Everfest came out of stealth mode at about Mach $1.5 million in March, and they've been expanding their reach and collaborating with new festivals ever since. Sometimes they even wear costumes at work.
I dig tech, and love a rockin' festival. So I thought I'd start a little jam with the Everfest founders to see what events have inked themselves into their permanent memories. Co-founder Jay Manickam jumped on it.
A touch of background, first: Manickam co-founded Everfest Inc. with fellow former uShip Inc. executive Brad Dixon and Paul Cross, who is also a founder at RoverPass and TicketBud. Manickam is also a co-owner of Vulcan Gas Company, a sprawling, steampunk-inspired electro music club on Sixth Street.
So, let's get this party started.
What was your favorite festival experience and what made it so awesome?
Manickam: My favorite festival experience is definitely Burning Man. It’s really so much more than a festival. It’s the only place you become a different person and experince a true alternative reality, a totally different perspective on life and every major social contruct we take for granted.
Burning Man goes beyond just a party, beyond pure revelry. It is a life-changing event, packing a full spectrum of emotions, friendships and artistic and personal discoveries into one surreal week. I once had a friend call it a week-long Halloween party on the moon — I've always liked that, but it still fails to fully capture just how transformational Burning Man is.
I always tell people that it has to be experienced to be understood. It has such a profound and lasting impact. It’s hard to describe, and that’s what makes it so incredible.
What is the farthest you've ever traveled to attend a festival?
Manickam: I’ve been to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona twice. That’s a little more than 5,000 miles from Austin, so that’s probably the farthest. Last time I ran was 2002, and I lived to tell the tale here!
You guys are more in touch with Austin-area festivals than pretty much anyone. What cool Central Texas festivals are you eyeing in September?
Manickam: We actually have several local festivals in August and September who we are working with to provide their official app, including the Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival, UTOPiAfest and Pecan Street Festival. The nice thing is, if you’re going to all of those, or even other Austin festivals we’re not directly working with (yet!), you just download one app that will work at all of them.
Lots of great festivals around town the next couple of months — or really any month in Austin. Also looking forward to Fantastic Fest. There are really too many to name, which I suppose is what Everfest is for!
