I've got the fever...tell me why I should go to this year's CMJ fest. Is getting around from club to club the same as getting around SXSW? Is it worth getting a badge or should I take my chances? Those of you who are Marathon vets, fill me in, s'il vous plait.

The clubsd are usually spread out around the city, making it usualy a hefty walk or cab ride to get around if shows are really far apart..

I dont know how it was at SXSW, but id buy tix for the shows you really wanna see, to guarantee admission, cause most of the clubs will only allow in a certain amoun otf badge holders and sell most of the tix to the general public.

i concur. unless you were, for some reason, really interested in attending the actual conference, i'd just buy tickets for the individual shows.

I'd say at about 50% of the clubs that participate in this are within a 10 block by 10 block square on the lower east side...easily within walking distance of each other. The others are scattered about lower manhattan or brooklyn. Badges do help you get into some of the more popular shows but whether or not its worth the purchase price is up to you. Plus (though some might scoff at this) a badge will get you into all the special panels and forums and other random stuff that goes on during daylight hours (all this stuff is apparantly going to be at the Lincoln Center again, which is a good thing). I'm only going on two years experience though. I'm sure others here have been far more than me, but i still hope that helps you some. But inconclusion the reason that you should go is because its a good time, period. That's my 28 cents.

t when i went last year, i just bought tickets to the showcases i wanted to go to. it was less expensive that way and i was guaranteed entrance. also, the distance between clubs was either a subway or taxi ride, so it was easier to just go to a specific show i wanted to go.

there's also a lot of the daytime parties as well, for instance fader/cornerstone did one and i saw a lot of bands there... open bar... then would go to a showcase, then an afterparty.

i'm DEFINITELY going again this year. i love ny.