SXSW and the future of events

UPDATE 4-19 - Here is an article that has some concrete takeaways from the SXSW experience... and yes SXSW was, as all good events need to be, an Experience. http://bit.ly/dTkhRV

and another review of the SXSW event.

 http://www.slideshare.net/christophercarfi/an-ants-eye-view-of-sxsw-2011-7274593

 

(original article below)

With Coachella staging now in SoCal, and South By Southwest (SXSW) just concluded in Austin, TX, the question lingers 'what are these events about?' and 'why do they draw so powerfully from the consumer base? 

Both events draw hundreds of thousands of people and major attention over the web as well, with live streaming content in the form of music concerts, parties, and other festival happenings.

What could OR learn from these consumer events functioning as quasi-b2b venues?  Is the culture of the outdoor industry in play at OR, and should it be?  Does it take from the strictly business attitude we foster?

My first time attending SXSW was this year, and my eyes were popped by the throngs of iPad-toting  twenty-somethings staffing booths and appearing to network like the gaming fiends they were in a previous life.  Brands like Gowalla and Blogworld were launched at prior versions of SXSW, and Coachella is following step as the 'arts gathering' to replace the failed Woodstock revival.   I wonder what really happened there (besides arson)...

Chime in.

KH

Comments

[Barry Hurd]

I think OR will be transformed as professionals like myself want the most efficient way of doing business and connecting with others.

Having organized digital events and integrating technology, I think it will only be a matter of time before a lot of companies realize they failing to grow using new tools. (I see a lot of outdoor companies behaving like publishing companies did in the 90s.)

The attitude (whether personal or business) , doesn't have anything to do with how every demographic is having more adoption of social/mobile/web tools.

[Danny Stull]

I believe interactive technology has a chance to not only change OR but also the outdoor industry as a whole. I have been working on a website and mobile application that actually rewards people for getting outside, checking in and sharing their experience. We are trying to do a big kick-off at OR as this is the SXSW of our industry!

Should be cool, hopefully we can pull it off!

The website is http://www.venturepax.com

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Completely agree with this post --- thank you for pulling it together. SXSW was fantastic from a networking standpoint, with clients, potential clients, partners, and just meeting interesting people. For those who took the advice of veterans and planned in advance, and avoided most of the crush, it was productive.

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Been to sxswcfor 6 yes for work. It's the best, it's about music not doing drugs. Music nowadays is so influenced by party drugs love sxsw good review.

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