Some Clarity on SXSW

South By South West (SXSW) has a confusing website. I could not figure out, for the life of me, if I needed a conference pass to attend music shows at the various venues around Austin during the festival. So, I e-mailed them and asked, this is their answer:

Tho it seems given your job that you should seriously consider registering to attend SXSW 2008, this should answer your questions:

We sell a limited number of single admission tickets to most, but not all, SXSW Music Festival shows. Cost varies by show and venue. Tickets are sold on a walk-up basis only and must be purchased at the venue where the show you wish to see is being held. They generally go on sale about an hour before the first band of the night at that venue is scheduled to start.

Please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee that you will be able to access every show you want to see. If you remain patient and keep your options open, you're bound to have a good time.

And remember we always have three nights of free to the public shows at Auditorium Shores at Ladybird Lake.

Thanks SXSW, I appreciate your very quick response! Now... I gotta decide if I want to spend money on the damn conference pass (it isn't cheap!) or just go there and wing it.