The Squarespace crew hit up Austin (and hit it HARD) for this year’s SXSW Interactive Conference.
After a few days of non-stop networking/shmoozing/panels and parties, Anthony, Dane, Tyler and Davin are back in the saddle here in NYC. They made lots of new friends (well, except for Tyler), met some cool Squarespace users, learned how to breathe fire, build robots, play the guitar just like Jonathan Coulton AND had a totally rad time with the Totally Rad Show/Revision3 crew at our joint shindig on March 17th.
We thought it might be fun if each of the guys gave you their own SXSW highlights, so I asked them all to answer the same few questions:
Anthony Casalena, Founder:
* Who was the most rad/interesting/unexpectedly awesome person you met?
I loved meeting Brian Brushwood in person (I watch his Scam School show in Revision3). David Prager from R3 was also great to catch up with. They’re doing a great job.
* Craziest SXSW moment?
Finding out from Davin that NASA engineers are using ideas from our UI as a model for astronaut heads up displays (!!??). Was also fun sneaking a few underage Digg fans through the Malverde back door.
* Sum up the Squarespace/Totally Rad Show party in 10 words or less:
Epic.
Dane Atkinson, CEO:
* Who was the most rad/interesting/unexpectedly awesome person you met?
I have to agree with Anthony: Brian Brushwood. He can breathe both fire AND water! Jonathan Coulton also made grown men cry with songs about Zombies; and the TRS guys were just as cool in person.
* Craziest SXSW moment?
While we were on the expo floor researching some other hosting partners, I overheard the man next to me say “I don’t see how you’re better then Squarespace? If you can show me that we can talk.” Needless to say, they couldn’t. Not to mention hanging with the most amazing podcasters from Cali Lewis to Tom Merritt. Catching up with our friends and making new ones.
* Sum up the Squarespace/Totally Rad Show party in 10 words or less:
The backdrop of an Austin sunset, while listening to Code Monkey and the D&D film review crowd chanting “Squarespace Squarespace!” A memory never to be lost! (oh wait…how many words was that??)
Tyler Thompson, Creative Director:
* Who was the most rad/interesting/unexpectedly awesome person you met?
Gary Vaynerchuck. I love this guy and his message: “You can’t fake hard work.” He is, hands down, the hardest working guy on the internet right now. I also love that he is bringing wine to the masses.
* Which new company/site are you most excited to watch blow up in the months to come?
Fennec (Firefox mobile browser). Glad to see some decent mobile browsers to help put a fire under Safari’s ass.
* Craziest SXSW moment?
Sake bombs and eating hot dogs in taxi cabs.
* Sum up the Squarespace/Totally Rad Show party in 10 words or less:
Amazing spot, fire eating, banners and projectors.
Davin Chew, Engineering Director:
* Who was the most rad/interesting/unexpectedly awesome person you met?
It was amazing meeting Jonathan Coulton and listening to his music live. Who else is going to write a song about code monkeys? The whole Revision3 team was unexpectedly awesome and down-to-earth in person.
* Which new company/site are you most excited to watch blow up in the months to come?
Good luck to the fliggo guys!
* Craziest SXSW moment?
Sake bombs at Kenichi, watching someone who shall remain nameless almost get into a street fight, our epic shuffleboard match, the fire marshall showing up and regulating our party, and the number 147.
* Sum up the Squarespace/Totally Rad Show party in 10 words or less:
Climbing ladders, annoying projectors, loud bands and fanatical fans.
Sounds like everything was pretty South by South Awesome! (did everyone out in the Squarespace-a-verse have fun??)
See you in Austin next year!