» SXSW Interactive Is Dead
I wrote a little essay for SF Weekly’s culture blog. It’s about how VIP sections ruined SXSWi.
This is why Tim and I throw our Rocketboom + Next New Networks SXSW nonparty as a last minute announcement. Sure, it doesn’t get us any PR but we get people there and we have a good time. No lines, no VIP sections, no problem.
I definitely felt this vibe this year. I’m really glad our party went off so well. We ended up being overflow from the bigger parties and with no VIP section everyone had access to everyone else. We did have the big sponsor with Pepsico, but they were very hands off and cool and everyone who made it out seemed of have a nice time.
Burning Man does a good job of expanding not just because they eschew corporate sponsors but also because the attendees don’t all feel the need to attend the same parties. It’s laid back, nobody feels like they have to be at the “it’ party, they just go out and have fun and let serendipity do it’s thing.
You would think with all the great location based services at this year’s SXSWi that this wouldn’t have been such a problem. Perhaps that’s what Dennis et al should be focusing on? How do we get the people who are interested in seeing each other in a room together without overwhelming them with a crowd? This problem sounds like an opportunity to me.
THIS is why Foursquare can make big parties into shitshows. Everyone wants to be at the same place. Users don’t add enough context to their Foursquare updates for a reader to know whether a party is just too crowded or if it’s a small thing with only their friends. We need to see, and pay attention to, more info about how many strangers are also at a party.
