A Conference Like No Other – Key SXSW Takeaways

By
Colin
– 03/18/2010Posted in: Featured, General

Gowalla and Foursquare were the most useful and the most frustrating apps of SXSW.

During SXSW, I used Gowalla and Foursquare more frequently then I ever had in the past (and I’m a heavy user).  Not only was I checking in to every room, bar, and hallway I stepped foot in, but I was also using it to keep up with my friends and keep track of where the conference hot spots were (this became particarly useful during SXSW’s night time activities).  That said, neither app could keep up with the volume, which led to many an application time out and restart.

And on a side note – Whrrl was the dark horse mobile app of the conference.  It re-emerged from the mobile application graveyard with a quiet but smart conference promotion that emphasized new functionally and encouraged immediate usage.  Friends Cameron Gawley and Eddy Badrina got a chance to speak with the founders and they have some very interesting ideas in the works.

Interesting fact – I used these mobile apps much more than I used Twitter.

Where’s the meat?

For the most part, SXSW panels were  disappointing.

I think this is the problem with SXSW’s Panel Picker voting system.  It seemed as if everyone spent so much time crafting perfect titles and subject pitches that they forgot to create a compelling presentation to go with it.

I’ve had my fill of high level theoretical strategy – I want to learn how to actually do the stuff.

Where’s the innovation?

Have we run out of new ideas?  It seems like most of the social speakers were still spending more time trying to convince you that social media is important (and how to communicate that to your boss) then trying to challenge us.  I don’t know about you, but I want to be challenged!

The many faces of SXSW

Many people echoed this sentiment (another hat tip here to Eddy & Cameron), but as a first time SXSW participant, I thought it was particularly evident.  There’s two very different faces to SXSW – there’s the clean cut academic (panels) and the urban socialite (parties). Both are useful in their own rights, but I feel like I should have listened to Chris Brogan’s advice early on and skipped the panels.

The top dogs aren’t that different from the rest of the pack

If you know me very well, you know that I’m driven to be as successful as many of the SXSW headliners.  So it’s no surprise that I look towards them for insight on how to get there.  But if there’s one thing SXSW taught me, it’s that we all get it, and we’re all thinking the same things.  In my case, the A-listers have just been doing it for longer, so they can bring a bit more insight and experience to the table.

Step outside your niche

I avoided almost all of the panels about social media and how to use it for your business.  I came to the conference to learn new concepts – not be re-exposed to material I already knew.  I got more value out of panels that were outside my niche then from those within.

Gary Vaynerchuk and Chris Brogan deserve to be at the top

I’ve had more of a chance to talk to and interact with Chris Brogan then I have with Vaynerchuk, but each are very genuine in their actions.  They definitely practice what they preach.

By the way – make it a point to see Gary Vaynerchuk present live – he’s every bit as good as you might think.

The best panels were on the last day

Is Too Much Math Killing Marketing?, Web Video Thunderdome and Twittering Through Chemo all knocked my socks off.  I wish the rest of the conference had been this good.

Long live organic networking!

What is it with conferences and forced networking?  You know what I’m talking about – it’s when you’re supposed to get up from your seat for some pre-ordained length of time for forced socializing.

Forced networking has never worked for me – I prefer the organic nature of SXSW, where networking just kinda happens.  In fact, I’d say that the networking was the most valuable part of the conference for me.

Connectivity surpassed expectations

There was plenty of power, wifi, and AT&T network coverage to go around.  Kudos to SXSW, the Austin Convention Center, and AT&T.

Austin taxis are way cheap

You can take one around town for less then $10.  This is a steal compared to what I remember in the North East.

The Salt Lick is every bit as good as everyone says it is

Delicious BBQ.  Worth the trip to Driftwood, even if it added an extra 2 hours to our drive home (Austin traffic is that bad).

Dallas needs a Halycon, pronto

At the end of a long day – who doesn’t like a coffee inspired adult beverage and a plate of DIY smores?

Top 5 SXSW Moments

  1. Having Gary Vaynerchuk pour me a glass (or two) of wine.
  2. Awkwardly pitching Pete Cashmore on writing for Mashable (like hundres of other schmos must have done).
  3. Presenting at arguably the biggest conference in my industry (Team CJ rocked the house, by the way).
  4. Seeing Michel Gondry & Robert Rodriguez talk
  5. Meeting tons of new people and spending more time with those I already knew

Did you go to SXSW? What were some of your takeaways and favorite moments?

Related posts:

  1. Team CJ Is Headed to SXSW 2010!
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  3. Life Just Got a Whole Lot Harder for Brands on Facebook
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About Colin

Colin Alsheimer is an Account Supervisor for Weber Shandwick and the VP of Promotions for the Social Media Club of Dallas, among other things.