SXSW: The Day Before

We’ve been so excited about SXSW for like, FOREVER! Well, more like October of last year. But you get the point. We are proud to announce that we have arrived, albeit one day early, and that we have already geeked out so many times today that it would be embarrassing if we weren’t around equally geeky individuals.

Our day started with a very early flight out of LAX. A flight in which I officially introduced myself to Quentin Tarantino by falling on him. Needless to say, I was glad that he was sitting in seat number one while I, well, was not. After meeting some SXSW veterans in the shuttle ride from the airport to my hotel room, I found out that the non-stop flights out of LAX on the day before and day after SXSW are always packed with celebs. Guess who has another non-stop flight back to LAX the day after SXSW? Damn right my friends!

So there really isn’t anything going on today since everyone is either getting in late tonight or very early tomorrow. However, in true nerd fashion, we decided to register early so we can get our badges and SXSW schwag bags. As you may know, this year’s SXSW badges come equipped with QR codes (Quick Response code), that can be scanned and read on cell phones. Once your smartphone reads the QR code, an automatic link is created in the registrant’s My.SXSW profile, and enables that person to follow the fellow SXSW-er that he/she just met. I guess this is the techie way to get rid of business cards. I was able to try this with a fellow SXSW early bird and it seemed to work on his iPhone, but did not work on my Blackberry. However, I think user error might be the culprit on this one (and yes, I am admitting fault here).

The schwag that I did receive was bountiful and filled with mostly flyers, somehow I was hoping to get some free USB flash drives or perhaps an XBOX, which I still believe is my holy grail during this whole week.

Tomorrow is the official first day of SXSW Interactive. Clement & Co. will be reporting on some featured panels, trade show exhibitors, and the stuff that you really care about: the parties. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of SXSW 2010 (complete with embarrassing moments with silver screen filmmakers).