The Beer's Free, and the Questions Deep

One of the more intriguing panels during SXSW Interactive isn't even part of the official conference: 20x2 assembles twenty interesting individuals from the creative industry -- "writers, musicians, filmmakers, web geeks and other bon vivants" -- and poses a broad, abstract question that each must answer in two minutes. Having been around since 2001, questions presented at 20x2s past have included "Who Are You?", "What's the Word?", and "What's the Big Idea?". Abstract, indeed.

This year's 20x2 prompt is simple yet profound: "What If?". Panelists to speak at the March 12th event at the Parish Room include:

• mark zupan (murderball)
• khoi vinh (new york times / subtraction.com)
• michael lopp (apple)
• amanda congdon (amandacongdon.com)
• miles zuniga (musician, fastball)
• evan fleischer (independent film channel)
• kacy crowley (musician)
• pj raval (unraval pictures)
• kevin lawver (lawver.net)
• paul lloyd (lloydyweb.com)
• darin murphy (musician)
• kevin cheng (ok-cancel)
• rob maigret (entertnmt. technologist / digisynd.com)
• emily listfield (sex & the single mom)
• mary hodder (dabble)
• ron pippin (shiny object)

Tonight's your chance to get a sneak peek at this year's show, as the folks behind 20x2 are hosting a happy hour at Progress Coffee. While you enjoy a cold one on them, they'll be showing highlights from past events (including the most recent one in the UK), giving away an iPod, and bringing in 20x2 participants Kacy Crowley and Darin Murphy to perform special sets.

[20x2: Twenty Speakers, One Question, Two Minutes Each]

20x2 Post-UK, Pre-SXSW Happy Hour
Thursday, February 15th
Progress Coffee
6pm-9pm
Free Beer

20x2 v. 7.0
Monday, March 12th
The Parish Room
7pm-9:30pm
Free to SXSW badgeholders, $10 public