Here’s an eye opening interview with SXSW’s Brent Grulke. A highlight, and my thoughts….
TCB: What are some of the factors behind holding (the release of band names)?
BG: The largest thing is we’re not trying to promote to consumers at all, and we want to be able to put out an accurate list. Once we put any kind of list out, we get all kinds of demand for it, people trying to figure out, “Oh, I need to get there; I need to get to this venue.” We also get artists saying, “Oh my God, how can you have us competing with this, competing with that?”
Instead of releasing acts piecemeal, it makes more sense to get as good a sense as we can of all the acts we want to invite and put together a schedule that makes the most sense, we believe, for the largest number of people attending. The thinking was that it didn’t do us any great favors having this information available earlier, because it creates this huge, huge, huge consumer buzz, and then we’ll get so many phone calls of people saying, “Can I get tickets to the Stooges?” These things take up a tremendous amount of our energy and resources.
First off, I have to imagine that “this is an industry event, not a consumer event” isn’t going to make the people of Austin happy.
Second, here’s a roll playing scenario, follow along with me….
I am a small, mostly unknown band and somehow by the grace of the gods I have been accepted to play SXSW. I have no industry connections, no “people” working my record, just my good music and live show.
If the release of the SXSW list does not happen until February 14ish, like the interview suggests, the window of opportunity for all the journalists, booking agents, publicists, industry people to stumble upon my name on the SXSW list has been shrunk by two whole months. Instead they’ll gravitate to the larger, known bands like the Stooges.
So if I’m that band, i start to wonder, is it really worth it for me to even play SXSW?
Just something to think about. I love SXSW so much, but this is just weird..
Read the interview and react in the comment section.
They’re going to shoot themselves in the foot. They are not only frustrating us “consumers”, but also the industry people. And no matter what they think, a good percentage of the people buying badges are buying them for the music, not the conference. And I agree with you that it isn’t fair to the smaller bands at all.
I’m thinking someone needs to teach Mr Grulke a lesson in proper public relations, namely, not pissing off the people who are buttering your bread. And let’s be honest, most people who are forking over the money for SXSW are not industry by his definition, which seems to only apply to the cloth-eared twats in suits out looking for a quick cash cow. Screw them, anyone got a line on the FXFU lineups this year?
So let me get this straight: they’re not interested in me and the large whack of cash I bring to their festival and their city.
They’re also not interested in the buzz I could build with my blog or my (community/webcast) radio show, both of which are avenues readily available to anyone who’s “just a fan”.
The line between the fans and the industry is not as sharp as it used to be, especially in the world of indie music. This was true at SXSW before it was true anywhere else, and they’d be better off embracing it.
Then again, maybe we should accept this conceit as part of its charm. After all, it wouldn’t be very hipster to embrace one’s popularity.
Also, I figured that the bands themselves at least knew when they’d be playing. I doubt most strugging bands are just planning to hang around Austin for four days; most of them would like to route a couple of shows around their showcase. It’s hard to do that when you have to keep all four nights free.
Only SxSW could be so conceited as to give out this excuse for an explanation. We all know the facts – the delay is entirely to cause as much trouble with the logistics of all the free, unoffical afternoon and after midnight showcases and parties. But it’s like trying to stop The Young Knives, Pipettes and Popups from being huge – it just will not happen. SxSW rapidly in danger of being overtaken by a more “consumer” friendly variant……… But it is still unmissable..Got to get into the NME private party and the DKNY after midnight session……..must see the Scottish Arts Council showcase of new bands – usually one of the best Showcases bar none…
As manager of a band still waiting for acceptance to SXSW, as most are, i can tell you that they are also completely screwing bands from a logistics standpoint. You cannot book a hotel anywhere near Austin until you have been officially accepted, and as it stands anything within 10 miles is already booked. Also, any band can tell you how hard it is to book gigs anywhere near Austin i.e. Dallas, Houston in the days leading up to and following the festival. Not knowing the date of your showcase makes it nearly impossible to commit to anything. Makes booking day parties a trick as well. All of this could be forgiven if there was some logical reason behind the delay, but reading their logic is infuriating.
While I agree with most of you about the lameness of holding back the list, I’d like to offer up that SXSW has never made any bones about being an industry festival, rather than a consumer festival. It’s always amazed me that the locals don’t make more of a fuss about that, as it’s always been right up front, at least as long as I’ve been in Austin (over ten years).
Austin Bob, I agree that it’s an industry festival, but people in the industry also really need this info!!!!!
what a wanker. if it’s not a consumer event, why do they care one way or the other about the free stuff during the day, which is usually attended by poor, non-industry schlubs like me?
You don’t have to tell me, Jerry, I live in Austin, and play in bands that usually get in. We don’t hear about our showcase info until a couple of weeks before – and that’s fine, because the dayshows are where the magic happens anyway.
Austin Bob, I get what you’re saying about it having always been an industry festival, but also as an Austin resident myself there’s also the fact that us locals have to deal with downtown getting snarled up for a couple of weeks on top of the traffic problems we’ve already got, and a lot of people (myself included) have to work downtown. As far as I’m concerned they owe us for letting them have their little industry party in town and they especially could at least not be so condescending to the music fans even if Grulke thinks they’re unimportant. In the past I considered the wristbands our compensation, and I was ok with that, but it really wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this lot does away with them entirely this year.
I hear ya, Manda. I used to get really upset about it, but now I just try to ignore it, and have a good time.
I haven’t had a bad time at SXSW since. Just my .02.
I would love to have a festival like this in my hometown, whether it hurt traffic or not. Seems a small price to pay to have something this unique and fun. Its not like the people of Miami are asking for compensation for the Super Bowl being there and mucking up their town.
You should feel fortunate you can attend this festival without having to spend hudnred’s of dollars to come in from out of state/country.
The Super Bowl isn’t quite the same thing. It’s one day and changes locale every year on a Sunday, no less, this is an annual two weeks in an already overburdened area of the city during the work week. I’ve taken off and gone to the music part for the past few years and did have a lot of fun, but it’s really insulting when their director is so incredibly condescending toward the music fans their little industry shindig couldn’t exist without. One of the things that’s great about Austin is how there isn’t much of a line between industry/non-industry at all, it’s such a DIY town that anyone can be involved with music in this town and most of us are/have been. I’m even doing some work for friends at this year’s event assuming things can get planned around all this festival secrecy. You would think the director of SXSW would be only all too aware of that incredibly blurry line as well instead of the self-important industry-only spiel he gave in this interview. If they don’t appreciate the little folks, then the little folks don’t have to let them play in their sandbox, is all I’m saying.
If you think that SXSW all-of-a-sudden is going to care about “the fans”, who aren’t buying their $450 badges, paying for exhibit booths in the convention center, and pouring thousands of advertising dollars into the SXSW coffers, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
SXSW has never been about the fans. Ostensibly, for a few years, they threw the locals a bone with cheap wristbands, but even that has been over for years. The reality is that SXSW makes its money from industry folks looking to take a week’s vacation in Austin.
I don’t think they owe anyone anything. Me getting to see the Flaming Lips play in a nightclub smaller than my house, or Tom Waits at the Paramount, or the Beastie Boys at Stubb’s is more than compensation from my perspective.
I thought the reason SXSW sold wristbands only in Austin was to compensate for taking over the town?
I’m not saying it’s all about the fans, but I don’t think they should be so condescending, either, and there’s one quote in the interview in particular that just seemed really that way.
As an aside, don’t even get me started on the Flaming Lips playing small clubs, I know a very nice band from England who got really screwed over at their showcase by that last year. I’m still annoyed about that.
You talking about the Dirty Pretty Things???
Yes, indeed. They pretty much paid their own way over here and didn’t even get to do a full set because the Flaming Lips worst-kept-secret-in-town set went over time and they got yanked for the next band (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah). Last I heard from friends who talked to them in Chicago on their last round of US gigs they’re pretty soured on Texas now. Very badly handled, that was.
The next day, they played the NME Magazine free party at the Mean Eyed Cat next door to Pok-e-Joe’s on West 5th. I was there (free beer!!), and they had a great time playing their set there. Yet they were a bit upset about having their power cut off.
Yep, those unofficial shows that SXSW is so keen to clamp down on now! Imagine that. We got to see them there and also at Fader. We all felt bad for them that their official showcase, which also happened to be their first American showing, was so disappointing for them (especially as I’m fairly certain their set was meant to be one of the highlights of BBC radio’s broadcast from that night).
SXSW… YOU HAVE JUMPED THE SHARK!
just reading that interview made me nauseous. for industry folks, fine. I can’t afford a badge anyways, but in the end, there is NO sxsw without the bands, whom this policy is most generously screwing over. As one of the promoters of a string of unofficial day shows, i worked my ass off for months putting together day show lineups so that these bands dont have to drive all the way to austin to play one show, which now cant even be publicized in a magazine in time to generate interest. its a pretty bad state when the DIY promoters have their shit together moreso than the official festival. One of my bands, who may or may not be on the official showcase now, was chastised by sxsw for routing their tour in advance to be here for 4 days and setting up day shows just in case they werent accepted. big conglomerate or not, for a lot of these bands, its about travel expenses and not even letting their label know for sure until a month before the event is insane.
Look,
Don’t blame Brent Grulke. He is a part of a multi-million dollar company (Austin Chronicle is the company behind SXSW). They are trying to protect their livelyhood. When they say it is an “industry event” and not a “consumer event” they mean for you idiots to buy a SXSW Badge for $500 and then…”voila!”… you are in the industry. The SXSW wristbands are sold only after they tally the amount of badges they sold…then they take those numbers, total the capacity number of all the clubs and venues and then subtract the badges and then you have roughly the amount of wristbands they will release to the public to offset the production cost for the entire event(Fire Marshall is pretty strict during SXSW…sometimes, and depends on whose playing and how many free badges SXSW gave to the city staff). If there is no audience for any particular act…then they will sell single admissions to all venues just to fill up the room. So they NEED you but don’t really want to CATER to you as their main income. Add kickbacks from hotels and city services along with all the sponsors and co-sponsors not to mention all the ad revenue from the Austin Chronicle and man…what a nice roll of dough! Also they really don’t pay for the talent (they get the option of a few bucks around $150.00 or a SXSW badge for all the band (1 badge!…taking turns to use, geez). As far as releasing the schedule…I think it has more to do with band logistics i.e., this band can’t play on this day with that band at that venue because they are all Aries…seriously, bands are prima donnas and they are all jockeying for the best slot,day,time. That does take time. But you are right…some of the delay is probably spite. I have heard of some bands and clubs being threatened with banishment if they release any festival info before SXSW. And some of the “hatin” comes from the fact that a lot of “anti-SXSW” events tend to rob from the SXSW bands and takes away from any or all of the event buzz(they are fiercely paranoid and will prosecute…hello!…counterfeiting!). Lastly, SXSW does not really care how or where you stay or eat as long as you are there for your scheduled time. All travel, food, sleeping arrangements are yours and yours alone. It does suck that they take their sweet time to release the schedule as bands need to make travel,school,work arrangements but this is the music biz! Get use to it not being all about you! Also SXSW is not going to make or break your band. All SXSW bands are pretty much signed to a label anyway. If you do not have a “buzz” in your own hometown then SXSW is not going to help you. SXSW is a tool…use it as you would any device that makes your work or life easier. But expecting some fat guy with a cigar waiting for you to get off the stage and say “Hey kid, you guys are great! Sign this contract!” Not goin’ ta happen…
Lastly, in my opinion, I think all Austin bands are invited last as they don’t have to travel or make living arrangements. Also they can instantly fill in if another band drops out. Kind of a slap in the face but again, SXSW has to make more room each year for those dozens of deserving bands from whatever country “Dethklock” is from. It just gets harder each year to find room for Austin bands (unless you are the flavor of the month like “Ghostland Observatory” – no offense – or one of the dozens of Austin bands who “almost” made it big (you know who you are!)
But, of course, nobody is twisting your arm to go to SXSW. Again, it’s not about you…it’s about how much money SXSW can milk outta this event (it’s once a year so these guys gotta make some dough so they can relax for the next 11 months! Ha!) My experience is check the blogs and look for all the free shows and parties that will feature all or most of the “important” SXSW bands. You can have fun without giving SXSW any of your money. But if you absolutely have to see the next “’80’s” band reformed to play at SXSW (notice that there have been a lot of those lately) then get yee to whatever SXSW club they are playing at and get there early (before they open!) and buy a single admission ticket (usually $20.00 bucks or so and WAAAY cheaper than a wristband!!) and enjoy the show. And you are right out-of-towners… we Austin-ites are blessed to have this in our backyard just don’t move here and fuck this up for us!!! Ha! (By the way…Austin City Limits Festival is in September and at least we will get their band schedule probably next week!! HA!)
I agree pretty much with what SXSWSUX has written. It is their conference, and they can do what they like. As much as I like myself, I don’t expect them to cater to me. As much as they clog up South Congress, it is a small price to pay for the positive economic impact on the city and the convenience of having the durned thing in my backyard. My friend is flying here from DC for $500, and I’m already here. And I like the fact that for a week or two in March I get to see people dressed differently than the average Austinite, talk differently than the average Texan and have people think my town is so cool. Yes, SXSW needs to make money, and I don’t want to spend it. Those precious day shows are like manna from heaven. They magically sustain me from March to March. See the big bands in the day and the small ones at night.
The one bad thing about them waiting to reveal the band list is the logistical planning snafu it causes for everyone else. Sure, it’s not their responsibility to make sure everyone has a place to stay and can pay for the gas for their ’84 Econoline, but, if enough bands decide it’s not worth coming to SXSW because of it, those industry insiders will stop coming, and then it will be SXSW’s job to make sure everyone has a good time. They will realize that sooner or later.
Let’s just hope it’s sooner.
Hey Justin,
Unfortunately your theory about bands getting together and boycotting SXSW will have no effect. For every band who curses SXSW’s name another is in the wings ready and willing to be abused. The only way to get SXSW’s attention is for all the club owners to get together and compare notes about talent,production costs and bar revenue. That is the only thing that could shake them up. I might add that I forgot to mention that with all the money SXSW makes you have to also calculate that their entire workforce is VOLUNTEERS!!!! Geez, that’s like Microsoft patting their employees on the back and saying “Hey, thanks for making us millions…here is a T-shirt and some Salt Lick Bar-B-Que!” This is pretty pathetic! SXSW and the Austin Chronicle could help Austin by being a responsible model corporation who hires and pays decent wages to out of work Austinites. Yeah, yeah…I know they hire a few “seasonal” employees but somehow it doesn’t seem right to abuse college age voluteers to fatten their wallets…just a thought.
With all of this discussion, I feel that SXSW is going to one of these years (soon?) make venues sign contracts basically saying “You want to be a SXSW official venue? Fine, sign this contract that says you can’t have any unofficial day shows.” Don’t you think it’s sort of coming to that?
And wristbands, your days are numbered!
Hey Sneaky Johnny,
Too late! They already do that!! And so that they can control those unofficial day shows they are sneakingly offering bands and labels a service to “help” them book those parties…yeah, nice guys.
“Abuse college age volunteers?” I dare say that I’m more than willing to work 50 hours for a $500 music pass. There’s no way I’d spend that much of my own money – I’m thankful that I get that sort of opportunity.
So John…let me get your logic straight…”there’s no way I’d spend that much of my own money”…instead of getting a real fulltime job and earning a real wage you are willing to work for free for 50 hours to get a badge worth 5 cents of paper and plastic with no guarantee of entrance to any venue (if capacity allows)and that is a golden opportunity? Wow…PT Barnum was right…”there is a sucker born every minute!”
“the artists and the people for whom South by Southwest is really created are either coming or not at this point anyway”
What a fucking douchebag.
As a local promoter, I’d have to say that this blackout period is negatively affecting both us and the bands that we work with. Here’s the catch-22. If you’re accepted to SXSW there’s a blackout period around which you cannot have any local shows.
However, if you don’t get into SXSW, you have to do what you can to establish your presence through other mediums…whether that be day shows, Quadruple Bypass, or whatever it is. But…the premium spots there are going fast. Sure it’s still possible to get shows, but the premium ones are pretty much already booked.
So, you can’t play other shows until you confirm or don’t confirm SXSW, but you can’t not book the other shows and market around those in print / television / radio without getting yourself kicked out of SXSW for disregarding the blackout period. At least…this is the case if you plan ahead and actually have a marketing budget, like we do.
Something is very wrong about this. We’re registered in the festival, and have our acts entered as bands, and they won’t even tell us…
I think that the worst thing about all of this is that it seems like a disservice to the bands. last year most of the bands I saw (out of the 45 or so bands I took in last year) were from other countries. I’d imagine that the day parties help these bands not only financially, but also as far as exposure goes. sure, nobody’s standing there with a contract for unsigned bands, but there’s a lot of buzz that can be created (especially in this age of bloggers) by a single SXSW performance. The Chronicle ran an article last year of people who are major acts now that made a SXSW debut, which really drove this point home.
I’ve seen a few big SXSW debuts myself, so the people who downplay the significance of a strong SXSW showing should realize that, while it may only apply to a small number of SXSW bands, there is a lot of opportunity there.
Futhermore, I think the fact that guys like Brent Grulke disparage the blogging scene is ignorant and insulting. Record companies need to realize the power that bloggers hold now and they need to include them in this industry that Brent keeps talking about. While record companies and their marketing wizards still have a lot of power over who becomes famous and who doesn’t, bloggers are an ever-growing force behind the popularity of a great number of bands.
So SXSW should do service to the bands, to the bloggers, and to the fans, and give us what we want: Let Us Know who is going to be at SXSW 2007.
First, let me apologize to John on my earlier comment on volunteering. I’m sorry…volunteering is only as rewarding to those that truly believe in what they are doing so John, I’m sorry (remind me not to have more than 2 glasses of wine with dinner!) Second, the blogs, the My Space pages, You Tube and all the tools that bands have today put them in a greater position of power than any other time in the history of rock and roll! Look at such bands as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! They dusted off the DIY attitude and did not wait for someone to tell them they were good. They put out their own record with their own promotion. So with that understood, SXSW is akin to one of those tools (albeit in a somewhat disjointed way) still it’s a tool. And this tool, SXSW, has rules like My Space and You Tube. Abide by them and get something back. Do not and they will certainly let you know where your band can go. Look all the arguments on when SXSW should release it’s list is not the issue (again, it is a business to them and all the masses cannot tell them what to do.I guarantee that the only bands who have confirmed times,dates,venues,and hotel rooms now are the the big touring headliners…everyone else can suck it!) If you want to play their game then read the fine print. They really could care less if you want to come or not. There are hundreds of bands that will fill your place. If you have been accepted to play SXSW then do not hesitate to book a small tour, gig or promotional event. Waiting for final confirmation will leave you in the dust. Call Houston,Dallas,San Antonio and book a gig surrounding those dates. Most of those cities are use to the “SXSW Shuffle” and will most likely accomodate you (hell, they will love to have some decent entertainment for a change). Second, as far as booking other shows in Austin during that week…it’s kinda of a “don’t ask, don’t tell” thing. What SXSW doesn’t know doesn’t hurt! Also as long as what your playing is considered a private party then technically it is not a “public” performance. And for bands who did not get in then please see my comments above. If you do not have some sort of “buzz” already created in your own hometown or state then this gig is not going help you. Remember playing SXSW or not is not the end all, be all of your career! But if this is not enough then by all means, bug the hell out of SXSW! Call, email, stop by the offices! But beware…they have been known to call the police! But I hear they take bribes so that is another option! HA!
I think everyone understands that this is officially an industry event but in the 15 years I’ve been going (strictly as a fan and a non-local, btw) there have always been less than filled showcases by both obscure and semi-noted performers who, I’d assume, would rather play to a handful of wristband or admission paying “consumers” than to an empty room. And once upon a time, in the early-ish 90’s, SXSW actually made the wristbands available in most major Texas cities, no doubt trying to make sure there were enough heads in each club to make things respectable. What’s irritating is the “we’re a big deal now so go away” attitude and the attempt to squash the day parties (which always seem to be full of the locals who are having to tolerate congestion in their city.) If it wasn’t covered by semi- or unconnected types who write for blogs, indie mags, mailing lists and such, who would give’em enough hype? Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone? Sure….
Everyone seems to forget that if it wasn’t for the evil corporate monster of SXSW there wouldn’t be any day parties. Any outside parties at all. You think people would just arbitrarily show up in Austin in March and spend money to rent a venue and have free beer? Whatever you think about SXSW I’m glad they’re around so all these other events can ride their coat-tails.
the biggest and best change at SXSW is the daytime parties. back in the pre-internet 90’s you showed up in Austin grabbed a Chronicle found the schedule and then tried to figure out a game plan. in the mid 90’s there were 3 daytime choices Waterloo Records & Tower Records instore events and the acoutic daystage at the convention center.Now you can be outside enjoying the weather and seein great bands in the daylight. there are always 2 or 3 bands that you want to see playing at the sane time, so the daytime events are a perfect place to see a band and eliminate a logjam. sxsw folks are pissed that more people don’t spend time at the convention center floor or the panels and that is the main reason for them holding back the schedule. sxsw is still the best music fest and I can’t wait to spend another adult spring break in Austin
What’s weird is I’ve had an official SXSW showcase made up of all Austin based bands for years now, and we were informed that all the bands were accepted much earlier this year than in any of the past years. Usually we would not be notified until February, but we got all of our acceptances in December. My impression is that most bands that are going to play an official SXSW showcase know by now, all SXSW is doing now is filling in the few holes left in the schedule (probably with some Austin bands that were on the fringe of making it). So yeah, this year the bands know sooner than usual but the public knows which bands are playing later than usual.
Why do people think they’re holding back the schedule? It wasn’t released until Feb. 17th last year.
it’s not so much the schedule being held back rather than the long list of confirmed bands.
If you compare to last year, they’ve released just about the same number of band names. They just haven’t put the names on the website. They have been releasing names in their brochures and press releases. My understanding is one reason they’re holding off is because so many bands drop out in January. It would be pretty dumb to make everyone salivate over bands that end up not playing.
Q, if you go back and look at the donewaiting blog archives (dec 05/jan 06) you’ll see that there was a lot more bands released than they’ve released officially at this point….
As reference, last year SXSW announced the first wave of bands performing (850) on January 12. That list was up to 1200+ by February 6.
So far this year, they’ve announced maybe 50. And that’s been mainly in mailings only.
i live in the austin area. i hate the lists not being shown as much the rest. there’s still enough day shows to go around. the more they try to make it industry driven… the more dyi labels and influenced people will try to show the other side. there will always be unofficial shows with free beer and hot women. can’t we all just get along and enjoy the music? i love you.
please ignore typos i wrote this at 245am
Please, all of you bands who are getting antsy and think you’d rather not play SXSW because they don’t release their schedule when you want them to, please drop out. I know a ton of bands here in Austin that don’t get into the festival who’d love your slot, and who could care less about having two months notice.
SXSW has pretty much ousted all the Austin bands. We feel like we have to move away to have some exotic name on our app. to get accepted. Don’t let them take all your money. Come down and check out the free shows without all the pretentious SXSW attitude shit being flung around!
I am sympathetic to all sides here, and I can see everyone’s point of view. However, as a person who is putting on a dayparty I have to say that withholding the list hasn’t inhibited our ability to put together a terrific lineup in any way. Most of the bands who are coming have announced their SXSW attendance on their myspace sites, anyway. All we had to do was surf through myspace and contact the bands that we wanted to play our event. It really wasn’t any different than any other year.
I feel very sorry for the smaller bands who seemingly can’t even organise where they’re sleeping yet,but as for the punters,whats your problem? I’m over from the UK for my second SXSW and i know i’m going to have a great time.But you see i don’t want to see “name” bands,i want to discover new stuff,fresh stuff.I want to go home and tell people about this new band from ???? that excited me.SXSW is a voyage of discovery,fuck waiting for the big names just be thankful you’ve got those bands waiting for you in just over a month!
Many of the day parties are sponsored by the very same groups who fund or report on SXSW. Many of them are secret shows by the very people that SXSW bandies about for months to try and lure people to purchase $500 badges. It’s not very smart politicking on SXSW’s part to piss off the wallet. Also, entertainment industries, above all, are networking opportunities. They don’t see that it is no coincidence that the number of badges sold has skyrocketed over the last few years. Why is that? I don’t think it has as much to do with the fact that they managed to score Iggy Pop (who played about 10 years ago, so it’s not like the quality of acts has increased substantially. it is still a mixture of 5-10 “well known” (if you try hard to rack your brain) old farts such Nils Lofgren, and the rest are bands who still wear 60’s horn rimmed glasses and dress like Raggedy Ann and that you will never hear from again). as you’ve got companies with money who have incentive to come down. They partake of the festival, but chiefly use it as a means of marketing themselves. There are thousands of people and many of them belong to similar industries from all over the world.
I’m sorry, but I hate to tell the people of SXSW that business people don’t see it in terms of “hey, Spoon is playing again!” They see it as simply a business move. Once SXSW manages to piss them off, they’re going to start packing up shop because it won’t be worth their while.
The one thing that always stumped me is every year SXSW complains about all these days show and free parties taking the thunder away from their daytime conference and trade show. But if they would book some of those “buzz” bands and decent SXSW acts at the trade show instead of the really lame acts then they might get a bigger attendance at the trade show and conference. I know, I attended a few of those trade shows and the entertainment is some of the worst SXSW has to offer. (I asked a staff member one year about this and they said they did not want to have anything loud and disturbing at the trade show as people were conducting business. HELLO! MUSIC BUSINESS!!) If I had a choice of seeing say the YEAH,YEAH,YEAHS at the trade show instead of having to find some party they were playing at then I would stay at the trade show and conduct business. Also this would alleviate some of the overcrowding at the official showcase the band was playing at as I could scratch them off my “must see” list and move on to the next one. See it works out for all! I get to conduct some business at SXSW with an added bonus. But those guys will not do that as we all know that the people who attend the SXSW trade show are really only there for the free guitar picks and yo-yos the trade show booths offer. God forbid SXSW actually have something cool at the daytime event. Geez, what business genius’ they must be…WAAHHHH CRRYYY! Beerland has a a cooler dayshow than us! Damn SXSW get off your asses and try to compete with all the other venues. Get creative during the day instead of offering the most lame daytime events ever. Hell, the tattoo convention has more going for it than you guys do during the day!!!
I have to agree that this is an industry festival. I know that it sucks for all those people who want to go just to see the bands but quite honestly, it is a conference. We (industry folk) are blessed to have a job so cool that other people want to come just for fun…but at the end of the day, it is essentially still work/networking/learning or whatever you want to call it. I love that I get to see all of my crazy friends from all over the country each year but to be quite honest, they are part of the problem. People who come down, do not purchase any wristband/badge and come to party for free are the reason that bands/industry folk who *have* to be there cant get a room without driving 30 minutes to New Braunfels! I have to say though, as a former resident of New Orleans I dont know why Austinites always whine about how SXSW is a burden and they “have to buy wristbands”. Remember Gavin Festival? Ok not as big as SXSW but same concept, they had bands at different venues all over town, conferences during the day, etc. If you lived in New Orleans and were inconvienced or wanted to see the bands playing – too bad! you cant! There were no wristbands available. It was a closed industry convention. Period.
In any case I love the idea of SXSW, I am not that old and I am certainly getting tired of the outdoor day festival (who wants to inhale all that dust at ACL or scorch in Jazzfest heat?) and I think what makes sxsw so cool is that its inside, at different bars. Someone could easily take this concept to another city – and make it all about the consumer. Leave sxsw to the industry folk. Then it will either get better or worse depending on the situation (hey if consumers quit coming sxsw may realize how essential they are to the whole equation). Just make your own event.
relocated, the difference is that Gavin probably started off as a strictly “industry” event. i remember the old days in SXSW (maybe 6 years ago) where any shmoe could walk up to a venue and purchase a wristband during the festival! there was usually a months-long buildup in the Chronicle about who was playing, the sale of the wristbands was widely advertised, AND the festival always coincided with UT’s spring break. they wanted the involvement of the thousands of college students who were looking for something to do.
what i don’t appreciate is that they festival is now acting like the kid in high school that got contacts, lost a few pounds, and is now friends with the popular kids.
“yeah, i never really wanted to hang out with those guys. my mom made me.”
i hate to tell them that 11 years after Iggy Pop played the festival as a headliner, this year they’ve moved up to…Iggy Pop as a headliner.
not that Iggy ain’t a legend….in minor fame circles…but that’s the truth of the matter. the festival is not going to change. you’re going to get up and comers who won’t return after they’ve put on their song and dance for the rest of the industry, some bands that keep returning year after year and someone should tell them to give it up, with a few old geezers that are trying to fight being put out to PBS pastureland.
any one who doesn’t know the difference between iggy playing his lame solo stuff and the stooges doesn’t know a damn thing about music. so please go see those 15 minutes of fame hipster acts at day parties and leave sxsw shows for those of us who can appreciate them
looking at the current “stooges” line up and comparing it to the old one, it doesn’t actually look like there was ever a “real” Stooges lineup, so I don’t know exactly what you are pining for. the only real constant was Iggy. The rest just sort of shuffled around or came and went.
Huh? There was never a real Stooges line-up? The trio of Iggy, Ron Asheton and Scott Asheton are the core of the band and The Stooges line-up always included them. But pehaps you’re confusing some of Mr. Pop’s solo efforts with the band that brought him to prominence.
NERD ALERT, NERD ALERT
The Nerds Are Pissed!!!!!
if everyone here is so pissed about sxsw, why are you checking donewaiting.
admit it, you love being screwed by “them”
haha
NERD ALERT!!!!
So…does anyone know the difference between a SX Music Pass and a Music Badge? I’m volunteering, and I can’t find the difference anywhere on the website…