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# An Entrepreneur’s Guide For SXSW 2013
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/an-entrepreneurs-guide-for-sxsw-2013/
- Published: 2012-03-20T13:59:00.000Z
- Updated: 2012-03-20T13:59:00.000Z
- Description: Brenden Mulligan’s tips on a successful SXSW.
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Conventions & Awards, Startups & Funding, Brenden Mulligan, Onesheet, SXSW, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:55

[![image from media.tumblr.com](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2016764079a7d970b-250wi "image from media.tumblr.com")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e2016764079a7d970b-popup?ref=hypebot.com)

*Guest post by *[Brenden Mulligan](http://twitter.com/mulligan?ref=hypebot.com)*, tech entrepreneur and founder of [Onesheet](http://onesheet.com/?ref=hypebot.com) and ArtistData. Follow him [@mulligan](http://twitter.com/mulligan?ref=hypebot.com).*

I just got back from SXSW 2012\. Before going, I tried to come up with every excuse to skip it:

- I had a lot of friends who weren’t going
- I didn’t want to spend the money
- I wanted to stay home and get work done
- The weather was supposed to be shitty
- I didn’t have a place to stay
- blah blah blah

To be honest, I was being a little bitch about it. I was looking for excuses, but the real reason was that I was just lazy.

In the end, I decided to go. And after getting back, I thought I’d write a note to my 2013 self who’s thinking about whether or not to go.

> **Brenden, you are a moron if you don’t go.** Seriously, if you want to skip it, get the hell out of my house. Now. Take your shit. You’re not welcome here anymore. Because you’re an idiot.  
>  
> – Brenden

Now that that’s out of the way, here’s some useful advice for making the best out of 2013 while it’s fresh in my head from 2012:

1. **Book a hotel room right now. RIGHT NOW. DO IT.**  
Don’t wait on this. Rooms wont magically appear like you thought they would in 2012.
2. **Stay up twice as late, drink half as much.**  
This was one of the best things I did in 2012\. In 2011 I overindulged several nights and because of that felt like crap the next day and didn’t remember 100% of certain conversations I had the night before. This year, I made a concerted effort not drink very much but stay out as late as possible (didn’t go to bed before 4 any night). This led to a ton of serendipitous moments, conversations, and experiences that I have full recollection and appreciation of. That’s what SXSW is all about, and drowning those memories in too much booze kinda defeats the whole point for me.
3. **Don’t schedule anything before 2 PM.**  
I held to this policy 2 out of the 3 days I was there. Because I was up late, I slept in late. And woke up feeling refreshed. I would meet up with people for lunch, but I didn’t have any specific obligations, which led to some nice lunches full of good conversation.
4. **Schedule as little as possible.**  
A lot of people wanted to schedule time to meet and chat, and I just kept giving them my cell number and saying to text me when they were out. Although there were some people who I missed, it made seeing people feel like random fun, instead of a scheduled obligation.
5. **Break the schedule rule by setting up a small dinner each night**  
This year I didn’t do this, and it was a shame. The best part of SXSW is the random conversations you find yourself in, and although these sometimes happen at the big parties, I feel the best ones happen in smaller groups. Next year I want to skip the early parties and get together with small groups for dinner.
6. **Go for 3 nights.**  
I’ve always gone to Austin for 4-5 nights. But I get drained from staying up late and stressed I’m not getting enough done. This year I went for 3 nights and it was perfect. Friday to Monday would be ideal, but Saturday to Tuesday is also solid.

I’m sure there will be more, so maybe I’ll keep [this updated over time on my blog](http://startingup.me/post/19267931899/sxsw-2012?ref=hypebot.com). But that’s what stands out as the best of 2012.