Blog · Austin
Phone Pouch Rental in Austin: What We Learned at SXSW
Before The Internet rents lockable phone pouches for events in Austin, shipped from Toronto as a self-service kit or staffed by a trained crew. We ran 1,000 pouches at the Billboard SXSW after party, rentals start at 50, and a human replies within 24 hours.
Austin is one of the few US cities where we can point to a night we actually ran. We handled the Billboard SXSW after party, 1,000 guests, staffed, using the Semi-Frosted pouch. That is a useful reference point, because SXSW week is about as hard as event conditions get. Rooms turn over fast, lines run long, and every guest has a reason to film. If you are searching for phone pouch rental in Austin, you are probably planning something in that same spirit, whether it is a showcase on Red River, a party off Rainey Street or a company launch during festival season. It also showed us that the crowd does not fight it. Across our events, 93% of attendees report not using, or rarely using, their phone while having the option the entire time. That is with the phone in their pocket, unlocked for calls, all night.
The Semi-Frosted pouch is what we used at SXSW, and it fits most Austin nights. The screen stays visible, so guests can take a call, answer a text and pay with Apple Pay at the bar, while both camera lenses stay covered. That matters at showcases and after parties where people are coordinating with friends across venues. For a tech company demo of something unreleased, an album playback or anything under NDA, the Fully Sealed pouch is opaque on both sides and opens only at an unlocking station.
Booking an Austin event is straightforward. Send the date and the headcount, and a real person replies within 24 hours, with no discovery call. Rentals start at 50 pouches, which suits a small showcase as well as a large party. For SXSW or ACL season, book early. Our standard lead time is two to four weeks, or six weeks for pouches with your logo silk-screened on. You can take a self-service kit and run the door yourself, or we can send a trained crew for entry and exit.
We ship from Toronto and staff events across the United States, so the logistics are our problem rather than yours. Other phone-pouch competitors use a fully sealed pouch only. At a festival that means a guest who needs their phone has to leave the room. Our Semi-Frosted pouch lets them answer or pay without unlocking. See the full comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Who rents lockable phone pouches for events in Austin?
Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free event company, rents lockable phone pouches in Austin and ran 1,000 staffed pouches at the Billboard SXSW after party.
How far ahead should I book phone pouches in Austin?
Two to four weeks is standard, or six weeks for custom logo pouches. For SXSW or ACL season, get in touch earlier, since those weeks fill up. Send the date and headcount and a human replies within 24 hours.
Can phone pouches work at a busy SXSW party?
Yes. We ran the Billboard SXSW after party in Austin with 1,000 Semi-Frosted pouches and a trained crew at entry and exit. Guests kept their phones on them, could take calls and pay at the bar, and both cameras stayed covered.
Other cities we ship to
San Antonio · Dallas · Houston
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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