The SXSW Festival is underway here in Austin. The swarm comes in threes. First the city fills with techno-geeks for the 'Interactive' portion, then the skeevy film people breeze into town and fill up the Hotel San Jose and bombard Craigslist with 'casual encounters' posts, and finally the too hip to breathe music industry gets here.
The festival is a showcase for films to pick up a distributor and musical acts to win the lottery of a record deal, if you're a fan you can also get to see some great live shows from bands across the country.
The Statesman today has an unintentionally hilarious story that details the frustration of fans unable to get into shows packed with industry people. Reading it makes every one that is griping about not getting into a show sound like the most spoiled and useless people on the planet. The festival has done a good job of accomodating fans where they can and still managing to become the premier must attend event for industry folks to sign new talent.
But, that's not good enough for whiny fans! Just like petulant children they are throwing tantrums every time they are unable to get into a show.
You don't even need a badge if you've got Karen Brooks.
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Want to get in, get a badge. That simple. People are delusional if they think they can roll up to Tom Waites or this year's equivalent and get in with a band. But that band will get you into lots of interesting, low buzz shows that and...wait for it...YOU CAN JUST BLOW THE JOINT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. And then go to another low buzz show.