South by Southwest is back to #disrupt the state capital and all of our Twitter feeds with updates about the newest brands and bands showcasing in downtown Austin. Inspired by New York Magazine’s piece about tweets from Davos, an annual political and economic conference held in the Swiss Alps, here’s a collection of tweets from folks enjoying the festival that birthed Twitter back in 2006.
Sixth Street attracts its usual crowd of rowdy visitors.
Meerkat raising $25 million series A. VCs all but knifing each other on Sixth Street to get in #SXSW
— Owen Thomas (@owenthomas) March 16, 2015
A new verb is born.
Overheard at #SXSW: “are you meerkatting or can we speak IRL?”
— Louise Doorn (@doorn) March 16, 2015
Festival guests celebrate Austin culture.
Just witnessed an old lady peeing on the sidewalk. #SXSW2015 #KeepAustinWeird
— Anthony Estolano (@Ant_Estolano) March 17, 2015
Visiting industry folk support local transit.
Tech bro with a selfie stick meerkat-ing in the back of a pedicab. That’s sooooooo #sxsw
— Sarah Jane Owen (@alohasarahjane) March 16, 2015
Tension between the tech and music crowds rears its head in an unlikely setting.
Attn: girl holding up the drink line at hype hotel by taking pics with your selfie stick with the bartender. Know everyone hates you #sxsw
— Drake Robinson (@oneandonlydrake) March 19, 2015
Puppies are repurposed as a small fleet of branded phone chargers.
Adorable St Bernard puppies at SXSW. Great marketing idea from phone charger brand Mophie #SXSW #mophieRescue pic.twitter.com/47qaBl7bbs
— Grace Carley (@GraceCarley) March 15, 2015
A lack of IRL meme appearances leave some visitors disappointed.
Honestly surprised there’s not a pair of branded llamas running around downtown Austin for #SXSW
— Ricky Cadden (@rcadden) March 14, 2015
Others are upset by the value of their credentials.
“I’m a branding professional from NYC who spent $4,000 on a platinum badge plus expenses to wait in line & get a photo with a cat.”#sxsw
— Curry Shoff (@CurryShoff) March 14, 2015
Some people experience travel delays at the local airport.
Sure, I’m stuck in the Austin airport for five hours, but at least the entire population of Brooklyn is stuck here with me. #SXSW
— Ben Casselman (@bencasselman) March 15, 2015
Innovation extends beyond the interactive panels.
sxsw true to form. a 45 minute “vip” line for a party, stuck between a guy pitching a waterproof drone & another reinventing the thermometer
— Taylor Owen (@taylor_owen) March 15, 2015
Not even in a bar restroom can you find a moment of solace.
Just a couple bros dealing coke in the Swan Dive bathroom as I silently pee, having an authentic sxsw experience
— Luke Winkie (@luke_winkie) March 19, 2015
Toward the end of the week, spirits start breaking.
Saw a guy at a urinal checking his phone and crying #SXSW
— Brandon Stosuy (@brandonstosuy) March 20, 2015
(Photograph by Jack Plunkett, Invision/AP.)
