14. Get Weird in Austin, TX

I had the recent opportunity to fly to Austin, TX with my wife Jazzy to attend the 2024 SXSW Conference & Festival. It was an amazing time, rewarding both professionally and creatively. From the conference sessions on branding and storytelling, to some amazing performances from upcoming artists – attending SXSW was a bucket-list worthy experience that will serve as creative inspiration for some time to come.

Celebrity Sightings

The SXSW Film & TV Festival premiered big Hollywood movies daily, welcoming A-list celebrities seeing the likes of Anne Hathaway, Ryan Gosling, Jordan Peele, and even Cheech and Chong  all premiering films during SXSW. The Paramount Theatre was home to these major premieres. The area was always bustling with crowds waiting for the next celebrity red-carpet sighting.

Comedy

On the funniest night at SXSW, we caught a comedy show that featured some great talent at The Creek and Cave. The lineup included Ashley Barnhill, Pete Lee, Dulce Sloan (The Daily Show), Orlando Leyba (America’s Got Talent), and Chris Gethard. The room rolled with laughter all night! Every act was hilarious!

It was a great time in a fairly intimate setting. We got to kick it with and meet some great upcoming artists. From Minnesota, Nur-D and DJ Hayes brought a lot of energy and stage presence! I absolutely loved their set! Heather Victoria from North Carolina (Jamla Records), and Edi Callier from LA brought some soul to the showcase in unique ways. They were really dope! We were also honored with the opportunity to hear some unreleased music from MontyKong as he closed the night with the determination and stage presence to make his friends and fans from his old city proud.

It truly was an amazing night of good vibes and good music! Can’t wait to hear more from the artists at this showcase.

The Art Bus & Other Live Music

The dope thing about SXSW is that there was music everywhere! Every lounge and event had featured artists. Caught a couple of street corner rap cyphers, and countless street musicians. I loved soaking it all in being entertained in some unexpected ways. I met a Russian reggaeton artist, Dyce, whose fluent Spanish flow was both impressive and entertaining! But the most unexpected was being blown away by musicians on the ART Bus!

Walking out of the convention center after a marketing panel discussion, we were greeted by a European woman in clogs who invited us onto the Art Bus. Hesitant at first, but since we were getting weird in Austin, we got onboard. The bus featured an impressive sound system, a bar, and 35 seats. The woman who invited us aboard happened to be the singer for the next band performing, Fieh. They were amazing! Crammed onboard my favorite venue of the week, was a drummer, bass player, guitarist, keyboardist, and lead singer performing for a bus full of SXSW weirdos. It was one of the most memorable experiences of the entire week!

Our last night in Austin, we attended the Funk Factory Pourri party featuring Janelle Monae as DJ Johnny Jane. We were lucky to have had priority entry privileges to the biggest party of the night! The general admission line was long with no guarantee of getting in. Inside the venue, it was packed from wall to wall with people waiting to party with Janelle Monae. It was a fun night, but we had to call it early to prepare for our flight home the next day.

Brand Activations

Throughout the week, at various locations around the city were brand activations, or special promotional events hosted by some major brands. I attended activations by Porsche, Marshall Amplifiers, Smirnoff, and Pourri. These were a lot of fun and full of lots of freebies.

The Porsche activation featured some beautiful Porsche vehicles new and old. It was a pop-up Porsche museum of sorts. The space also featured some official SXSW discussions on the music industry and the Porsche rooftop lounge.

Marshall Amplifiers themed their brand activation as a funhouse. The Marshall Funhouse was a blast! They had carnival games, food, live music, and dancing mascots!

At the Pourri brand activation we were treated to free food, drinks, live music and free samples of Poo Pourri spray. The space also featured a giant inflatable and the nicest public bathrooms in the city.

With a little online luck, we found an unofficial SXSW event, the SXSFlex Secret Garden Party and were treated to free Franklin’s BBQ, live music, and good time! The party was sponsored by the finance app, Flex.

After my last conference day, I got word of a pickleball party a short walk away on Rainey St. We arrived and see a very loud and vibrant neon yellow, pink, and orange pickleball court and DJ booth. This was a very lively party sponsored by Smirnoff featuring pickleball, food trucks,  and free Smirnoff Smash vodka soda.

With Gratitude

There was so much to do and see all over the city. We walked for miles each day, from venue to venue, session to session. Took in the sights of the city down Congress Ave., around the Convention Center, Rainey St., and 6th Street. And even with all the walking we still missed a lot. I hope to have the opportunity to return to Austin, TX to see more.

I went to Austin in search of creative inspiration and found just that. The passion and drive of every artist I met was contagious. It was comforting and uplifting to be among so many talented creatives pursuing their dreams. My experience in Austin is empowering me to be a more confident entrepreneur and artist.

It really was an awesome time with great music, good company, and self-reflection. I’m thankful to the Lancaster County Community Foundation and the Baldwin Leadership program for helping provide such an unforgettable experience!

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In no particular order:

1. Make the Guinness Book of World Records.

Seriously! I don’t even have a particular record I’d wish to break, but I know I’d like to try. Over the year’s I’ve pitched a couple ideas to employers that fell flat. Most recently, I pitched the idea to build the world’s largest hammer. Seriously! Anyone want to co-op a roadside landmark?

2. Take my Wife Skydiving

I’m terrified, but I love my lady and want to help her knock off a major bucket list item. Mostly I want to be part of her most memorable moments. The authentic experiences. The fear, adrenaline, AND the relief of a safe landing. I’m still kicking the tires on this one.

3. Attend a New York Knicks Ticker Tape Parade

The parade means we’d be World Champs. If the Knicks ever win the the NBA Finals in my lifetime, I will be at the parade! It would be super convenient if Spike Lee were to see this message and grant me VIP parade access. Knicks coming for the ring soon!

4. Visit the Havasupai Indian Reservation

I’m a sucker for a nice view that doesn’t include farmland.

5. Create A Ridiculous Card Game 

A while back I created a fun roadkill themed card game with my kids. Our first playable version was written on notebook paper and placed inside plastic card sleeves. We’ve since designed and printed some real playable prototype decks and are currently playtesting. More details on this project to come in the future.

6. Learn to Drive a Bus.

Could be a handy skill. It would be pretty dope to convert an old school bus into a schoolie RV and see the country.

7. Visit Puerto Rico 

I hope to visit the island of my ancestors. Visited once as a kid, but don’t remember much. I love my roots and want to see the history and beauty of the island.

8. Take my Mama to the Olympics

My mother is a big fan of the Olympic games. She absolutely loves the spectacle of the opening and closing ceremonies. This feels like an impossible feat but with the games coming stateside in a few years – you never know.

9. Front-Row seats at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

This is a feel-good, nostalgic one. Every Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember I’ve watched this parade with excitement. Maybe too much. LOL.

10. Book a Personal Parade in New Orleans

Inspired by Hannibal Buress.

11. Open a Coffee Shop

My wife and I dream of opening a cafe. Combining her experience in restaurant management and my experience in marketing, we’ll take a shot at this dream sometime soon.

12. Learn to Dance Salsa

I have lifelong passion for music, and two left feet. A little ironic. I hate dancing but as a man with Puerto Rican roots, salsa dancing is almost obligatory. Again, I love salsa music – no dance moves, NONE!

13. Beats & Rhymes

I’m a hiphop head with impeccably great taste! I always dreamed of rhyming on stage and working in the studio. Had the opportunity to pursue music as a beatmaker and emcee for a brief period of my life and had some very memorable experiences. I collaborated with dope local talent; had a song played on a Boston radio station; booked a solo gig in NYC; opened shows for Wu-Tang, Redman & Method Man, and Philly Freeway.

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