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SXSW 2020 Canceled Due to Coronavirus Concerns

While probably a wise precaution to take, these cancellations are going to be a MAJOR hit to the local and national economy this year.

It isn't just festival tickets and sponsorship deals...it's the transportation revenue, the local service businesses, the hotels, restaurants, etc.
 
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This is a good thing but it sucks because a lot of people are missing out on work for all these canceled event. Im directly effected as apart of the entertainment A/V union in the San Fransisco area, setting up these type of events, I was told that avalible work will be very slow, good thing as an entrepreneur im not too worried personally.
 
macmyworld said:
Getting out of hand. Are we all going to live in a bunker for the next 4 months? Austin has a state of emergency even though they have no cases. What happens when they have actually disease there? Armageddon?
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I'd venture a guess that declaring a state of emergency might have been part of the necessary procedure for getting SXSW canceled.
 
Over 55,000 people died from the flu and pneumonia in 2017 in the US. In 2020 Covid19 has killed 16. This could escalate to a crisis for the elderly, those with significant pre-existing conditions, and for healthcare systems but it hardly affects the demographic that attends SXSW. Everyone needs to calm down.
 
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Apple of my eye said:
Over 55,000 people died from the flu and pneumonia in 2017 in the US. In 2020 Covid19 has killed 16. This could escalate to a crisis for the elderly, those with significant pre-existing conditions, and for healthcare systems but it hardly affects the demographic that attends SXSW. Everyone needs to calm down.
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You’re comparing a global number to a number in US of something that is only just starting to take a foot hold in the US.

While it’s a given that it affects the elderly and those with compromised physical health more, we don’t know enough to know how it affects a healthy individual, there seems to be a wide range of severity in symptoms in seemingly younger healthy individuals.

And even so, you mentioned that it will have an impact on the healthcare system. While it may not have a direct impact on attendee demographic of SXSW, we all have a part to play to minimise spread and protect the health system.

I personally think they’ve done the responsible thing in this instance until we have a better plan in place.
 
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The media has stirred people into a frenzy and they have created panic. Ironically, the regular flu has killed tens of thousands of people over the last few months, but where are the news stories on that and where are the prominent warnings for everyone to get their flu shots?

I have some breaking news for everyone: the world is full of germs, viruses, and bacteria. Wash your hands, perhaps even avoid shaking hands with people, and carry on with your life. There's no need to cancel every public gathering and lock ourselves inside of our home.
 
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cardfan said:
Well that stinks. Wait why do I care about this again?
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Because it means Apple's World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) is next to be canceled!

And also because this is the first real Worldwide Pandemic in modern history!
 
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Bryan Bowler said:
The media has stirred people into a frenzy and they have created panic. Ironically, the regular flu has killed tens of thousands of people over the last few months, but where are the news stories on that and where are the prominent warnings for everyone to get their flu shots?

I have some breaking news for everyone: the world is full of germs, viruses, and bacteria. Wash your hands, perhaps even avoid shaking hands with people, and carry on with your life. There's no need to cancel every public gathering and lock ourselves inside of our home.
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There are though. I can’t speak for the US but countries with public healthcare that I live in (Canada, Australia) there are annual campaigns to get people to get free flu shots. The reason is a bad flu season can have a significant impact on the health system, which will consequently impact on the system’s ability to care for other patients.

Debate regarding the lethality of this COV-19 aside, it’s rate of spread and transmission is undeniably quick. You can already witness the chaos in countries where health systems are overwhelmed by the unpreparedness of this outbreak, even if it’s “just a flu”. I can appreciate why they would like to minimise it’s rapid spread.

But I agree, no need for over panic and we need to wash our hands 👍
 
My band were due to play an official showcase. It’s a big deal for small acts - it’s a surefire way to have your music heard by all kinds of people and find bands you want to share bills with in future. As recently as a day ago, their assessment was that going forward posed no public health risk, but everyone is losing their damned minds.
 
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Apple of my eye said:
I was not referencing global deaths. That number is around 500,000+. I was referencing 55,000 US deaths in 2017 from the flu and pneumonia.
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I stand corrected. Though, “flu and pneumonia” is a very broad catchment and there are many factors for that figure including the US healthcare system itself. Anyways, I agree, no need to panic but no harm in being more careful. :)

Hopefully we’ll still get to see Apple making exciting announcements in March and new product launch plans don’t get derailed by this.


FaustsHausUK said:
My band were due to play an official showcase. It’s a big deal for small acts - it’s a surefire way to have your music heard by all kinds of people and find bands you want to share bills with in future. As recently as a day ago, their assessment was that going forward posed no public health risk, but everyone is losing their damned minds.
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That sucks, sorry to hear. Hopefully a new opportunity presents itself for your band soon.
 
FaustsHausUK said:
My band were due to play an official showcase. It’s a big deal for small acts - it’s a surefire way to have your music heard by all kinds of people and find bands you want to share bills with in future. As recently as a day ago, their assessment was that going forward posed no public health risk, but everyone is losing their damned minds.
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Record your band in a controlled environment and post the video on YouTube. Slap the link on MR.
 
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Apple of my eye said:
Over 55,000 people died from the flu and pneumonia in 2017 in the US. In 2020 Covid19 has killed 16. This could escalate to a crisis for the elderly, those with significant pre-existing conditions, and for healthcare systems but it hardly affects the demographic that attends SXSW. Everyone needs to calm down.
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Of course, absolutely nobody within that demographic would have pre-existing conditions that might compromise their immune system, or family members back home who are elderly...
 
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Apple of my eye said:
Over 55,000 people died from the flu and pneumonia in 2017 in the US. In 2020 Covid19 has killed 16. This could escalate to a crisis for the elderly, those with significant pre-existing conditions, and for healthcare systems but it hardly affects the demographic that attends SXSW. Everyone needs to calm down.
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We hear about getting vaccinated against the flu all the time though. Vaccines are available everywhere. We are at a point where everyone who is willing to be vaccinated is vaccinated. Our health infrastructure is about as good as it can be for dealing with the flu.

We are not ready for Covid19. Really numbers indicate it is significantly more contagious than the flu, and magnitudes more deadly. The flu kills about 0.1% of infected people. That is a LOT of people. Covid19 seems to kill 2%-4%.

Yes, not many people have died. Acting before lots of people die is smart. Waiting for tens of thousands of deaths is not. And the longer we can hold it back, there more time we have to ready our infrastructure and develop a vaccine.
 
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Professor Rucy said:
I’m not understanding why all of these communities are boarding up their events to prevent the spread of sickness and disease yet ignore the obvious, vile areas with needles/feces nd people blindly still go about their business.
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Because it’s not true
 
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w5jck said:
The right thing to do. When I lived in Austin I always hated SXSW because it screwed up traffic and entertainment for about three weeks and benefited myself and most Austinites ZERO percent.
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Nice!
Our company spend thousands of dollars to bring in bands to SX - when rented local cars and trucks - we rented local generators, lighting and local sound sound gear, bought local restaurant meals, books local hotel rooms, hired local people to help move gear. Bough several SX passes ALL of that money money we dropped in Austin is small drop in the bucket that several million dollars this festival brought to to Austin
I never complain about people spending money when they come to my town.
As far as the traffic goes ask the Austin police why 2 lanes on 5th street needs to shut don't so the police can par thier vast in convenient location - I saw very few cops doing traffic control. I live in San Francisco and very baseball and basketball games brings out hundreds of traffic cops and traffic runs totally smooth
Austin public transit is a joke - if you can move thousands on people in a few hours a city can't grow. (EVER)
 
swester said:
While probably a wise precaution to take, these cancellations are going to be a MAJOR hit to the local and national economy this year.

It isn't just festival tickets and sponsorship deals...it's the transportation revenue, the local service businesses, the hotels, restaurants, etc.
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You can recover from economic impacts. You can't recover from death. Good decision in the end.
 
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