SXSW: First Day

So .. I attended SXSW or as I'll from now on call it.. GeekWatch 2010. It was wall to wall sexy geeks, plus a few douchebags. Ok, quite a few douchebags, but they were easy to detect and avoid. 

I went to SXSW alone as most of my friends here did not go, so it was interesting and self-revealing.

I learned about myself:

1. I'm not good at new places, with new people, if I'm even in the least worried about making a good impression. (if I honestly don't care what people think, I'm fine, but SXSW is full of potential employers and I don't want to really piss anyone off)

2. I can only network for a very short amount of time before I start to go insane.

3. I really have no tolerance for uppity, snooty, or otherwise douchebaggy people.

But I get ahead of myself.

Friday.. 

After a day of attending panels, I decided to attend a few free parties. I mean its free food and booze, why not? I'm dead tired from panels and chatting with strangers all day (networking), but I go anyway.

On my way to one of the parties, I see a man in a suit sitting on the side of the pavement. He's looks geeky and cute, has a SXSW badge, and looks amazingly lost. 

"Hi, are you lost? Need help finding something?" I ask.

"No, I'm ok. I'm just looking for something to eat. You don't happen to know Austin?"

"Yeah, I live here." (I kinda lied. I live in Austin, but I wasn't that familiar with that part of town.)

"Do you know where there's a good place for food?" 

"Well that depends. What are you in the mood for?" (I get out my iPhone to look stuff up.)

"I could go for a good burger."

"Well then you need to go to Casino El Camino. Best burgers in town. Trust me."

He wanted directions, and of course I pulled out my iPhone and showed him the map. We flirted a bit, and he did not seem in a hurry to pull away.

I gave him my card and told him to call me if he needed anything else. I smiled and we headed our separate ways.

I went to the party I'd planned on, and found myself hot and bored. It must have been 90 in that building and stuffy. I left after making a round to look for friends, then headed to Casino. Maybe I could non-chalantly run into Muso (the guy from earlier).

(blah blah blah walking)

I open the door to Casino, and find myself blinded.  It was dark with bright lights and it took me a minute to adjust.  However, in the corner of my eye I see someone waving, and then I hear..

"HI"

Its Muso.  So much for a casual run in. No excuse of "Oh I just stopped by with a few friends.. who just happen to be in the other room" ... nope.. he sees me enter alone.

I suppose I could have pretended to look for some friends in the back, but disoriented by the lights and tired, I wasn't thinking that straight.  

Plus, Muso asked me to sit in the seat next to him and my feet hurt so I did.

We talked for hours. Laughed. Talked about where we were from, the conference, and plans we had next.

He was going to another party, and I was headed home. (The poor dog had been cooped up for way too many hours)

We left and walked together until our ways parted, at which point he said we should keep in touch.  I reminded him that he had my card.  He pulled out his wallet, and my card from his pocket.. and put my card in his wallet.

He said he'd definitely contact me.

I only half believed him, and went home.