Why Volunteers Make the Magic

Maker Faire Orange County is a vibrant community-driven event celebrating creativity, innovation, and the DIY spirit. We rely on passionate volunteers to make this experience unforgettable.

Thank you for generously offering your time and energy to help make this event a success. We couldn’t do it without you! Your dedication to supporting our makers, guiding attendees, and keeping everything running smoothly is what makes this community special.

Whether you're helping people solder their first circuit, ensuring safety at outdoor activities, or assisting with booth setup and teardown, every role you play is vital to the overall experience. We deeply appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to lend a hand.

Below you’ll find descriptions of the different volunteer positions. Each role is unique, and your involvement makes a big impact. Please read through the sections to learn more about the responsibilities and expectations for each area.

Maker Move-In/Move-Out Help Volunteer

Assist makers with booth setup on setup day and help them pack up at the end of the event. Keep the process smooth, efficient, and safe for everyone.

  • Move-In (Setup Day):
    • Assist makers with unloading and moving materials to their assigned booth areas.
    • Guide makers to booth locations and answer setup questions.
    • Keep aisles and loading zones clear to prevent congestion.
  • Move-Out (End of Event):
    • Help makers disassemble and pack their booths.
    • Assist with transporting materials back to vehicles.
    • Maintain an orderly, safe flow through exits and loading zones.
  • Vehicle Monitors (Special Duty):
    • Collect the driver’s name and mobile number for quick contact if needed.
    • Assign a parking/loading time window (default 15 minutes; use judgment to adjust).
    • Write the assigned window end-time and the driver’s contact on a dry-erase card/board and place it on the inside of the front window, driver’s side (glass only—never on paint).
    • Direct makers to available loading spots and manage the queue as vehicles arrive.
    • If a vehicle exceeds its time window, call/text the driver to determine ETA and keep traffic flowing.
    • Coordinate with staff to resolve bottlenecks or safety issues.
  • What You’ll Bring: Physical stamina, a helpful attitude, clear communication, and calm coordination with both makers and staff.

Tickets Volunteer

Be the first point of contact for attendees—welcome guests, scan tickets, and ensure they receive everything they need to enjoy the Faire.

  • Ticket Scanning:
    • Use a device to scan attendee tickets at entry.
    • Verify that tickets are valid for the correct day(s) of the event.
    • Distribute badges, Lanyards, and Programs.
  • Selling Tickets at the Door:
    • Assist with in-person sales for attendees without advance tickets.
    • Record purchases using the Humanitix platform.
    • Accept payments using the provided credit card machine.
  • What You’ll Bring: Attention to detail, a friendly and welcoming attitude, and comfort using technology and payment systems. As the first impression for many attendees, your warm welcome sets the tone for the whole event.

Village Volunteers — General Responsibilities

Support makers and help keep each village running smoothly. Check in, assist with basics, and escalate when needed.

  • Makers Support: Check in with each maker at least once per shift to ensure they’re doing well, have what they need, and feel supported.
    • Offer bottled water (available in the show office).
    • Watch booths while makers take a short break.
    • Help with minor issues on the spot.
    • Escalate larger issues to the office or staff/crew members.

Glow Village — Special Responsibilities

In addition to the general Village Volunteer duties, Glow Village Volunteers help oversee special interactive installations and ensure the area remains safe and engaging.

  • Giant Lite Brite:
    • Check regularly to confirm the installation is in good working order.
    • Monitor to ensure designs remain appropriate and respectful.
    • Watch for any damage or misuse of the installation and intervene as needed.
  • Safety & Cleanliness:
    • Collect and dispose of any water bottles or trash left in the area.
    • If a spill is found, clear the area and call for cleanup to prevent slips.
  • What You’ll Bring: Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a helpful attitude to ensure that both makers and attendees enjoy a safe, positive experience.

Outdoor Villages Volunteer

Outdoor Villages Volunteers oversee activities happening outside and ensure that safety and smooth operations are maintained. These areas include hands-on installations, demonstrations, and activity spaces that require careful monitoring.

In addition to the general Village Volunteer responsibilities, Outdoor Villages Volunteers have several special duties:

  • Event Activity Spaces:
    • Monitor races, demonstrations, or other scheduled outdoor activities.
    • Maintain a safe zone so attendees do not enter restricted areas.
    • Direct crowds to safe viewing spots away from moving equipment or active demonstrations.
  • Projectile Demonstrations:
    • Ensure no attendees are in front of the device during launches.
    • Guide viewers to safe zones behind or to the side before demonstrations begin.
    • Monitor crowd behavior to maintain safe distances throughout the demonstration.
  • Blacksmithing Area:
    • Help maintain a clear safety zone around blacksmithing demonstrations.
    • Politely redirect attendees who may drift too close to restricted areas.
    • Stay alert for potential safety concerns and escalate to staff if needed.
  • What You’ll Bring: Strong attention to safety, good communication, and a proactive attitude to ensure outdoor villages and activities run smoothly. Sun protection is recommended as you will be out in the sun during your shift. Sunscreen will be available in the show office.

Soldering Station Volunteer

Soldering Station Volunteers help attendees learn and practice soldering while supporting a variety of electronics projects. These may include the official MFOC Projects, learn-to-solder kits, or other solder projects from participating makers.

Volunteers guide beginners taking their first steps in soldering and safety as well as assist more experienced attendees who may need help with component orientation or troubleshooting.

  • Teaching & Support:
    • Welcome attendees to the soldering station and explain what projects are available.
    • Assist first-time solderers by showing them how to safely handle the soldering iron and tools.
    • Guide more advanced makers with proper component orientation and circuit understanding.
    • Encourage patience and proper technique for clean, reliable solder joints.
  • Safety First:
    • Always emphasize soldering safety—where to hold the iron, safe resting practices, and avoiding burns.
    • Keep the work area organized and safe for all participants.
  • Project Variety:
    • Support projects sold at the Faire (kits, badges, and maker-designed circuits).
    • Offer guidance on both through-hole beginner kits and more advanced surface-mount projects.
    • Be flexible—projects may change year to year.
  • Volunteer Support:
    • It’s helpful to have some knowledge of electronic components (resistors, LEDs, capacitors), but it’s not required.
    • New volunteers can learn from more seasoned soldering mentors during the event.
  • What You’ll Bring: Patience, attention to detail, a steady hand, and enthusiasm for teaching others the basics of electronics and soldering.

Additional Opportunities — Join the Crew

Want to help beyond the annual Faire? Join our year-round Crew! Crew members support ongoing projects, pop-up events, and meetups, and often take bigger roles in producing the main event.

  • Ways to Contribute Year-Round:
    • Marketing: Content, social, email, and onsite signage Media outreach.
    • Maker Outreach: Recruit new makers and support returning exhibitors.
    • Sponsor Outreach: Research leads, warm introductions, and follow-ups.
    • Event & Activity Planning: Help organize meetups, workshops, and special demos.
    • Production Support: Logistics, inventory, tool/library upkeep, and show prep.
  • What Crew Means: A reliable group of volunteers we can count on regularly for meetups, partner activations, special events, and larger responsibilities during the Faire.
  • Time & Commitment: Crew involves a more consistent level of participation than general volunteering. While there’s plenty of flexibility, Crew members are encouraged to stay engaged year-round with regular check-ins, support for meetups or partner events, and to take on a bigger role leading up to the annual Faire.
  • Communication: Crew connects and coordinates regularly through Discord, making it easy to stay in touch, share updates, and collaborate on upcoming activities.
  • How to Get Involved: Indicate your interest when you sign up via Maker Alley or the volunteer form on the main volunteer page. We’ll follow up about Crew roles and next steps.