If badge holders and wristband wearers don't fill a club to capacity, the extra spots are sold to the public. If you have absolutely no money whatsoever, there are numerous free shows, giveaways, promotions and other events going on throughout each day of the festival. As SXSW gets bigger each year, more and more critics begin to voice their opposition. Many believe the conference has forgotten about the bands and has turned into nothing more than a way to bring money to the city of Austin. SXSW offers everyone from an occasional music listener to an avid musicologist something to do.
Fans get to see a few of their favorite big bands on a small stage for the first time in decades.
Bands get a chance to show the world how talented, or untalented, they really are. The city of Austin makes big bucks and gets tons of exposure. So as the critics sit in their offices trying to figure out new ways of mocking the festival, the rest of us are enjoying nearly a week's worth of great music. Victor Drabicky is a senior broadcast journalism major from Farmersville.