SXSW Under Scrutiny

A report on SXSW, due in mid-June but released Sept. 4, faults festival organizers and planners of “secret shows” and unofficial events for not notifying the city in advance, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The city may begin issuing temporary event permits that would require attention to safety and traffic control.

It is also proposing adding patrol officers and a shuttle in downtown Austin during the festival. The city’s report recommends several changes to crowd management and operations, including staggering cut-off times of temporary events, establishing earlier permit deadlines and evaluations, assigning more code enforcement officers and establishing a unified command center during SXSW.

The city also says it will no longer automatically approve sound permits. The report addresses the fatal car crash, noting that all injured were transported to hospitals within 45 minutes of the accident, as well as another incident that was averted by the Public Assembly Code Enforcement team.

“An artist incited the crowd to force their way into an event that was already at capacity but the situation was brought under control through the cooperative actions of the PACE Team and the club’s personnel,” according to the report. Describing Austin during SXSW as akin to “a Spring Break destination,” the report looks not only at the festival, but “activities that have sprung up in large part because of its success, as well as special events beyond” the official fest.

The Austin Center for Events staff concluded the major issues that must be addressed are alcohol consumption and “over-programming for the capacity of a venue whether an indoor or outdoor temporary location or established ‘brink and mortar’ facilities,” according to the report.