Presentations → Successful SxSW: the Tao of the Conference

Length: 5 minutes. Date recorded: 2010-03

Advice for musicians on how to get the most out of the SxSW Music Conference.

In March 2010 I did a talk at the SxSW music conference called “Successful SxSW: The Tao of the Conference.”

It was really just advice for musicians attending the conference, so may not apply to you, but most of what I said is in this article and this free e-book.

SxSW was nice enough to film it and edit it into this 5-minute overview:

But the real highlight were all the submitted videos from some brilliant musicians and music-biz people. Each just 30 seconds to 2 minutes, sharing a quick tale and lesson for people at a music conference. I showed 24 of these on the big screen during my talk, but here are the links to ALL of them. Enjoy!

Big Kenny: Be nice to everyone, make friends. You never know who is going to offer you your first break.; Have fun playing music, enjoy other people’s music, make friends, be nice to everyone; You never know who’s going to offer you your first break. Love everybody!; http://www.bigkenny.tv
Ari Koinuma: Visually communicate who you are and what do you have to offer. Big name tag, different as everyone else’s is great way to do it.; Wear a big name tag advertising what you do and inviting people to talk to you. Give people an opportunity/excuse to talk to you.; http://www.thoughtfulguitarist.com
SunSpot: When you are at conference, don’t be afraid to go out alone. You will meet more people that way and you will get out of your comfort zone.; If you are a band, split up at a conference. Divide and conquer! Go out alone, meet people, go outside your comfort zone, create opportunities.; http://www.sunspotmusic.com
Maury Rosenberg: When you finish your gig, go around the room and introduce yourself to people, because you will never know who is watching.; Walk around after a gig, introduce yourself to people, you never know who is watching and what opportunities may arise.; http://www.musicbusinesstutor.com
LaFamos PR: Before and after the panel circle the room 3 times. If you are in a group, split up. Afterwards go around the room one more time, but altogether. Go home and do follow up.; Circle a room before or after a panel 3-4 times so you will be familiar to people you introduce yourself to. If you’re in a group, split up. Make connections, collect business cards. Circuit room again with your colleagues and introduce them to your new contacts. Recommended reading:Networking Strategies For The New Music Business; http://www.lafamos.com
Tim Ferriss: Skip what do you do stuff, when approaching someone new. Try to have personal connection. Get them to share their personal stories. Care.; Go up to panel/organisers and introduce yourself. Ask if there is anyone they recommend you should meet. Be self-deprecating. Skip the ’what do you do’ question. Make friends, real connections. Buy people beer!; http://www.fourhourblog.com
Jeff Kaye: Always think of helping others.; Think of helping others.; http://www.35daysinmay.com
Sven Hansen: People you will meet are your guests, treat them that way.; Treat the people you meet as your guest.; http://www.free-floating.com
Duane Levi: Distinguish talkers from genuine people. It saves you time and it separates fake from real.; Separate those who like to talk from those who are genuine.
Larry Weintraub: Learn, take the best of the best, watch what others around you do, that will make you better in what you do.; Learn, watch, study, ask.; http://www.fanscape.com
Jody Whitesides: Be open to suggestions, that is the best way to make relationships and way to improve your material.; Be open to suggestions. Be prepared to change.; http://www.jodywhitesides.com
Cat: Show up, go to as many panels, sessions, shows as you can. Have fun.; Show up! Have fun.; http://www.thecheapseats.net
Randall Williams: Find your niche - the thing that you do, that nobody else does. Do it really well.; Find your niche, do it really well then leverage everything you can to help other people with it. They will help you in return.; http://www.whereisrandall.com
Richard Danjolell: Smile for the cameras ;-); Smile for the cameras! You don’t know what opportunities might arise from the photos!; http://www.musicrd.com
Tom Salta: Follow up!; Follow-up on the contacts you make.; http://www.tomsalta.com
Wendy Parr: Ask people questions and learn. Follow up.; Talk very briefly about yourself. Meet people, ask questions, learn. Follow-up with the key things that people will remember from your introduction.; http://www.wendyparr.com
Greg Rollett: Be personal, do due diligence and connect.; Get personal, do your research, find out about the people on the panels in advance of meeting them.; http://www.genyrockstars.com
Craig Crawford: A personal nice letter as follow up can do miracles.; A lot of good things have come out of conferences. Handwritten letters are a good way to follow-up.; http://www.craigcrawfordplayers.com
Jim Bianco: Say YES to everything, give you opportunity to promote yourself.; Make the most of every opportunity to promote yourself. Say yes to everything.; http://www.jimbianco.com
Jim Powers: Don’t get down on yourself. Expect troubles, stick with your music and you will do just fine.; Bad things happen, roll with it. Even if there is hardly anyone in the audience, you never know who is in that audience.; http://www.mintyfresh.com
Panos Panay: Make the most out of dance. Conference is just a ticket for dancing. Have the courage to make people dance with you.; You have to take action to make things happen.; http://www.sonicbids.com
Lou Paniccia: Document everything, film everything. Get home and make an original video of your experience.; Video everything, not just your performance/showcase. Put it to good use when you get back.; http://www.oranjuly.com
Alyse Black: Think long-term. Think, how you can build mutually beneficial long term relationships.; Think: How can we build a mutually beneficial long-term relationship.; http://www.alyseblack.com
Joe Laviolette: Give away your music to people who have asked for it.; Be selective about who you give your CDs to.; http://www.rattletree.com
Meg Okura: Keep promises, be flexible and spontaneous. Over-prepare and go with a flow, be ready for anything.; Be professional and well prepared (over-prepare) but be ready for anything (to go wrong) and go with the flow.; http://www.megokura.com
TShaka: Interact with everybody.; Every encounter may lead to an opportunity.; http://www.blackrootsunlimited.com
Marina V: Wearing interesting and original outfits, might get people come up to you.; Wear clothes that people might comment on - good icebreakers.; http://www.marinav.com
Trevor Roark: If someone goes wrong during your showcase, perform like nothing has happened.; If something goes wrong during your showcase just continue as if nothing happend.; http://www.greenteaworldmusic.com
Tina Shafer: Connect. Listen. Follow up.; Connect, listen, follow-up.; http://www.songwriters-circle.com
Thaddeus Rex: Ask questions, start dialogues.; Ask questions at panels, it introduces you to everybody there.
Suz Doyle: Handmade personalized chocolate bars with name and brand on it is a great way to connect with people.; Create and giveaway unique and remarkable merchandise that people will come to you looking for.; http://www.suzdoyle.com
Ron Irizarry: Personal level connections after showcase works so well.; In the exhibit hall after showcase, be personable, get to know people. Opportunities will follow.; http://www.ronmusic.com
Greg Spero: Give, give, give. Be generous.; Give, give and give some more.; http://www.gregspero.com
Robin Bennet: Play at as many places as you can. Be grateful for that.; Play as many times as you can, you never know who is watching you.; http://www.thisistruck.com
Robert Van Horne: Always be prepared to have with you something what represents you and only give it to people who request it. Always thank those people who have inspired you.; Only give your CD to the people that ask for it. Thank people that have inspired you.; http://www.robertvanhorne.com
Jessica Paige: If you really admire someone, let them know.; If you admire someone, let them know.; http://www.jessicapaige.net
J Sider: People around know a lot. Ask and get advices from them.; Ask and discuss when given the opportunity for advice. Speak to lots of people.; http://www.rootmusic.com
Jennifer Vazquez: It is all about follow up.; Pay for quality one-on-one meetings with experts, Google them in advance. Follow-up.; http://www.jennifervazquez.com
Paul Cullen: Spend all the money you have on finding your niche.; Find your own niche, set yourself apart from everyone else. Cross promote with product.; http://www.paulcullen.net
Nikc Miller: Document on video people who you will meet. Post it on Facebook with tagging those people in it. This gets you new friends and fans.; Video people you meet, get their full names, friend them up on Facebook (follow-up) and tag them in the video.; http://www.flutesquad.com
Jenn Ashton: Offer help, give your hand. You never know what will come out of that and if it doesn’t at least it feels good.; Offer to help. You never know what could happen.; http://www.raveonstudio.com
Ranj Singh: Do not hesitate to talk to people. Just do it.; Do not hesitate to speak to other people.; http://www.ranjsingh.com
Mike Lawson: Finding a new product which needs a little work to get ready, can change your life.; You never know who you are going to meet, what opportunities may arise that could change your life.; http://www.lawsonmusicmedia.com
Mick Flores: Have a CD on you all the time.; Have your CD on you at all times. You never know who you might run in to.; http://www.gidgetsgaga.com
Tori Sparks: How being a passenger on cruise and your connecting with others, can get you unofficial special concert.; Create your own opportunities.; http://www.torisparks.com
Michael Puskas: Present yourself well, groom yourself well and keep in mind that every single person is perspective lead or potential client.; Present yourself well. Everyone is a potential client. Think the long-game.; http://www.free-floating.com
Mario Sevayega: The best connections are the other bands, other artist who are sitting next to you in the rock club.; The best connections you are going to make are the other bands you meet.; http://www.myspace.com/mariosevayega
Lenedra Carroll: Ask. Ask to be listened to. Finding an empty room is enough to be heard.; Approach a panel member after a panel and ask to perform for them right there.; http://www.lenedracarroll.com
El: Handmade business cards with name, picture and website on it.; Make personalised business cards with your photo, name and website only. Give them to everyone.; http://www.bayislandrecords.com
Beth Isbell: Find out where the lawyers are, talk to them, make your career happen.; Find the Lawyers, they’re the ones that make things happen.; http://www.myspace.com/bethisbell
Julie Shephard: Speak up in front of crowd and ask questions.; Don’t be afraid to stand up in front of a crowd and ask questions.; http://www.julieshephard.com
Jon Goldmann: Always be nice and helpful, you will never know who you might be sitting next to.; Be nice and helpful, you never know who you might be sitting next to.; http://www.thesessionspot.com
Cort Delano: Singing on the yoga class, can get you on the radio.; Think ’outside the box’.; http://www.cortdelano.com
Charles Alexander: Find out what people are looking for first. Then instantly customize and give away USB drive with music they are looking for, it is a cool pitch.; Personalise your pitch. Research who is going to be at the conference that you want to speak to.; http://www.charlesalexander.com
Bill Pere: Successful attendees are those who are coming to learn and network. Performers are missing out this essential part of learning and connecting.; Go to learn and network not just perform. This business is driven by relationships.; http://www.billpere.com
John Batdorf: Go to conference to learn. Then apply what you have learned to improve your own show.; Go to biggest shows to inspire you and learn then apply what you learn.; http://www.johnbatdorfmusic.com
Jody Friedman: Find a way to be different. Jody stood out by including piece of chocolate with his CD.; Be different, stand-out.; http://www.jodyfriedman.com
Jim Vilandre: Always be open to possibilities, sharpen your people skills. Be real and make real friends.; Sharpen your people skills. Develop your craft. Life is not about you, its about caring for others. Make real friends. Be open to possibilities.; http://www.jimvilandre.com
Giuliano Baglioni: Laid back approach and talking about other things that work, can actually lead to work; Take the laid back approach. Talk about things other than work. You never know when you will bump in to people again.; http://www.sigmared.ca
John Mazzei: Go out and get your dream assignment by: targeted networking, a killer demo and being ready for success.; Targeted networking, a killer demo. Be ready for success when it comes. You can do it!; http://www.johnmazzei.com
David Sherbow: Treat everyone with respect.; Treat everyone with respect, even Drunk Mike.; http://www.myspace360wizard.com
Elana James: You never know who is in the audience.; You never know who is going to be there, even if they don’t talk to you on the night of you show.; http://www.elanajames.com
Andrea Nardello: Be social, have fun and things will happen.; Be social, good things will happen.; http://www.andreanardello.com
Adriel Luis: Giving away USB drive instead of CD is: compact, innovative and indispensable.; Give people something compact, innovative and indispensable so they will press play.; http://www.ill-literacy.com

Thanks to Ivana Sendecka, Dan Morelle, and Beth Isbell for the one-sentence summaries! Thanks again for your contributions, everyone!