The SXSW Experience

    The professional association that I’ll be discussing is the SXSW Music Conference and Festival. The very first conference was held 1987 in Austin, Texas. Outside it’s reputation for being a party town, the city of Austin is probably the last place you’d think that would be hosting a music conference. Perhaps, maybe that’s why people are so amazed by the large number of individuals who attend the conference. Having had lived in San Antonio for a number of years, gave me an opportunity to absorb the diverse culture in Austin. Indeed, the whole experience is different because it’s so many varieties of music there. Surprisingly, the popularity of the SXSW has sored almost immediately.  Artists travel from all over to network and interact with individuals who share the same passion for music. More importantly, record executives have begun attending this event in hopes of getting a glimpse of up and coming artists, also so they can consult with other labels. SXSW holds special workshops that are geared towards the film and music industry. Secondly, they have guest speakers that share their knowledge and their opinions of the industry. Therefore, the festival is tailor-made for live bands and underground artists that want to be discovered. I admit that, the music industry is very challenging and  much more difficult to succeed in. Moreover, industry outlets have become smaller and smaller, which makes it a lot harder to discover new talent.

   In so many ways, artists need these types of venues to educate their minds, and also to sharpen their business and networking skills.  Over the years, the conference followers have grown from over 700 registered attendants to almost 12,000. The SXSW conference has so much to offer, that I must take the time to attend the next one. The music industry constantly changes by the second, so individuals who are concerned with furthering their careers should attend these type events. Some of the artist and guest speakers include, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Bruce Springsteen, Conan O’Brien, and Big Sean. So, if you have any interest in becoming more educated and cultured about your industry, SXSW is definitely the way to go. 

http://sxsw.com/
http://www.austintexas.org

Connecting The Dots

  The TED video I chose featured Steve Jobs as guest speaker, at Stanford University. Jobs speech was riveting and thought provoking. From the very beginning, he had his audience captivated the moment he uttered his first word. More importantly, his honesty and heart-felt words compelled each and every individual in the audience. Perhaps, maybe the knowledge and advice that Jobs shared can be applied to every aspect in life. Indeed, every story that he told was filled with feeling and inspiration. In my opinion, what made the speech so amazing was the fact that Jobs was able to show his human side. In one of his stories, he mentioned the importance of connecting the dots in your life. Secondly, he expressed that you can’t connect the dots by looking forward; you can only connect them by looking backwards. Jobs spent almost his entire life creating new and innovative products for the world to share. After all, he built a 2 billion dollar empire off shear genius. Moreover, he was able to revise the company Apple, and develop new companies such as Pixar and NeXT, which ultimately changed the way we view modern technology.  I must admit this speech really touched me, so I’m sure it inspired the graduating class of Stanford. He also detailed the importance of living every moment like it’s your last, and never giving up. Jobs explained how staying “Hungry and Foolish”, and never taking life for granted can assist individuals who want to become successful. Steve Jobs left a lasting impression on us all, and also showed us how we should live and enjoy our lives.  

     Every individual in this world has encountered some type of life changing experience. But, it takes an extraordinary person to be able to except those setbacks and continue moving on. Personally, I’ve experience many setbacks in my own life, but I’ve never stop trying to reach my goals. As I’ve grown older, I’ve begun to realize that hard work does pays off; also that I must keep searching for what I love, and continue chasing my goals and achieving my dreams.

                       http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html