Let’s get one thing out of the way before SXSW takes over Austin: you do not need a badge to have an amazing SXSW.

Sure, having a badge makes things easier. You get access to official showcases, conference events and other parts of the festival that aren’t available to everyone. But if you’re an Austin local—or you’re visiting Austin on a budget—you can still have an absolutely ridiculous week without spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on credentials.

In fact, one of the best ways to experience SXSW is to forget about trying to get into everything.

The trick is to know where to look.

For years, Baller ATX has been telling readers essentially the same thing: RSVP, RSVP, RSVP.

And that advice is still one of the most important things you can do.

The difference between someone who has a great no-badge SXSW experience and someone who spends the entire week standing outside looking at a line is usually preparation.

SXSW is not one festival with one entrance.

It is hundreds of events, parties, concerts, brand activations, showcases, food events and unofficial parties spread throughout downtown Austin and surrounding neighborhoods.

Some require credentials.

Some require an RSVP.

Some are completely free.

Some are first come, first served.

Some have separate lines for people without badges.

And some events that look impossible to get into suddenly become accessible if you are willing to wait.

That is the game.

And in 2023, the best strategy is to build your own SXSW instead of trying to recreate the experience of someone with a Platinum badge.

FIRST RULE: GET YOUR FREE SXSW GUEST PASS

If you don’t have a badge, the first thing you should investigate is the SXSW Guest Pass.

This has long been one of Baller ATX’s favorite recommendations because it gives people without credentials access to a selection of free official SXSW programming.

The exact benefits can change from year to year, so check the official SXSW information before heading downtown, but the basic idea remains the same: there are official SXSW experiences available to the public.

And don’t assume that “free” means boring.

The official SXSW schedule has historically included free exhibitions, activations, outdoor performances and other events.

In 2023, SXSW’s official schedule itself included a substantial free-events section, including exhibitions and special events around the Convention Center and other downtown locations.

The important thing is to understand that free official events and credentialed events are two different things.

Don’t show up at an event assuming your Guest Pass gets you everywhere.

Check the event’s access requirements before you make the trip.

SECOND RULE: RSVP LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT

This is the biggest piece of Baller ATX SXSW advice that has stood the test of time.

If an event says RSVP is required, RSVP.

Even if you aren’t sure you are going.

Even if you think the event will be easy to get into.

Even if you have five other parties you’re considering.

RSVP.

Why?

Because the unofficial SXSW party ecosystem is enormous.

Companies, record labels, radio stations, tech companies, brands, bars, restaurants, agencies and musicians all host events during SXSW.

Many are free.

Many don’t require a badge.

But they may require you to be on a guest list.

The old Baller ATX guide specifically recommended using websites, Facebook groups and other party listings to find free events for people without badges.

That advice is still gold.

The best no-badge SXSW experience isn’t necessarily found on the main SXSW website.

It’s found by hunting down the parties happening around the official festival.

And in 2023, there are already community-maintained lists circulating that compile unofficial events specifically for people looking for no-badge access.

THIRD RULE: HAVE A PLAN A, B, C AND D

This may be the most important tip of the entire article.

Do not build your SXSW schedule around one event.

You will get rejected.

You will encounter a line.

The venue will hit capacity.

The party will close early.

Your Uber will take forever.

Your friend will want tacos.

You will discover a better party two blocks away.

Something will happen.

That’s SXSW.

Baller ATX has recommended creating a schedule with Plan A, B, C and D because the festival offers so many events simultaneously that trying to stick rigidly to one schedule is almost guaranteed to cause frustration.

Think of your schedule like this:

Plan A: The party you really want to attend.

Plan B: Another event within walking distance.

Plan C: A free concert or activation nearby.

Plan D: Find a bar with live music and see what happens.

That last option is important.

Don’t underestimate the value of wandering around Austin during SXSW.

Some of the best experiences happen because you were walking to one place and heard music coming from another.

THE SECRET IS LOCATION

You don’t want to spend half your night traveling across Austin.

During SXSW, downtown becomes extremely crowded.

That means walking is often your best friend.

Instead of choosing a party in South Austin at 2 p.m., another party in East Austin at 4 p.m. and something downtown at 6 p.m., build your afternoon around one neighborhood.

Red River is a perfect example.

You can walk between venues, find food, hear multiple bands and make decisions as you go.

Sixth Street is another obvious option, although it can become extremely crowded.

East Austin is also worth exploring because numerous bars, restaurants and venues are close together.

The goal is simple:

Move less. Experience more.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE “NO BADGE” LINE

Here’s another Baller ATX trick worth remembering.

If you see a massive line at a party, don’t automatically turn around.

Ask what the line is for.

Some events have separate badge, wristband, RSVP and general-admission lines.

Some give priority to credentialed attendees but allow everyone else in when capacity permits.

Baller ATX’s longstanding advice is to walk up and ask at the door rather than assuming you can’t get in. The worst thing they can do is tell you no.

And yes, sometimes you will be told no.

That’s why you have Plan B.

DON’T SPEND THE ENTIRE DAY WAITING IN ONE LINE

This is one of the easiest ways to ruin SXSW.

You arrive at 1 p.m.

You see a huge line.

You decide to wait.

Two hours later, you’re still waiting.

Now you’ve missed three other events.

Don’t do it.

Give yourself a reasonable cutoff.

If the line isn’t moving after 30 or 45 minutes, ask yourself whether the event is worth sacrificing the rest of your afternoon.

If the answer is yes, stay.

If not, move.

There are too many things happening during SXSW to spend half the day standing behind 200 people.

USE THE FREE OFFICIAL EVENTS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

The official free programming is especially useful because it gives you somewhere to go between parties.

In 2023, SXSW’s official free-event schedule included things like Flatstock 84, free exhibitions, brand activations and other public programming.

These events can also give you a break from the madness.

Go into the Convention Center.

Enjoy the air conditioning.

Use the bathroom.

Charge your phone.

Walk around.

Get out of the sun.

Then head back outside.

This is especially important because SXSW can involve an unbelievable amount of walking.

THE CONVENTION CENTER BATHROOM TRICK

Here’s one of the oldest Baller ATX survival tips:

Know where the clean bathrooms are.

The Austin Convention Center has a ton of bathrooms, and Baller ATX has long recommended using them rather than spending half your day searching for a restroom. Hotel lobbies downtown are another useful option for a quick bathroom stop.

You will thank us later.

Especially after you’ve been drinking all afternoon.

BRING A PHONE CHARGER

Your phone is basically your SXSW lifeline.

You are going to use it for:

RSVP confirmations.

Maps.

Schedules.

Texts.

Instagram.

Photos.

Ride shares.

Finding your friends.

Finding parties.

Checking whether a line is moving.

And figuring out where you are going next.

Your battery will disappear.

Bring an external battery.

Bring a charging cable.

Charge whenever you get the opportunity.

There is nothing worse than getting separated from your friends downtown with a dead phone.

BRING CASH

Even in 2023, don’t assume every vendor is going to take your preferred payment method.

Bring some cash.

And bring small bills.

Baller ATX has recommended having $1 bills available for tipping and keeping some cash available for food trucks and other vendors that may not accept cards.

You don’t want to be the person standing at a food truck with a $20 bill while everyone behind you is waiting.

EAT SOMETHING

This sounds obvious.

It isn’t.

SXSW is notorious for people drinking all afternoon while forgetting that their bodies require food.

Don’t do that.

If a party has food, eat it.

If there are fruits and vegetables available, eat those too.

Baller ATX has specifically recommended taking advantage of free food at parties rather than treating SXSW like one giant day-drinking competition.

And if you don’t find free food, Austin has plenty of affordable options around the festival footprint.

Tacos.

Pizza.

Burgers.

Food trucks.

Barbecue.

Whatever you can get your hands on.

Eat before you drink heavily.

Then eat again later.

Your future self will appreciate it.

WATER. WATER. WATER.

We’re going to steal one of Baller ATX’s most important pieces of advice and put it in giant letters:

DRINK WATER.

The old Baller ATX guide recommends having water after every one or two alcoholic drinks.

That’s good advice.

SXSW involves walking.

Standing.

Dancing.

Sun.

Alcohol.

Crowds.

And potentially long days.

You don’t want to make it to 9 p.m. and realize you’re exhausted, dehydrated and already done.

The goal isn’t to win SXSW by drinking the most.

The goal is to still be functioning by Saturday.

TAKE BREAKS

This is another old Baller ATX rule that should absolutely remain in the guide.

Sit down.

Seriously.

If you find an empty chair, sit down.

If there is a shaded area, use it.

If you can sit under a tree, do it.

If you need air conditioning, walk into the Convention Center.

Your body doesn’t care that you have another party at 3 p.m.

Take ten or fifteen minutes.

Recharge.

Drink water.

Check your phone.

Then keep going.

SXSW is a marathon, not a bar crawl.

DRESS FOR AUSTIN, NOT INSTAGRAM

SXSW weather is unpredictable.

It can be hot.

It can be cold.

It can rain.

It can be beautiful.

It can be all four in the same week.

Baller ATX’s longstanding recommendation is to dress in layers and wear sunscreen.

Wear comfortable shoes.

This may be the single most important clothing decision you make.

You’re going to walk.

A lot.

Do not wear brand-new shoes because they look good in photographs.

Wear shoes you can walk in for ten hours.

Your feet will determine your SXSW experience more than your outfit will.

FREE DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN EASY

This is something first-time SXSW attendees often don’t understand.

An event can be free and still be extremely difficult to enter.

Free does not mean guaranteed entry.

Capacity still exists.

Venues still have fire codes.

Badge holders may have priority.

RSVP guests may have priority.

VIPs may have priority.

And some parties simply become more popular than organizers expected.

That’s why you need backups.

The official SXSW schedule itself labels certain programming as free, but that does not mean every free event is automatically available to everyone at every moment.

Read the access rules.

Look for RSVP requirements.

Arrive early for something you really want.

And keep moving when necessary.

LOOK FOR DAY PARTIES

If you don’t have a badge, day parties can be your best friend.

A huge number of unofficial events happen during the afternoon.

These are often easier to access than late-night showcases because people are spread across the city.

You can find food.

Drinks.

Music.

Brand activations.

Games.

Networking.

And sometimes surprisingly big artists.

The 2023 community lists showed just how many unofficial events were happening outside the official SXSW credential system.

The key is to start looking before SXSW actually begins.

Don’t wait until you’re standing on Sixth Street.

FOLLOW THE PARTY, NOT THE BADGE

This may be the biggest Baller ATX philosophy of all.

SXSW is not about proving that you have credentials.

It’s about experiencing Austin.

If you find a great free party, stay.

If you discover a band you love, watch the entire set.

If somebody tells you about a barbecue party around the corner, go investigate.

If you see a crowd gathered outside a venue, find out what’s happening.

The people who have the most fun at SXSW aren’t necessarily the ones with the most expensive badges.

They’re the ones who know how to navigate the city.

AND THEN THERE’S THE MUSIC

This is still Austin.

At some point, forget the parties.

Go listen to a band.

The official festival’s free programming can include music and outdoor performances, while the unofficial ecosystem provides countless additional opportunities to see artists. The point is to take advantage of the sheer amount of music happening throughout the city.

You may walk into a venue expecting to stay for 20 minutes and end up staying for the entire set.

That’s SXSW.

And that’s why Austin becomes such an incredible music city during March.

DON’T FORGET THE FOOD

SXSW can make people think the festival is only about music, technology and film.

It isn’t.

Austin’s food scene becomes part of the festival too.

Restaurants get packed.

Food trucks get busy.

Bars create special menus.

Brands throw food events.

And some of the best unofficial parties are essentially giant food-and-drink events with music attached.

If you’re going to spend your entire day downtown, take advantage of it.

Try something you’ve never eaten.

Go somewhere you normally wouldn’t visit.

And remember that the restaurants and bars are part of what makes SXSW work.

THE ULTIMATE NO-BADGE SXSW DAY

Here’s how we’d do it.

10:00 a.m.

Start with breakfast.

Not glamorous.

Necessary.

Eat.

Drink water.

Charge your phone.

11:00 a.m.

Head downtown.

Check out an official free exhibition or activation.

Get inside somewhere with air conditioning.

1:00 p.m.

Hit your first unofficial day party.

If there’s food, eat.

If there’s free water, drink it.

If there’s a band you like, stay.

3:00 p.m.

Move to another nearby event.

Don’t cross the entire city.

Walk whenever possible.

5:00 p.m.

Take a break.

Sit down.

Eat.

Charge your phone.

Drink water.

6:30 p.m.

Start your evening music plan.

Pick a neighborhood and stay there.

9:00 p.m.

Check out a showcase or party.

If the line is ridiculous, use Plan B.

11:00 p.m.

Find another venue.

Or find tacos.

1:00 a.m.

Go home.

Yes.

Go home.

You do not get extra SXSW points for staying out until 4 a.m. every night.

AND PLEASE—GET HOME SAFELY

This is one piece of advice that should never change.

SXSW means drinking.

It means crowds.

It means late nights.

And it means a lot of people trying to get around downtown at the same time.

Baller ATX has long recommended carpooling or splitting rideshares with friends and making transportation part of the plan rather than figuring it out after everyone has been drinking.

Don’t drink and drive.

Don’t get into a car with someone who has been drinking.

Use a rideshare.

Take public transportation when practical.

Walk when you’re close enough.

And stay with your friends.

THE BOTTOM LINE

You don’t need a SXSW badge.

You need a phone.

A charger.

Comfortable shoes.

A little cash.

A plan.

A backup plan.

And the willingness to walk into something you’ve never heard of.

RSVP to everything that looks interesting.

Get the Guest Pass if it’s available and useful for the programming you want.

Look for unofficial parties.

Use free official events.

Ask about access at the door.

Don’t spend two hours standing in one line.

Eat.

Drink water.

Take breaks.

Wear sunscreen.

Wear layers.

And don’t try to do everything.

You can’t.

Nobody can.

SXSW is too big.

Instead, pick the things that sound fun and build your own festival.

That’s the secret.

The person with the $1,000 badge isn’t automatically having more fun than the person walking around Austin with a free RSVP and a taco in their hand.

Sometimes the person with the taco is having a much better day.

And that’s the beauty of SXSW.

For one week every March, Austin becomes one giant festival.

You can spend a fortune trying to experience it.

Or you can spend almost nothing.

Either way, the city is waiting.

Welcome to SXSW. Now get out there and make it count.