Take the Chance

If you've been paying attention, you should have already seen the ads by now. If you're a long-time reader, you should be expecting it. If you're a music lover and can spell - or at least use spell check -- you ought to be taking notes and drafting already.

What's this all about? It might only be December, but we're already looking forward to spring and festival season.

More specifically, we're already thinking about South by Southwest, and that can only mean one thing: We're once again searching for the perfect candidate to be our guest correspondent in Austin this March.

So, if you love music -- no, I mean REALLY LOVE MUSIC -- and know how to express yourself, then you won't want to miss this. Every year, Urban Tulsa sends a reader to Austin to report back from the biggest, baddest music festival and conference in the land--South by Southwest. All you've got to do is convince us why you'd be best suited to serve as Urban Tulsa's guest reporter.

Think about it. All you need is 500 words or less to convince us why we should send you to represent UTW at SXSW and which local band you would choose to represent Tulsa at the biggest music showcase and festival in the land.

Be creative, be funny, be direct or be coy. We don't care how; just show us why you really care and why you are the best candidate to attend the festival. But remember--it's not just a party. OK--yes, it is a party. In fact, it's one of the biggest parties you might ever attend, but it's much more than that.

SXSW is an unbelievable concert experience. More than 1,200 bands are spread out through four nights and more than 60 stages. SXSW has already announced more than 400 showcasing bands and has barely scratched the surface -- the biggest headlining acts haven't even been revealed yet. If you plan correctly and have a little luck, you could potentially see a rock legend, next year's hottest rising act, a local hero and your next favorite band - plus a couple of unknowns, all in one night. But just like an infomercial, that's not all.

SXSW is also the premier music conference in the nation. If you want to know anything (or potentially everything) about the music industry, this is your chance.

Each day kicks off with a series of conference panels and interviews, discussing every angle of the business. More than 50 panels have already been announced for the 2010 conference, with more to potentially be added.

In case that's not enough, there are also the parties. Yes, plural. More than you can attend and more than you can count. Austin is the land where BBQ and Tex-Mex food is manna, and Shiner Bock flows like water, at least for one week every March.

Exactly what makes a party? It's all a matter of who you ask, but if you defined it by SXSW standards, the principle ingredients would be free food, beer and still more live music. Oh, yeah -- and loads of free promotional schwag pushing everything from bands to record labels to marketing tools and musical instruments and accessories.

So what do we want you to do for us? Go to Austin, soak it all in and come back with a report of all you found, experienced and discovered. Support our local bands, see a legend, find the coolest band no one else has ever heard of and tells us all about it. Learn why and how the industry is changing and share the knowledge. Remind us why Austin is known for the best music and biggest party in the land.

Most importantly, however, do it all and report back with style, substance and personality. We've seen and heard it all--from a pilgrimage to Musical Mecca, to Willy Wonka's golden ticket, musical hipsters forever bumming smokes from strangers and a weeklong quest for BBQ and beer. All you've got to do is share your spin on the festival and show us SXSW through your rose colored glasses.

Does it sound too good to be true? Guess what, it's not. This is the 24th year for SXSW, and the 7th year Urban Tulsa Weekly has sent a guest correspondent to represent our readership and report back. One of our writers even got his start with the SXSW essay contest. It's the opportunity of a lifetime for a true music fan.

Let me make it clear: All we need from you is an essay of 500 words or less, explaining why you deserve to be UTW's guest correspondent. Display your love and knowledge of the local music scene by including which local band you would send to Austin to represent Tulsa and why. Write it now, rewrite it tomorrow and revise it yet again until its perfect, but get it in by Jan. 15, 2010.

The best essay will win two music badges (one for you and a guest -- a $1500 walk-up value) to attend the SXSW music conference and festival in Austin, Texas during the dates of March 17-21, 2010. You'll also get an assignment as guest correspondent to report back with all of the best (and worst) highlights of your experience.

Do you think you're the best person to represent UTW and its readership Austin? If so, prove it--give us the perfect reason to send you to SXSW. It's an opportunity you can't afford to miss.