It was a stroke of luck that I even heard about this convention. I've been known to not always be in contact with the real world so certain news items have a way of getting past me. At the same time, though, I run a tattoo website so you'd think I would have known about this months in advance!
It seems the forces that govern search engines and news agencies conspired against me so that I didn't find out about this thing until it had already been going on for several days. However, when I finally rolled out of bed on Saturday the 11th, I fired up my computer and checked out the news. I found one article from a local news station that referred to the tattoo convention and I visited the official website. It looked like something I would enjoy so I got out in the rain and drove my honky ass to the Red Lion Hotel.
There was a $10 entry fee that I knew about in advance because of the convention's website. Refreshments were available and at not too high a price although alcohol wasn't allowed in the exhibit area. Parking at the hotel was almost non-existant, though. I shudder to think what inconvenience any non-convention guests at the Red Lion had to endure.
| The place was a-buzz with loud music and the 60Hz hum of tattoo needles from all corners. |
The exhibit hall was totally packed for the entire three or four hours I was there. Several times, I bumped into or stepped on people due to the overcrowding. Luckily, I didn't stomp on any of rougher people and was able to leave with all my bones intact. The place was a-buzz with loud music and the hum of tattoo needles from all corners. I had never encountered anything like this before and I was already having a good time.
My first order of business was to look for my own tattoo artist, Joe Kennett, but alas there was no sign of him or his business partner John Zig. I'm sure they were too busy or maybe they're just not into the convention scene. There were several booths manned by Austin artists and businesses and a lot more from out of town. From the way things looked, I immagine that some people were unable to be there due to space limitations.
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I walked around with my camera and snapped pictures of whomever and whatever caught my eye without keeping record or even bothering to find out the names of anyone I was shooting. After all, most of the shots I got were of people in the process of giving tattoos and I knew it would be both rude and an all-around bad idea to shout questions at them. Also, I didn't use a flash for any photos other than when I was able to actually ask someone if I could take a picture. Once again, I didn't want to distract or blind any artists with my flash. Can you immagine trying to drill on someone when all you can see is a big red blob? Due to the limitations I placed on myself, many of my photos were blurry and dark but I also came away with some really good shots.
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At around 5 o-clock that day it was announced that contest judging would be held shortly in the hotel bar. I managed to squeeze myself out of the crowded exhibit area and into a dim, smoky, and - you guessed it - crowded bar. It's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic! I got a beer and settled in for what I hoped would be a way cool experience. However, the bar wasn't set up at to accomodate such an event. The poor waitstaff were severely overburdened trying to keep up with our drink orders and then they had barely any room to move! I was certain a beverage-related disaster was imminent but, as far as I could tell, no beer was injured in the course of the contest.
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There was a good-sized dance floor that was cleared out for the contest. A table and chairs had been set up on what was either a very small stage or a platform that usually holds a pool table. The only light for the contest was very dim and totally inadequate for the judges, audience, or any hapless photographers with weak flashes like me! However, I was able to get great photos of two contestants who were milling around before the show actually started and by some twist of fate I was able to get a shot of the judges that turned out OK after some manipulation in PhotoShop. I hung around for the first two categories and left because I couldn't see anything much less get a decent photo of what was going on.
| The art was what you would naturally expect from tattoo artists - fuckin' cool! |
On the way back to the exhibit area from the bar, I stopped by the Art Gallery. Here, various works of art by the tattoo artists on canvas, paper, and cow skulls were on display and some were for sale. The art was what you would naturally expect from tattoo artists - fuckin' cool! A lot of the art was stuff that would never work as a tattoo but a few items looked like studies for tattoos.
After I had seen all of the items in the gallery, I went back into the exhibit hall and made a few more laps before leaving. Overall, I'd have to say the convention should be considered a success but obvious room for improvement exists. Given that this was Austin's first international tattoo convention and the fact that I have nothing to compare it to I say leniency is called for. When the convention comes around next year I hope to be more involved and informed and come away with another batch of great photos.
