Gear Alley at SXSW

Dear SXSW Music Fest Producers,

What a cool idea you came up with in Gear Alley! A dedicated trade-show-within-the-trade-show with the sole focus on musicians’ gear.

Suggestion for next year: open it up to the general public for a cover charge.

And wouldn’t it be great if a company or two would then buy a block of tickets to give away to their customers and business partners, and host their own private gathering in Gear Alley for them. With free beer and barbecue, natch.

SXSW, you guys really need to start thinking about how you can let folks access certain parts of the fest without having to go all-in with one of those badges. (Kinda ‘spensive.) Ditto for smaller or more niche sponsors. A company that manufacturers drum cymbals, for example, might not consider the truckload of cash it takes for a real sponsorship presence at the entire fest – and I’ve been there, I know those numbers – but they would be a perfect match for Gear Alley.

Just sayin’.

See you in March!