SXSWORLD

Oh, Th e Places We Go: SXSW Summer Voyages Th e world has become a smaller place with the advent of modern communications. Even 30 years ago, conducting business with someone on the other side of the world required long-distance travel, expensive phone calls and transcontinental shipping of documents or additional materials. Th us, international conferences provided crucial gathering places for people from the far corners of the world to meet and conduct business. Today, these same global interactions can be accomplished in real- time for far less money through video conferences, voice-over-IP communications and document uploads that take seconds to deliver instead of days. So if the technological barriers have come down, why do people in the interactive, fi lm and music industries still travel to con- ferences, festivals and meetings when they can perform all the essential work remotely? Th e answer is the irreplaceable value of making personal connections and achieving a real sense of community. At SXSW, once the confer- ences end in March, staff spend the ensuing months heading for locations both near and very far. way, they fur e heading for lor locationsons both near and very Along the way, they further relationships,s, ch, sttaff spen pend the ensuing mo Along pend th ons bot a elationsh In 2011, SXSW staff madee trips to numerous locations around the world because theruse there is no virtual substitute for being in a room full of people hearing an inspiring speakeraker, discussing the future course of technologytechnology, enjoying an entertaining and thought-provoc- ative fi lm or seeing the next potentially groundbreaking band. And even though you can do just about everything you need to do with long-distance technology, there is no better way to connect with people than through personal contact. participate in eventsev and build communi-mmuni- ties before bringing what they learn back to A Austin to help develop SXSW for both the next year and beybeyond. W st ng what W for bothboth on . ouss location d bbecause t stit staff of peo ecause the he location ns use the bein ng the next potentially band. And even though bout ev and thought-pr oc- ything you need through personal contact. ■ Brian Brooks a SXSW 16 SXSW SXS W ORLD / N /N OVEMBER 2011 Brad Spies at Roskilde Festival Roskilde, Denmark NY Filmmakers at the ne Bunim Monroe Film Stu New York, New Yo Sara Barney with Rebecca Feferman at SXSW @ TIFF Busy SXSW briefing in Leeds, www.musicyorkshire.com NXNE mascot Sketchy the Rabbit & volunteer Debbie Horovitch Toronto, Canada CHOCOLATE FIREGUARD

• Cover