My family vows to never ever come visit me during SWSW!! They asked if I was playing some cruel joke on them. I will be glad to have our city back....until the next huge event.
I love the music and I love SXSW but the crowds have finally reached the point of being a bummer for me. This year I solved the problem by hosting a house show. Quality bands came to play at my house to me and my friends and were happy to do so. Win-win.
SXSW has been a blast each year I went to events, but you know it's overflowing when our airport adds international flights just for the festival. Still, it's not our equivalent of the leafers that are killing the city; it's the half-million yuppies who suddenly decided to move here in the last five years because magazines and websites told them it was the hip place to be. Sure, I understand the draw, but please leave your tax-subsidized toll-roads and Starbucks behind! At this rate we'll be another Dallas in a decade and a half. *sigh* /ineffectual rant over
Agreed!!! Enough already!!! I think the rules will get changed by next year.. too much trouble and too much alcohol.. I'm a fan of drinking, but having a dumbass rapper start a riot intentionally, and the bozo that committed 3 homicides via vehicle, will lead to some changes, no doubt..
Good posts, I agree with pretty much everything. The event overall could use some improved organization across the board... And Metrorail parking by Thursday and Friday really f'n sucked. It would have helped to have some direction by Metrorail personnel with overflow parking at the Lakeline and Howard stations, but instead commuters ended up parking in places where you could possibly very well be screwed with parking ticket/vehicle towed. Very disappointing.
I had a blast and think it is good clean tourist dollars infusing our city with lots of money, energy and fun. I partied every day and think it is a great thing to have in our city. Can't wait till next year!