Comments on: South by Southwest Conference or School? http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307 Jessica Mah is a senior at UC Berkeley. While she's not pulling all-nighters to finish her computer science projects, she works on indinero.com Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:53:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Karen http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2540 Karen Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:48:41 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2540 I would say, if you can decide for yourself what you want out of the conference (contacts in field x, learning about field y, conversations about z aspect of a business or personal goals), and compare it to the learning you do for school, and weigh it in with the cost involved compared to what you won't be able to do in the future with that money because you spent it on SXSW, then go for it. If you're going *only* because everyone says it's a good time and you don't actually know what you want out of it, you may get caught in mirroring what they all do instead of doing what would actually be valuable for you. I was all ready to be a schoolmarm/party-poop and say you should go to school, but the reality is that any experience for you will be insightful and thought-provoking. Determining how to pin down what you want out of an experience, is a great skill as well. Also, have serious backup plans if the drinking thing becomes an issue. That said, with a party like that in town I doubt there's much lockdown, but I've never been so I also can't say. I would say, if you can decide for yourself what you want out of the conference (contacts in field x, learning about field y, conversations about z aspect of a business or personal goals), and compare it to the learning you do for school, and weigh it in with the cost involved compared to what you won’t be able to do in the future with that money because you spent it on SXSW, then go for it. If you’re going *only* because everyone says it’s a good time and you don’t actually know what you want out of it, you may get caught in mirroring what they all do instead of doing what would actually be valuable for you.

I was all ready to be a schoolmarm/party-poop and say you should go to school, but the reality is that any experience for you will be insightful and thought-provoking. Determining how to pin down what you want out of an experience, is a great skill as well.

Also, have serious backup plans if the drinking thing becomes an issue. That said, with a party like that in town I doubt there’s much lockdown, but I’ve never been so I also can’t say.

]]> By: Tris Hussey http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2532 Tris Hussey Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:06:44 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2532 This is going to be my first SXSW and I'm really looking forward to it. If you're there, I'll interview you for Intruders.tv Canada. This is going to be my first SXSW and I’m really looking forward to it. If you’re there, I’ll interview you for Intruders.tv Canada.

]]> By: Lee LeFever http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2531 Lee LeFever Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:54:03 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2531 Beer, nerds, bbq and a conference - all in one place. How can you resist? Beer, nerds, bbq and a conference – all in one place. How can you resist?

]]> By: Rebecca http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2527 Rebecca Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:25:13 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2527 You should totally go to SXSW, it's all about the interactive sessions, the people and the atmosphere - the parties and music are all just a big bonus! You should totally go to SXSW, it’s all about the interactive sessions, the people and the atmosphere – the parties and music are all just a big bonus!

]]> By: ykw http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2526 ykw Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:15:33 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2526 STAY IN SCHOOL DONT BE COOL LEARN YOUR MATH TAKE A BATH LETS GO TO COFFEE OR MAYBE MARTINS THIS WEEK? love, you know who STAY IN SCHOOL
DONT BE COOL

LEARN YOUR MATH
TAKE A BATH

LETS GO TO COFFEE
OR MAYBE MARTINS THIS WEEK?

love,
you know who

]]> By: Taylor http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2524 Taylor Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:50:48 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2524 Definitely SXSW. This will be my 4th year and it is the one week I look forward to the most. First half of the conference is techhy-meet people stuff and the second half is parties/bands/parties. It's awesome :) If you do go you should check out my site http://sched.org to help you plan your trip. Don't stay strictly on a schedule, but it's nice to have a narrowed down list of stuff to do. Definitely SXSW. This will be my 4th year and it is the one week I look forward to the most. First half of the conference is techhy-meet people stuff and the second half is parties/bands/parties. It’s awesome :)

If you do go you should check out my site http://sched.org to help you plan your trip. Don’t stay strictly on a schedule, but it’s nice to have a narrowed down list of stuff to do.

]]> By: Roland Tanglao http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2523 Roland Tanglao Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:45:33 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2523 go go go! 3 days of school is negligible ! see you in austin! go go go! 3 days of school is negligible ! see you in austin!

]]> By: Megan Cole http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2521 Megan Cole Tue, 04 Mar 2008 03:29:25 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2521 Just go. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Life's short. Bring your fake id. That help? Just go.

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go.

Life’s short. Bring your fake id.

That help?

]]> By: Fade to Play » Should Jessica attend SXSW? http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2519 Fade to Play » Should Jessica attend SXSW? Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:35:40 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2519 [...] friend Jessica Mah is debating whether to attend SXSW this week. She was up for Northern Voice and enjoyed it. It [...] [...] friend Jessica Mah is debating whether to attend SXSW this week. She was up for Northern Voice and enjoyed it. It [...]

]]> By: Leora http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307&cpage=1#comment-2518 Leora Tue, 04 Mar 2008 01:28:02 +0000 http://jessicamah.com/blog/?p=307#comment-2518 You should go to SXSW so I can meet you! :) You should go to SXSW so I can meet you! :)

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