When I first signed up for the assignment to cover SXSW I was excited. SXSW is Austin's big music, interactive and film festival. By big I mean to say that it is the highest revenue-producing event for the Austin economy, with an estimated economic impact of $167 million in 2011according to wikipedia. If you doubt the validity of the information in the repository of all human knowledge, heres a quick bullet point breakdown of the events: SXSW Music is the largest music festival of its kind in the world. SXSW Interactive showcases emerging technologies. Twitter launched in 2007 at SXSW Interactive. SXSW Film, festival Ill be attending, will have Olivia Wilde, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, James Franco, Matthew McConaughey, Jim Carrey, Rose Byrne, et al. in attendance and will screen such anticipated films as The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Don Jons Addiction, Evil Dead, Mud, Spring Breakers and more. Ah. Hell. Yeah. Pick up the chain cos SXSW is off of it. Despite the bravado I have to admit that between the line up of films, panels, and events and the application for press credentials, I was intimidated. About half way through the application I calmed down. I realized that the application is there to weed out all of the Joe Blows trying to get in with their blogger sites. WhatCulture! is many things, but some smuck's free Wordpress site it is not. I got my acceptance email a day after submitting the application. Bam! Then things got real. Since I applied mid January, Ive received over 200 emails jockeying for my attention. At first it was a email, maybe two, a day. Now Im getting twenty-five to thirty. Better still, the last few days the emails have been invitations to attend the parties for this and that movie. Holy Hell! My liver is going to hate me for this. And just when I thought it was as good as it gets, I read an article about a service called Qpid.me on on ReadWriteWeb. In a press release they say: Its a known fact that there is a huge amount of Sex that happens at SXSW as creators, indie film makers, up-and-coming stars flock there to spark ideas, find investors, create together andhave sex.... But is the free love of the festival worth the after effects of coming home with an unwanted gift like some Spring Breakers, an STD? Jesus Tap Dancin Christ! All that and sexuals, too? This is going to be AWE-some! Over the next 10 days I'll report back to you about the films, panels, and any of the parties I can get into. Luckily SXSW has a scheduling service built into their site, and a mobile app (see below), which will help me keep track of whats happening, at least right now. As soon as I get into the thick of it who knows what will happen. Yet, while Ive scheduled my time, Ive also left enough free time to wander around and take in the madness. Like this peer-on-peer piggyback ride service: http://youtu.be/5EcyVcHFhQs Because I love the behind the scenes stuff, here is what I'll be bringing with me: From left to right, top to bottom: Saddleback Leather messenger bag (Coolest. Bag. EVAR.) Leather satchel (backup if messenger bag is too much) Lowepro camera bag MacBook Air iPad in Zagg PROfolio+ case Klean Kanteen Towel (I'm a frood who really knows where his towel is.) Leather sleeve for paperwork Bose AE2 Nikon D70s 60mm lens 18-200mm lens Extra battery and charger USB cable Lenspen Sunglasses Glasses Lens cleaner MacBook power brick Lightning cable Zagg keyboard charging cable Assorted pens, pencils, erasers and stylus Cliff bars (for sustenance as all I've read has been about alcohol, not food) Single use toothbrushes Titanium spork Bose MIE2i Moleskine notebook Umbrella From left to right, top to bottom: iPhone Pill case (for all my I'm-so-old-I'm-gonna-damn-die pills) Zippo Wallet Pocket knife (not the best for personal defense, but this is Texas, better a knife than nothingright?) Listerine pocketmist From left to right: The official SXSW app Lyft app (for those awesome piggy-back rides) Party app Another Party app (did I mention there were A LOT of parties going on?) Is anyone else headed to SXSW this year? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know what youre looking forward to, bringing with you, and if youve been before, any tips for us noobs. I know I'm forgetting something important. I just hope itll get me through. SXSW runs March 8-17, 2013. Interactive is March 812. Film is March 816. Music is March 1217. See ya there!