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In exactly two weeks, I'll be heading to Austin, TX, to attend the SXSW '09 Interactive conference for six days of socializing, partying and, oh yeah, probably some learning.
This will be my first year attending, and I'm (finally) starting to get pretty excited.
Friendly Faces
While I realize this is a big interactive conference, with lots of sessions, panels and opportunities to learn, I'm most excited to see people.
Several of the folks I met (and stayed in touch with) when I attended Webmaster Jam Session last year will be at SXSWi, and I'm over the moon to see them.
I am also looking forward to meeting some of the presenters (particularly the micformats panel participants), as well as finally putting faces to the names of some of my Twitter friends.
Be Sure to Say Hi!
I'm still organizing my schedule for the conference, but most of the social events are decided.
If you are going to be attending any of the same sessions or events, please find me and say hello. I would love to meet you or, if we've already met, catch up.
And if you are one of those button collectors I've heard about, definitely find me because I've got buttons.
In fact, if you are using SCHED*SXSW, leave me a comment with a link to your schedule.
Expectations? Not Really.
Pretty much everyone I've talked to who has already attended SXSW says that it is amazing. Some even said it "changed their lives."
I'm not really expecting any sort of life-altering experiences. And while I hope I have fun, I'm too much of a realist to think that the whole thing is going to rock.
I suppose the only expectation I have is for myself to meet as many people as I can and make as favorable an impression as possible (which, if you've met me, is pretty ambitious).
My attendance at SXSW is entirely self-funded so, in a way, it will be a vacation for me. And I hope I treat it as such: relax, have a good time and let whatever happens happen.
I also hope to spend some time checking out Austin. I've heard great things about the city and while I absolutely love Albuquerque, I need to keep my eyes out for other potential places to live.
Oh, and my buddy Chris promised to spend some time schooling me on my camera and photography.
That's about it. Sounds just perfect to me. Hope to see you there!
