SXSW Badges vs. Wristbands vs. Credless

"Where do I buy a ticket to SXSW?"

--That Guy

SXSW is unlike any festival in the world; it's part festival and part conference. As such, SXSW does not sell tickets. Just like a conference, you can buy a conference badge, and just like a festival, you can buy a festival wristband. Yet, unlike any other conference or festival, you can actually buy neither badge nor wristband and still attend!  That said, a badge gives you the highest level of entry, followed by wristbands, and then free entry is more hunger games style of festival'ing.  The question is, which option is right for you?

Badge People (~$800 - $1600) (https://www.sxsw.com/attend/)

This group is attending SXSW for business and/or education. Most people rocking badges have their respective employers pay for them or at the very least, buy them through their small company to be expensed. You buy a badge if you plan on attending the conference side of SXSW, which includes presentations, panels, speakers, workshops, industry meetups, and anything else under the sun to help you promote or progress forward professionally. You can only access the conference side of SXSW with a badge, and they have 3 different badges (interactive, film, music) which grants access to those industry conference events. There's also a special 4th badge, Platinum, that gets you into all 3 at priority level.  Although badges are all about the business side of SXSW, they do also grant you into the pleasure side, giving you access to films and music showcases too. Badges have priority into their respective industry festival events, above wristbands and free entry. Another perk, badges of specific types (interactive, film, music) also act like wristbands for entry into the festival events of other industry events (ex: music badge acts like a film wristband and vice-versa)

Method Man and Redman performing with The Roots

 live band at Budlight House SXSW Music 2017.

Wristband People (https://wristbands.sxsw.com/)

Wristbands are for those doing SXSW for the festival fun of it all. Wristbands do not grant access to any of the conference side of SXSW. However, depending on your wristband type, you get 2nd level priority access to the festival events. There are three types of wristbands as of 2018: Gaming, Film, Music.

Gaming Wristbands ($20 - $50) (https://gaming.sxsw.com/attend/)

A Gaming wristband gets you into the SXSW Gaming Expo. If your a fan of video games (or ever were in your life), it is worth a day of your time, but unless you're a hardcore gamer, not worth more than a single day. They individual days and a wristband for all three days. This is probably the only family friendly event of all of SXSW, so ages will range widely. Also note, a SXSW Music wristband includes access to the Gaming Expo, so no need to buy a gaming wristband if you've already got a music wristband.

Real Life MARIO KART racing

sponsored by Nintendo at SXSW Gaming 2014.

Film Wristbands ($95) (https://wristband-cart.sxsw.com/products/wristband-film)

These grant you access to ALL the SXSW film screenings, and there are hundreds!  The films range across all genres and theaters are spread out across downtown and central Austin. Some films are very indie and may never make it to a streaming service, let alone the silver screen, yet others are award winning or even world premieres of blockbuster movies! Even better, the staff, crew, and stars of these movies are often present to introduce the movie and/or do Q&As following the screening.  The major catch to a film wristband is that you'll have secondary priority to Film and Platinum badges. For most movies, this won't be a problem, especially if you're there decently early. However, for major blockbusters and premieres, you'll need to be there hours early for even a chance to get in.  Fortunately, even the major premieres often have re-screenings on subsequent days during SXSW, you just probably won't get the add-on bonus of having the film crew or actors present.  If you do the Film wristband, I highly suggest NOT doing the music wristband, as they just collide too much to truly get your money's worth from both in the same year.

Lead actors from the Raid 2 movie entertain the audience

 at SXSW Film 2014 while staff tried to fix issues with the film reel.

Music Wristbands ($170)

The tried and true music wristband is for the live music lovers. The wristband grants secondary access to nearly all SXSW music events, behind Music and Platinum badges. There are a handful (probably less than 10) music events that are BADGE only.  That said, with a music wristband, you'll be able to get into nearly all of the shows you try, as SXSW reserves venue capacity room specifically for wristbands and badges.  The beauty of this, is that you'll be able to hop from venue to venue in a single night, seeing a variety of shows from typically 8pm to 2am.  SXSW music runs for 5 days (Tuesday through Saturday) and if you can see 15 different shows/artists in that time (3 a night), you'll get you're value in the wristband (assuming $10-25 normal price for a show). I do not think I've ever seen less than 30 shows in that same window.  The BIG caveat to music wristbands is that you MUST live in the Austin area in order to purchase one presale (based off your Credit Card zip code), although they do allow to add-on a second wristband for someone not in the Austin area. Note to my hustlers, they DO check ID when you pickup the wristband. Once pre-sale is over and the Music conference/festival of SXW starts, they normally offer wristbands to the general public, regardless of where you live, at select locations (venues or SXSW registration HQ).

To be honest, most of these shows will have the option of an entry free if you do not have a wristband or badge, usually around $20, give or take. However, with the cover charge option, you'll have to show up early to get in and probably won't be able to leave and have a chance at getting in anywhere else each night. The power of the wristband is much shorter lines, less hassle/hustle, access to badge/wristband only shows, and you can hop around so much more easily from venue to venue, seeing exactly who you want to see. If you're legit into your music and shows, wristband is worth the investment. If you're more focusing on free food/drinks aspect of sxsw, it won't help you get any more of that.

If you're still on the fence about a music wristband, I wrote a more extensive blog on their value back in 2014 (I've been doing SXSW for quite a while), and the content still stands:

https://sxswsb.blogspot.com/2014/01/sxsw-2014-music-wristbands-are-they.html

Steve Aoki throwing one of many cakes into the crowd

for Live at the BBQ during SXSW Music 2014.

The Credless ($0.00 - $30.00)

As I alluded to at the top of this article, it's actually possible to attend SXSW without any SXSW conference badges or SXSW festival wristbands. For Gaming, Film, and Music festival events of SXSW, it's possible to buy a la carte. Gaming allows for single day passes, film has an option to buy a ticket to individual SXSW Film screenings, and most Music Showcases have a cover charge option at the door.  Unfortunately, all three of these options are subject to capacity of the event, and to be honest, it's difficult to get into Film and Music events without badges or wristbands unless you're there, in line, very early, but it is possible (I've done both!).  Gaming is actually fairly easy to get into even without purchasing anything in advance. All SXSW Interactive events require a badge and there is not an option to purchase anything at the door (nor is there even a wristband option for Interactive).

In addition to official SXSW events, there are nearly as many (if not more) unofficial SXSW events held by small/indie companies to large, brand name corporations (Sony, Spotify, Samsung, Apple, etc.). Nearly all of these events do NOT require any SXSW credentials (badge or wristband). Instead, they require your personal contact information so they can market to you. You'll be require to at least give your name and email address to RSVP to these unofficial, free events, but some will ask for much more all in exchange to free entry into their events. These events can have some MAJOR showcases and experiences ($100 concerts, free open bars, free food, substantial giveaways, free uber rides home, etc.).  Most of these events occur during Interactive (first weekend of SXSW), but there's still a fair amount during Music (2nd weekend), most notably events by Fader, Pandora, Spotify and other major music industry companies.  As you might imagine, these events are wildly popular as a result of their like of price tag, so it can be difficult to get in if you're not there early, but that's all part of the hustle game at SXSW if you're in it for the good, free times.

JayZ and Kanye West perform together at Austin Music Hall

for an event sponsored by Samsung during SXSW 2014.

Final Thoughts 

For those new'ish to SXSW and just looking to enjoy it with minimal stress, I recommend purchasing a wristband (music or film, but not both, do much overlap!).  This allows you to still chase the major official and free events at your leisure, but always have a backup option with one of the other hundreds of SXSW official shows/films if Plan A doesn't work, so there's never a night you take a loss, a risk the Credless face every day/night!