SXSW from a local band's perspective

It begins. Today marks the beginning of the music portion of SXSW, which for some of us local bands is an event that spawns mixed emotions.

For those of you not "in the know," SXSW is a 10-day festival hosted every March in the lovely city of Austin that showcases stuff related to gaming/technology, film and music. Between official and unofficial SX events, it brings a couple hundred thousand folks to our little burg.

In 2011, the official numbers were: almost 67,000 attendees for the film festival, 65,000 for the trade show, more than 19,000 for the interactive conference, and they didn't even estimate a total for how many people came for the music portion except to say that 45,000 attended the free shows at Auditorium Shores. There were almost 2,100 bands and 92 stages for the official venues. So, maybe double that to incorporate all the unofficial shows.

That sounds amazing, right? So much creativity and so many artists right here for your listening/watching/playing pleasure! As an attendee, it is a staggering amount of entertainment - even if you haven't bought a badge to get in to the official events (which you may not be able to get into even WITH a badge if a venue hits capacity). As a participant, the idea is to be discovered. A distributor picks up your film. Your technology is launched. Your band is given a record deal. Bam! Your future is made.

Maybe. Or not.



The truth is, it's a great opportunity to get exposure and be discovered if you're ready for that. But most bands aren't. That doesn't mean it isn't an awesome experience to be part of SX, particularly if you're from some place that doesn't really have a music scene. But if you've come all this way, and you're really not ready to jump on the opportunity if some record producer *does* hand you his card, then you've just had a cool vacation. Most bands who come aren't going to get the life-changing deal they're hoping for. So, if you're in a band and you come, enjoy it for what it is, and don't worry about it if life doesn't change this week. There's always next year.

That said, at least some of us who live here feel a little differently about SX. Our band has played SX showcases, and it's been fun. There's a great vibe of excitement, and people are actually here to listen to the bands, not just drink and party and talk over you. So, that's cool.

And as a local, it's nice to have an edge in terms of knowing where everything is, knowing how to navigate the streets (and crowds), having contacts at venues and, thus, more opportunities to play than a visiting band. And it's definitely cool to say you're playing SX!

But it's also a tremendous hassle. We play the same venues we normally play, only it's a nightmare trying to load in, you play only a handful of songs, your drummer is likely backlining on someone else's equipment, you're not getting paid, and as stated above, chances are the magic producer who wants to change your life is probably not at that particular venue at that particular moment.

So, you play, then you bust your butt to get off stage so the next band can get on, haul your gear down the street in the crowds to the parking place you found blocks away, and you go home thinking how nice it will be next week when you can go back to that same place, park in the alley or at the front door to unload, play a full show and get paid.

You can't help it. You don't want to seem like a wet blanket with such an awesome event in your own backyard. But it's madness. And when it IS your backyard, you can't help but think how nice your backyard is when it isn't completely overrun!

So, are The Staylyns leaving town for the rest of the week and shunning all things SX? Not a chance! We are doing our part to participate by providing sound this Friday, March 16, for the Fiesta Red Indie Fiesta. That's alotta fiesta, people! It will be a great opportunity to see some cool bands from around the country and to meet some new folks. So, come check it out if you're in town and say hi to Johnny - he'll be the blonde dude behind the sound board. I'll also lurk around with a camera and see if I can snag some photos to share.

And if you're maxed out on SX stuff on Saturday, join us out west of Austin for a St. Patty's Day show at Little Woodrow's Bee Cave location. We'll be playing 10pm-1am, so come have a green beer and dance a jig - no badge required.