SXSW: Exhausting, In the Very Best Way
Had the chance to sit down with our Creative Director Laura Johnston (@zackarooned) and capture her thoughts on her first SXSW experience [ML]:
What was your SXSW experience?
SXSW was exhausting—there was so much stimulation of ideas, people, parties, things to do, things to learn…literally felt physically and mentally drained in the very best way at the end of each day.
It’s taking in a lot of “new”—a new city, new ideas, new people, new experiences, new sights, even new tastes—Austin has a rockin’ food truck population. We rarely get the chance to experience that much “new” in the course of a week, let alone a weekend.
I got the most out of the seminars that were off the beaten path—the less obvious choices, the ones with less linear connections to exactly what we do as marketers, or even in the emerging technology space. There was a great session on how technology has influenced folk art. Believe it or not, tech has greatly enabled craftspeople to share, sell and advance their craft.
We should host a session on how to host a session. First of all, people come here to hear from experts. There’s a certain expectation, at least that I had, that if you’re leading a session, you’ve got a point of view and something to share with me. Not, “So this is a forum to facilitate discussion and what you guys think about (insert topic here).” C’mon. Discussion is great, but at least start the damn thing with a thought or two. Give me my money’s worth…
Second, know your audience. I sat in a session on fitness where everyone in the audience worked in the fitness industry. The presenters simply weren’t prepared for that advanced of a crew attending. I’d argue that common sense should tell you—if you’re hosting something that specialized, odds are you’ll attract an experienced audience.
I’m just sayin….
What’s the one session you’re still thinking about?
But the one session I’m still thinking about was “three writers, 15 slides,” where three known tech/bloggers each discussed their approach to the same 15 challenges when it comes to writing. It was great to compare, contrast their ideas—and really get an intimate peek behind the creative tech curtain. In fact, I’m stealing this idea and turning it into something we can use here at the agency… Stay tuned…
Would you recommend SXSW to other people?
Depends on who’s asking. It’s a great experience for curious people, looking for new ideas, or people who hunger for inspiration and canfind it anywhere. Be forewarned—you’ll be exhausted!
