Further evidence that nerds are awesome

We had such an amazing time at the Las Vegas Mini Maker Faire!  I knew that it would be a cool event, but really underestimated how many fabulous makers would be in attendance. To top it off, we had a fabulous turnout!  I met so many wonderful people from all over the world, as well as interesting folks located within my own little city.  My newest  demographic consisted of adorable little girls who reveled in the specialty hair clips and jewelry I put together just for the event…how awesome it was to see them rockin’ their new skull and bat embellished accessories all day long!

Although I’m not a tech girl, I have always been fascinated by the creativity and innovation of the technology industry.  I often find myself swooning over great thinkers such as Jeffrey Tucker, who eloquently writes on the subject quite regularly.  There’s something truly amazing about those individuals who are able to push imagination to its limits while mastering concepts that would make the average human’s head spin.  Although many people tend to take modern conveniences for granted, I find that it’s important to reflect upon how these advances have improved our quality of life and society overall.

The Syn Shop is cooking up nothing short of excellence.  Within the walls of their hackerspace they build everything from steampunk 3D light goggles to 3pi line racing robots.  Not afraid to take on any challenge, the Syn Shop is quickly setting the standard for the type of community many of us have been dreaming of for years.  Unpretentious, facing a brave new world, these resourceful warriors have set the bar high.  Their shop caters to inventors, artists, and tinkerers interested in having a place to get their hands on tools to bring their ideas to fruition.  A membership to the Syn Shop gains access to laser cutters, 3D printers, and tons of incredible classes.

Cirque Mechanics performed at regular intervals throughout the day, infusing the event with their delightful brand of vaudeville chic.  I had seen their act described on the Las Vegas Mini Maker Faire home page and had no idea what to expect.  They have managed to perfect sideshow swank with an industrial knack for storytelling.  Founded by German Wheel artist Chris Lashua, Cirque mechanics is an absolutely fantastic concept.  Combining talented dancers and acrobats with sleek costuming, Cirque Mechanics delivers a rare and beautiful show atop a traveling stage.

For those of you who have heard me talk about the Maker Faire in recent weeks, you are well aware that I have really been looking forward to meeting some robots.  Imagine my surprise when ICAN the showbot made his way over to our booth, cracking jokes and turning on his exquisite charm.  I have been familiar with Show Creators for quite a while, however I had not had the opportunity to see them in such an organic environment.  ICAN was interactive and adorable, setting the tone for an energetic show.  Show Creators is also home to several other styles of showbots, one of which can be seen featured in the new Blue Man Group show at the Monte Carlo hotel.

One of my regrets is that I didn’t spend enough time with Romo the Smartphone Robot.  Lucky for me, the outfit responsible for this cute little guy is located right here in Vegas!  Romo 2.0 is powered by your smartphone or tablet, making him efficient as well as affordable.  He moves around the room, smiling at the silly humans he sees, no doubt planning fun and interesting ways to get into trouble.  Funded by Kickstarter, the folks who brought Romo to life plan to add all sorts of amazing apps and features…word on the street is that we can also expect to one day meet his female counterpart, Julia.

In closing, I want to give a special thank you to everyone who came by the Poison Candy booth.  It’s always a pleasure to meet new friends and see familiar faces.  Maybe next year I’ll get to dress up a robot 🙂

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