Call For Makers: Maker Faire Bay Area 2008

We are now accepting entries for the Maker Faire Bay Area, May 3 and 4 at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds.

Please note that the deadline for entries has passed.

HOWEVER, you can still enter your project and we'll consider it as a last-minute addition. Tell us what you'd like to bring and we'll do our best to see if there's space to accommodate it.

Key Points:

• Entries Due: March 12, 2008 March 19, 2008. Space is limited, please submit your entry by the due date!

• Maker Faire Tryouts (See below): February 17, 2008, The Exploratorium, noon – 4pm.

• Notification of Acceptance: Entries submitted by March 12 will be notified by March 19.

• Maker Bay Area: May 3-4, 2008
  Hours: Saturday 10am – 10pm (6pm – 10pm evening program); Sunday 11am – 6pm.

• Entry Form (closed)

• Participation Agreement

Organized by the staff of Make and Craft magazines, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft and engineering plus music 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.

We encourage you to join the fun and enter a project to exhibit. You can submit an entry through the web using the link described below or you can come show us your work at a Maker Faire "tryout" on Feburary 17, 2008, noon to 4:00pm at the Exploratorium at the Palace of Fine Arts, 3601 Lyon Street, San Francisco. Please RSVP to to request a spot.

Entries

The first step to participating in Maker Faire is to submit an entry that tells us about yourself and your project. Entries can be submitted from individuals as well as from groups such as hobbyist clubs and schools. Please provide a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire. Please link to photographs or videos of what you make. Maker exhibits should be non-commercial. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things.

Here's some suggested ideas for topics that we're looking for:

• Things Made From Recycled Items
• Making Musical Instruments
• 3D Printers and CNC Milling
• Textile Arts
• Home Automation
• Rockets
• Ham Radio
• Puzzles, Games and Toys
• Cars (hot rods, custom vans, electric vehicles)
• Airplanes and Aeronautics (models, etc)
• Biology/Biotech
• Chemistry
• Food Makers
• Model Trains and Planes
• Green Tech
• Sewing and Felting
• Kites
• Old Farm or Garden Equipment (Tractors, etc.)
• Temporary Structures (Tents, Domes, etc.)
• Unusual Tools or Machines
• How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)

Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is roughly a 10x10 space. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something. You will need to bring your own tables and chairs.

Once we have accepted participants, we will send out a call asking for presentations, performances and demonstration workshops.

All proposals will be reviewed and we will notify makers of acceptance via email by March 19 (for entries received by the March 12 deadline).

NOTE: Makers whose entries are accepted will receive free registration to Maker Faire. However, we cannot pay for transportation and accommodations.

If you have any questions about participating in Maker Faire, please contact use by email:

Commercial Exhibitors and Event Sponsorship

Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire and maker exhibits are non-commercial. We welcome paid exhibitors and there are a wide range of choices for space and exposure at Maker Faire. If you have a commercial product or service or represent a company, please contact Sherry Huss

We look forward to seeing you this year in San Mateo.

Dale Dougherty
Editor & Publisher, Make and Craft
O'Reilly Media, Inc.