molly.com
Friday 18 March 2005
Post SXSW Questions
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS for folks who attended SXSW this year:
- Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
- The most memorable keynote?
- Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented event?
- What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
- What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
- How would you describe your experience overall?
- What will you remember about the food and drink you had while in Austin?
- Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
Answer what you like, or add a question.
Filed under: professional, blogging, web design and development, travel, food and drink
Posted by: Molly | 4:57 pm |
March 18th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
Most memorable panel: Jason Fried’s panel on small teams. He had some fascinating (and even controversial) ideas that I started working on implementing at my own firm as soon as I returned.
Most memorable keynote: Gladwell was okay. The others didn’t do much for me.
Social or content? A tough one. We all know the problem that SXSW has with being populated and driven primarily by people who don’t have much speaking or presentation experience. Many of the panels were frustratingly disorganized, but I think most people expected that so they tolerated it reasonably well. From a social perspective, they could have done a lot more to promote interaction both during and between panels. I remember being frustrated during the “Startupland” panel because we were in a room full of people wanting to start businesses who could collaborate, build partnerships, etc., and yet that packed room was expected to simply walk out the door and move on to the next panel afterward. Millions of dollars of networking potential for those guys went down the drain for everyone except the few like myself who felt comfortable walking up to strangers in the hallways afterward. Some “get to know you” exercises would help these folks a lot.
I’d like to see more meat and less milk. There was a lot of preaching to the choir, a lot of exploration of problems rather than exploration of solutions.
I’d like to see fewer slideshows next time. We’ve got some of the most creative and technically advanced people in the world serving as panelists, and the best they could come up with was Powerpoint-style presentations? Where’s the interactivity at the Interactive conference? Where are the fresh ideas for communicating?
My experience overall was great, but that was due mostly to the people I met there. There were some very interesting and valuable panels, but the conference still suffers (as I’ve heard it has in the past) from weak presentations.
My best moments were when I introduced myself to the “celebrity” designers I had admired for years and found out that they recognized my name, or at least the name of my firm — and in a positive way, no less. That’s always a good sign!
March 18th, 2005 at 5:52 pm
I’ll take a stab at a few of those
Keynote: Hands down Malcom Gladwell
More of: JavaScript. (it has a thousand and one proper - and I might add kick ass - uses, It would be good to hear of the ones I don’t know about.
Memorable Panel: kick-start the creative process
March 18th, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Most memorable panel: “Where are the women?” — Although I was a bit disappointed to see Eric Meyer did not show up in drag (he actually considered doing this at one point). The fire extinguisher was a great prop, though.
Most memorable keynote must have been Zeldman’s (”click, minimize! click, minimize!”)
As for social/content, for me it was social. Since I am a frequent reader of most of the panelists’ blogs, there was little stuff that I hadn’t seen or heard of, but the social side was stupendous to say the least.
I’d like to see more practical sessions, maybe workshops.
I’d like to see a bit less blogging meta talk.
My experience overall was amazing. Getting to meet all of the web standards community people really made me feel like a part of it, and renewed my interest in this area (which was a bit lacking lately). Getting to hang out with you, Molly, and just the talks with all the amazingly talented people at the parties was worth the price of admission (and plane) by itself.
Food and drink: PLENTIFUL (and in the case of drink: Mostly Free, which is a Good Thing).
Best moment: The conversation at PF Chang’s with the dream panel of standards desginers, talking about bathroom ergonomy and our “quirks”
March 18th, 2005 at 7:44 pm
Most memorable panel: Where are the Women in Web Design, particularly Min Jung and Tiffany’s comments about how women can often times be their own worst enemies, and how we sometimes don’t expand our sphere of influence beyond rigidly prescribed circles for fear of being too heavily scruitinized.
Social or Content: Both, and hopefully will always be a brilliant hybrid of the two. It was my first SxSW and I’m afraid it has ruined me for all other professional conferences.
Keynote: Gladwell, but his was the only one I saw. Moving along..
More: Hands-on workshops. Breakout sessions. Brainstorming. Actual collaboration, instead of sitting in a room listening to talking heads (and sending them comments via iChat). Breakout rooms would be especially welcome after those panels that generate more questions than answers, e.g., Blogging while Black, Women in Web Design, etc.
Less: Furtive typing during panels. Noisy parties - they have their place, but us introverts hurt after a couple of days of non-stop high-pitched socializing.
Experience overall: much better than I ever expected. I’m planning to use vacation time to come down next year - I’m even paying my own way!
Food: thanks to Austin, I’m putting down the pig and picking up the cow. Beef barbecue is far superior.
Best Moments: watching all my Blogging while Black buddies get the recognition and feedback they so rightly deserved, and sitting with said buddies in the restaurant at the Hilton cracking wise and talking loud in the middle of the restaurant. Oh, and being kissed by Min Jung.
March 19th, 2005 at 2:04 am
[…] arch 19, 2005
Molly’s Questions About SXSW
Molly posted some questions about SXSWi that I thought I would answer here, as a taster for the full write-up […]
March 19th, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
Hi-Fi Design, Hot-Wire the Creative Process, Design Eye.
The most memorable keynote?
Zeldman with Gladwell a close second.
Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented event?
Social, but with worthwhile content.
What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
Electrical outlets, maybe? More reliable WiFi. Code. Brits and Aussies.
What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
Hangovers. Non-Apple laptops.
How would you describe your experience overall?
Excellent. I wasn’t really prepared for the long hours and the partying though, but I will be next year.
What will you remember about the food and drink you had while in Austin?
That Texans really know how to properly barbecue beef. That Serrano Cheese Spinach from Stubb’s is the best side-dish I’ve ever had. That the Cedar Door makes a mean burger. And that Shiner Bock is one of the finest beers in the world.
Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
Meeting Molly for the first time in the Hilton lobby, of course.
Standing next to film and tv star Dominic Monaghan on a street corner on 6th St and not having the nerve to ask if it really was him and get a picture.
The band, Fantasma, that played the Frog Design party.
March 20th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
* Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
Fried’s “doing big things with small teams”
* The most memorable keynote?
Malcolm Gladwell. although, Wonkette’s comments about the white house needing more ass-fucking and not less will certainly stick with me.
* Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented event?
of course it’s social. for the most part, the panels are there to make it easier to justify the trip to one’s boss.
* What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
more in depth technical content. particularly backend oriented.
* What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
less focus on blogging. blogs are great. i have one. i read many. there are some things worth talking about, but SXSW tends to really flog it way past the point of overkill.
* How would you describe your experience overall?
sxsweriffic.
* What will you remember about the food and drink you had while in Austin?
west of the mississippi, it’s all about Fat Tire.
* Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
not so much a “best” moment, but i’m not soon going to forget waking up in my girlfriend’s house on my last day in austin to find a giant cockroach in bed with me (and you can skip the “wow, you must have been really drunk the night before” jokes, thankyouverymuch). she insists that cockroaches in austin are all “tree cockroaches” and sometimes get in houses but have nothing to do with sanitation like the ones we see in new york. whatever. i guess it beats last year’s when we were woken up at 6am (also the last day i was in austin) to find her house on fire.
March 20th, 2005 at 11:01 pm
* Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
Blogging While Black, Where are the Women in Web Design and Decentralizing Social Networks.
* The most memorable keynote?
I missed Gladwell’s keynote, but from what I heard made me want to buy his book(s).
* Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented vent?
This being my visit to SXSW, I would have to say that it was both for me. My evening social conversations were just as important as my daily attendance to panels.
* What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
I would have liked to have seen more solutions. The first few days were filled with technical solutions. On the third day I was hit with inspiring stories — I was left with a sense of needing/wanting to do something.
Having longer time slots would have been nice. In most of the panels I attended they could have gone for at the very least another 30 minutes. Questions were often rushed and no true dialogue was ever established between the attendee and the panelists.
* What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
The ‘Online Ad’ panel was sad. I didn’t feel that we ever got past the product pitch. I left 15 minutes into the discussion.
* How would you describe your experience overall?
Inspiring! Made me proud to be in the web community. Its nice to see how mature the industry has grown over the years.
* What will you remember about the food and drink you had while in Austin?
Free drinks are good and one should NEVER eat anything that has the word “NUCLEAR” before it. If one goes to Austin, YOU MUST go to Salt Lick — now I know why.
* Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
Ack! I can’t even list them — too many.
March 20th, 2005 at 11:38 pm
* Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
Design Eye for the Idea Guy. Very fun and entertaining while informative at the same time.
* The most memorable keynote?
Never made it to any.
* Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented event?
I would say a good combo of both really.
* What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
I would like to see more interactive panels and maybe some workshops.
* What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
Less PowerPoint presentations.
* How would you describe your experience overall?
I had a great time! I would love to attend again next year (even if the company I work for won’t pay to send me again - I will find a way to go.)
* What will you remember about the food and drink you had while in Austin?
Food is good and fairly inexpensive. Austin felt much like home.
* Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
Best moment was probably hanging out after the B-Sides party and going to dinner with Curt Cloninger, Eric Meyers and Zeldman afterwords.
March 21st, 2005 at 9:06 am
I thought of another memorable moment…
At Vox Nox when your Editor from New Riders (I am so bad with names) apologized to the room for foisting Creating Killer Web Sites upon the world.
March 21st, 2005 at 4:31 pm
most memorable panel/keynote: Jason Fried and Gladwell
What would you like to see less of at SXSW? this
overall experience: fantastic
food and drink in Austin: All BBQ and Mexican food all the time!
“Best moment” or four that will stay with me forever: Dancer #1, Dancer #2, Dancer #3, and
Dancer #4!
March 22nd, 2005 at 12:28 am
SXSW Q&A
Molly posed the following questions the other day, and seeing as I’m planning on going into some of these things in a bit more detail at some point, I figured I’d put some brief answers up here for the time being…
Which was the most memorable …
March 23rd, 2005 at 5:09 pm
Molly’s Post SXSW Questions
Looking back at SXSW through Molly’s questions.
March 24th, 2005 at 7:35 am
March 24th, 2005 at 11:42 am
*Which was the most memorable panel you attended?
Where are the women… In addition to providing personal stories about the situation a solution was offered. I think that we should start up a mentor program.
*The most memorable keynote?
The keynotes were too packed to fully enjoy them
*Do you think that SXSW is more a social or content-oriented event?
It all depends on how much sleep that you are willing to give up. I was in search of content but I did manage to meet some new people as well as party with friends.
*What would you like to see more of at SXSW?
I’d like to see more solutions or people admiting that there is no answer and getting the audience to be more proactive.
*What would you like to see less of at SXSW?
People glued to their electronics (blogging, IM, etc.) There should have been some more interaction.
*How would you describe your experience overall?
I had a great time. I was a little disappointed to return to work on Wednesday.
*Do you have a “best moment” or two (or ten) that will stay with you forever?
Chatting with Molly and crew after the “Where are the women…” panel. It would have been a crime to not say anything after a discussion about women being their own worse enemies. In order for things to change we will have to work together.
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