SxSW @ Night

South by Southwest is such an overwhelming and all-consuming experience, it’s impossible to fully capture its myriad sights and sounds. I saw one tweet that suggested starting a conference concierge business to help attendees sort it all out.

Complementing the hundreds of keynotes, panels, exhibitions, and sponsor promotions are the parties by companies seeking to spur attendees to share branded hashtags with their friends and followers via Twitter postings and Foursquare check-ins. So I took my wife on a date to check out a small sampling from the scores of parties that percolate every night.

Buddy Media & WPP’s “Interactive Happy Hour” at Icenhauer’s:

Danae & Slava from IndieGogo, Michael of Buddy Media, Paull of Charity: Water

Hashable VIP SXSW Party at The Driskill Hotel

Hashable VIP Party at The Driskill Hotel

Austin Unlocked: Foursquare and American Express VIP Party at Cedar Street Courtyard

Of all the parties Saturday night, this one seemed to generate the most buzz. Maybe it had something to do with appearances by Ashton & Demi as well as Paul Reubens (aka Pee Wee Herman)?

Cedar Street Courtyard
Mashable editor Adam Ostrow, Altimeter’s Brian Solis

Paull Young, David Carr, This Blogger
Real-Time Tweets at Foursquare VIP Party
Brian Solis (Altimeter), Chain Haas (Kaplow/4Sq PR), This Blogger

Adam Ostrow with Jupiter founder/web pioneer Gene DeRosa

Mashable VIP Dinner at Buffalo Billiards

Window Dressing At Mashable SxSWi House at Buffalo Billiards
Not just billiards at Mashable House
The scene at Mashable SxSWi House

Crowdtap Launch Party at The Belmont
Great outdoor space for Crowdtap