Just because you don’t want to shell out the big bucks for an official SXSW badge or pass doesn’t mean that you can’t find plenty to do checking out events, parties, concerts and gatherings that are mostly free or available at the fraction of the cost of a badge. Several do require RSVP so our advice is to sign up early.
These are our recommendations for enjoying SXSW without a badge:
- Film Festival Advance Tickets.
For 2023, the SXSW Film & TV Festival will be releasing a limited number of advance tickets for sale at select venues. Advanced tickets will be available at the Paramount, Stateside, ZACH, and AFS
theaters for select films only.
All screenings are General Admission. Seating is subject to capacity and will occur on a priority basis approximately 45 minutes before the screening starts.
Day-of-show single tickets may be purchased for $25 approximately 15 minutes prior to the screening start time, as capacity allows after all badge, wristband, and advance ticket holders.
Insider tip: If a film has advanced tickets available for more than one screening chances of seeing the film at the second screening are better than the first.
https://www.sxsw.com/festivals/film/advance-ticket-sales/
Our pick: Revival 69: The Concert That Rocked the World
- Concerts
In addition to 3 days (March 16, 17, and 18) Free Community Concerts at Auditorium Shores, there are several options to hear and discover great music and musicians in the spotlight atshowcases from KUTX, Austin Music Foundation, DAWA, the Latin Music Coalition and more.
https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/events/free
Our pick:
Austin’s Own Sonic Guild’s Love Your Music Fest
WHERE: GSD&M (828 6th St W, Austin, TX)
WHEN: Wednesday March 15th, 12-6PM.
WHO: BrosFresh, Grace Sorenson, Jane Leo, Metrocade, Name Sayers, Rattlesnake Milk, Sailor Poon and TC Superstar.
https://membership.blackfret.org/event-5080411/Registration
- Panel discussions:
There are several free talks and discussions being held during SXSW. You can register to receive emails with updated offerings and check out this list:
https://explore.sxsw.com/2023-sxsw-free-and-premium-events-daily
Our pick:
Funders and Founders: The State of Women in Entrepreneurship
WHERE: Austin Community College, Rio Grande Campus Atrium.WHEN: Friday, March 10, 11:30 – 12:30 p.m.
No Badge Required.
In 2022, U.S. women founders received a paltry 2% of capital investments according to PitchBook data. https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/the-vc-female-founders-dashboard Funding for women entrepreneurs has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, and is anticipated to shrink further due to current economic conditions. While there is growing energy behind defense tech investments, they’ll
discuss whether any of it is reaching female innovators – and how to make sure it does.
Moderated by Meg Vrabel, COO, Capital Factory, expert speakers include funders and founders in the defense innovation space: Katie Bigelow, CEO and Founder, Mettle Ops; Christy Cardenas, Managing Partner, Grit Ventures; Carol Ann Logue, Director, Central Florida Tech Grove/Business Incubation; and Devaki Raj, CEO and Founder, CrowdAI.
- Place to See and Be Seen
Our pick:
Fast Company Grill
FC Grill 2023 features 4 days of exciting fast talks, interactive experiences, cocktails, connections & more! Speakers include Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter; Adrienne Lahens, Global Head of Operations, Tik Tok; Ann Wojcicki, CEO 23 and Me; Asmaf Alkarmi, Chief Product Officer, Vimeo; Rob
Seaman, SVP and Product Manager, Slack and many more.
There is no fee to attend. Once you RSVP, your name will be on a list at the door to check-in. Note that entrance is first-come, first-served as capacity allows. RSVP does not guarantee entrance.
Complimentary drinks are available all day. Complimentary lunch is available each day in limited quantities. Please be aware wait times for food can be long.
RSVP: https://events.fastcompany.com/grill_2023
FCGrill Hours & Location:
Date: March 10 – 13, 2023
Time: 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM Daily
Location: The Cedar Door, 201 Brazos Street, Austin TX
- One of a Kind Immersive Art
The Water Arch is an immersive art installation that playfully draws attention to the ever-increasing use of clean drinking water, created by the Dutch media arts collective DROPSTUFF MEDIA.
In March it will travel to SXSW in Austin and New York City Water Week.
The work is an abstract interpretation of a classic Dutch barrel organ. By turning a big wheel, the organ comes to life and plays songs from long-forgotten days, while water is pumped up through a system of tubes and bubbles.
The water eventually collects in a large container above your head. At 36 gallons
(134 liters) the water is released. Protected by a large transparent dome, you
experience in an instant how much water we use daily. 36 gallons is the amount
that every person in The Netherlands uses every day on average. In the USA this goes up to 82 gallons* (310 liters).
The music is an adaptation of a recording of a famous barrel organ from the 1950s
and 1960s from the archive of the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision.
Experience it at:
Creative Industries Expo, booth 1527
March 12-15
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