxed approach probably will live longer. :)
My two cents- I have bought a wristband/hotel combo through southbywristbands.com for 4 years now. I have been shut out of exactly one show (Bottle Rockets) and only because I showed up 15 minutes before they were scheduled to play. If I had gotten there earlier and skipped another band I’m sure I would have gotten in. Last year I walked up to La Zona Rosa just a few minutes before Elvis Costello was about to start and got in no problem. So, I am decidedly on the wristband side of the debate. Badges are not worth an extra $400. If you are that worried about getting in to a particular show just get there early and hang out (e.g – if you are that desperate to see Sleater-Kinney at 11pm at the Sub Pop showcase just show up by 8:30 – 9, grab a beer and sit through two other Sub Pop acts.)
I volunteer at SXSW, last year was my first year. I was able to get enough hours in to get a SX showcasing artist wristband. There was one instance where I was able to just walk right into a venue (stubbs – New york dolls show). That probably wasn’t suppose to happen…some random badgeholder was able to get me in. At the sametime I wasn’t able to get into one show…cant remember where it was. I think it all depends on the venue size. Small venues w/wristband: don’t really count on getting in, especially if it’s a band with a lot of hype. Bigger venues should be better, but don’t hold my word to it. It’ll be even more interesting this year since it is the 20th anniversy of SXSW.
I bought a wristband at a venue last year on Sixth Street, forget the name, and bought one at Beerland the year before that, on the Wednesday night of the festival. What is all the hubbub, are thye not selling them at venues this year?
And if they do sell out, go to a ton of daytime stuff and pick one or two smaller clubs to hang in at night. What was the big deal about Elvis Costello playing SXSW? He tours the entire country twice a year, every year.
I’ve been going for the last three years from out of town and the first two we had no trouble getting wristbands. Last year we thought we were a**ed out but we ended up finding them at Antones where they were still selling them on Wednesday night. If you hear that they are sold out still ask around and search for some at venues, you may luck out. I think we were only unable to get in to one show but I think as long as you show up early to the show you want to see you should be fine with a wristband. But who knows this year being the 20th anniversary, I think I am going to get a badge for once so I don’t have any worries being that I’m driving 10 hours.
Last year was my first year. I had a TON of fun at the free day shows. I attempted one night show and it was an horrible experience. I decided I would try to pay cover at Antones for the Kings of Convenience/Ed Harcourt/Phoenix show. Just to see what it was like to try to get in somewhere. Answer: stupidest night of my life. Waited in line for hours (3, I think?), didnt even get in til three bands had played, when I did get in after paying a cover of something like $25, the place was so packed and miserable I just left. I’m glad I got that experience out of my system. I would recommend at least a wristband if you plan on any night shows. Last year my roommate found some on Craigs List 2 days before the fest for $40/pc. A badge doesnt seem worth it unless you’re going to go crazy trying to do everything in order to justify the cost.
I live in Dallas….and I’ve never been to that show, and I want to buy those wristbands ASAP…
What you I do??
I bought my wristbands through Austin Tickets last year, and i live in fort worth. they mailed them to me without any problem. i think i paid 155. So a little mark up but totally worth it when living out of town. i pre-ordered them before they even went on sale.
Hey Lisa, what was the website for Austin Tickets? They dont seem to have anything at austintickets.com
well i just looked it up.. it is ticketcity.com, but they raised the price A LOT. 250…. OUCH.. sorry
Thanks Lisa. That site was very helpful. $250 is still wayyyy less than $550!
Yeah, with a surcharge, the wristbands through ticketcity.com come to $274. Yikes. I ordered one anyway. They said I’ll have it in my hand (I ordered from Ohio) in a week.