Seems to be the buzz around this week…everyone in the industry is either getting ready for South by South West, or regretting the decision to not go (Sorry Geoff and Alex). My flight leaves in a little over 48 hours, and of course I haven’t started packing…but Eric Meyer’s twitter above got me thinking…

When I go on a snowboarding trip, I know what to bring because I’ve been before. But the first time I went, I went without some of the right gear and was proverbially (and literally) left out in the cold. My goal for the next 48 hours is to figure out the most efficient packing regime.

Thanks to expectable delays, I’ll NOT be checking luggage. Which limits me to 1 rolling suitcase and my backpack, which doubles as a laptop case for my Macbook Pro. Besides clothing, which I can efficiently pack 5 days worth…what should I be bringing? Things that are obvious to me:

* Laptop
* Cell Phone
* Digital Camera
* iPod? (doubles as extra hard drive)
* Chargers for all of the above
* Business Cards (and lots of em)
* Notepad + Pen(s)
* One flashy red zoot suit (uh, parties?)
* Leftover mardi-gras beads (uh, parties?)

What am I forgetting? If someone doesn’t jump on my question here, I’ll be sure to publish a guide post-conference for next year, and for all newbies to come.

Tags: SXSW, packing, toolkit, travel, ridiculous suit