Social Networking: This is as much fun as seeing any of the bands. If you keep an eye on Twitter, you’ll get a feel for what bands are starting to get buzz or are tanking throughout the week as they play multiple shows. Tweet at people! Meet them! Buy somebody a craft beer! SXSW is basically music-geek summer camp. Make the most of it. Plus, maybe they’ll get you into that show later.

RSVPs: Sometimes, online RSVP requests are just to score your email and gauge how many people might show up to the party. At others, there will actually be a list at the door that you’ll have to be on to get in. It’s hard to tell which will be which, so if you have the time, play it safe and sign up for larger events like the Hype Hotel and the Fader Fort. For weeklong party spots like these, you can then drink there free for four days straight. (Four-day parties are the new one-day parties lately, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to find a home base.) They may also ask that you come pick up a separate wristband for the week, as well. Frankly, looking for VIP treatment’s a waste of time—the best RSVP is for the party where you don’t have to deal with this stuff and you can just walk in and watch a band, then do it again.

Getting Your Wristbands: When you get in to Austin, go handle all your badge/wristband/bonus wristband stuff immediately. Better to wait in line at the Fader Fort on Tuesday afternoon than Wednesday night.

Getting Into Shows: We’ve discussed badges, wristbands and showcases vs. day parties. Keep those factors in mind and make sure you have enough cash on you should you need to pay for a night show.

Three things matter here: time, location and band/promoter popularity. Events start to fill up, especially on Friday and Saturday, from the mid-afternoon until around midnight. Pro-tip: The really late shows (where you can catch some big-name bands, such as Spoon and Broken Social Scene in past years) tend to empty out a bit, so it’s a breeze to walk into Stubb’s at 12:30 a.m. and nearly impossible at 11. Keep this in mind for your must-see bands. Same goes for the really early ones: major artists such as Iron & Wine are playing radio broadcasts as early as 8 a.m., which is at least four hours before even the most devoted fans have slept off their hangovers.

Certain major, buzz-heavy events will be very popular. According to Billboard, the unofficial Fader Fort— then in its 11th year—saw 58,000 attendees over four days in 2011. That’s three times the number of people who registered for SXSWi, or enough to fill up a day at Coachella. Consider your tolerance for cramped spaces. You can guess the rest of these: NPR, Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan, Hype Machine—if the site gets more traffic than you and one of your Gchat buddies, their party is going to be busy. The same goes for the bands: in 2010, I tried three times unsuccessfully to see Cymbals Eat Guitars. Try to see the bigger acts during the day or after everyone’s bedtimes. (Look for a guide to band buzz below.)

Getting into the bigger Red River venues (Stubb’s, the Mohawk) is a nightmare during peak periods—but not impossible. Manage your schedule wisely. Pro-tip: the farther east or west you are away from Red River, the less crowded the show could potentially be. It’s worth the walk to Mellow Johnny’s or the French Legation Museum. Generally, I opt for bands who are actually under-the-radar and the super-late headlining acts, which makes for a pretty satisfying, if exhausting, festival experience. You can’t really lose—if one spot’s booked, go catch something else. The band will be back tomorrow.

When Should I Take A Nap Or Break For Dinner?: Around 6 p.m., when the day parties wrap up and the venues get ready to start up the evening showcases. 

More of this and a party guide, bands you might actually get in to see and much more in my complete guide, available for pay-what-you-want on Bandcamp.