SAM MATEO, CA -- TechShop, the first membership-based DIY workshop and fabrication studio for makers, is excited to welcome Mike Rowe to Maker Faire, the world's preeminent DIY festival. Rowe, whose own website, mikeroweWORKS.com, was created as a "PR Campaign for Hard Work," will drop by the Fiesta Hall at the San Mateo County Event Center on Sunday, May 22nd, at 11 a.m. for an impromptu chat with makers and fabricators from around the country. "The only thing I make these days is a mess," joked the creator and Host of Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs. "But the TechShop idea is phenomenal, and Maker Faire sounds like TechShop on steroids. It'll be fun to hang out with some people who can still make things out of thin air. I'm a big fan."
Maker Faire celebrates things people create themselves -- from rockets and robots, to DIY biology and hacked everything. The family-friendly event for creative people of all ages and skill levels offers two days of exhibits, activities, instruction and information from over 600 makers. The event is projected to draw 95,000 people from the Bay Area and beyond who want to marvel and be inspired by the world of "making."
"Maker Faire brings together those who want to get their hands dirty," said Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Faire, and Editor in Chief of MAKE magazine. "TechShop provides the tools for people who want to get their hands dirty. What could be better than having both TechShop and Mike Rowe at Maker Faire."
TechShop will set up a glimpse into TechShop at Maker Faire by hosting celebrity makers, key partners and members as part of on-going demonstrations for anyone who wants to make or learn to make things. Machines ranging from manual mills and lathes, to laser and plasma cutters, industrial sewing machines, electronics and more are available to TechShop members for a monthly access fee, similar to the fitness club model. TechShop is a key sponsor of Maker Faire Bay Area 2011.
"Maker Faire is the 'maker' event of the year," said Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop. "The size of the crowd and the level of commitment from companies like Autodesk, tells us that the Maker Movement is taking hold. We want to harness that excitement to engage, encourage and empower everyone to build their dreams. TechShop provides a broad array of machines and tools, instruction, and a supportive environment so hobbyists, entrepreneurs, artists, and others who want to make things but lack the tools, space or skills can do just that. "
More than a Booth
TechShop's exhibition area at Maker Faire, a.k.a. "The Show Barn," will spotlight select TechShop member projects and numerous machine demonstrations, including 3D printing by 3D Systems. TechShop partner Autodesk will showcase their newest software release 123D. Autodesk is currently offering free software and training to all TechShop members (see May 5, 2011 press release for more information). TechShop founder Jim Newton and TechShop staff and member volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.
Attendees will be inspired by member projects ranging from handmade goods found on Etsy to solar panels, and a variety of consumer-good prototypes. TechShop memberships and classes will be available at special Maker Faire prices so future makers can get started right away.
Calendar Editors
A celebration of DIY culture, Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 runs Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22, at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Saturday, 10am to 8pm; Sunday, 10am to 6pm. $5-$25; 3 and under are free. www.makerfaire.com. To purchase tickets, including weekend passes stop by Bay Area TechShop locations or go to: http://makerfaire-marketwire.eventbrite.com
About Maker Faire
Maker Faire is being held on May 21 & 22, 2011 at the San Mateo County Event Center. Started in San Mateo, California in 2006, and also being held in Detroit and New York, Maker Faire is the premier event for grassroots American innovation. Held annually in each of these locations, the event may expand elsewhere in the future. Maker Faire is supported by MAKE Magazine and O'Reilly Media, the premier information source for leading-edge computer technologies. The company's books, conferences and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. For more information about Maker Faire, please visit http://www.makerfaire.com. You can follow Maker Faire on Twitter at "#MakerFaire." Maker Faire is also on Facebook as "Maker Faire" and as "Maker Faire Bay Area 2011."
About mikeroweWORKS
mikeroweWORKS is a website created by Mike Rowe as a "PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor." Its purpose is to call attention to the growing skills gap in the trades, provide comprehensive resources for anyone looking to explore those vocations, as well as focus the country on the very real issues facing our trade workers, miners and farmers. In addition to the trade resource center, Mike has established The mikeroweWORKS Foundation to help fund scholarship programs and other initiatives that reinvigorate trade school interest, enrollments and industrial arts programs around the country. The website also includes Mike's blog, videos and photos. www.mikeroweWORKS.com.
About TechShop, Inc.
Founded in October 2006, TechShop, Inc. is a membership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio, providing access to a vibrant community of highly creative people and more than $750,000 worth of high-quality machines, tools and software. Based in Menlo Park, CA, with locations in San Francisco and Raleigh, NC, and soon to open locations in San Jose, New York and Detroit, TechShop offers training and instruction for people of all skill levels.
For information and course listings, visit http://www.techshop.ws, email [email protected] or call (800) 640-1975. You can follow TechShop on Twitter at “TechShopInc”. TechShop is also on Facebook as “TechShop Incorporated”.
Maker Faire celebrates things people create themselves -- from rockets and robots, to DIY biology and hacked everything. The family-friendly event for creative people of all ages and skill levels offers two days of exhibits, activities, instruction and information from over 600 makers. The event is projected to draw 95,000 people from the Bay Area and beyond who want to marvel and be inspired by the world of "making."
"Maker Faire brings together those who want to get their hands dirty," said Dale Dougherty, founder of Maker Faire, and Editor in Chief of MAKE magazine. "TechShop provides the tools for people who want to get their hands dirty. What could be better than having both TechShop and Mike Rowe at Maker Faire."
TechShop will set up a glimpse into TechShop at Maker Faire by hosting celebrity makers, key partners and members as part of on-going demonstrations for anyone who wants to make or learn to make things. Machines ranging from manual mills and lathes, to laser and plasma cutters, industrial sewing machines, electronics and more are available to TechShop members for a monthly access fee, similar to the fitness club model. TechShop is a key sponsor of Maker Faire Bay Area 2011.
"Maker Faire is the 'maker' event of the year," said Mark Hatch, CEO of TechShop. "The size of the crowd and the level of commitment from companies like Autodesk, tells us that the Maker Movement is taking hold. We want to harness that excitement to engage, encourage and empower everyone to build their dreams. TechShop provides a broad array of machines and tools, instruction, and a supportive environment so hobbyists, entrepreneurs, artists, and others who want to make things but lack the tools, space or skills can do just that. "
More than a Booth
TechShop's exhibition area at Maker Faire, a.k.a. "The Show Barn," will spotlight select TechShop member projects and numerous machine demonstrations, including 3D printing by 3D Systems. TechShop partner Autodesk will showcase their newest software release 123D. Autodesk is currently offering free software and training to all TechShop members (see May 5, 2011 press release for more information). TechShop founder Jim Newton and TechShop staff and member volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.
Attendees will be inspired by member projects ranging from handmade goods found on Etsy to solar panels, and a variety of consumer-good prototypes. TechShop memberships and classes will be available at special Maker Faire prices so future makers can get started right away.
Calendar Editors
A celebration of DIY culture, Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 runs Saturday-Sunday, May 21-22, at the San Mateo County Event Center, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo. Saturday, 10am to 8pm; Sunday, 10am to 6pm. $5-$25; 3 and under are free. www.makerfaire.com. To purchase tickets, including weekend passes stop by Bay Area TechShop locations or go to: http://makerfaire-marketwire.eventbrite.com
About Maker Faire
Maker Faire is being held on May 21 & 22, 2011 at the San Mateo County Event Center. Started in San Mateo, California in 2006, and also being held in Detroit and New York, Maker Faire is the premier event for grassroots American innovation. Held annually in each of these locations, the event may expand elsewhere in the future. Maker Faire is supported by MAKE Magazine and O'Reilly Media, the premier information source for leading-edge computer technologies. The company's books, conferences and web sites bring to light the knowledge of technology innovators. For more information about Maker Faire, please visit http://www.makerfaire.com. You can follow Maker Faire on Twitter at "#MakerFaire." Maker Faire is also on Facebook as "Maker Faire" and as "Maker Faire Bay Area 2011."
About mikeroweWORKS
mikeroweWORKS is a website created by Mike Rowe as a "PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor." Its purpose is to call attention to the growing skills gap in the trades, provide comprehensive resources for anyone looking to explore those vocations, as well as focus the country on the very real issues facing our trade workers, miners and farmers. In addition to the trade resource center, Mike has established The mikeroweWORKS Foundation to help fund scholarship programs and other initiatives that reinvigorate trade school interest, enrollments and industrial arts programs around the country. The website also includes Mike's blog, videos and photos. www.mikeroweWORKS.com.
About TechShop, Inc.
Founded in October 2006, TechShop, Inc. is a membership-based, do-it-yourself workshop and fabrication studio, providing access to a vibrant community of highly creative people and more than $750,000 worth of high-quality machines, tools and software. Based in Menlo Park, CA, with locations in San Francisco and Raleigh, NC, and soon to open locations in San Jose, New York and Detroit, TechShop offers training and instruction for people of all skill levels.
For information and course listings, visit http://www.techshop.ws, email [email protected] or call (800) 640-1975. You can follow TechShop on Twitter at “TechShopInc”. TechShop is also on Facebook as “TechShop Incorporated”.
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