I attended South by Southwest for the first time this year. I was in Austin for a full two weeks, giving me time to experience Interactive and Music. Below are the lessons from my first SXSW.

Tips for surviving SXSW:

Pace yourself. Events are spread all over downtown Austin. Research and find the events you want to attend, and arrive early. Don’t pack in too much.
Don’t let FOMO ruin your experience. When deciding between two talks, pick one, arrive early, and stick with it. Many have gone to one talk, only to try to get into another talk after being slightly disappointed, and then not being able to get into the other talk.
Download local apps to get around, like Ride Austin and Fasten.
There are lots of free events around Austin during SXSW. Register for as many as possible, well in advance. You’ll have your pick of parties and events to attend. I registered for more than 50 events.
Get in some music. My favorite parts of SXSW was dancing at free shows and meeting great people.
Don’t be afraid to say hello. There are so many interesting people in one place, so take advantage and make connections.
Skip panels, if you can. The content is generally not as good. Find speakers you admire and want to learn from.
Don’t skip meals. Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, in order to last however long you’re there.
Get enough sleep. Drink lots of water.

What to bring:

Dollar bills for tips for bartenders and servers.
A portable phone charger. If you’re on Twitter and social media, your phone won’t last the day.
Business cards. You will meet lots of folks.
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
If you’re going to day/music shows, print out a list of what shows you want to see. It makes it easier if you have phone issues.
No expectations