SXSW …or “South-by”, as the hip kids call it.

SxSW is a real other-world experience; especially for someone like me who is

1. Not a technology professional and
2. ‘Of a different era’ from 95% of the attendees.

If you aren’t familiar with SXSW, the NYTimes describes it as

… a talent showcase and a schmoozathon, a citywide barbecue party and a brainstorming session for a business that has been radically shaken and stirred by the Internet.

That’s pretty much it, but more specifically, SXSW = South by Southwest or “South by” if you’re really cool… is a geek/music/film fest – party-hearty-until-you-drop trade show & conference.

The entire SXSW ’show’ runs from 3/12 and through 3/21. I’m here for the geek sessions – better known here as the Interactive segment, which is on from 3/12 to 3/16. The Film segment runs from 3/12 and continues through 3/20.  Music, which is the one that started it all in 1987, goes from 3/17 and closes the show on 3/21. (Interactive and Film were added in 1994.)

There are over 30,000 people registered for SXSW. Even though some people are registered for multiple segments, that’s still well over 20,000 people in Austin for this zoo-of-an-event – and that doesn’t count all the people who come to town just to hang out during the event.

There are literally THOUSANDS of panels, workshops, speeches and other events to select from. Since I’m registered for the Interactive segment, those are the events I’m focused on. Here is a small smattering of the many, many interactive events on the agenda.

• How Sci-Fi Shapes the Internet
• Why Austin is the Killer App
• Google in China: Context and Consequences
• Improv Lessons for Freelancers
• Organizational Pitfalls on the Path to Multichannel Experience
• Web Fonts: The Time has Come
• Girls Named Pinky
• The Future of Influence
• Ripping Reality – Creativity and the New Documentary
• Why Self-Promotion Will Save the World

Check out the SXSW Interactive Schedule and see for yourself.

I think my favorites, so far, have been Organizational Pitfalls on the Path to Multichannel Experience, From Blogger to Social Media Guru to Professional Speaker and Why Self-Promotion Will Save the World. The thing they all had in common was a focus on ‘NEED” rather than the tool.

I know it’s not sexy to harp on the fundamentals, but regardless of the technology, it won’t do anything for you if you don’t keep your eye on the real reason your business exists – your clients. How will the new “toy” (Twitter, Facebook, blog, Foursquare, etc. etc.) help you help them?

I’ll write more about the SXSW sessions in the future, but in the meantime – here are interesting stats on the various SXSW ‘eras’ represented.

SXSW Survey Question: “How old are you?”

20 or under:  1%
21 to 30:       34%
31 to 40:       44%
41 to 50:        16%
51 or older:     5%     <—-Yours Truly    :-\

The topics, issues and deals struck at this conference determine tomorrow’s technology and therefore, business in general. The question I leave you with is “Why aren’t there more 41+ year-old people here?” I could use the company.

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• Bringing you the best of SXSW (smartblogs.com)
• SXSW: The Future Starts Here (mediabullseye.com)

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