• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

How to Attend SXSW 2015 on the Cheap

March 13, 2015 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

How to Attend SXSW 2015 on the Cheap

With prices as high as $1,500 for an all access badge, having fun at SXSW 2015 can seem like an expensive affair. But fear not, intrepid penny pinchers. There are tons of free activities to enjoy during Austin’s biggest week of the year. You may need to RSVP, get there early and wait in line, but nothing screams Austin like doing SXSW on the cheap. Here are some great ways to do so this year.

The Guest Pass

SXSW Guest Pass Pickup

Game Over is one of the places in Austin where you can pick up your SXSW Guest Pass

The easiest way to enjoy free events is the SXSW Guest Pass. Available for pickup at a number of convenient locations, this credential gets you into free, officially sponsored events.

Click here for the full list of freebies. Here are a few highlights (note: not all events require a Guest Pass):

  • SXSW Eco Light Garden: A wonderland of interactive LED’s and displays, the Eco Light Garden promises to be a sight to see. And the best part? It’s free! The garden opens on Sunday, March 15th, and runs all the way until Saturday, March 21st in Republic Square Park.
  • Flatstock 48: Music and art combine in this fascinating look into the world of concert posters. They even have a stage for featured SXSW bands to do “2nd play” sets. Runs from 11 AM-6 PM from March 19-21st. More info can be found here.
  • SXSW Outdoor Stage at Auditorium Shores: Jaded by the ever escalating price of wristbands? It just so happens the biggest stage at the festival is free to the public. Bands like Spoon and Intocable will be playing sets from Thursday, March 19th to Saturday, March 21st. Click here for full details.

Band Showcases

Quiet Company Album Release Show

Quiet Company is playing a number of free shows during SXSW 2015 starting March 14th
(Credit: Holp Photography)

Fair warning: most of the official SXSW shows require paid wristbands or all access badges. If you’re reading this with a naked arm, you’re pretty much out of luck. Wristbands are sold out as of this article. Badges are still available, but you may have to sell your car to get one.

But there’s hope for music lovers. Many of the showcase bands perform several times throughout the week, usually for free. Resources like @FreeatSXSW on Twitter and Do512.com have excellent, comprehensive lists of these 2nd play sets. Just remember, many of these shows require an RSVP that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get in. Arrive 90 minutes early, bring a snack and hope the venue doesn’t fill up.

Some extra advice: If an event on Do512’s free page says “buy” instead of RSVP, don’t fret. The buy button just means you’re going to an external site to RSVP. Also, some freebies require you be a customer of the sponsor hosting the event. For example, Kid Cudi is playing a free show on Saturday, but you have to be a Verizon customer to RSVP.

Corporate Events

SXSW on the Cheap

Corporate events are typically a mix of swag, networking, food, drink and music (Credit: kris krug via Flickr CC)

Feeling thirsty or hungry? Those looking for a free drink or nosh can do well surfing the corporate landscape. If you don’t mind partying inside a giant commercial, dozens of companies hold promotional events all over town, many of which you can waltz right into.

Like the concerts, sites like Do512.com have listings, but many events can be discovered while walking around. If there’s a start date, get there early! Nothing worse than walking into an AMEX sponsored happy hour to discover all the booze is gone. Otherwise, walk in, grab some free swag and enjoy. Which brings me to…

The Great ATX Wander

6th Street During SXSW

Experience The Great ATX Wander during SXSW (Credit: Ian Aberle via Flickr CC)

My favorite thing to do during SXSW? Wander around aimlessly. Hear some good music coming from a tiny bar? Walk up and try to get in. What’s the worst the doorman can say? Nope, wristbanders only? Move on! Or better yet, grab a food truck taco, sit on the sidewalk and listen from the street. How Austin is that?

Eventually, you’ll get lucky and find something worth checking out. Even better, you’ll get exposed to something you didn’t expect. That’s the real joy of SXSW. A collage of music, art, film and tech, there’s always something new to discover. Stumbling across your new favorite folk singer or an inspirational art installation can make the entire week of traffic, tourists and product placement more than worth it. Especially when you didn’t pay a dime to experience it all.

 

@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

What’s your favorite SXSW moment?

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: sxsw

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of A...

    To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

    Hyperlocal Blog About the City of Austin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend

Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of July 1, 2022, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Dive In Movies – Wells Branch, Bastrop Patriotic Festival, and more!   Top […]

Things to do in Austin this weekend | Brick Rodeo

10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!

  For summer camp information, check out our page for Best Summer Camps in Austin for 2022!  If you would like to discover more Things to do in Austin this Week & Things to do in Austin with Kids this Weekend, check out Facebook for immediate notifications.

Things to do in Austin this week

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!

Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. There are things to do on Monday in Austin, of course, things to do in Austin on Saturday night, and everything in between! Some of you may be […]

texas swimming holes near austin

Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

If you have been looking for free places to swim in Austin or googling ‘swimming holes near me’, you are in the right place! Texas is known for a lot of things and one of them is relentlessly hot summers. The temperatures are rising in Austin and across the state. Luckily, there are also many […]

Austin trampoline parks - Urban Air Adventure Park (Cedar Park)

Austin Trampoline Parks – Best Indoor Jumping Places for Kids and Adults!

Trampoline parks were among the decade’s most unique leisure attractions. They offer a playful atmosphere where people can defy the laws of physics and have a good time hurling themselves around. It consists of a large room filled wall to wall with trampolines. On the weekend, you may get rid of your boredom and have […]

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Things to Do in Austin with Kids this Weekend of July 1, 2022 include Bastrop Patriotic Festival, Family Game Night, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of June 27, 2022 include Pints & Pups at Round Rock Express, Carpenter BBQ Pool Party, and more!
  • Texas swimming holes near Austin – 10 watering holes for a fun swim this summer

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to Do in Austin This Weekend of July 1, 2022 Include Brick Rodeo, Party at Independence, and More!
  • 4th July events in Austin: Independence day 2022 fireworks, parades, concerts & other celebrations!
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • 10 Best Lakes in and around Austin
  • Day Trip in Austin: 10 Places To Visit Like a Tourist

Copyright © 2022 · Log in

wpDiscuz