Anyone heading to Austin for South by Southwest needs several qualities: patience, a certain degree of flexibility, and a certain resilience to stress. Hardly any event promotes FOMO (fear of missing out) to the extent that SXSW does. But after just a few hours in bustling Austin, it's clear: it's worth it!
Austin, Texas. It's my first day in the city and also my first visit to SXSW. For years, the festival, which is divided into the Interactive, Film, and Music segments, has enjoyed increasing popularity among German visitors as well. Whether music fanatic, cinephile, or techie, the major event has something for everyone with a seemingly endless number of events spread across venues throughout the city. SXSW CPO Hugh Forrest emphasized this creative diversity in his opening speech at the Austin Convention Center. The 10-day event, which began as a small music festival in 1987, is all about bringing creatives together and—even if it sounds trite now, it fits so well here—creating synergies. However, in order to enjoy Forrest's welcoming words, I learn the first principle of the SXSW festival: Waiting in line is king!
After the opening, I actually wanted to wander around the city, get to know the various locations, and get my bearings. Before it all started, I wasn't aware that I'd be sitting in my seat for five hours. While waiting to be admitted, I quickly realized that at 12:30 p.m., in the very Ballroom D of the Convention Center, outside whose doors I had just patiently queued with thousands of others, none other than US Senator and self-proclaimed number one Trump opponent Bernie Sanders would be invited on stage by CNN's Jake Trapper for a talk. You're reluctant to give up a good seat in the fifth row. Especially since the interlude program is by no means uninteresting.
“There's no refugee crisis”
At 11 a.m., Josephine Goube, CEO of Techfugees and originally from Calais, will speak about how the project, originally launched through a Facebook group by Techcrunch editor Mike Butcher, is using technology to support refugees. When asked about the refugee crisis, Goube emphasizes: "There's no refugee crisis, there's a crisis of hospitality." Techfugee volunteers introduce themselves in a short video. The primary goal is to involve refugees in the projects to achieve real benefits. Munich-based teams also present themselves in the short film, which captivates with its simplicity and authenticity.
Shortly thereafter, the eagerly awaited talk with Bernie Sanders begins. Announced with a challenging "Can you feel the Bern?", the audience's reaction can be described as nothing other than ecstatic. Shortly after noon, we see the first standing ovations. SXSW quickly gains momentum. In his usual style, Sanders draws attention to social injustices in the US and around the world, clearly commits to more restrictive gun policies in light of recent events in the US, and, of course, does not shy away from the topic of climate change. The non-partisan politician is currently on a Texas tour to open the eyes of Trump voters and convince US citizens to vote. He emphasizes that if every second American voted, the Democrats would always win. I dare not say to what extent this theory is true. But Sanders has the audience 100 percent under control. One could have listened to him for longer, because in addition to political expertise and honorable ambitions, the senator from the state of Vermont also has entertainer qualities, sometimes skillfully pointed, sometimes unintentionally funny.
Now it would have been time to venture into the urban jungle. But that would have been a grave mistake. I'm glad that after four hours of sitting in my chair, I decided to attend the keynote speech by psychotherapist and couples therapist Esther Perel. The Belgian provides the interpersonal component of the lecture program and, with her focus on how human relationships have changed in modern times, clearly strikes a chord with the audience. After the official part, questions are allowed. Perel doesn't manage to answer nearly all of them, but she leaves a lasting impression in Ballroom D and receives the second standing ovation of the day. And rightly so!
Take what comes!
So my plan to get around a lot on the first day is out the window. Am I dissatisfied with that? No. Did I miss something? Definitely. In a WhatsApp group with other SXSW visitors, I'm constantly hearing about where I could be right now and how great it is somewhere else. But that's probably part of it: The Fear of missing out Don't let it get the better of you and enjoy what you're currently experiencing. Tomorrow, though, I'll let myself go a bit more. At least, that's what I plan to do.
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