We are pleased to make available updated Westport Mini Maker Faire posters that add a few new sponsors, including:

• Gault Stone
• ACE Crossroads Hardware
• Baker Graphics
• Localendar

Westport Mini Maker Faire Poster

Click the following links to download the new posters:

• WMMF Poster 8.5 x 11
• WMMF Poster 11×17

Here’s a great story about the Westport Mini Maker Faire that was in the Connecticut Post this week:

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Westport-joins-the-Maker-movement-with-day-3492055.php

A similar story was also in The Hour:

http://www.thehour.com/story/523734/maker-faire-making-its-way-to-westport-on-april-28

To learn more about the Westport Mini Maker Faire — including a conversation with a robot who will be at the Faire – please view the video at:  http://bit.ly/I7h7Gu or click on the video below.

Thank you to the staff at the Westport Library for producing the video!

Calling all people with wacky imaginations!

Come compete with like-minded inventors and zany tinkerers in the Rube Goldberg Experiment at the Westport Mini Maker Faire on Saturday, April 28 at the Westport Public Library.

Teams comprised of 3, 4 or 5 members will be given an assortment of materials and 90 minutes to assemble a machine that can perform asimple task (flip a pancake or crack an egg for example).  The more interesting the design and the more energy transfers the better.

Two rounds of competition with two to five teams per round will result in some unorthodox and entertaining contraptions.  One round is for students & teachers and the other round open to teams that have pre-registered.  All decisions of the judges will be final.

Interested in creating kooky contraptions?  Contestants should sign up by going to the Westport Mini Maker Faire “Contact Us” page (http://www.westportmakerfaire.org/contact-us-2/), fill in your contact information, select “Enter ‘Rube Goldberg’ Competition” from the Subject drop-down menu and then tell us about your group in the Message area.

UPDATED INFORMATION!  ANNOUNCING “Homemade Band Jam Session”

Maker Faires are not just for watching, they’re for participating, too!

We are pleased to announce the “Battle of the Homemade Bands”, sponsored by the Westport Downtown Merchants Association, a friendly competition of groups of people to see who can create music and play instruments with materials and items not normally associated with musical instruments, although having fun is the most important factor.  Instruments can be percussion, winds, strings, or anything you can think of!

There are two events that people can join:

First, “Homemade Band Jam Session.” Participants are given a unique opportunity to test their known or unknown musical skills using items not usually associated with musical instruments. There will be materials and “musical instruments” available at the Faire; however, if you have come up with your own homemade musical instrument, feel free to bring and showcase your creation and performance in a one-of-a-kind forum of creativity.

Second, “Battle of the Homemade Bands.” This is a friendly group competition. The objective is to see who can create music and play instruments with materials and items not normally associated with musical instruments, although having fun is the most important factor.  Instruments of either can be percussion, winds, strings, or anything you can think of!

Groups typically will consist of people from a group such as a school or club, but can be people who just show up the day of the event.  Basic rules are:

• The band must be comprised between 3 and 6 members.
• The instruments must be non-electrical.
• The instruments may not be electronically amplified.
• The instruments must be made from materials readily available that are not normally associated as a musical instrument.

Participants in the Battle of the Homemade Bands must bring items necessary for assembly at the Faire.  Some tools and materials will be available at the Faire, but plan on bringing your own.  Assembly and testing of the musical instruments must be done at the Faire during the contest time.

Each band will have 20 minutes to set up, warm up/test and perform their selection.  Each band will be judged based on the following criteria:

• Instrument creativity
• Difficulty of Melody
• Quality of the harmony
• Performance cohesiveness of all Band Members
• How much FUN the band seems to be having

All decisions of the judges will be final.

Contestants should sign up by going to the Westport Mini Maker Faire “Contact Us” page (http://www.westportmakerfaire.org/contact-us-2/), fill in your contact information, select “Battle of the Homemade Bands” from the Subject drop-down menu and then tell us about your group in the Message area.

This event is graciously sponsored by:

Westport Downtown Merchants Association

If you’d like to be involved at the Westport Mini Maker Faire, now is the time to sign up.  Individuals or groups can volunteer to help the day of the Faire by signing up at:  http://www.westportmakerfaire.org/contact-us-2/.

On the page, go to the Subject field and select ‘Volunteer!” from the drop-down menu.  In the message field, tell us what you’d like to help with or just say you’d like to volunteer.  If you’re part of a group that would like to volunteer, please indicate the name of the group and the number of people in the group.

Excellent coverage of the Westport Mini Maker Faire on WestportNOW today: http://www.westportnow.com/index.php?/v2_5/comments/37653/

Tickets are now available for the upcoming Westport Mini Maker Faire.  Tickets are free and can be obtained at:  http://westportmakerfaire.eventbrite.com/.

Why free tickets?  Simple.  By ordering tickets, you are entered to win prizes that will be given away at the Faire.  You’ll also be kept informed of upcoming Maker Faire events.  It also helps us gauge how many people will be attending the event.

Please click the link above and order your tickets today!

Many thanks to Dan Woog for his story on the Westport Mini Maker Faire on his “06880″ blog:

http://06880danwoog.com/2012/03/26/if-you-build-itthey-will-come-to-the-maker-faire/

We are pleased to have to update our posters in order to add organizations who have agreed to sponsor the Westport Mini Maker Faire.  The new sponsors are:

• Westport Downtown Merchants Association
• Main Street Resources / Green Village Initiative

Please download and use the following posters:

• WMMF Poster 2012-03-22 8.5×11.pdf
• WMMF Poster 2012-03-22 11×17.pdf

Remember, the Call for Makers is open until Sunday, April 1, 2012.  Apply online by clicking here.