Establish a budget for the conference. Attending out of town conferences, especially one as popular as this one, can cost quite a bit of money. Make a budget early on and stick to it. Be sure to provide a cushion in the budget because there are usually unforeseen costs.
Reserve lodging for the SXSW music and media conference. Be sure to book a place to stay as early as possible because as the event draw close available lodging will become scarce.
Make travel plans in Austin. If Austin is not close enough to drive to, air travel must be arranged. Also, obtain directions to and around Austin before your visit.
Register to attend the SXSW conference and choose the level of attendance. Registration is available online for the attendee. In addition, an attendee must choose what level of access they want for the conference. The cost varies for each level of participation and will be dependent on other factors such as budget and time constraints.
Confirm all plans for the SXSW music and media conference. Be sure to confirm that all payments to the various entities were accepted and that tickets, registrations and reservations are confirmed.