:)

March 12th..

Dirty Dog Bar
(505 E 6th St) (21+)

ASCAP
Johnny Foreigner 12:15 a.m.

My top three tips:

1. Try and see alot of acts during the day in the free shows. Some of these require you to get on the guest list, but do some research (use this first link to get the names of teh companies putting them on) and email them to get on the guest lists

This site seems to list alot of day parties
http://www.austin360.com/search/content/music/stories/2008/02/0221sxswside.html
http://tinyurl.com/232b7e

I saw Foals at a day party last year, must have been 10 people in the room in all - it was brilliant

2. Definitely plan what/who you want to see each evening before you go. Sit down with whoever you go with and make a list of must sees, and plan you route. Most venues are on one street (6th) or 5 minutes walk from, but some are quite a way from the others. Take a look at the venue map on the SXSW site to see where the venues are in relation to each other and to where you are staying

3. Make sure you eat during the day. We got so hammered on the Wednesday evening last year because we had to get an early flight from Phoenix to Austin. I had to drive 4 hours from the Grand canyon to Phoenix, then get a flight, then straight to get badges and out to the gigs. No time for food, and were so pissed by teh end of the evening (after Mountain Goats in Emo's) that we made right tits of ourselves trying to get into another venue. Stock up on food and free beer during the day, avoid drinking too much at night

black mountain and why? look likely.

If so, then queuing (especially in the bigger venues like Stubbs) won't be an issue. Badges get let in first to all venues, then wristbands, then fee paying general public.

Although of course, that does then depend on venue capacity. Say of you went somewhere else in the evening and then rocked up to Stubbs 30 minutes before REM were due to play, you might struggle to get in.

If there is an act you REALLY want to see, you might have to sacrifice some other in order to make sure you are in the place

but it might be worth a shot.

I wanted to see Moz a couple of years ago but the queue was huge. Then they split the queue into badge holders and wrist band people and us badge holders got to breeze straight in past the weeping wrist band folks..