South by Southwest - Austin, Texas

South by Southwest; it is an Austin thing! It all started back in 1987 as "Austin Battle of the Bands, SXSW." Austin has been the home of this festival that showcases musicians, film makers and media from all over the country. SXSW is one of the largest music festivals in the United States. This festival is the highest revenue producing special event in Austin, pumping an estimated $110 million last year.

Beginning on March 13, 2009, Downtown Austin will be flooded with musicians and film makers from all over the world. There will be over eighty stages for performers to show their talents. It is estimated that there will be over 1,800 musical acts from all genres; most of the conferences will take place at the Austin Convention Center.

In 1994 South by Southwest added film and interactive conferences and since then has become one of the world's premier film festivals, focusing on new directing talent.

Although the convention center will be hosting most of the conference, there will be many venues within walking distance.

South by Southwest helps the Austin economy by bringing in such a large amount of revenue. Much of this revenue is from visitors booking hotel rooms, eating in Austin's restaurants and spending money on souvenirs and the convention itself.

For visitors who would rather not stay in hotels, Austin has several neighborhoods around the downtown area that have rental homes available for the SXSW festival.

Travis Heights is a historical neighborhood is tucked between Interstate 35 and South Congress Avenue and is one of the most sought out neighborhoods for professionals who work downtown. Most of the homes were built in the 1920's and many of these older homes have carriage houses and detached garages that have been turned into apartments. It is also ideal for renters who want easy access to the festival.

Hyde Park is a neighborhood that is located in central Austin. The neighborhood was developed in 1974. There approximately 2,000 homes in the neighborhood, which is within 38th Street, 51st Street, Guadeloupe, Duval, and Red River. This neighborhood has many amenities and is a historic neighborhood. Visitors to SXSW may be able to find families renting rooms or homes for the festival.

Austin has many neighborhoods within walking distance of downtown. Many homes are available for rent by the night or by the week. There are charming arts and crafts homes that were built in the mid 1920's that have been completely updated and are fully furnished with modern day style. Many of these homes are pet friendly too.

There are several restaurants within walking distance from these neighborhoods as well, making everything very accessible for the conference.

These neighborhoods are within walking distance from downtown. Whether you decide to take in the night life during SXSW or just decide to sit on the front porch and listen to all the music, Austin has something for everyone.

Visitors for this years South by Southwest conference can enjoy the downtown life, Austin style.

Ki created a website, which allows anyone looking for Austin real estate to search for free. They can investigate homes in the Austin MLS based on self-selected criteria. His site provides updated statistics on Austin Texas real estate and Round Rock Texas real estate.

South by Southwest Festival in Austin

Recently, the South by Southwest music, film, and interactive festival wrapped up after another successful year in Austin. Because it falls during spring break week, it has become my tradition to take a break from my teaching job to work for the festival at one of the music venues. It is always an interesting and enjoyable change of pace for me, and my students get a real kick out of imagining their teacher working at a club and reveling along with the music lovers and club hoppers.This year was no different.

The SXSW music festival draws over 1400 bands and more than 5000 music industry professionals to Austin, and that number doesn't even take into account those thousands attending the film and interactive festivals which run concurrently under the SXSW banner, and Austin welcomes them all with open arms. After all, the festival pumps a hefty $30 million into the local economy, and every year, the crowds grow. At least at this time of year, Austin rightfully deserves, and proves its status as "The Live Music Capital of the World."

Austin boasts more live music venues per capita than any other city in the U.S., and clubs of all sizes, including a church, play host to bands from all over the world during the four-night music festival. The party officially kicks off on Wednesday night with Austin's own version of the Grammys, The Austin Music Awards. Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, was a big winner, and Pete Townshend formerly of The Who, took the stage with fellow Brit, Ian McLagan, now a beloved Austin performer.

At my club on 6th Street, we showcased bands from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Amsterdam, and celebrated St. Patrick's Day with "Irish Music Night" on Saturday. Without exception, the members of the bands and their entourages were excited about playing Austin and having the opportunity to be "discovered" by a producer or promoter, or picked up by a record label. One band member excitedly informed me that after their show, they were approached to collaborate on a major motion picture soundtrack! At least during SXSW, Austin is the city where dreams really can come true.

Up and down the 6th Street entertainment district and beyond, record executives checked their schedules and hurried from club to club, munching chopped barbeque sandwiches and checking out the artists, who ranged from acoustic singer/songwriters to outrageously-dressed and spikey-coiffed punks and heavy metal screamers clad in their inevitable black garb.

Early one night, a nicely dressed middle-aged couple approached me to ask if they could buy a ticket for the show. "You must have a son or daughter performing," I smiled, because they were definitely not your typical club hopper. Naturally, their son was playing, and the proud parents had followed him to Austin for the show and a mini-vacation all the way from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That day had been beautiful, with the temperature hovering near 80, and we chatted for a while about their visit, and what they had seen and done while in Austin. The couple was exuberant in their praise and promised that next year they would be back for a longer vacation and would definitely be bringing friends.

Later that evening, a woman from the UK dropped in to thank me for recommending Maria's Taco Express, one of my favorite haunts, and invited me to an after-hours private party in a hotel penthouse nearby. I thanked her, but had to decline, because this golden carriage that is SXSW has to turn back into a pumpkin by Monday morning, and I had some lesson plans to write.

Nancy DeRoux recommends Eric Bramlett?s Austin Real Estate Guide, his Downtown Austin Lofts website, & his business partner?s Austin Real Estate Guide.