With applications for the Texan SXSW Music Festival artist showcasing and Panel Picker speaker/panel submissions opening July 1 for SXSW Conference & Festivals (Interactive, Music & Film March 13-22 2020), the local SXSW folks are holding a series of free SXSW Meet ‘n’ Greet gatherings in:
Melbourne (July 15) The Gem – 289 Wellington St. Collingwood—5:30-8pm
Sydney (July 16) Upstairs Beresford – 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills —5:30-8pm
Brisbane (July 17) Fortitude Music Hall 312 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley—5:30-8pm
It will be an introduction to SXSW for those wanting to participate as delegates as well as networking with previous veterans of SXSW with four speakers in each town who reveal their tips, techniques and secrets to navigate SXSW for maximum results. Admission is free and no RSVPs are needed with doors opening at 5:30.
Over 750 Australian delegates (up from 20 in 2002) and 54 top bands (up from 5 in 2002) attended in 2019, while New Zealand sent 80+ attendees and 11 bands in a massive government/industry supported trade mission with a stand in the Trade Fair, special day concert and a major film release. The Australian Government invested in its second year via GDAY USA in an AUSTRALIA HOUSE on Rainey Street that was a popular nexus for networking events, panels and seminars, product activations and state sponsored concerts ending with the iconic Aussie BBQ and other promoter events. AUSTRADE ran a large trade fair stand spotlighting our creative content talent. GDAY USA has confirmed their 2020 presence again in the converted Lucille on Rainey Street Sunday March 15-Friday March 20.
Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW (http://sxsw.com) is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. An essential destination for global professionals, the event features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Over 73,000 delegates attend from more than 106 countries including 4800 Conference speakers & 4300 global media. 1964 acts (of 7700 who applied) from 62 countries performed on 100 stages to 159,000 Music showcase cumulative attendees. 612 were international (non-US).
The Meet ‘n’ Greet timing is ideal for the opening of registrations and hotel reservations online August 1 at the lowest early bird rates as well as to have potential speakers and panellists upload their ideas for presentations prior to the July 19 PanelPicker cutoff. Band applications will close in October but here’s a secret Phil Tripp passes along “Because we strategise applying early for showcases, we turn in our music and promo while the eyes and ears of SXSW reviewing staff are fresh and we are prepared for the necessary visas and budgeting when we get early notice of acceptance. Most other bands from the US, UK and elsewhere wait until the last days of deadline when ears are crisped, eyes are weary and the volume is overwhelming with latecomers.”
“While our indie and mainstream films have consistently scored well in that festival, it is our tech and interactive prowess that has grown Australia’s brand so dynamically. We have a huge presence of startups, developers, VR/AR/MR producers, AI pioneers, advertising and marketing agencies & creatives, games and multimedia alchemists who have used SXSW as their launch pad into the creative content global market. 2019’s winner of the SXSW Interactive Innovation Award for Music and Audio is Melbourne-based nuraphone, the world’s only headphone that automatically self-learns and adapts to your unique hearing. Their packed stand presence throughtout the Trade Fair had a huge impact on sales and media attention at a crucial time in their growth.”
“AUSTRADE kickstarted the momentum in 2002 when I started with SXSW with an initial stand presence for the music industry as well as an investment in the iconic Aussie BBQ and a series of national ‘SXSW Bootcamps’ by teleconference in each state. They maintained their annual investment in SXSW, switching to multimedia, games and startups as they emerged on the content landscape. AUSTRADE realised that intellectual property as an export industry had the potential to exceed resource mining like iron, coal, uranium, diamonds, timber and copper and that creative content was totally renewable and growable.” Tripp concludes.
For further information, contact Phil Tripp on tripp@sxsw.com