SXSW Interactive is four days of madness, and if the company is footing the bill, you're probably still expected to get some work done while you're there. This guide will help you free up extra time, so you can still GSD when you're OOO.

1. INTERACTIVE
A Guide for Getting Sh*t
Done While You’re OOO

2. SOUTH BY
SOUTHWEST

3. SOUTH BY
SOUTHWEST
IS MADNESS!

4. SXSW Interactive alone is
4 straight days and nights
of sessions, networking
events and parties.

5. So how do you actually get any
work done?

6. There are lots of survival guides
out there.

7. They all say pretty much the
same thing:

8. They all say pretty much the
same thing:
Wear comfortable shoes.
Drink lots of water.
h2o
h2o
Eat well. Or bring Tums.
h2o
TUMS
Party, but not like you did in college .
Assume everything will take longer than you think.

9. Great advice. Now let’s
get down to business.

10. The goal is to return to work
after SXSW feeling inspired by
innovative ideas.
And some people do.

11. 1% inspired
But the rest of us
are exhausted.
99% tired

12. Our inboxes are overflowing.

13. Our projects are overdue.

14. Our coworkers are annoyed.
!#*!&!

15. So for those of you who want
to attend SXSW and still
get sh*t done...

16. This guide is for you.

17. Here are 5 ways to find
time to be productive while
you’re out of the office.

18. 1 Tighten up your session game.

19. Make a list of must-attend sessions and stick to it.
@sxswinteractive
DIY old timey cat
photography? I’ll pass.
#NoFOMO

20. Pick consecutive sessions that you can
walk between.
SESSION
#2
SESSION
#1
SESSION
#3

21. SXSW cabs might as well be unicorns.
SESSION
#2
SESSION
#1
SESSION
#3

22. Keep early mornings light so you can check
email (and extend your recovery time).

23. 2
Finish anything that’s due
the week you come back.

24. Come on. We both know you’re not going to
finish those TPS reports on the flight home.
z
z
z
z
z
zz
z
z
z
z
z

25. 3
Ace conference calendar
etiquette.

26. Reschedule your weekly recurring meetings.
M T WT F
M T WT F
M T WT F

27. Set a reminder for an early daily check-in
with coworkers back at the office.
That’ll help eliminate surprises
later in the day.

28. 4
Pack gear that keeps you
connected during downtime.

29. Mophie® iPhone Battery Case
By day your smartphone will act as a notepad,
camera, map and concierge. By night, you’ll need
to follow up on emails and connect with friends
and coworkers. Be prepared with an extra battery.

30. Powerstrip
Don’t want to spring for a Mophie?
Keep in mind outlets are scarce.
Best to be prepared, and make a
few friends while you charge.

31. Wi-Fi Hotspot
Though Wi-Fi is abundant, it can
also be fickle. Bring along a hotspot
to avert any crisis.

32. 5 Go mobile.

33. These apps will buy you extra time and help
you multi-task.

34. These apps will buy you extra time and help
you multi-task.
SXSW GO
Check your schedule,
find your session, take
notes, and email them
to friends or coworkers,
all in one app. Nice!

35. These apps will buy you extra time and help
you multi-task.
Eventbrite
Don’t stumble through
email confirmations or
conference directories.
Having all your event
tickets in one place
will save you time and
headaches.

36. These apps will buy you extra time and help
you multi-task.
TaskRabit
You forgot your business
cards at your Airbnb
rental that’s 10 miles
away? A TaskRabbit can
have them in your hand
before the end of Elon
Musk’s keynote.

37. These apps will buy you extra time and help
you multi-task.
Quip
Need to quickly provide
feedback on a coworkers’
project? Quip is document
sharing built for mobile, so
you can collaborate in real
time while you’re OOO.

38. Oh, there’s one other app
you should check out.

39. It’s ours.

40. Cotap makes mobile messaging with
coworkers fast and easy, and it’s awesome
for coordinating at conferences because
there’s no need to swap phone numbers.

41. If you’re headed to SXSW, we’d love to
give you a t-shirt. Download Cotap and
message erin@cotap.com for details.

42. Thanks for reading! See you at SXSW.
Cotap.com/download