Hey guys so I dusted off the cobwebs from a Myspace blog entry from March of 2008. Here’s a recap of my advice for how to deal & enjoy the amazing city of Austin & those who choose to head to a city to share & enjoy music (and now assorted many other things including comedy, film & the interactive portion) etc. Also here’s some photos from the showcase I threw the year before.
March 18th, 2008: south by south wtf
Hey guys I just got back from sxsw. I think it’s kind of funny (funny haha and kind of strange) I’ve ended up working in an “industry” that is so full of itself. Let’s do a recap of things that bust my hide because that’s what blogs are for…maybe a recap, some advice to musicians/performers/djs etccc and maybe just some general whatevers.
1. Don’t pretend to be legit if you’re not.
Everyone can see thru your phoniness: the biggest liar in the world knows when you’re a phony and doesn’t like it. If you’re all about getting free shit/guestlist/being up front fine own it, but don’t be fuckin phony. Don’t fake smile while you ask my gf to sneak you in on the wings of a relationship she has built with a doorguy/soundguy/promoter. She took the time to be kind and caring: you didn’t…so therefore, you don’t deserve it. After she gets you in have some decency to pretend to be interested in her for a few more minutes. Try an honest conversation without looking over/behind her head. Realize that it only takes one subtle thing to confirm my gut feeling about you and sometimes it just takes a small gesture like this for me to never work with you again or take you seriously. I actually start off with a blank slate and we can grow or you can go away.
2. Don’t overbook yourself
Because if you drink too much and you get up on stage around 1am at the Fader/Vice/iheartcomix/thesmell/Xlr8r party and you’re having some East coast Philly private party onstage with your homies while 100s of people are staring at you waiting for you to perform and i walked blocks in some motherfucking heels and you don’t have the decency to pull your shit together because you’re so self obsessed and you think your time in the spotlight is gonna keep rolling when it’s not. If you don’t put it on right and give 100 percent get off the stage. I don’t care if you’re perfect. But please give a shit. which brings me to the next topic:
3. Please give a shit.
About something. Please stop pretending to walk around like you don’t give care because it’s embarassing. If you don’t care, then why do it? If you’re a performer and demanding my attention/time and energy and then you go up there and walk around pretending like you don’t care? What a waste of energy. Care. Give. try. It’s becoming and clears your complexion. David Banner gave a speech about the industry BS he had to deal with while performing at the Fader mag party…and guess what? I started crying. Please deliver a dose of honesty. Everyone will friend it refreshing. I promise.
4. People in handmade clothing who go to The Smell shouldn’t be judging over suntanned miller high life drinking Texas residents who want to have a good time up front at 2 Live Crew.
Fact of the weekend: I had way more fun with them than you. I met you the night before and you already forgot I existed. I prefer dudes (and chicks) who rub their cold bottles of beer on my back and said they liked my “tats” okay?
5. Please keep your phony community values away from me.
It’s not a community unless you are inviting others in. Please start inviting others in.
6. Hey dj/promoter/record exec/club owner/musician…remember when you took all this time getting to know me/booking me/showing me around pretending that you care? Remember when I didn’t sleep with you and you started ignoring me and got mad?
That’s some straightup seethru shit kids: growup.
7. Show respect for the city you’re in.
Don’t fuck with the locals. Find the local gems. Eat some homegrown food. Remove yourself from the insanity. Find some time to yourself. Eat some bbq. Maybe drink sweet tea. God I love sweet tea.
8. Overplanning can sometimes waste a lot of time and suck out every drop of fun.
9. Don’t feel obligated to stay with someone.
Wander off on your own. this doesn’t apply if you’re drunk, okay? Make new friends, go outside your boundaries.
10. 30 spf + water + backpack/bag
That’s all for now…feel free to add your own
