Never expect to keep the plans you make. (Including how often you’ll blog … ahem.) The best part is serendipity – finding a band you’d never heard of that becomes your favorite (Yay, Diego’s Umbrella!), running into a friend you didn’t expect to see who takes you to the best party of the weekend, stumbling into a private party you couldn’t have known you’d be invited to. By all means, make sure you know what’s most important to you and have an idea of when and where it is, but don’t expect to make it there either. If the unofficial motto of Burning Man is “don’t bring anything you can’t afford to lose,” the unofficial motto of Southby is “don’t make any plans you can’t afford to break.”

Try to see at least two bands you know you like. The discoveries are great. Having heard this year’s buzz bands is also great. But if you leave Austin without having your magic moment, you’ll be disappointed. For some, the magic moment comes with a random discovery. For me, it was seeking out a punk band, a metal band, and a dance band – all of which gave me enough energy and satisfaction that I didn’t mind seeing one more indie band that was really good at playing music I didn’t care about.

Bring business cards. If you don’t have any, make some. If you don’t have a business, make personal contact cards. You will meet a million people. They will all be awesome. Even if you think you’ll remember their email address in the morning, you won’t. In fact, don’t count on being able to remember them in the morning. But when they find your card in their bag two weeks later and contact you, you’ll suddenly get flashbacks of the badass conversation you had about Chromeo while waiting for Vampire Weekend to play and you’ll be glad you gave it to them.

Bring more money than you think you need. Beer. Food. Cab fares. You’ll spend more on all of those things than you think you will. If you’re a smoker, same goes for cigarettes.

Stay downtown. If you’re really committed to doing the Southby thing, stay as close to the action as you can. There’s nothing like being able to run to your hotel for a sweater, a quick nap, or to drop off your bag. Otherwise, you’re stuck with what you brought – and chances are, you’ll get so caught up in whatever’s going on that you’ll just never go home.

If you want to see Austin, go early, stay late, or make plans for another date. Austin is an amazing city, clearly worthy of visiting on its own. And while Southby is a fun way to see it, you’re going to have to decide between seeing some classic parts of Austin or seeing all the Southby madness. For example?: I spent five days in Austin and never ate BBQ. Lines were too long downtown (I ate spaghetti and tacos instead) and I didn’t want to miss out on anything by going somewhere else. I also missed swimming at Barton Springs, going to the rodeo, and shopping for cowboy boots.

Plan ahead. Get passes early (yes, they’re worth it). RSVP to parties early (Look online at what parties went on last year and find out when they’re happening. Also check your favorite magazines, record labels, and products – they all seem to host parties, most with good band lineups – at Southby). Find out which friends are going. One of the best ways to make exciting new discoveries is to reap the research your friends have sown.

Pack comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a hat. Austin’s hot and sunny. And Southby is a walking festival. You’ll do hours and hours of it. It doesn’t matter how cute your cowboy boots are if they cut up your feet so bad you can’t wear them. If you really have to look cute everyday, bring several pairs of shoes, all that hurt your feet in different ways.