Taking a cue from our friends over at SXSW Interactive, we present SXSW Music 101. In this feature, we’ll explain some of the basics that make up the SXSW Music and Media Conference and Festival. We’ll try to remember our first SXSW experience and offer some insight as well as talk about some things that seasoned SXSW attendees and Austin locals have known for a while that newcomers might not know about.

To start things off, let’s take a look at a question we’ve been asked enough times to warrant a blog post. “Does the SXSW Music Festival take place on one big stage or are there multiple venues?” I was asking this same question in 1994 when I first read about SXSW in Rolling Stone. The music festival takes place in downtown Austin on about 80 stages. These stages are located in clubs, concert halls, and on the shores of Lady Bird Lake with capacities ranging from 100 to 25,000 hosting over 1,800 acts. Almost all of these venues are within walking distance of one another. Bring your comfy shoes and we’ll provide the map.

Was there something that surprised you on your first trip to SXSW? Email us with your experience and your story might end up here.

Original post by jimmy

Posted: October 6th, 2008 under SXSW Music 101.
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