Two things that make this great:

1. The photo, below, of Steve playing with said broken hand at my 2010 SXSW showcase.

2. “And also with you.”

To: Bob Lefsetz
From: Steve Poltz

Wow! You sure get a lot of action at your blog. Nice work creating a community.

I love playing at The Blue Door in Okc. One of my favorite rooms anywhere on the planet. I either go out for Oklahoma BBQ or Vietnamese Pho with Greg Johnson. We talk baseball and politics and music. He loves his Orioles. I look forward to my next gig there.

I’m pretty lucky. I’ve got friends all over the world who own music venues.  I work 200 plus dates a year. It only comes from repetitive touring and  giving 100% each night even if you’re sick with the flu or have a broken hand. Meeting the people after every show and playing heaps of house concerts. It’s not glamorous but it works.  I travel with only one guy – Chris Modl, who records every show and we sell that show 15 minutes after the gig ends on CDs or 2 gig thumb drives.

I love my job. I’m like a traveling salesman. If I play a good show then people usually buy my wares. T-shirts etc.  If I suck then I have no one to blame but me. I have no mgmt and only my own label 98 pounder records.  I LOVE my booking agent Roggie out of Austin at Rajiworld. She has a great understanding of what I do.  I have different agents I love in Australia and my homeland of Canada as well.

People who come to my shows aren’t coming because I co wrote a hit song with Jewel. They’re coming because there’s a trust factor involved.  That’s why your letter speaks to me. It’s a great time to be a musician. There’s a revolution happening!

And you know it Mr Jones!

Peace be with you… And also with you.

From Istanbul,
Steve Poltz

SxSW Interactive

• Strictly on time
• Panel/keynote speakers wear wireless/clip-on mics (most often)
• Panel/keynote production appears flawless (ex: nametags/hash tags clearly visible, high-quality sound, SxSW staff on-hand and in control)
• Open-door policy (attendees enter and leave panels/keynotes as they please)
• Multitasking assumed and celebrated (ex: tweeting, hash tag strains broadcast simultaneously on stage screens, taking photos/videos, watching videos/accessing links speaker mentions as he/she continues talking)
• Panels/keynotes packed to capacity, one-in/one-out entry queues outside most doors, attendees (literally) battling for panel/keynote front row seats
• Panel/keynote attendee questions usually benefit everyone in the room
• Panel/keynote speakers revered as “rockstars” as attendees vehemently Twitter speeches as “gospels” and rush the stage post events
• Collective, impromptu crowd reactions are frequent (from applause to walkouts)
• Attendees share uber-alpha networking gene, introducing themselves to each other at nearly every possible opportunity, whether seated or in queue… most even managing a pitch
• Attendees have business cards
• Attendees display exuberance in helping each other, openly sharing newly observed/learned tips/ideas
• Panel/keynote speaker metaphors run rampant, assuming attendees will connect dots rapidly (which they do)
• Conversely, attendees express frustration/impatience when panels/keynotes move “slow”
• Overall celebration/mutual admiration between panel/keynote speakers and attendees, each easily vacillating between roles as “students” and “leaders”
• Overarching business-casual fashion, geeky yet hip
• Parties attended mostly by men in khakis

SxSW Music

• Late, a lot
• Panel/keynote speakers have handheld mics (most often)
• Panel/keynote production sloppy (ex: nametags/hash tags missing altogether, sound issues, SxSW staff MIA)
• Open-window policy (attendees can come late or leave but panel/keynote speakers appear visibly put out)
• Multitasking considered rude, especially at a show (ex: audience members reprimanded from stage by artists, while at panels/keynotes, hash tag strains completely MIA)
• Panels/keynotes sparsely attended
• Panel/keynote attendee questions are highly personalized
• The only “rockstars” are actual rockstars
• Collective, impromptu crowd reactions are also frequent but limited to applause and sing-alongs
• Attendees keep to themselves/cliques
• Attendees generally don’t have business cards
• Attendees hoard newly observed/learned tips/ideas
• Panel/keynote speakers consistently refer to old, outdated ideas (ex: 1000 True Fans, DIY Fundraising); PowerPoint runs rampant
• Attendees yawn frequently but don’t express displeasure
• Overall admiration of panel/keynote speakers by attendees; the opposite does not apply
• Black, black, black; everyone wears black
• Except for all the half naked girls with hula hoops and cowboy boots up and down 6th St.

1. For some reason all of the stores at the Austin airport have bankers hours and seem to be closed after dark. So forget grabbing a quick cup of coffee or a snack (if you’re the type who likes to head straight from the plane to the party).

2. It’s about $25 to take a cab from the airport to downtown. It’s a one dollar to take the Austin Flyer (the local bus). The express bus picks up on the baggage level, one-stop the entire way until downtown. From the taxicab area, walk 25 yards directly to the right, you’ll see the sign. Plus it’s not even really a bus… it’s more like a pretty trolley.

3. If you’re unlucky enough to be staying at a hotel near the airport, make sure you get the cell phone of the taxi driver who brings you there. Taxicabs are nearly impossible to hail during SxSW. But if you have the celly of your guy, you can make him your bitch all week.

4. Make friends with someone staying at the Omni. There’s a hot tub on the roof if you can grab 10 minutes to soak your feet (which will be throbbing from standing on cement all day). It’s worth it. Plus, killer view.

5. Don’t bother making any plans until you get here. Everything changes minute to minute. Flexibility is key. Make sure you’re comfortable ditching your friends if need be.

When you get here, find me:

@ THE iNSIDERS NETWORK Showcase:

Thursday March 18, 12P – 5P, 204 E. 6th St. (BD Riley’s)

Lineup: Karl Mullen, Seth Glier, Steve Poltz, Robert Deeble, Michael Miller, Roman Candle

Also, I’ll be on the SxSW Music Panel “From the Stage – An Artist’s Perspective,” discussing life in the digi-age:
Wednesday March 17, 3:30P – 4:30P, Convention Center

SxSW Interactive, Film & Music Festival
Every year it seems someone is always questioning the validity of music conferences. And for good reason. Mostly they suck. The music panels especially. A bunch of know-it-alls who live at 30,000 feet and just like to hear the sound of their own voices — seemingly never doling out any practical, useful advice. Sadly, the music panels at SxSW are generally no exception. But now that I’ve started going to the Interactive portion of the festival beforehand, I could care less.

SxSW Interactive, that’s where you actually learn things. And generally, there’s less drinking (then during SxSW Music) which makes for better brainwork. You remember people’s names. Business cards actually find their way into your suitcase. You take notes. You have ideas.

Then, a funny sort of phenomenon starts to happen as the week wears on and Interactive flows into Music (Film is supposed to be the bridge but really, who goes?). Less green vegetables. Less sleep. Longer nights. The hotel staff now knows you by first name. Instead of sitting at panels you’re standing all day shows. But your attention span is shot and your smart phone is blowing up. Plus, your feet hurt.

Fun stuff. But in the end, I’m there to work. Every second of every waking moment, networking my little hiny off with the hopes that some of it will somehow pay forward and help make this crazy ride we’re on stick (even I don’t exactly know what that means but I’m leaving it in). Fingers crossed.

The best part: gazing out at an endless sea of head-bobbing, balding-with-ponytail, over-40 grown-up heads, collectively getting their badass rock ‘n roll groove right on.

Who says we old farts don’t rock? In Austin, we sure as hell do.

That said, here’s to seeing you at our showcase (a production of THE iNSIDERS NETWORK). If you’re in Austin, do drop on by. Those free beers I’m always threatening to buy you guys? Come and get ‘em.

Thursday, March 18, 12 PM-5 PM, 204 E. 6th St. (BD Riley’s)

12:00-12:35 They Were Stars
12:50-1:25 Seth Glier
1:40-2:15 Robert Deeble
2:30-3:05 Michael Miller
3:20-3:55 Steve Poltz
4:10-4:45 Roman Candle

Yeeeeeeehaw.