Posts tagged SXSW
San Antonio makes bid to move SXSW
Is SXSW getting too big for Austin? That’s the lingering question after this year’s music, film and interactive festival wrapped up with more than a few problems. Now city leaders in San Antonio are hoping to bring the popular venue to the Alamo City.
Ah, yes. This. The final line of that article being:
San Antonio city leaders are meeting next week to talk about approaching organizers of the event.
They are simply fixing to plan to begin to commence. This is sensationalism. We will not be going to The Fader Fort at The Alamo.
I also like how the city councilman that is quoted is interested only in the economic impact of the event, and not anything like the history of the event or what the event even is.
Why not go after something more realistic like building a billion dollar football stadium for the sole purpose of hosting The Super Bowl in a non-NFL city? That’s exactly what this sounds like.
Motorcycle Madness - Apache ft. Daddy Long Legs
I wasn’t at the Burger Records house show, but Apache played Burger City’s Boss Party that I was at, and this was easily the most pure unadulterated rock and roll thing I saw all week. Daddy Long Legs puts this over the top and kills. There’s a recording of it floating around that is, of course, unreleased! I must have it.
“ During the last three days of SXSW, Acevedo said the department made 48 arrests. He compared that to three days during this year’s Mardi Gras celebrations, when officers made 75 arrests.”
SXSW Chaos Prompts New Regulation By APD
So, APD is saying that somehow an event that had more people than Mardi Gras and fewer arrests requires greater intervention from the city for unofficial events that did not have a riot, did not have a camera boom fall on concert goers, and did not inspire a stage rush?
Our city government never ceases to amaze me.
Last Thoughts: SXSW
I know. It’s over and yet I still find reasons write about it.
- City suggests we “dial it back.” This is laughable. I agree with the need to not create health/safety issues, but it’s hard to not see them acting out unfairly towards unofficial events.
- SXSW needs to admit fault for problems with their events. It will help mitigate the idea that they are only in it for the money, and are actually there to help growing bands reach a larger audience.
- Not one media outlet has talked about how the Internet is the most likely culprit for the meteoric rise in attendance over the last few years. Of course it makes sense for Austinites and Texans to flock to this festival, but don’t ignore the years of seeing annual status updates about this event where everyone gets to party with the band. I don’t even know if the city could scale it down if they wanted now.
- Bands have never been allowed to sell merch at official showcases, and even at unofficial venues they were being stopped due to outrageous enforcement by the city. Asking bands if they had tax licenses. I’m all for collecting revenue, but this is the sort of thing turning a blind eye was made for.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the city government over the next year. My initial impression of their reaction leads me to believe that they will do everything they can to limit the festival and anyone not associated with SXSW in an official capacity including venues that operate year round, but choose not to be involved and offer independent bills for bands to play.
South By South West is a lot like when you start dating someone. It’s frantic and you want to see them every minute and is genuinely a great time, but you can’t live like that all the time. You’d lose your mind.
I’m returning emails I received last thursday. I have no clean clothes left.
This city was overrun. We are simply not designed for that many people to be here and expecting entertainment 24/7. It’s easy to make an exception for a week and welcome the masses. If anyone loved the Austin they experienced during SXSW they will probably love the city year round if they move here.
This city will keep growing, and it’s going to change. This town isn’t even the same town it was when I moved here two years ago. I understand the “Don’t move here” sentiment, but that’s not quite my point of view. I’m more of a “Don’t Dallas My Austin” person.
The sentiments from the fine folks at Shangri-La strike me as a request to let us get one full nights rest, and time to do our laundry. It’s not saying get and out and never come back.
