Sxsw 2011-briefing

SXSWSouth By Southwest Conferences & FestivalsMUSIC • FILM • INTERACTIVE | MARCH 11-20, 2011

6th Street during SXSW

South by Southwest (SXSW) Conferences & Festivals: The Premier Destination for DiscoverySXSW consists of three unique industry conferences and festivals: Music, Film and Interactive. It offers the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies, and year after year is a launching pad for new creative content.

SXSW Music is MySpace on the physical realm.

SXSW Film is one of the top independent film festivals in America.

SXSW Interactive challenges you to envision the future of innovative technology.

“It is the industry event where buzz is born…”

Newsday

Crowd of music lovers at SXSW.

SXSW differs from other music, film and technology events.

The benefits:• Tremendous exposure to a unique

convergence of the music, film and digital technology industries

• Heavy international participation ensures global business networking opportunities unmatched at any other conference

• Access to industry decision-makers responsible for establishing new trends in many different markets

• Thousands of registered members of the media come to discover and report on the latest music, film and digital technology innovations

SXSW Conference attendees at the Austin Convention Center.

“It's a 10-day event that drew almost 150,000 people last year, including music industry honchos, film producers, agents, celebrities, Internet startup CEOs and a few thousand media types - journalists, critics, bloggers and pundits - who collectively wield a dizzying amount of influence over the things we see, hear and do.”

Montreal Gazette

SXSW – Who Goes?

The top ten occupations of SXSW Conference Registrants (in random order):

The SXSW Registrants’ Lounge is a very popular place to begin the evening.

MUSIC 13,020Media Electronic

Artist

Marketing

Radio

Media Print

Indie Label

Music Publishing

Event/Convention

Management

Talent Buyer/Promoter

FILM9,500

Film Director

Producer

Media Print

Producer/Studio

Film Distribution

Production

Filmmaker

Actor/Actress

Event/Convention

Media Electronic

Film Student

INTERACTIVE14,251

Web Development

Social Media

Publicity

Software Development

Game Industry

Consultant

Educator

Media Electronic

E-commerce

Marketing

Non-Profit

Interface Design

“Overall, the SXSW Festival/ Convention offers one of the best opportunities to learn about the future of the digital world, make contacts in the independent film world, meet with the alternative label world, and listen to the best music from around the world.”

Radio & Records.com

The new SXSW Trade Show: The exhibition for creative industries, a four-day exhibition uniting the three SXSW Conferences – Film, Interactive and Music – all under one roof.

SXSW Film Conference & Festival

The SXSW Film Conference & Festival, now in its 18th year, has become a top tier independent film event. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers invaluable networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the rapidly evolving world of independent film.

The SXSW Film Conference & Festival includes:

Four days of film industry panels, demos, mentor sessions, interviews and more

Four days of the SXSW Trade Show Nine full days of film festival screenings

with 270+ new films screened (screenings occur day and night)

Opening and closing parties, premiere after-parties, the SXSW Film Awards, happy hours and more.

“Observe and Report” panel with Seth Rogan, Anna Farris, Jody Hill, Michael Peña and

Danny McBride at SXSW Film 2009.

“The festival has gained international acclaim for the quality of its programming with a special focus on emerging talents who bask in being included in the company of the cinematic greats whose work is regularly presented.”

Film Festival Reporter

SXSW Film FestivalScreenings

277 films were screened at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival in categories such as Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Music Video, and Opening Title Sequence.

In 2010, the film festival again played host to some exciting new work, with special screenings and premieres, including:

Chris Morris’ Four Lions (UK) Matthew Vaughn’s Kick Ass Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Micmacs (Fr) Mark Landsman’s Thunder Soul Gareth Edward’s Monsters Bernard Rose’s Mr. Nice (UK) Gregg Oliver’s Lemmy (US) Ken Wardrop’s His & Hers (Ireland) Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc (Fr

1928)

The director, producer and cast of “I Love You, Man” take questions from the audience at the SXSW premiere.

“Whenever SXSW ends, it feels like being a kid on the day after Christmas. Even though you were showered with gifts and good times, you're a spoiled little brat, and you just want MORE!”

Film Threat

SXSW Interactive FestivalNow in its 18th year, the SXSW Interactive Festival has emerged as the one of the largest and most important annual gathering spots for digital creatives.

SXSW Interactive Festival brings together more than 14,000 participants from across the country and around the world for hands-on training to big-picture analysis.

SXSW Interactive offers an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, digital projects, wireless applications, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.

Areas of focus for 2010 included: Blogging Business Models &

EntrepreneurialismDigital Creativity Game DesignOnline Advertising Independent Content CreationPodcasting Video BloggingWeb Design Wireless TechnologyGreen Tech Social Media

Dan Willis during his “What You Know Is Wrong” panel at SXSW Interactive 2009.

“SXSW Interactive spans gaming, web content, web design, development, academia, social media, mobile ... but what it does more than any other event is a special mix of the arts and digital culture with technology. There are no suits, no boring product pitches - SXSWi is about ideas and trends in new digital tools and technologies.”

The Guardian

SXSW Interactive FestivalMore vital than ever, SXSW Interactive has seen double-digit growth for five consecutive years.

SXSW Interactive includes: Five days of cutting edge new media

technology panels, interviews, demos and more

Four days of SXSW trade show Five days of ScreenBurn gaming panels,

demos and more Three days of the ScreenBurn Arcade

(open to the public) Opening and closing parties, Accelerator,

Web Awards, creative content open houses, happy hours and more bring life to the night time SXSW Interactive events

Numerati author Stephen Baker and wunderkind statistician Nate Silver at 2009 SXSW Intteractive.

“Nowhere else will you have so many opportunities to pick the brains of and share a pint with the thinkers and the doers of the Web.”

Matthew Magain, sitepoint.com

2011 marks the 25th year of the SXSW Music Conference & Festival !

Reaching a quarter of a century of being the biggest and most anticipated convergence of all things music, SXSW is ready to keep the reputation alive by programming the best event yet…

“On Friday night in Austin, something very weird, maybe even life altering, happened: Metallica and DEVO played inspired concerts in the same Texas town, only a 15-minute walk apart, and almost perfectly back to back. It made for one of those bizarro nights in rock history that may end up influencing a generation of young musicians we have never heard from yet, but will cite Friday, March 20, 2009, as the day nothing would ever be the same.”

LA Weekly

Metallica at SXSW 2009.

SXSW Music Conference & Festival16-20 March 2011

SXSW Music Conference & FestivalSXSW Music Conference & Festival is one of the most influential musical events in America, and throughout the world. draws more than 13,000 conference registered music industry professionals for:

Six nights of top-quality music by more than 1,900 buzz bands from around the world (15-20)

Four days of compelling panels, interviews, demo listening sessions and more (17-20)

Four days of the new SXSW trade show (14-17) Three days of free-to-the-public, charity

beneficiary concerts on SXSW's largest stage (17-19)

Dozens of official SXSW Music parties (16-19) NEW! Accelerator with Music Focus (16) Three days of the Flatstock Poster & Art Show

(17-19) Gear Alley Expo (16-19) Two days of the Texas Guitar Show (18-19) The Austin Music Awards, happy hours, a

softball tournament & BBQ, the SXSW golf tournament and more….

DEVO at SXSW 2009.

“The festival is still a place where record label scouts see bands and make deals. But it is also, for many more performers, a hub for operating outside the recording business ... It could be finding a European distributor for a self-released album or the offer of a Midwestern college tour instead.”

New York Times

SXSW Music FestivalShowcasesThe 2010 SXSW Music Festival featured five nights of top-quality music by 1,978 bands on 89 stages in central Austin. Acts ranged from emerging new talents to the world’s biggest buzz bands to popular, established performers.

SXSW 2010 bands hailed from 49 states in the US and from as far away as Australia, Iran, Argentina, Singapore, Germany and Japan.

•Some 2010 highlights include: • Smokey Robinson, Motorhead, Scissor Sisters,

Suzanne Vega, Macy Gray, Midlake, Miike Snow, Casio Kids, The Middle East, Villagers, Jakob Dylan, Stone Temple Pilots, Hauschka, Efterklang, Warpaint, She & Him, Spoon, Bomba Estero, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Shearwater, Oh No Ono, Texas Tornados, Fool’s Gold, Minus the Bear, Band of Skulls, Delta Spirit, BRMC, Local Natives, Dr. Dog, The Temper Trap, Children Collide and many more!

The Decemberists at SXSW 2009.

“The South by Southwest music conference and festival is an unwieldy beast, a multiheaded hydra that mirrors the Internet - and the culture at large - in the way its fractionalized format caters to nearly every imaginable niche, from Japanese psychedelic to Brazilian hip-hop to regular old American rock-and-roll.”

Philadelphia Inquirer



Radio & Records.com

SXSW Music Conference & Festival – Why Go?

• 13,000 delegates who –• Sign music• Write about music trends• Put music in a film• Put music on the radio and on TV• Market and Distribute• Buy and sell products and services• Stage live music• Manage others• Write and play music• Developing a career…

• And want to meet, network, learn, share, launch, pitch, promote, keep up, be reminded, find, hear, shop, be surprised

UK@SXSW 2010 Stats

• SXSWeek UK delegates - 1,138 (1,151)

• UK Music delegates - 696 (754)• UK Interactive delegates - 294

(78)• UK Film delegates -57 (2)• UK showcase applications – 703

(815) • UK showcase offers – 276 (309)• UK showcases – 135 (167)

Third Eye Blind tape a segment of SXSW Live on the Bat Bar Stage during SXSW.

“...South by Southwest really is a gift from above for music obsessives everywhere.”

billboard.com

SXSW Music Festival 2010 UK Showcases by

•VV Brown•Frightened Rabbit•The XX•Smoke Fairies•Muse•The Unthanks•And so I watch you from afar•Marina & the Diamonds•Billy Bragg•Viv Albertine•Athlete…

•and 124 others

“It’s a multi-national, multi-media blow-out turning the capital of Texas into the international hub of everything cool for a few days in March every year.”

Texas Music Matters, NPR

Auditorium Shores Stage.

• UK Showcase Presenters include

• 4AD• Bella Union• Moshi Moshi• Transgressive• Militant

Entertainment• The Bedford• The Local• Kerrang!• NME• The Great

Escape• Scottish Arts

Council• UKTI• AIM• PPL• PRS for

Music….

SXSW Music Festival 2010Showcase Artists from Scotland

• Codeine Velvet Club (Island)

• Colin MacIntyre (aka Mull Historical Society)

• Fangs (Emperor)

• Frightened Rabbit (FatCat)

• Hudson Mohawke (Warp)

• Mark Mulholland (Troubadour/Easy Action)

• St Deluxe (Poppydisc)

• The Law (Local Boy)

• Tommy Reilly (A&M)

• Trembling Bells (Honest Jon’s)

• Twin Atlantic (Red Bull)

• Unicorn Kid• We Were Promised Jetpacks

(Fatcat)

The legendary Quincy Jones speaks at SXSW 2009.

“Of course, that's always been one of the true calling cards of SXSW. Whether you're an artist, a producer or otherwise involved in the biz, if you pay attention, you can hear the buzz before the rest of the world.”

CMT.com

A Flatstock artist displays a poster proof.

“South by Southwest Music is four hyperactive days of making connections for musicians, recording companies and every other business touching on music, from concert bookers to copyright lawyers, publishers to Web geeks.”

New York Times

• Discovery Film Festival

• Live for Films• Scottish

Documentary Institute

• Scottish Screen

• Crying with Laughter Cast/Crew

• Interstellar.net• Muvizu• eMotionLab

GCAL• Civic

SXSWeek 2010 Delegates from Scotland

• Mashable.com• BBC Scotland• Scottish Daily

Record• D-Set Records• Off the Beaten

Tracks• The Podcast

Network• DF Concerts• PCL• GoEvents• Fat Sam’s Ltd

• No Half Measures…

SXSW – Costs to Attend

How to keep costs down: early bird rates, share hotel, stay downtown, shuttle bus ticket, hire a bike, switch mobile roaming off, find free food and drink, no drink….


SXSW - no frills

Reg/Hotel/Flight/PDs

Music $2,400/£1,550

Interactive $2,200/£1,400

Film $2,000/£1,300

Platinum $4,200/£2,700

£1 = $ 1.55430

SXSW - mid budget


Music $3,500/£2,250


Film $3,000/£1,900

Platinum $5,300/£3,400


Radio & Records.com

SXSW – blow out


Music $7,600/£4,900


Film $7,150/£4,600

Platinum $11,000/£7,000

SXSW Showcasing Decisions You Need to Make and

When You Need to Make Them!

Decision #1: Deciding if the Time is Right

Decision time: Now!

•Your are the right point in your career to benefit from a showcase

•You have recordings, airplay and market recognition in the UK

•You have very specific international goals that you want to achieve

•You understand the value of festival exposure for a band

•You have funds to get you there and you are not relying on grants

A Flatstock artist displays a poster proof.

“Rock 'n' roll music has a great knack for either reflecting the times or transcending them. The latter was clearly in effect at SXSW 2009.”

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Decision #2: Making your Application stand out Decision time: by the Nov 6 Deadline

SXSW is looking for: Super buzz up and coming acts A growing career Original and compelling music A creative, detailed, targeted and

constantly updated EPK Significant live experience Basic business infrastructure Clearly defined goals for SXSW Promotion for a successful showcase A growing fanbase All your ducks in row!

The ZonePerfect live.create. lounge at SXSW 2009.

“The U.S. economy is in the grip of recession, but you wouldn't know it from attending the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas, a 10-day music, film, and interactive industry networking marathon fueled by massive quantities of beer and barbecue.”

Reuters

Decision #3: Is it affordable?

Decision time: by Nov 6

Showcase budget - application fee, application audio/video materials, backline, misc consumables ~£500

Marketing, promotion and PR budget - business cards, printed promo, CDs ~ £500

Travel budget - flights, accommodation, per diems, ground travel, car hire, misc ~ £5,000

Visa budget - agency fee, artist filing fee, crew filing fee, premium handling, consular interview in UK ~ £3000

Possible sources of funding - Savings, Fundraisers, PRS Foundation, Regional arts agency, UKTI, Label, Publisher

Over 300 SXSW banners with sponsor logos are produced for official venues, theaters,

parties, panels and more.

“This was the year the South by Southwest Music conference tail started wagging its music

industry dog.”

Newsday

Decision #4: How should I respond to SXSW invitation?

Decision time: Upon receipt of invitation! ~ Nov - Dec

• All correspondence is between Musfest and your Primary Contact

• Don’t delay in responding to Musfest emails

• Showcase invitation is made without reference to date of showcase, venue or time slot

• SXSW programmes festival from the list of confirmed artists

• Keep 4 days of SXSW free (Wed-Sat)• Confirmation email by end January• Don’t go to print on any promotion

until your showcase is finalised

“In its history, it has grown from being a jolly spring get-together for a few hundred US indie labels and musicians in search of a deal, to an international gathering that is the most important date in our music industry calendar.”

The Guardian

Moby reaches for his Miller Lite while DJ-ing a SXSW party.

Decision #5: Do I need to apply for US work visa?• Decision time: immediately upon

receipt of invitation

• Don’t underestimate the time, effort and costs involved in securing a US work visa

• Visa processing takes from 3 weeks to 4 months

• Avoid 90 day INS $1000 premium processing fee (mid-Dec)

• Seek professional advice - Tamizdat, Traffic Control, Ron Zeelens…

• Do not delay visa application to wait for funding outcomes!

“In its history, it has grown from being a jolly spring get-together for a few hundred US indie labels and musicians in search of a deal, to an international gathering that is the most important date in our music industry calendar.”

The Guardian

Moby reaches for his Miller Lite while DJ-ing a SXSW party.

“The conference is not reflective of the present state of the economy, it’s reflective of what people will be talking about three years from now. South by Southwest is where the future hatches.”

The San Francisco Chronicle

Registrants queue to pick up their credentials at the Austin Convention Center during SXSW.

Decision #6: When should I confirm flights?Decision time: immediately upon

receipt of invitation

• We recommend NOT buying the cheapest airfares direct from airlines over the internet

• You may need specific and unique airline requirements

• Wider choice of options• Flexibility• Increased baggage allowance• 24 hour emergency contacts

•Talk to The Tour Company in Glasgow

[email protected] or Media Travel in London www.mediatravel.com

Decision #7: How best to promote a showcase?

Decision time: Jan-Mar

•A showcase slot at SXSW is a valuable commodity!•Maximise your page on SXSW website

• SXSW Player, mp3, bio, photo, reviews•Find a strong media hook or story about what brings you to sxsw•Mail press kits to local media in Austin•Generate exposure via Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, last.fm, my.sxsw.com•Sign up for discounted marketing offers for first timers, indie labels, unsigned artists•Your registered representative uses SXSW custom social networking and scheduling tools to invite delegates to your showcase

Numerati author Stephen Baker and wunderkind statistician Nate Silver at 2009 SXSW Intteractive.

“Nowhere else will you have so many opportunities to pick the brains of and share a pint with the thinkers and the doers of the Web.”

Matthew Magain, sitepoint.com

Decision #8: How to Get Organised?

Decision time: Jan-Mar

• Sign up for BandCentral.com nifty project management tool

• Every member of band has a role to play

• Get involved in regional promotional opportunities - before, during, after sxsw.

• Take the registration package option

• Apply for International Housing Programme

• Simplify your on stage production• Prepare 40 minute killer set • Share backline to reduce rental• Don’t forget to bring plug boards

for on stage power distribution

Third Eye Blind tape a segment of SXSW Live on the Bat Bar Stage during SXSW.

“...South by Southwest really is a gift from above for music obsessives everywhere.”

billboard.com

Decision #9: Can I play other gigs during SXSW?Decision time: Jan-Mar

• SXSW wants your showcase experience to be a positive one

• Focus public attention on your showcase

• Consider the effect that other performances may on the showcase

• Official daytime private parties hosted by sales clients are great

• Huge success of British Music Embassy

• Unofficial parties - hit or miss• Don’t overplay during sxsw• Log other shows with sxsw• No other evening gigs allowed

National media converges on the red carpet of the “I Love You, Man” premiere on opening night, SXSW Film 2009.

“... SXSW – a place where parties don't have barricades or clipboard-toting bouncers outside – is still seen as a locus with an undiluted, captive, youthful, tastemaking audience.”

Variety.com

Decision #10: What do I do after SXSW?

Decision time: post SXSW

SXSW Directory - year round reference toolSXSWorld Magazine - news info sourceRSS feeds - The Daily Chord etcMonthly Newsletters - Inside scoopAudio Podcasts - new feature My.sxsw.com - ongoing social networkingiPhone app - free, greatSXSW official sites on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter QR Codes - links to further informationYear round access to Austin industries

The director, producer and cast of “I Love You, Man” take questions from the audience at the SXSW premiere.

“Whenever SXSW ends, it feels like being a kid on the day after Christmas. Even though you were showered with gifts and good times, you're a spoiled little brat, and you just want MORE!”

Film Threat

Key Dates August 1 2010 - showcase applications open,

Sep 24th 2010 - Early bird registration ($595/£408) and 20% sales discount deadline

Mid-Oct 2010 - first UK invitations

Nov 5th 2010 - showcase application deadline

Mid-Dec 2010 - ninety day visa turnaround

Mid-Dec 2010 - last round of international invitations

Jan 28th 2011 - all artists notified of status

Feb 11th 2011 - last day to register before walk up rate ($750/£515)

Mid-Feb 2011 - SXSW Music Festival live online

Mar 16th - 20th 2011 - SXSW Music

Sierra Mist at the Pepsi Podcast Playground.

“SXSW has been instrumental to the development of the Sonicbids brand since day one. Being a major music sponsor of SXSW offered us unparalleled exposure to a highly targeted group of customers.” Panos Panay, CEO of Sonicbids

Thank you!

“It’s a 10-day event that drew almost 150,000 people last year, including

music industry honchos, film producers, agents, celebrities, Internet startup

CEOs and a few thousand media types - journalists, critics, bloggers and pundits - who collectively wield a

dizzying amount of influence over the things we see, hear and do.”

Montreal Gazette

•I am happy to respond to any questions you may have

Education

Sxsw 2011-briefing