Yeah, my solution was to go to work for them. I spent a few years as a sxsw door person. Then I stuck to tending bar at the Hole in the Wall for the free day parties. Now i stay home and tell the youngsters at work about the first sxsw when i was appalled to pay $20 for a badge.
The Chronicle lists a lot of free day events. If you’re near Congress Ave., you can just walk around and take your pick.
I would suggest my brother-in-law’s band Grandchildren, https://schedule.sxsw.com/2018/artists/19747
Has anyone gone to SXSW since they got rid of public wristbands? In the past, they sold wristbands so the public could go to the concerts, but that meant everything was so packed you hardly got in anywhere to see anything. Recently, they changed it so that only conference attendees have venue access. Has that made it easier to go from venue to venue to see different bands?
All great suggestions so thanks to everyone for contributing to this thread. The good thing is that I have my film schedule mapped out everyday and it appears most of the concerts start after most of the movies end, so I’m not as likely to run into as many conflicts. The bad news will be that I certainly can’t catch everything so will have to see what makes the most sense in terms of time, energy and geography.
Now to break out my spreadsheet! Keep 'em coming…
(Oh, and few another thing that I’m doing at South-by, check this thread)
…and time permitting, Spinal Tap.