How to Attend Tattoo Conventions

Tattoo conventions were invented not only for tattoo artists, but also tattoo enthusiasts. Tattoo artists may attend to show off their work, buy tattoo flash or other items, drum up new business or talk with others in the industry. Enthusiasts will undoubtedly want to show off their own tattoos, add a new one to the collection, admire other people's tattoos or possibly connect with a new tattooist or a visiting tattoo artist that they might not otherwise get to meet. Whichever group you fall in, attending tattoo conventions is simply a matter of finding one of interest that you can afford.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Learn what types of conventions are available. Tattoo conventions can range from one day events to affairs that last all weekend or sometimes even longer. Small, shop-sponsored events are generally shorter where larger, organization-sponsored events will offer a longer time frame.

2. Keep the weekend open. Most conventions, whether large or small, tend to take place sometime during the weekend. Decide if you want to attend just one day or multiple days, if the event runs several days. If you plan on going a single day, and it's not a single day event, try to find out which day would be the best to attend in regards to who will be there when and what activities will be available daily to decide which day would give you the most for your money.

3. Be prepared to spend some bucks. Tattoo conventions aren't free, although you can usually save money by either purchasing tickets in advance and/or purchasing a package deal to attend multiple days. But, not only will you have to pay for admission, if you're thinking about getting new ink or purchasing anything at the event, plan on spending even more and prices may be somewhat higher than what you'd normally expect. The higher caliber artists demand a premium price, and with good reason, so a tattoo won't come cheap. On the flip side, if you had to travel to get work done by one of these particular artists, you would probably spend much more getting there, especially if they are from another country.

4. Book an appointment with your tattoo artist of choice. If you do plan on getting some new ink at the convention, many artists, especially well-known tattooists, will get booked up well in advance and some of them may not be tattooing at the convention at all. You will need to contact the artist directly or the convention may place someone in charge of arranging these appointments for the artists prior to the event. You want to book your appointment as far in advance as possible to ensure you get a spot and even then, there's no guarantee the artist you prefer will have any vacancies.

5. Find out when contest results will be announced. Almost all conventions will have some kind of tattooing contest involved. This is where you can see some of the best work done at the show and possibly meet and talk with the artists who completed the work. This may also be a good time to get photographs. However, if the event has an abundant turnout, you might not get close enough to the contestants to snap any decent shots.

6. Be polite. If you're the one getting tattooed at a convention, you wouldn't want some stranger interrupting the tattoo artist by asking questions, taking photos or begging for an autograph. Put yourself in their shoes and think before you do something that might be considered rude or could even possibly get you kicked out of the event.

Tips & Warnings

• Even if you have to purchase tickets at the door, day passes for many conventions typically don't run more than $25.
• If you're attending a convention out of town, you can sometimes find package deals to the event that might include discounts at nearby hotels and discounted airfare.
• Many larger and/or annual conventions will have a website where you can find all the pertinent information including cost of admission, activities available and a list of artists attending which may include information on who will or won't be tattooing during the event.
• Tattoo conventions are a great way to meet well-known artists and even see them in action. This is something you might not otherwise get to do depending on where you live and where the visiting artists normally work.
• If you are a professional tattoo artist, some conventions also offer seminars on topics such as tattoo techniques, health related issues or how to maintain your equipment.
• Never take photographs without asking permission. This is especially important if you're photographing a tattoo artist at work who may become distracted by the flash and make a mistake on the person they are tattooing. This also includes taking photos of any flash or artist's portfolios. It's not only considered poor form, but can also get a person hurt if the tattoo artist feels you are trying to steal their designs.
• Don't interrupt a tattoo artist while he's working. Tattooing at a convention can be distracting enough with all the extra people milling around and the noise involved with having so many people in one place. If you need to ask an artist a question, find out from someone else at their booth if they mind talking while they are working or see if there would be a better time to come back and talk to them.

Resources

• Info on Tattoo conventions.
• Tattoo Joy's convention list.
• Tattoo conventions on Tattoo Design.
• Conventions on Tattoo.com.
• The Famous Hell City Tattoo Festival.