Want to be a Maker at the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire? Our Tampa Bay Mini Maker application is now live!
If you’re just demoing, it’s free! We welcome crafts, engineering, music, robots, workshop digital fabrication, energy, demonstrations, performances, projects and anything home made, innovative, instructive, artistic and interesting!
Understanding the Mini Maker Faire
The first step to participating in our Mini Maker Faire is to understand just what a Maker Faire is: In its simplest form, Maker Faire creates conversations with Makers. It is a show-and-tell format for people of all ages that brings out the “kid ” in all of us. Maker Faire is a community-based learning event that inspires everyone to become a maker and connect to people and projects in their local community. Yet, Maker Faire is a “fair ” which should be fun and engaging.
And it’s equally important to know what a Maker Faire is not: Maker Faire is not a trade show. While we’re not anti-commercial and welcome small commercial Makers, the event is pointedly non-commercial in nature to the extent that we don’t want it dominated by traditional sales and marketing. And Maker Faire should not be become a platform for politics or religion.
You can learn more about Maker Faire on our About page.
Applying
If you’d like to participate in our Mini Maker Faire, 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. We’ll want a short description of what you make and what you will actually bring to Maker Faire, along with links to photographs or videos of what you make. We particularly encourage exhibits that are interactive and that highlight the process of making things. Here’s some of what we’re looking for:
- Student Projects
- Music Performance and Participation
- 3D Printers and CNC Mill
- Textile Arts and Crafts
- Home Energy Monitoring
- RC Toys
- Sustainability
- Green Tech
- Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
- Electronics
- Electric Vehicles
- Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
- Food and Beverage Makers
- Robotics
- Puppets
- Kites
- Bicycles
- Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
- Unusual Tools or Machines
- How to Fix Things or Take them Apart (Vacuums, Clocks, Washing Machines, etc.)
Applications will be accepted through the end of January.
Maker Exhibit: Our standard setup for a Maker exhibit is a 6 or 8 ft table and 2 chairs. If you need more space, please let us know. Use this space to display your work and/or demonstrate how you make something.
NOTE: Makers whose entries are accepted will receive free admission to Mini Maker Faire per the guidelines listed in the Maker Manual. We do not pay for transportation or accommodations.
If you have any questions about participating in the Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire,please Email Us.
Types of Makers
Makers: Individuals, groups, schools and organizations that would like to demonstrate what they make and/or how it works in an interactive environment. For Maker groups, schools & organizations, we ask that you have one point person to coordinate your group efforts. Makers do not pay a fee to exhibit at Maker Faire for non-commercial exhibits.
Commercial Makers: Individuals who would like to sell products along with demonstrating what they make at their Mini-Maker exhibit. If you are a Maker with a product that you would like to sell at Tampa Bay Mini Maker Faire, please let us know us that you are a Commercial Maker on your application. There is a $75 fee for commercial makers.
Please note, companies or commercial entities do not qualify as Commercial Makers. If you are a company or commercial entity, please see our Sponsor page.
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The banners are in, the programs are printed, the swag and buttons are here, the Makers and our Volunteers are ready, the Food Trucks are fired up, the robot batteries and the electric cars are charging, the artists have arrayed their wares, the media’s been alerted, and the pennants are ready to fly for the Tampa Bay’s first ever Mini Maker Faire!
