In the day between SXSW Interactive and SXSW Music the private, open-bar parties of Interactive end, and the streets light up like Mardi Gras.

The other dramatic change I noticed?

When I checked into The Driskill during SXSW Interactive, foursquare altered me,

Via Foursquare: “You are checked in with 250 other people”

But one day later during SXSW Music I received a paltry,

Via Foursquare: “You are checked in with 6 other people.”

What changed? The hotel was just as crowded, if not more so during music, but it’s pretty obvious that the music folk are less inclined to geek-out. I was surprised how many of my friends, ones who even had foursquare and Twitter accounts, didn’t really understand how to use them, or how they could be valuable to their business. Also, I was surprised how many of my friends had normal cell phones where the only app was SMS.

So, I’d like to share how you can get involved with foursquare, Twitter and Facebook using any mobile phone.

foursquare

1) Sign up for a foursquare account

2) Sign in and click “Settings” -> Under Account Info click “edit” -> Add your phone number

3) Check-in via a text to 50500 (like this:  @ Starbucks ! Spending too much money on coffee.)

Extras: From the web, you can visit the mobile address on the web to check-in, or use the desktop application FoursquareX which has a cool map view and plots your friend’s avatars around your location. (note: the SMS feature is only available in the US at the moment).

Twitter

1) Sign up for a Twitter account (duh)

2) “Settings” -> “Mobile” -> Add your mobile number

3) Send an SMS to Twitter at: 40404 (or for an international numbers)

4) Go back to “Settings” -> “Mobile” to decide who you will receive tweets from, or you can set it up as DMs only

Facebook

1) “Account settings” -> “Mobile” -> Add your number and preferences, click save

2) SMS “f” (with the quotes) to 32665 (FBOOK)

3) After you receive the confirmation text your status to 32665 “@ OMG. I’m Awesome”