🗺️ The Basics

Chipspace is a stage located at the end of the Hallway past the Main Concert Hall but before the back entrance to Rock Island. According to the hotel, we’re Potomac C and Potomac Registration if that helps. It is the only space at MAGFest dedicated to music made with original or emulated hardware for classic video game consoles and computers via both open mic and curated show cases. Chiptunes made via the Ricoh 2A03 (NES or Famicom), the Yamaha YM2612 (Genesis/Mega Drive). C64 SID, Sharp LR35902 (Gameboy), and much, much more. We celebrate the artists working with the constraints using this and want to give them a platform. You don’t need to know the specifics as we also welcome people who use tools like FamiTracker, Nanoloops, Korg Gadget, etc. This is why we—unfortunately—have had to turn away fantastic acts that had no chips and must continue to do so. They’re still loved! However, there’s JamPods, JamSpace, and other venues out there for folks who want to do non-chip related music.

Quick note - whenever you see the ► icon, click it to see more info under.

Like this example

Map showing where Chipspace is in relation to the main Concert Hall.

Do you need examples of Chiptune music?

💪 How to Help!

Thank you so much for pitching in! Chipspace is a teaching stage. If you are willing to take on the shifts and train properly, we have industry professionals who will teach you how to setup a stage, run concert lighting, run audio, run real time concert visuals, get experience MCing shows, or if you just want to earn your hours, we’ll have other tasks as well, not limited to but including, assisting with our merch manager, fetching food from staff suite, answering questions from attendees about open mic, and more.

🙂 Jobs - Duties & Leads in Chipspace

(Click arrows to open them up!)

Load In / Set Up

Load Out

Merch Management

Lighting and Lighting Trainees

Audio Tech and Audio Trainees

Visual / Streaming Station

MCs

Other Duties

⚠️ Safety, Safety, Safety!

🧠 First rule of safety: Always think about the safest way to do a task! If you don’t know what is the safest way to do said task, please ask someone more experienced!
😷 Masking - MAGFest may have currently removed the masking requirement, but we strongly encourage you to consider wearing a mask while on shift. Ami should have spare KN95 masks on her. It gets crowded at Chipspace. Please see our cover image.
👖 Clothing - If you are working Load in / Load Out, you must wear closed toe shoes and bottoms that give you adequate coverage (e.g. pants, tights, etc.) There are ladders being climbed and different height stages being set up. Please avoid loose clothing or jewelry.
📱 Phone Usage - If you must use your phone, move away from the work site for your safety. Being in an intense conversation can take your focus away from people carrying heavy objects in your direction or over your head.
🏋️ Heavy Lifting - Operate in pairs or more. Never lift an object you can’t carry with a single hand by yourself.
🪜Ladders - Some people are more comfortable with heights than others. If someone is using a ladder, someone else must hold the base with one foot on the lowest rung, one foot on the floor, and both hands steadying the ladder. If you are unsure what this means, ask Ami to demonstrate.
🏗️ Scissor Lifts - if you do not know how to operate it, DO NOT OPERATE IT. If a scissor lift is in operation, it’s best to barricade the hallway and ask attendees to not pass by while the movement sound is audible. When scissor lift operators are working, stay clear and offer a wide berth unless you are in coordination with the operator as a spotter.
🤕 Injuries
- Full Protocol for Emergencies - see full article below
  
  Chipspace Medical Emergency Protocol
- When in doubt, go to Public Safety (Camelia 2).
- We will have a first aid kit on-site for minor cuts and bandages.

⭐ Chipspace Timelines/Events

Here’s the cycle of a typical day at Chipspace when it’s during regular convention hours