Top Tips for SXSW 2018
Industry experts including MOBO Award-winning Moses Boyd offer tips to artists heading to the iconic and career-changing music event
As SXSW descends on Austin, Texas for another year, Brits in the know share their top tips for surviving the globes biggest event for new music discovery.
Whether you are an artist or entourage, manager or media, be equipped with this expert advice from our South By connoisseurs before heading out to the ‘The Lone Star State’; from what to expect, logistics, getting booked, getting heard and who to talk to.
Tips from the top:
Moses Boyd, artist
- Get some comfy shoes and be prepared for a lot of walking and talking. Nothing can prepare you for the scale of the festival and all the interesting people you'll meet.
Nike Durosaro, artist manager (Shakka)
- Plan your days well – there are some amazing seminars and workshops and if you do not get up early and have a schedule you'll miss them!
- Allow enough time to get from one venue to another (some streets and venues are very crowded) and the festival is spread out over a wide area.
- Try and secure bookings at venues which are in the heart of the action, it's trickier to get people to come and watch you perform if your venue is off the beaten path.
Alex Sharman, Writer Account Manager, PRS for Music
- RSVP to all the parties, showcases and events in advance – you may only make it to a handful but you can catch some good bands, make key contacts and the free booze/food is always welcome!
Sarah Wall, Senior Events and Outreach Manager, PPL
- Communicate clearly with venues and production teams - send stage plots and tech specs, anything that might help them. But bring your own print outs too – it’s not unusual for these things to go missing in the madness of SXSW or even for backline equipment to go AWOL. Think: what is your back-up?
- Rehearse key tracks stripped back or in alternative formats. Know how you will approach your show if your keyboard dies or the adaptors break, or if your drummer gets stuck at the airport. If you’ve thought about this, it won’t phase you (much) when something (inevitably) happens.
Bhavesh Patel, Programme Manager, PRS Foundation
- If you’re going there as a rep, really get your hustle on when you’re on the ground at SXSW, don’t waste too much time by staying in one place or trying to stick together in a group. Be receptive to taking last minute meetings which can sometimes lead to meeting some interesting people or new work/opportunities.
- As an artist, try and connect with other artists and writers out there and create any good collaboration opportunities you can – be bold and approach whoever you want to work with if you seem them out at a gig or in the conference centre.
P-C Rae, British Music Embassy
GEL INSOLES FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Pavement pounding in Austin can take its toll and you don’t want to end up having to wear giant white old ladies’ sneakers because your bruised, battered, swollen feet won’t fit in anything else...
About PRS for Music
PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 165,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers around the globe. Headquartered in the UK, it works diligently on behalf of its members to grow and protect the value of their rights. With a focus on innovation and integrity, PRS for Music is redefining the global standard for music royalties to ensure creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. In 2022, PRS for Music collected £964m and paid out £836.2m in royalties. prsformusic.com
