As a 20-year-old college student, studying as a liberal arts major, a prestigious tech-savvy networking event isn’t something I normally get invited to. Thanks to my well-connected, communications-major girlfriend, I was able to get by as a plus one. This event was presented as an exclusive networking event hosted by Waymo and Uber during the week of SXSW. The Uber arrived in West Austin, where the Texas bluegrass swayed in the wind and the Austin skyline looked like toy buildings. We presented ourselves as young professionals, wearing outfits consisting of linen pants and halter tops. We were ready to discourse with professionals and act as though we’d been “in the business” for a few years already.
A huge Uber X Waymo sign greeted us as we walked past the hostess. The event was dressed in classic Texan decor, free bandana customization, Terry Black’s Barbeque, and drinks. In the middle of the 40-foot pool that took up most of the space in the entrance was a Waymo parked on a road-looking ramp, lined with LEDs. George Strait, Randy Rogers, and Miranda Lambert played on the speakers as more people in cowboy hats, boots, and bold jewelry walked in. The young professional role we tried to play stuck out like a sore thumb, as the rest of the party played the role of country hippie.
After a margarita, the nerves that held us captive to the table began to flee, and we started making our way toward other people. As I walked up to the first person, I started the conversation, making a comment on their boots and the classic country music playing in the background. After a minute of conversing, it soon became clear that the people were all talk and no walk. They were more impressed with the industry in which other attendees worked, and the complex ideas of autonomous driving, than the obvious conversation starter that was their Texan attire and the one-of-a-kind songs that they didn’t know a word to.
South by Southwest started as a way to showcase local music and creatives, emphasizing their talent compared to the rest of the world, proving Austin wasn’t just cattle and honkey-tonks. Throughout the years, the events that popped up during this busy week became more than music. A film festival popped up, then political conferences, and soon enough, SXSW became a non-stop networking, consumerism, and tech-savvy party. Although this is still true, the scent of barbecue in the air, as well as the sound of boots against concrete, made it feel as if I had walked back into the Wild West. Pitmasters stood in front of their smokers with pride, the servers wore rope hats with “Howdy” on the front, and the photographer spoke with a country accent. Country music blared in the background, and each person was dressed in sparkles, plaid, and feathers in their hats. The party could be described as a Gun-Smoke scene with a slight “Keep Austin Weird” twist.
Reinna B came up to our table with her leather boots on and a floral-patterned dress, “I’m originally from Dallas, but moved to Austin post-grad to work for a small PR agency,” she said as we conversed over potato salad and palomas.
The country get-up contradicted the conversations coming from everyone’s circles. Each time I spoke to someone, the conversation turned into a nerd-fest with excitement from everyone on the logistics of getting the Waymo onto the ramp suspended above the pool, or the different sensors a Waymo uses compared to a Tesla or the peaks and valleys of their tech-based industry. As I tried to converse with the passionate yet socially awkward crowd, it became apparent that they were invited to the Texas-themed Uber x Waymo party not because of their knowledge of country music but because they had connections with the brains behind the autonomous car manufacturers.
“Do you know the difference between Waymo and Tesla’s self-driving car technologies? Waymo uses cameras and 3 types of sensors, sonar, radar and lidar. Whereas Tesla only uses cameras,” Zack P. explained while Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl” echoed in the background.
Each server walked by, serving up a different side: Spanish rice, pinto beans, potato salad, sausage, and mac-n-cheese. The main course was at a table where pitmasters served us brisket, turkey, pork, and beef ribs as they told us how the meat was prepared. Along with food, servers were coming around with an arrangement of drinks: prickly pear and jalapeno margaritas, palomas, and ranch water were just a few drinks being served for free. Once most people had arrived and had the opportunity to eat, a special musical surprise appeared on the stage in the form of country artist Megan Moroney. I had heard of her, as well as about ten people, who rushed to the edge of the stage to listen to her perform live. She played for about an hour before leaving us with a “Goodnight” and the continuation of radio country music from the 2000s.
“We started at 5 in the morning to get the first batch [of brisket] out by 5 p.m.” Matt, one of the pitmasters, explained. “The only thing that could make this better would be a cold beer.”
Once the party had ended, everyone jumped into either a Waymo or Uber, riding back towards the city to their high-rise apartments to get some sleep before their next SXSW event or for their early start working from home. As we drove back into the city, the skyline got closer, and soon, we were engrossed with large buildings, small trees, and streetlights. Each second closer to the hustle and bustle of the city was a reality check of what Austin really is. Hiding behind classic country antics is the tech mecca, neo-hippie, and start-up culture that Austin has become.