How to Perform at South by Southwest

South by Southwest has grown over the years into one of the premier showcases for young musical talent in the country. Although some major label artists are invited to hit the main stage each year, the vast majority of up-and-coming acts nominate themselves for participation. If you want to perform for some of the industry's most influential artists and producers, it pays to pay close attention to details during the application process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Press kit
• Album or sample recording
• Dedicated contact

Review the SXSW Website

1. Apply online at the SXSW website with some basic information about your band (see Resources below). You will need to designate a primary contact who is reachable by email for the next step of the process. This may either be a member of the group, a trusted friend or a band manager.
2. Send in the materials requested by festival organizers. In most cases this will include a photograph, MP3 music samples and a bio.
3. Send a full press kit if requested. This will include everything the organizers need to determine whether you can perform on a big stage, including reviews and press clippings.

Go Through Sonicbids

4. Create a membership at Sonicbids.com (see Resources below). The site is designed to give bands and booking professionals a way to connect with each other, and includes plenty of space to upload music samples and more.
5. Create an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) for use in South by Southwest and other venues. EPKs can be uploaded in a simple series of steps that prompts you for everything the site needs. If you prefer to create something more distinctive, you can tweak the parameters of your kit as needed.
6. Send the finished application to SXSW and picture yourself as you perform before thousands!

Tips & Warnings

• Do not go beyond the guidelines of the South by Southwest application process. The festival organizers have most likely seen every trick in the book that performers use to stand out, so avoid gimmickry and focus on your strengths as an act.
• South by Southwest isn't for every musical style, so do not be discouraged if you don't make the cut. Often the organizers are looking for something very specific as they put together an eclectic showcase.
• Late applications can be deadly. If you go beyond the final cutoff date, you will almost certainly find yourself out of contention for a performing slot.
• SXSW doesn't cover travel costs, so budget and book in advance for your trip to Austin.