SXSW > Hollywood

There’s a reason Austin is called “The Music Capital of the World” that is best credited to the over 3-decades’-running cultural phenomenon known as South By Southwest. Part music festival, part international conference, part film fest, despite many changes since 1987, “SXSW remains a tool for creatives to develop their careers by bringing together people from around the globe to meet, learn, and share ideas” (said best by their CEO, Roland Swenson).

My first encounter as a UT undergrad wandering into a space that had 1 week prior been uninhabitable, transformed into a BYOB speakeasy with free booze and freer music, where I came face-to-face with one of my soon-to-be new favorite bands. Magic.

Which is saying a lot for an Austin local, where we’re spoiled by some of the biggest and more fledgeling musicians traveling our intimate stages any day of the week.

But SXSW is bigger than that. The backbone is a serious professional conference comprised of panels, workshops, and meet-ups which in recent years has evolved to include AI and gaming within their OG tech block, health & beauty stretching into psychedelics, all the way through designing brand experiences in the creator economy. Food for thought, also on the agenda.

Then there is the festival (film, MUSIC, recently added comedy) - the shiny lights drawing headliners and soon-to-be stars to come see what this city is ALL ABOUT. And they do come from far and wide, an Olympic curation of some of the World’s Finest Talent, delivered straight to my doorstep, thank you.

The truth is, most locals hate it. What was once a genius rogue music festival with a few keynote performers became a behemoth occupation of our little big town, blocking many of our already intractable roads, making restaurant reservations or politely housing the in-laws elsewhere impossible for nearly 3 weeks while many hold their breaths to return to the post-crowd contraction whence we return to our usual consumption and inconveniences on a schedule, thank you.

I’ve tried it both ways and no question, I prefer going out - on foot preferably, to experience Austin as an international city for these few rare moments of the year. There are tips & tricks to finding and fitting in, but even more exciting when you happen upon a happy accident - something absolutely fucking BONKERS like Paris death Hilton at the Chess Club. NO PSYCHEDELICS REQUIRED - that shit’s a trip!

SX time is when you set aside your preferences (e.g. where you’d like to go during a particular hour on a Thursday), especially in music, and just GO WITH IT. It is fucking cool. You will LIKE IT. I promise. :)

Less experimental, just as electric, Austin’s own Lindsey Mackin with Annabelle Chairlegs had every head glued with rocker tunes at Hotel Vegas. JSYK she’s like that every time. Every single time. While I’m here, I must give honorable mention to The Thing that may keep you up at night - looking good as a boy band, but rocking like The Who, a pleasure (not at all guilty).

These are experiences that cannot be recreated - walking into a veritable medley of sound, our city is suddenly a playground fit for global tourism. I bounced between some favorite venues mostly for free, mostly without lines, recalled the old days with fondness while remaining entirely inspired by the present now.

Returning to the daily grind, sitting in traffic or marveling over exorbitantly hiked property taxes, I’m faced with the more immediate pressures of living and working here in Austin. While I’ve reveled in our live music scene, welcomed the influx of new ideas and cultures, even participated in some of Hollywood’s fabulousness, my heart aches hearing McConaughey joke about Woody’s barber benefitting from their support in passing Texas Senate Bill 22. Here am I: approaching middle-age single woman in a six-figure job, closely priced out of my first $200K home based on taxes alone, and worried about my immediate future, not to mention the long-game.

When Hollywood wins $500M every 2 years for the next 10 years at the expense of taxpayers, I could selfishly hope they “pick me” for their next great gig, but the reality is this bill will probably continue to benefit those who willed it into effect at the expense of the locals funding it unless some major rearrangements are made. That is to say, Hollywood is officially on our turf now, and for anyone who’s paying taxes and cares about continuing to live and work here - it’s a good time to start paying attention.

That said, McConaughey also spoke of involving Texans to benefit the local community, which is essential to sustainability, so long aligned with Hollywood’s politics. The heart of sustainability is not a political engine, although it requires unified political support towards progress. Sustainability is based on ethical business principles that benefit stakeholders as much as shareholders, which includes the surrounding community and environment. It is by nature slow and steady, thus requires mindfulness, transparency, and evolutionary development over rapid methods that result in more volatile market fluctuations.

For better and sometimes worse, Hollywood is known for high ideas that are appropriately out of reach - lending to its allure, mystery, and intrigue. Their sphere of influence when allied with political causes is evidently quite powerful, as the state capitol rolled out the red carpet for Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson this past week. The more important question is whether these gentlemen and the deep-pocketed industry that follows will continue to advocate for and collaborate with Austin locals to deliver on the promised economic advantages, while we continue to pay, watch, and wait for our piece of the pie.

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