<center>
Derek Sivers
SXSW: The Tao of the Music Conference
Summary of Video Advice on How to Succeed at a Music Conference</center>
Start by reading this article & watching this video clip of Derek’s talk on the Tao of the Music Conference – Best Tips on How to Succeed at a Music Conference:
http://sivers.org/sxsw
Then check out the following advice from contributors & watch any videos of interest:
Big Kenny: Be nice to everybody, you never know where your first record deal will come from … maybe the guy you give a ride to see music or let sleep on your couch.
http://vimeo.com/10307560
Ari Koinuma: Find a way to visually communicate who you are & what you have to offer & to invite others to experience it or assist you.
http://vimeo.com/10283719
Sunspot: Divide & Conquer. As a band, split up at the conference – separately, you have a lot more opportunities to make more good helpful meaningful contacts.
http://vimeo.com/10287812
Maury Rosenberg: After your showcase, go around the room & introduce yourself.
http://vimeo.com/10286384
La Famos PR: As a group, split up, circulate often & make contacts, then go around the room one last time together and introduce your colleagues to the people you just met.
http://vimeo.com/10284347
Tim Ferris: When meeting people, skip the what do you do, … instead try to make a personal connection, get them to share their personal stories, be self-depricating, & ask if there is anyone at the conference they think you should meet, and/or just buy them a beer.
http://vimeo.com/10288104
Jeff Kaye: Focus your energies on someone else, help them with their problem/issue, and they might repair the favor in a way that ultimately helps you reach your goals.
http://vimeo.com/10285486
Sven Hansen: The people you meet at the conference are your guests, treat them as such.
http://vimeo.com/10287997
Duane Levi: Focus on people who are genuine & have substance, not those who just like to talk. Be aware, and able to separate the fake from the real.
http://vimeo.com/10283998
Larry Weintraub: Forget about the past. Instead just learn, watch, study, ask. Get & be better. Study what those who are better than you are doing and then do it better.
http://vimeo.com/10286029
Jody Whitesides: Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder, be open to suggestion & harsh critiques. They can be opportunities to build helpful relationships.
http://vimeo.com/10285822
Cat: Show up, go to as many meetings and events as you can, have fun, you have a tremendous opportunity get targeted career advice from top industry professionals.
http://vimeo.com/10283828
Randall Williams: Find your niche - the thing you do that nobody else does or few others do, do it really well, then leverage everything you can to help other people with it.
http://vimeo.com/10287561
Richard Danjolell: Smile for the cameras, the picture they take, may get used in a sxsw marketing campaign & get you noticed & create more opportunities next year.
http://vimeo.com/10287661
Tom Salta: Follow up! If you meet someone interesting at the conference or give them a CD/promo, send them an e-mail or otherwise follow-up the next week.
http://vimeo.com/10288220
Wendy Parr: Ask questions, learn, follow-up with the people you gel with, follow-up with an e-mail after the conference with a reminder of what you had in common.
http://vimeo.com/10288461
Greg Rollett: Get personal, do your research, find out who is on the panels & connect with them, don’t just hand a CD, hand them a CD & letter addressed to them personally
http://vimeo.com/10284246
Craig Crawford: After the conference, remember to actually follow-up with the people you meet by letter, etc., and try to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship.
http://vimeo.com/10283943
Jim Bianco: Music conferences are about opportunity, so say yes to everything! And you will create more opportunities to get your music out there & make things happen.
http://vimeo.com/10285654
Jim Powers: Focus your energy on putting on your best show even if you’re not feeling well, something inevitably goes wrong, or only 20 people show up. You may get signed.
http://vimeo.com/10285702
Panos Panay: Develop your voice & find your own audience. Meet everyone & follow-up. You’re at the big dance, now muster up the courage to go ask someone to dance!
http://vimeo.com/10287435
Lou Paniccia: Document everything. Video your showcase, but also film your trip to sxsw, film band at the hotel, film rehearsals, film your experience, then edit & post it!
http://vimeo.com/10286194
Alyse Black: Think more long term, focus on building long-term relationships.
http://vimeo.com/10283683
Joe Laviolette: Be choosy, don’t give your cd or merch to everyone, only give to those who are genuinely interested or ask for it.
http://vimeo.com/10285839
Meg Okura: Over-prepare for your showcase, then go with the flow, be ready for anything. Be rehearsed, professional, on-time, but also spontaneous& able to adapt.
http://vimeo.com/10286466
Tshaka: Talk to everybody in the city the conference is located, not just those at the conference, you never know who you will meet that may end up sponsoring your band.
http://vimeo.com/10288424
Marina V: Wear interesting clothes or outfits which might help you get noticed or spark an interesting discussion.
http://vimeo.com/10286234
Trevor Roark: If something goes wrong during your showcase, perform as if nothing has happened & continue to give it your best.
http://vimeo.com/10288329
Tina Shafer: Listen, connect on a personal level, & then follow-up.
http://vimeo.com/10288179
Thaddeus Rex: Ask questions, especially if you’re in a panel or with lots of people, it will get you introduced to everyone at once & start dialogues.
http://vimeo.com/10288032
Suz Doyle: Be inventive. Example: create chocolate bars with your picture/bio on them
http://vimeo.com/10287954
Ron Irizarry: Connect with the people you meet after your show on a personal level.
http://vimeo.com/10287783
Greg Spero: Give, give & give some more. Offer to give your talent/services to someone you connect with & they may provide you meaningful career connections.
http://vimeo.com/10284281
Robin Bennett: Play as many times as you can & be on the lookout for free pizza!
http://vimeo.com/10287724
Robert Van Horne: Always be prepared by having something that represents you to hand out & say thank you!
http://vimeo.com/10287682
Jessica Paige: If you admire somebody, don’t be afraid to let them know.
http://vimeo.com/10285634
J Sider: Spend more time asking questions about what the person you’re talking with thinks or is doing, listen to and learn from their answers.
http://vimeo.com/10285969
Jennifer Vazquez: Sign up for mentoring sessions, even if you have to pay for it, google & research your mentor, and then be sure to follow-up with them after the conference.
http://vimeo.com/10285588
Paul Cullen: Find your own niche – something that sets you apart from everyone else. Find ways to define, market & promote or cross promote that niche.
http://vimeo.com/10287505
Nikc Miller: Take a video camera, video your experience & folks you meet, get their contact information. When you get home, edit it together, post it & let them know they’re in the video & send them links. Great way to promote & create new fans.
http://vimeo.com/10287171
Mikhail Tank: Communicate with everyone to find what’s right for you – be open minded, connect & meaningful connections will result.
http://vimeo.com/10287144
Jenn Ashton: Call or ask someone what you can do to help them – offer yourself out! It may result in a great opportunity, but if nothing else, it just feels good.
http://vimeo.com/10285540
Ranj Singh: Do not hesitate to talk to people … just do it.
http://vimeo.com/10287614
Mike Lawson: Be open to ideas or products that are even outside the path you think you’re on, because they may be the idea or create path you’re supposed to be on.
http://vimeo.com/10287034
Mick Flores: Carry press kits everywhere … and please & thank you go a long way.
http://vimeo.com/10286661
Tori Sparks: Consider putting on an impromptu or guerilla show, spread the word, and you might create new bookings and fans for yourself.
http://vimeo.com/10288281
Michael Puskas: Present yourself succinctly & to the point, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, be open, every person is a prospective lead & please be sure to groom yourself.
http://vimeo.com/10286598
Mario Sevayega: The best connections are the musicians you meet & friends you make.
http://vimeo.com/10286354
Lenedra Carroll: Ask if you can play for someone & have your guitar ready.
http://vimeo.com/10286075
El: Create business magnets, list website only, create the door you want them to enter.
http://vimeo.com/10284021
Beth Isbell: Find the lawyers! In the music biz, the lawyers often control the A&R and make the deals--find out where they’re meeting, introduce yourself & ask them for advice
http://vimeo.com/10283745
Julie Shephard: Don’t be afraid to stand up in front of a crowd & ask questions. Be honest & open in asking for help/suggestions. You might end up with the right answer.
http://vimeo.com/10285989
Jon Goldman: Always try to be nice, helpful, & willing to go out to get the food!
http://vimeo.com/10285950
Cort Delano: Do something outside the box, like singing at a yoga class
http://vimeo.com/10283922
Charles Alexander: Do research & personalize the pitch to the person you want to connect with, take personal USB flash drives & while listening to the panels, copy songs & promo, & even a personal letter, to the USB drive based on what they’re interested in. And then hand them a personalized promo & music package tailored to their interests.
http://vimeo.com/10283905
Bill Pere: The most success comes to those who are there to learn & network.
http://vimeo.com/10283800
John Batdorf: Go see the most popular acts & study what they’re doing right. Then apply those lessons to improve your own show.
http://vimeo.com/10285875
Jody Friedman: Find a way to be different & make yourself stand out. Pass out some chocolate with your CD. Create a reason for people to seek you out.
http://vimeo.com/10285755
Jim Vilandre: Always be open to possibilities, be interested in what others are doing.
http://vimeo.com/10285730
Giuliano Baglioni: Take the laid back approach. Talk about something other than work. Always leave a good impression.
http://vimeo.com/10284214
Ellie Lawson: Get an e-mail address & follow up with them after the conference.
http://vimeo.com/10284093
John Mazzei: Engage in targeted networking, have a killer demo & your chops ready.
http://vimeo.com/10285896
David Sherbow: Be nice to everyone & treat everyone with respect, even the drunk guy, because his uncle may be head of A&R for the label that produces your next EP for free.
http://vimeo.com/10283982
Elana James: You just never know who’s paying attention to you even when you aren’t paying attention to them.
http://vimeo.com/10284061
Andrea Nardello: Go out there have fun, be social, and good things will happen
http://vimeo.com/10283688
Adriel Luis: Give out flash drive with your music & promo on it. Try to give out promo that is compact, innovative & indispensable.
http://vimeo.com/10283630
Finally, one of the videos, reminded me of a personal experience I recently had at one conference I attended by being friendly, outgoing (despite normally being shy), wearing outlandish rainbow hippie outfits & polka dot hat landed me an interview and performance on local TV in the city in which the conference was being held, also in being filmed performing by one of the conference board of directors with the footage being posted on the conference site to promote the conference, and by following up on contacts made there, I was asked to provide business marketing ideas & advice to the head of a major label.
My advice is be interesting in everything that you do, ask, say, wear, hand out, or perform at the conference. Peace, Beth
http://www.reverbnation.com/bethisbell or
http://www.myspace.com/bethisbell
I sure would have been there if I lived in Dallas!!! 
Gracias for the link to other musicians, I´ll also listen to them!. Great to know that you´re feeling good in your new city, and best wishes with the show!
the "She´s not catholic" title made me smile! . The expression "no es muy católico/a" it was common in the old people´s speech here when they would try to say: "it´s not enough ok", "it´s dubious", "it´s not trust-full at all", "it´s weird" for a thing, a person or a situation. Long time since I didn´t listen to it!. Wild song!!