How SXSW Changed My Life
And how it probably changed yours, although you may not know it.
Have you ever watched Lena Dunham’s Girls on HBO? Ever laughed hysterically at the antics in the films Brides- maids and Knocked Up? Given into the Grumpy Cat phenomenon? Do you enjoy the music of John Mayer, Janelle Monae, The Dixie Chicks, The Black Eyed Peas, Norah Jones, The Flaming Lips, Coldplay, John Legend, Spoon or Lana Del Rey? Do you use Twitter or Foursquare? What do all of these seemingly disparate people and things have in common? They all got their first significant exposure at South By Southwest.
After the tragic car accident last year, the teeming crowds, lack of parking and general bad behavior during SXSW, it has become in vogue to cast a negative spin and dismiss one of Austin’s signature events. I believe that would be extremely shortsighted. It is not just the economic impact (estimated at $218.3 million in 2013 and a whopping $315.3 million in 2014) that changes the lives of Austinites; it is the creativity, the people, the visitors, the presenters, the performers, the filmmakers, the innovators and yes, the dreamers that come to Austin for those 10 days that change lives.
How has SXSW changed my life specifically? SXSW draws the cream of the crop. I was thrilled to hear speakers like Al Gore, Bruce Springsteen, Clive Davis, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter’s Evan Williams, just to name a few. I learned from and was inspired by each of them.
I saw the premiere of The Hurt Locker and later cheered as Kathryn Bigelow stepped up to receive her Oscar, knowing that ATX had played a small role in her success.
I have learned so much about writers and writing, networking, business and how to use technology that I would honestly say attending the interactive conference is one of the best ways to continue my education and quell my curious nature.
I have met some of the most interesting people on the planet, many of whom have become friends.
And I gave my bulging shoe closet a pass when I heard Shaquille O’Neal confess that he spends $1,000 a week on apps. We all have our guilty pleasures, it seems.
For 10 days in March, we are invaded by the 71,000 people that attend the three SXSW conferences, and part of me hopes that they will not be enticed to move here. But what we take away from those 10 days not only changes our lives in Austin, it also, in many cases, changes the world.
So I encourage you to go out during SXSW. Mix and mingle, listen to a group or musician you have never heard, see a cutting-edge film, discover an app or make a new friend. For that brief time each year, the world comes to Austin, so take advantage of what could prove to be life-changing.
According to the official SXSW website, “SXSW’s original goal was to create an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas. That continues to be the goal today, whether it is music, film or the interactive technologies. And Austin continues to be the perfect location.” To that, I say, “Amen and mission accomplished.”
May’s Last Word topic will be “To Be or Not to Be a Mother: Is Motherhood Right for You?” To be considered, email a 500-word submission by April 1 to submissions@awmediainc.com.
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