How would you feel about being inked at a tattoo convention?

Question

From what I can tell from responses to an early question quite a few of you have qualms about being tattooed at home. What about getting tattooed at a convention....Dozens of artists from around the country....your chance to get inked by artists that you normally wouldn't have excess too......do you do it? and if not, why not?

We need to ask yahoo for a way to delete statements and comments from @ssholes

Answer 1

A tattoo convention is (when done correctly) is a controlled environment and is an extension of that person's business. We participate only in conventions that require tattoo artists to be licensed or from legitimate studios where licensing is not required.

The primary reason is for people to see professional tattooing and have fun - awards are great, too! The areas are always separated from people getting in close. For us, you have to have an appointment set up ahead of time, the artwork done up, etc. On occasion, we leave room on Sunday for people who come on Friday and want work done by us. We then have time to clean up the artwork if they bring flash, or we have some time to draw, etc. and be ready to go.

If you think you can show up at a tattoo show and get the best artists to work on you without an appointment, it is not likely. On occasion, though, you might be lucky enough to get in on a last minute cancellation or find an artist from an entirely different area there with some open times.

In any case, it gives you an opportunity to compare health and safety practices. Truth be told, we generally have a lot of people interested in us in that we even haul in even our own flooring because we will not work over carpeting. We want to be able to disinfect everything!! Some artists don't even know what cord cover or barrier film is!

I also don't know ANY tattoo artists who do free work at conventions.

Edit notes: Right, Deb...VIP freebies are far from what I was responding to above. At any rate, it is very important for someone to answer questions at the booth, etc. because no one should be distracting the artist or client. We don't run into spectators abusing those rules for us, fortunately.

Answer 2

I think you've already put your finger on the plus points of getting a tattoo at a convention - the chance to get work done by an artist you wouldn't otherwise be able to. Any decent convention will ensure that the tattooing is being carried out in clean conditions with sterile equipment - and frankly, any decent artist would insist on this anyway.

Equally, many of the downsides are pretty obvious - first off the much-noted point that lots of people around watching may make you uncomfortable. Another factor to consider would be that having a tattoo done will probably leave you less able to enjoy the other aspects of the convention, because you'll be uncomfortable (and sitting in one place for quite a while!) Having to travel is another factor - a long journey to and (more to the point) from the convention site could make you more uncomfortable. You also may not be feeling at your best due to the general pressures of travel and being in a huge room full of tons of people - I'm not saying this will make having the tattoo done unsafe, but it may make it more uncomfortable. Also, immediately after a tattoo you may need to wear clothes that make you look not-your-best (loose fitting, or cut away) in order to accommodate the healing skin, which you may not want to do in such a public place.

Another possible downside is not having had time to think it through properly. I'm all for tattoos - I have several, and used to work in a tattoo studio - but I think you need to give them proper thought in order to be sure each one is right for you. The temptation at a convention could be to dive in to having work done without spending as much time considering the design, the artist's style, etc, as you normally would, just because of the feeling that you have only limited time to get it done.

Overall, I think it's very much a matter of personal choice. As you said, it's an amazing opportunity to get a tattoo you otherwise couldn't have had done, but there are potential downsides.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

My sister and her friend got ones done at the convention. It was clean, and they had no problem. My only concern would be the atmosphere...if there are people being loud, kids running around, people interrupting with questions, all which is normal, at least to the one I've been too, these are all chances for someone to get distracted or jolt a bit. And whether it's the artist *though most artists I've met are damn good at dealing with all of that while tattooing* or the one getting tattooed, twitching can be bad for a permanent piece of art on your body. :P I don't mind a crowd watching, but I prefer a little more calming atmosphere. Why? I don't like needles *go figure*, and it just helps to relax while getting a tattoo done.

Answer 4

Considering how much of a pus$y i am when being tattooed i doubt i will ever get ink myself at a convention. Im the screaming, crying, bitching, pathetic mess chewing on a giant pink carebear when i get tattooed. At least when people take pics of me like that in the shop i work with them and know its a joke and not going to end up on some magazine cover!!

Conventions that are organised and regulated with licensed shops and artists are as safe as any shop. Even if you run out of sterile equipment at the convention you cna always buy disposable ones they sell there, theres no difference in practices than working in a shop. They are perfectly safe. The only difference is the level of distraction and the wide variety of artists. Its a good thing to visit even if you're not getting work just to see how varied the art really is.

I've seen people get free work at conventions (Bratt) but it was a savage mag editor getting a piece from Nate Beavers (was that kick *** piece that all or nothing has been sporting of the vampire girl and stained glass), You kinda expect the celebs to get free work.

Answer 5

hell yeah different artists from all over the world/states whatever and its not always more expensive than a shop and also i mean they have the good equipment and sh!t like a record of greatness and if getting tats at a convention were so harmful or more likely to cause disease then they would have been banned a while back but thats not the case so people always have issues when somebody posts a ? about tats and piercings because they think its wrong but screw them we know the look differnt when we are 80 or whatever and people will judge us whos to say we dont judge them for not having one what if all the people with NO tats are gay omg then that would mean the president is gay no thats not how it works people with/ without piercings and tats can be straight or gay and getting one doesnt mean either as well having a piercing doesnt say gay or not or that any of the above makes us miscriants and hell raisers so take you and your wife and daughter and go drop the grand or whatever for you 3 to get inked at the convention and have a great time getting it done just dont tat your dick ouch...

Answer 6

I'm actually getting my foot tattooed at a convention on March 3rd.
I too have already asked that question.
You know there has to be a lesser artist that got invited to tattoo, that isn't exactly the most clean type of character.
Plus you have hundreds of people walking around oohing and ahhing and probably touching things.
The majority are though and take pride in their knowledge of being sanitary, so I really don't fret the small things.
But, I think if someone is tattooing out of their home, it just reaks of unprofessionalism. If you're good enough to make money off your tattoos, you're good enough to pay rent, or work in a shop or studio. Period.
I think of tramp stamps and carny styled tattoos when I think of homestyle tattoos.
I'm judging the situation too without ever being in that situation, and I'll never be allowed to have a different opinion, so I guess mine isn't exactly the most open-minded.

Answer 7

A tattoo convention should be set up for as much cleanliness as possible. I have been to them, and there is a lot of people walking around and bumping into people. The area that you get tattooed in should be roped off to keep them away. My home tattooing experience was in a room that had been converted into a shop. Maybe it was not the most legal thing to do, but, i trusted the guy in a foxhole, and with my skin.

Edit: It really sucks when said @sshole sends you nasty emails and then disables his.

Answer 8

I still look at a convention as different than a person's house...dunno. I would consider getting a tattoo at a convention and re: a person's house, I wouldn't have a problem if the person's room or area of the house was specifically set up for tattooing only because that's a studio in itself but I would have a problem if they just had you sit on the kitchen counter and away we go...maybe it's just me...

Answer 9

I would definitely get inked at a convention. The oppurtunity to get a tattoo from a well known artist would be awesome!!

Answer 10

i went to my first tattoo convention in january and will be going to another in march. i have no problem with home tattoos done by talented competent artists. i'll be getting tattooed in march and can't wait! however i'll be using my regular artist, he recently moved 8 hours away tho so a 3 hour drive is very doable for me.


and for that girl down there who said you can get tattooed for free... i have NEVER heard of a competent artist giving away their time and ink for "modeling" purposes. most people who have good tattoos are proud to show them off.