We can make our own SXSW-esque experience every month, week, or day by finding great new indie films to watch, thought-provoking writers to read, powerful speakers to watch, cutting-edge technologies to learn about, perspective-shifting comedians to watch, culture-shaping artists to follow. We can reach out to and network with experts, leaders, and influencers via social media or even email. We can attend virtual conferences. We can attend networking events IRL once the pandemic and quarantine are over. We can write, speak, make videos, and create cool projects. We can post to social media, blogs, newsletters, and online publications to connect with others and grow our platform.
SXSW is an incredible event, and I’m a huge fan, but the value we gain from SXSW and other large conferences and festivals is available to us anytime, if we’re willing to search it out.
All this takes time, but I can’t think of a better way to invest our free time. I can’t think of a more fun or more fulfilling way to invest our free time. Many of us have plenty of time on our hands these days. However, these resources are always available to us in the 21st century, not just in 2020.
Every day is SXSW if we want it to be. Choose it.