Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Some of the coolest people packed The Mohawk for the 2010 SXSW Interactive closing party. It all seemed like a whirlwind, and the days had been long and packed with great sessions, amazing parties, and fantastic conversations with new and old friends. As we reflected and celebrated before scattering in our separate directions, the bars were open and the booze flowed freely. We Are Scientists played an awesome set, which made me happy because I've been dying to see that band live for years.

Afterward, we hopped from dance party to bar to street vendor (two brats in one day!) to the Driskill by the time two o'clock rolled around and we could no longer be served alcohol. Boo!

By the way, does the Driskill always stink like a locker room when it's packed with people? The fresh nighttime air never smelled so sweet.

One of the biggest differences I noticed between SXSW Interactive and Music attendees was how they handled their alcohol. The Interactive crowd knew how to drink and party late. Shutting down the bars and clubs was no problem. Actually, I got the feeling that, around closing time, most of the Interactive badge-holders were just getting warmed up.

The SXSW Music crowd was totally different. When Interactive left town, the sloppy drunks stepped in. By midnight, crowds of staggering and incoherent music fans leaned on each other to avoid falling, vomited in the alleys, and clumsily made out with each other in the streets. Sure, they partied pretty hard, but a lot of them also made asses of themselves. Come on, people. It's a marathon, not a sprint.