Having “been there, done that” multiple times when it comes to SXSW, I thought I’d pass along some helpful advice for you from someone who’s survived the war, and emerged more or less unscathed on the other side. These are tried and true, time-tested tips. I can’t encourage you enough to use them – Especially #1. Especially #1.

1) For the love of all that’s good and holy, don’t drink. SXSW is funny. Take thousands of stressed out people, fly them somewhere. Keep them up late into the night, ply them with free alcohol, then expect them to be at their best the next morning. I’m not saying don’t go to the parties. The parties are fun. Just get a glass of club soda with a slice of lime at the beginning of the event, and nurse it. Not only will you be much happier the next morning, but you’ll get to actually remember what you did at the party, who you talked to, and what you said. Perhaps more importantly, you won’t be “that guy.” I’ve been “that guy” once. Three years later, there’s still not water hot enough to wash off the shame. Plus, if you’re smart, you’ll keep a flip-cam with you to catch some spectacular blackmail opportunities against the people who didn’t heed this rule. BONUS: Before the conference even starts, make a date with your best friends for the day after you get home, go out, have a few Margaritas, and enjoy being back.

2) Networking starts LONG before you get there. The second you register, use the beauty of social media to let the world know, and find new people who are going as well. Ask them if there’s a hashtag, then use it. You want to have at least ten new people you plan to meet over the course of the conference before you go to the conference. The rest of the people you meet will be nice bonuses. The end game for you is to come out with new contacts. I’d dare say that information you learn at the panels and such is second to really good contacts.

3) Don’t be a Business Card Ninja. A Business Card Ninja walks into a panel, throws 100 cards at the first 100 people he meets, and vanishes. He doesn’t talk about how he can help you, nor does he offer any insight into why it’s beneficial to know him. You know what happens to his card? After I pull it out of my chest (since that’s where it landed when he threw it at me) I throw it away. Meet people at these conferences and make it about HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM, not how they can help YOU. Help them, and they’ll help you by default.

4) Bring: Vitamin C, Tylenol, and a ton of water. Excedrin and Imodium wouldn’t hurt, either. Before you get to the conference or the hotel, stop at a deli at least a mile away (Ask your cab driver to make a quick detour, or GPS it.) Buy a gallon of water for each day you’re at the event. Then make sure to drink it. Drinking water is the easiest way to avoid getting sick at the conference, and having it turn into a full-blown case of the Flu when you get home. Conference centers are dry by default. Being in Texas doesn’t help. Drink water like you were Les Stroud in the Kalahari. And don’t wait until you’re thirsty. That means you’re already dehydrated. Note the color of your urine. Yellow? You’re dehydrated. Know your normal pulse? If it’s higher, you’re dehydrated. Also, don’t stock up on juice (empty calories, take a vitamin pill) or sodas (calories, plus the inevitable crash.) Just drink water. And for all those “company dinners,” eat on the lighter side. Steakhouses are the best – They always have incredibly small steaks off the menu – just ask for them.

5) Don’t forget about working out – Don’t give up your routine just because you’re on the road. The healthier you are walking into that first meeting, the more your brain works, the better you remember, the sharper you are in general. Get in that early workout – And you never know who you’re going to meet in the gym, too! Chances are, the most successful people are the ones in the gym in the morning. They didn’t get successful by sleeping in, you know. I’ve made some of the best connections ever at the hotel gym at 6am.

6) Get there first. You know how crowds always form around the speakers as soon as they’re done speaking? They’re not listening to you. They’re smiling, and looking at the line behind you. So – Do the opposite – Find them ten minutes BEFORE their speech starts. Talk to them, tell them how excited you are to hear them speak – Then, when you say goodbye, give them a business card on which you’ve written “I’M THE ONE WHO SPOKE TO YOU BEFORE YOUR SPEECH.” Trust me – Your card will stand out when the speaker gets back home and looks at the hundreds of cards he or she collected.

7) Map out restaurants, hotels, gyms, (even hospitals) beforehand. Use Google Maps to map out anything you might need. Print it out and keep it with you. Hey, you never know – Imagine those people at the Jacob Javitz center on 9/11. Print it out and put it in your bag. Never have to use it? Awesome. But if something happens and you do? Even more awesome. Five minutes of prep time can be the difference between life and death – or hey, even just a reservation at a good restaurant, or apologizing for bringing people to an Olive Garden.

8) Lastly: Have fun. SXSW is a great conference, and Austin is a great city. If you can, try and take a half-day to explore it. Anything three miles from the convention center. The world is wonderful – Slurp up as much of it as you can!

Let me hear your best tips below – I’ll send you something travel-worthy for the best one.

Win this!

Is yours worse? Let me know in the comments. The best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) story gets the HBC120. Check these guys out on Facebook, as well! And hey, it goes for about $230 on Amazon, so this is kind of a serious giveaway here!

So look for me. I’ll be the one who now fits into his size 34 jeans for the first time since 2006.

See you at BlogWorld!

Guess who’s keynoting it?

And guess what – Entering code PETER on this registration page will save you a TON of cash on registration. Seriously. It will, on TOP of the early registration discount. Go register now, and we’ll have a massively good time in LA.

And people did!

So briefly, here’s what people asked, and my answers:

@andreahrizk said that she needs exposure about a shortage of interactive talent in the advertising industry, and included a link: http://imediaconnection.com/content/28737.asp – I think she has a point – Small interactive ad shops can’t offer the same “possibility of instant riches” that tech startups, whether they be in a basement or in the Google offices, can. As such, it’s up to the ad agency to go back to what made them great in the beginning – before “interactive” – If you watch Mad Men, you know that Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price recruited talent through the excitement of the game – The chance to be creative, the chance to have fun and change how people perceived products and brands. Perhaps we need to go back to basics, and appeal to the creatives’ excitement – not their wallets alone.

@cherylharrison asked me to write her a blog post. You’re reading it! You’re welcome.

@theflaggagency told me that I could book a cruise on the Mekong River or Riviera of Europe. While that’s a good idea, I’m already taking my first actual vacation in about three years in June, and heading to Thailand with someone special. But thanks!

@brokenjules asked if I’d do a Q+A with him or her. I’m doing that under separate cover. Wait for it.

@michaelgruener asked if I know any specific ways to help build popularity and momentum of a social media push for a company with a finite reach. I think one of the best ways to do this for any company is to see what’s going on in the world and attempt to latch onto something newsworthy – but not in a sleazy way. For instance – I can’t see your company right now because I’m at 30k feet and @continental hasn’t added WiFi to their fleet yet (let’s get busy on that, guys, hey?) but I’m guessing by the name (@upRefuse) that you might have something to do with the green world? If that’s the case, simply reading any current magazine should give you tons of of ideas and examples. That rule goes for any company. One of the best ways I know of to come up with new ideas and boosts of creativity is to go for a run with my iPod loaded with the latest podcasts from the BBC, NPR, and the like.

@thebeancast asked for a 1,000 word article entitled “Down and Out on Empire Avenue.” I’ll give you a Haiku, instead. Early Adopter. On Empire Avenue. Can Use Initials.

@cbwebster wants me to come up with a kick-ass in-class project for her business communications class next week. How about working with a local animal rescue organization in your town and helping them come up with a new communications plan that will raise awareness and generate higher levels of donation? Work with them to design a multimedia campaign that focuses on the animals themselves, and what donors dollars can do for them.

@OmniHotelsPR asked me to think about some events that they and I can do together in the fall. That sounds awesome, guys! Email Meagan, my uber-assistant, and let’s get a phone call together. I’d love to work with you guys, perhaps do tweet-ups all over the world! That’s a no-brainer – I love you guys!

@cccreationsUSA asked me to make a Star Wars video to Celebrate Star Wars Day, which is today. I defer to the countless awesome Star Wars videos already out there, including the inclusion of Star Wars in this amazing video from Lego, called Go Miniman Go!

@Drobillard asked to be hired as my personal assistant in Boston. While I’m not currently looking for anyone to hire, perhaps someone in Boston is? If so, why not reach out to @DRobillard?

@BellaBrella asked an interesting question – “How can she improve her image campaign without actually changing who she is?” That’s a good question – If you have to change who you are, then you’re not being true to yourself, and that’s never good. How about rather than changing who you are, changing your audience? Perhaps you’re not reaching out to the right people? If you’re not getting as big of a response as you want, or as large of an audience as you desire, perhaps you’d be better off looking for new audiences? The easiest way to to do that is to continue being who you are, and be more aware of to whom you’re talking – Focus on speaking to the right people – people who appreciate what you have to offer – and by being sincere with them, your rep, and thusly, your audience, should continue to grow.

@thirstybeaverCA (Great name, by the way) is looking for resources on selling ad space on his website, but doesn’t know where to begin. Well, there are tons of sources out there which are great starts, including websites like imediaconnection, adrants, and Digidays, Brian Morrissey’s new project. I’d start there.

@pamasheville asked me to consider voting for Asheville in the Beer City USA Poll. Considering I’m on my way to Asheville, consider it done: http://exm.nr/l0mnCd

@ProSeller1 wants me to help her find one lead in Richmond, VA that’s looking to buy or sell a new house. Anyone in Richmond in that position? Reach out to @ProSeller1.

@wgpr wants to know what Blogs I read. A few off the top of my head include Gawker, A Year To Ten Percent (I write that one, full disclosure,) LeanGains.com, Leigh Shulman, CC Chapman, Fleshbot, Defamer, I Don’t Like You In That Way, Lauren Out Loud, and others.

@agac wants me to follow her. Done.

@homiegcheesefry wants me to tell about my movie project. Well, I’m executive producing a movie currently being shot in Hollywood called “Right Next Door.” It’s a thriller, and I couldn’t be more excited about it. The cast is spectacular, as are the co-directors. I’m humbled to be part of this project, and when it comes out in about 10 months or so, I’ll be throwing one hell of a premiere party, you can count on that. ☺

@cpat71 wants me to learn something from the person next to me. From him, I learned that a pitcher named Francisco Lariano from the Twins got his first no-hitter last night, and also the first no hitter of the 2011 baseball season.

@meducate wants to know the best President’s clubs that Continental has to offer. Well, at Newark, I’m partial to the one in Terminal C closer to gate 81, as opposed the one near security. It’s quieter, more places to work, and more places to grab a few Zzz’s if you’ve had a late night the night before. In Houston, there’s a lovely gentleman named Mike (I believe that’s his name) in the main terminal club East, who makes the best Bloody Mary’s I’ve ever had in my life. Finally, don’t forget about the club in Vegas – it’s a bit far from the CO gates, but it’s better than sitting in the food court and watching tons of overweight tourists eat fast food.

@craig42k wants to know how I best manage my time to successfully achieve my health, personal, and business goals. For that, I point you to this blog post I wrote a few months ago.

@divathatateny wants ideas to promote her upcoming cookbook + CD called “No Singing at the Dinner Table,” by Singing Chef Jackie Gordon. Well – I didn’t know that singing chefs existed. Coming from a family of musicians, and being a vocalist as well, I recommend perhaps a video contest asking people to come up with their own songs praising dinner. The winner gets cooked meal for them and 10 of their friends, courtesy of your chef?

@mikepetrucci wants to know the last time I doodled or sketched something. Here you go, Mike, compliments of Finger Painting HD on my iPad 2.

@boathousebilly wants to know how to increase exposure and membership numbers for his university rowing club in prep for 2012. Two things come to mind – One – Carry an oar with you all summer. Seriously. People like to know why people are doing things out of the ordinary. Tell them you’re recruiting rowers. It’s a great way for people to get into the conversation. Secondly – Let people know how good rowing is for your looks. Have you ever seen a fat rower? Best arms, back, and shoulder muscles of anyone! Play to people’s egos!

@thecleversheep is looking for a sponsor for unplugd.ca – If you happen to fit their profile, I’d check them out, and @thecleversheep, I’d read this blog post first on how you should look for sponsors.

@whisperingsqurl wants to know if I have any advice for a first-time entrepreneur: Yes. Don’t waste time listening to the haters. If you have haters, it means you’re doing a great job. Acknowledge that you have them, then redouble your efforts to do an even better job. Haters hate because they can’t do what you’re doing themselves. That’s all.

@gfriese wants me to continue promoting health and fitness opportunities, especially for kids, at the YMCA. I’ve been a YMCA fan ever since I was seven and got my Tadpole badge for swimming there! The YMCA does amazing things for kids and adults all over this country. I’m a huge supporter, and you should be too!

@click4agoodtime wants his girlfriend to move to NYC. I know your girlfriend. Hey L – GET YOUR ASS TO NEW YORK CITY. NOW.

This was fun! Perhaps I’ll put out another call next week for my trip to Germany. I’ll let you know – If I do, I’ll make it a Google database, so it’s easier for me to answer. Thanks for playing!