Nview:Marketing/Events/East Bay Maker Faire::2018 X Reflections

Stats

Parents w/ kids age 8-9 were immediately ready to throw cash down to teach their kids 3d printers, but they hesitated bc it didn't look that doable for a child. These parents are actively looking to wow their children and many come from engineering backgrounds and are all upper class. I feel like I saw at least 2-3 parents like this. Of parents I personally talked to in this demographic, this was about 100% of them seemingly.
Makerspaces. There was a makerspace that was struggling w this tension: 600 on the email list, but 40-60 ppl paying. How do they change their pricing structure to reflect involvement in the space? Can OSE contribute to making this happen on some scale? (hint: ppl use makerspaces to use tools to support projects that they're working on at home but just need occassional tools to use w/o waiting... so...inc. involvement might actually mean more access to tools at home, and focusing more on the value add of the makerspace itself, instead of being a 1 stop shop, it's a super-focused... soemthing or another, or there's outposts or something)
Teachers were generally eager to learn more 3d stuff. They saw how if you print things locally, especially with upcycled filament, that at a poor school, more money could be spent on kids.
Dentist guy real interested in 3d printers for teeth. He wanted to undrestand 3d printers before investing. Might buy. Might not.
Eccentric backyard maker who loves OSE spec.

The Wow Moment

I felt I reached a "wow moment" most often with people when I conveyed the whole Microfactory idea -- that the 3D Printer workshop was only the first in a series that enables home-scale recycling plus advanced fabrications with circuit mill & laser cutter.

We could partner w/ dentist 3d printer to make a curriculum to teach dentists about 3d printing.
Lean heavy on angle for schools to reach break even by printing school supplies w/ makerspace.

Come w/ 3d printed objects
Chatting w/ other maker spaces, even if it's just to say "come check out our booth" would have been good.
Have more marketing materials (people loved taking flyers) :: consider a brochure.
tablet for collecting emails, instead of handwriting.
did well and do again: have chairs on the side so people can sit.
did well and do again: have a side table for the 3d printer or other object as a separate attraction
did well and do again: angling people to sign up to learn more for email list.