That's just it my man.  That kind of crapola is a young man's game.  You're too eager and full of piss and vinegar to take a second and really think about what you're doing and read between the lines.  Now I'm older and know better.  I've done stuff like this before too, and it never helped me any, except in the storytelling department.

I have enough bad stories to tell.  LOL.  What's the saying:  "screw me once, shame on YOU; screw me twice, shame on ME."

fwiw South by Southwest: worth a punt for aspiring stars?

http://gu.com/p/3ncve

57Gregy
When I was 22, I would have killed to play at this type of event.
At 56 and 11/12, no way.

And not be be snarky,, but there are probably a "million" young cats who would endure the parking, trek, backline and then some to play
 
My 20 year old godson is in that starry eyes stage where he would go do that SXSW gig in a heartbeat, just so he could play " his style of music"
 
If you could turn it around and make a holiday out of it , bring just your axes and pedal boards, and the keyboardist(?) use a controller/laptop/vts then its MAYBE a yea...
 
PS I am 62, I would not do this gig ..

Well, just to put an end to OUR involvement, we cancelled.

It turned out to be the right decision.  I have just hooked up with a band/promoter that is a SXSW veteran (from Denver) and after explaining the situation to her, she said that I made the right call.  Also, she is good friends with the people in charge of the particular event that we are cancelling, and told me not to worry about next year.

What we're going to do, now having an "in" with her, is schedule multiple dates around that week, so that next year we will be able to get more bang for our buck.
 
This was the original intention, but the festival was lagging way behind, and only confirmed a spot for us 1 month prior to the festival.  So, if anyone knows anything about booking, it was next to impossible to schedule anything around it.

So next year, we'll not only have help scheduling more showcases, but more of a guarantee to work with to schedule other shows around - with the possibility paydays around that week to augment the overall cost.
 
So there it is.  Thanks to everyone for your insights.

Used to do SXSW every year, back when it first started.  Seems small compared to the New Music Seminar or CMJ Music Conferences in NYC.  Now, walking to the shows there is really tricky.  Back in the day, we had a video crew with just about as much equipment as a band, with lighting and huge tubed cameras in cases.  Since it was for a music video show (Dallas Music Video) I never had trouble finding crew to lug around all the gear, because they got into the event free.  Cheap labor...and, lots of perks:-)  Meeting the starz....
 
It doesn't seem like much has changed. Especially for the bands.  If a label isn't sponsoring you and setting up the details, especially now that the event is so big, it is impossible for a up-and-coming group to really get much exposure there.  Even in the late 90's they (the labels) were taking over venue line-ups, leaving nothing for the DIY acts.  The music biz is dog eat dog.  Or rather, label execs take each other to fancy lobster dinners, while the artist gets a $20 per diem. 
 
Glad the Internet came about to shake up some of the monopolization.  Do any of you know if the folks at SXSW were successful in getting the NXNW conference going?  I don't think CMJ is happening anymore.  And, music video went away with ESPN & HBO II & III.  It was such a great art-form, before the "industry" got a hold of it.  Kinda nice to read everyone's input and reminisce a little....

Spindle,
Looks like you made the right choice!
http://www.huffingtonpost....html?icid=maing-grid7
Awful thing...
T

Tom, well, I think we made the right choice without that horrible tragedy - I'm not really hearing anything good from any of the bands I know.  Again, most of them will have spent all of that time and money to go down there, and then come back home to go right back to playing clubs just like before.  Playing SXSW is not a magic bullet to fame.

Us, we're taking the money we saved and are investing it in new merch which we desperately need.  Also, I spent my newfound time yesterday and successfully booked 4 new shows in new markets in the midwest for our band, at really good venues - so I'm excited about that & the opportunity to play to new audiences.
 
So sad about those people down there though.  My heart goes out to them and their families. 

Crazy turn of events.  What a shame I remember those conferences when practically everyone attending were staying at the one hotel where it was being held.  We used to invite artists down to the Austin Access TV studio for live interviews and acoustic sets, that could be seen on cable in the rooms at the hotel.  Big events like that aren't doing what they were intended for...in breaking acts, getting record deals, etc.  It's now just another big music festival with big crowds. 
 
Just saw on the news that the dude who DUIed his way to infamy at SXSW stole the car from a soldier at Fort Hood. Asshat is from Killeen... so besides 2 counts of capital murder, 23 counts of aggravated assault and evading arrest, add grand theft auto to the mounting charges. Too bad we are going to have to pay for his life in prison.

The key point may be "1466 miles round trip." Unless you are planning on being "discovered" by some kind of professional music scout, it will probably not help you all that much to have a few people who live 700 miles or more from your home port to get interested in you. Record labels are much less likely these days to even pretend to lurk at festivals than they once were, and a couple of distant new fans will not make or break your career. Are you more likely to get a paying gig because you can say you were one of hundreds of bands who were willing to play for free at a festival? Winning some kind of prestigious prize at a festival maybe, but just playing for exposure?

slartabartfast
The key point may be "1466 miles round trip." Unless you are planning on being "discovered" by some kind of professional music scout, it will probably not help you all that much to have a few people who live 700 miles or more from your home port to get interested in you. Record labels are much less likely these days to even pretend to lurk at festivals than they once were, and a couple of distant new fans will not make or break your career. Are you more likely to get a paying gig because you can say you were one of hundreds of bands who were willing to play for free at a festival? Winning some kind of prestigious prize at a festival maybe, but just playing for exposure?

My thoughts exactly