This was year 5 of volunteering my way to platinum. I have been on vacation for the past week and a half.  I didn’t even think about the day job until today when I was trying to figure out if I had to go back tomorrow (sadly, I do.  It keeps the lights on.).

This year I blogged my way through the event, thanks to my MSI Wind Netbook (full review later), so I am just going to write up a quick summary (You should go back and read the daily recaps.  I put this stuff out on the internet for you, little readers)

Total # of bands: ~35 (Flosstradamus, Asobi Seksu, Titus Andronicus, Chairlift, the DJs from the Hood Internet, Kanye West, Big Sean, GLC Consequence, Really Do, Tony Williams, Mr. Hudson, Kid Cudi, Common, Erykah Badu, Buck65, B.Dolan, Sleep, Sage Francis, the Obits, Handsome Furs, American Analog Set, the Rosebuds, Bishop Allen, Au Revoir Simone, These Arms are Snakes, Cursive,  Passion Pit,  the Soft Pack, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Matt and Kim, Amplive, Franki Chan and Curt from Flosstradamus, and Echo and the Bunnymen.)

Total # of movies: 7 (RIP: A Remix Manifesto,  500 days of Summer,  Died Young, Stayed Pretty, The Time of Their Lives, Yes Men Fix the World,  Alexander the Last, and  I Love You, Man.)

Total $ spent: ~$21.25. In comparison to last year, I spent less money but came home with less loot.

Things that vastly improved the SXSW experience:

• Being a shiftleader: (Thanks to the Real Jew) You get time and a half for a little added responsibility.  I only had to volunteer from Thursday night - Tuesday evening. The downside was that I didn’t get to see as many panels as I had in the past.  I had many rooms to look after.
• Living in Mexico-  I could save on gas and cabs by riding my bike or walking.  M and I bought groceries to save $$.
• New bike- super light.  I didn’t have to walk any hills this year.  Everything is bolt on so I didn’t have to pop off a tire to lock it up. Thanks once again to the dudes at The Peddler.
• MSI Wind Netbook: just a good thing to have around as a blogger and it helps to stay on top of all the social networking business.  Mexico has wireless internet now so there were more reasons to have a computer.
• sched.org-  for all of my sxsw scheduling needs (and Showlist Austin for making the .pdf version of the day party schedule.)