Canada will be in the forefront at the 2010 South By Southwest (SXSW) flying under the Canadian Blast banner. Attending SXSW with the Canada Stand is an opportunity to maximize your visibility at SXSW by joining the Canadian Trade Initiatives program at the largest, most influential, and most anticipated music festival/conference in North America.

CIMA, with our partners and sponsors, is offering a coordinated business development, collective marketing and networking strategy to facilitate Canadian exporters and export-ready artists.

The Canadian Trade Initiatives program at SXSW 2010 includes a range of business services and events to maximize your investment in SXSW. Your participation in the Canada Stand is your access to those opportunities and networking events.

Here are just some of the benefits and opportunities we are offering:

• New for 2010 Canada Stand companies have priority access to Canada House to book a private showcase or function. We have negotiated a new, fabulous venue this year. The Canada House venue is Upstairs at the Paradise at 6^th and Trinity, right in the heart of the SXSW action on 6^th Street. There are two showcase slots each afternoon from noon to 2:30 & from 3:00 to 5:30 pm, Thursday to Saturday. Upstairs at the Paradise will prepare food & beverages for each party/function for 125 of your exclusive guests and performers.  The cost per party is $3000 (USD) for the food & beverages only. All administration costs are covered. Please contact Donna at donna@cimamusic.ca to book your event at Canada House. (There are only six slots and bookings will be on first-come, first-served basis.)

• Canada Stand companies can participate in the Canadian Blast Showcase & BBQ/Backstage VIP Reception, a much-anticipated, high-profile street event held at Brush Square on the first day of SXSW. The focus of this event is to attract international delegates through a concerted marketing and promotional strategy. Canada Stand companies will receive special laminates to access the separate Backstage/VIP area where ‘invitation-only’ international delegates will be hosted. As well, Canada Stand companies will have an opportunity to submit names of up to five key foreign delegates for the Backstage/VIP Reception. (Last year’s event hosted 3,000+ persons at the "Canadian Blast" music showcase, consisting of conference attendees, CDN music industry professionals and 250+ "v.i.p." guests from music, film radio and media.)
• Canada Stand participants will have an opportunity to participate in the International Match-making session and other events being organized by SXSW.
• Canada Stand companies will receive an invitation to the annual NXNE/Manitoba BBQ, a highly anticipated networking event at SXSW.
• Collective marketing opportunities exist through the publicist and street team hired to deliver publicity and marketing services for the Canadian Blast initiative.  
• Promotional services include your Company Profile on the Canadian Blast website online destination for Canadian activities at SXSW 2010.
• At the trade show, Canada Stand companies gain access to the fully staffed Stand, a resource for Canada's presence at SXSW, and a distribution point for CDs, show schedules, as well as a meeting area for industry professionals, a message centre and command post for all things Canadian.  
• Canada Stand companies will have the opportunity to sponsor ‘happy hours’ at the Canada Stand.
• With your company registration fee to the Canada Stand (CIMA members $150, non-members $200), you will receive a discount on each ‘music registration’ to SXSW 2010 by using the CIMA Canada Stand SXSW link (discount amounts vary on sign-up date). Fill out the CIMA Canada Stand form online and automatically receive the link to get your discount at SXSW 2010.

Click here for the online Canada Stand Registration form.