Dear Makers,
We are pleased to announced Bay Area Maker Faire 2007!
Organized by the staff of MAKE and CRAFT magazines, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft, and engineering in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become Makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers–anyone who is embracing DIY and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience. Last year, we had 20,000 people at Maker Faire.
Maker Faire Bay Area will take place May 19-20, 2007 at the San Mateo Fairgrounds. We are also adding Maker Faire Austin for October 20-21, 2007 at the Travis County Fairgrounds. This call is primarily for Maker Faire Bay Area but you can indicate if you are interested in participating in Maker Faire Austin.
We encourage you to join the fun and propose a maker exhibit, performance, or workshop. You can submit a proposal through the web using the link described below or you can come show us your work at a Maker Faire “audition” on Saturday, February 24 at TechShop in Menlo Park, Calif.
Proposals:
We invite proposals for Maker workbench exhibits, workshops, presentations, and performances for the Maker Faire. We are interested in proposals from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools.
Maker Workbench: Our standard setup for Makers is a six-foot-long workbench. You can use this workbench to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something. Some Makers don’t need workbenches, typically because they have a large object or they set up outside. Please provide a short description of what you make and what you will bring to Maker Faire. Please link to photographs or videos of what you make. Let us know about any requirements you have, such as electricity, internet, ventilation, etc.
Interactive Performance: We’re seeking performances that will engage and entertain the attendees and enable them to interact in a fun way. The performances may be tied to a stage or roving through the fairgrounds as a kind of street theatre. Performances could be musical or theatrical, but they could also be a collaborative building process. For example, you might work with attendees to put something large together in an hour.
Presentation: These includes audio-visual presentations intended for showing a project (or process) that cannot be brought to the Faire, or a special project that requires AV resources. These presentations are limited to 20 minutes. Please describe the topic of your presentation and what kind of media (audio/video) that you will have. As a general rule, PowerPoint presentations are not appropriate for this event unless they are unusually entertaining.
Demonstration Workshop: A demonstration workshop is a show-and-tell session on how to make something. We’re looking for Makers who can demonstrate (and teach) particular skills, techniques, or processes. You should start off by explaining your materials and tools and then step-through a build process, sharing your knowledge and interacting with the audience. Sessions should be under 30 minutes in length and may be repeated on the program. Please describe the subject of your workshop and what kind of setup you need for it.
Application Form: Please go to the following URL and fill it out to apply for participation as a Maker.
http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/
All proposals will be reviewed and we will notify Makers of acceptance via email by March 19, 2007.
NOTE: Presenters whose talks are accepted will receive free registration to Maker Faire. We cannot pay for travel and accommodations. (We do make exceptions under some circumstances.)
If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact Natalie Villalobos by email: info@makerfaire.com. Please let Natalie know if you plan to come to the audition at TechShop.
Key Points:
- Maker Proposal Due: Midnight (PST): Feb. 27, 2007
- Maker Faire Bay Area Audition: Saturday Feb. 24, 2007
- Notification of Acceptance: March 19, 2006
- Confirmation of Participation: April 2, 2007
- Maker Faire Bay Area: May 19-20, 2007; Saturday 10-6 pm; Sunday 10-5pm.
- Maker Faire Austin: October 20 & 21, 2007
- Application Form: http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2007/proposal/
Commercial Exhibitors
If you are a commercial maker or you work for a company that would like to exhibit at Maker Faire, please contact Sherry Huss sherry@oreilly.com.
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