The first official tattoo convention was in Houston, Texas, in 1976. Back then, conventions were for serious tattoo industry professionals only, but they’ve changed a lot since then. Here are some hints to help you get the most out your visit to a tattoo convention.
Artists won’t be tattooing for free.
It’s a common misconception that the price of admission to a tattoo convention comes with a free tattoo. That just isn’t the case. Tattoo artists there are working, and deserve to be paid for their work. Some of them will be offering deals on specific designs and flash, while others will have increased their normal prices to make up for their travel and booth expenses. It all depends on the artist.
But you can get tattooed!
You can definitely get tattooed at conventions. Some of the artists will be fully booked in advance, so they may be unavailable the day of. If there’s a specific person you’d like to get a tattoo from, it’s always best to contact them in advance and ask about their availability. Other artists prefer walk-ups, which means you can get a small tattoo the day of the convention with very little pre-planning. Keep in mind that if you decide to take your chances on a walk-up, you’ll want to get there early. Artists book up quickly and may not have time later on in the day. Make sure to have an idea of what you want or be willing to take one of the artist’s pre-drawn designs. Don’t forget to bring enough money — cash is best but most conventions have an ATM nearby.
Dress appropriately.
Chances are you’ll be walking a lot at a convention, so wear comfortable shoes. If you’ll be getting tattooed, keep in mind that conventions are usually busy and privacy is limited, so dress so you can reveal the area being worked on without being exposed beyond your comfort level.
Be respectful.
This seems like an easy one, but it’s important to remember to be respectful of both vendors and other convention attendees. That means asking people before taking pictures of them or their tattoos, not touching other people’s tattoos without permission, avoiding haggling with an artist you don’t know and not monopolizing an artist when they’re trying to work on someone else’s tattoo. At conventions, it’s easy to get excited and forget that tattoos are on someone’s body forever and that this industry is people’s livelihoods, so don’t forget to be kind and polite to others in that environment.
The Three Rivers Tattoo Convention runs Friday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick. Doors open at 12 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at http://www.threeriversconventioncenter.com/tattoo or at the door.
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