A cheap place to stay - again, off the radar:
http://www.hotelallandale.com/
Check/post on the Austin Craigslist, some folks rent out their apts./spare bedroom/houses for sxsw.
Shtbird said:
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. Awesome responses, super informative.
I definitely think I'll try and make SXSW, bring my bike and crash in the bed of my truck. It's a helluva drive (2000 miles, one way = ~1000$ in gas round trip) Maybe with a carpool and a couple rideshares, it could be affordable. Still, it sounds like it'll be an awesome time, and I've always wanted to check out Austin.
@ Battles - The Ponderosa Stomp sounds pretty rad too, if SXSW falls through. I've never been to New Orleans (or anywhere in the South, for that matter). Flying there and booking a hotel for a couple days would be far less expensive than trying to make it out to Austin for a week.