Jump to content

Tattoos at non tattoo conventions


Rob I
 Share

Recommended Posts

Curious what folks here think of non tattoo conventions hosting tattooers.  

I, like most others here, have other interests outside of tattoos. I have noticed that folks are getting tattooed at conventions that have absolutely nothing to do with tattooing. Examples are: the annual Shot Show (a yearly gun industry convention) and also at Blade Show (Similar but for knives). 

I am not sure that these events are set up to be conducive to sanitary tattooing, and have heard a horror story, from a local tattooer around here, about a dude who spent 2 solid days getting tattooed at the shot show only to walk away with a wicked case of MRSA as his reward. Apparently the dude almost lost his leg the infection was so bad.  I was so confused as to why someone would go to this big industry event to get tattooed.  You've gotta imagine there has to be a few legit shops in the guy's area (apparently he's local, and yes there are).

I can't imagine buying a gun at a tattoo convention, and I can't imagine getting tattooed at a gun convention.  I am fairly open minded (my wife would seriously disagre) and am curious as to what the great folks here think of this.  

i don't normally start new threads so go easy..

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't want to get tattooed at a non-tattoo convention.  Not only would the sanitation issue concern me, but it would be weird to me that (presumably) part of the money I'm paying for a tattoo would then go to a business that had nothing to do with tattooing.  I don't know much about this issue, though--are there reputable tattooers that do this?

Edited by polliwog
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@polliwog I don't know who the tattooers are. I recently became aware of this. A very popular knife company posted today about a tattooer that will be working their booth at the blade show. His work seems to be mainly realism and new school so not someone I am familiar with, but (and take this with a grain of salt) has quite a few Instagram followers. 

I would think that overall, the answer is probably no. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I got tattooed at the comic con in town last year. But only because the tattooer was in town for the show. The comic con organizer also owns and operates a popular tattoo studio / collectible shop in town so there is a dedicated area for the tattooing. 

It was a funny experience. Lounging half naked in my sunglasses with people in cosplay outfits getting nerd tatts. The newspaper photographer was all jacked (and polite) asking to take a photo of me once we started the tattooing. Some hipster Lucas Films tattoo artiste said all the white in my backpiece was "so unnecessary". And I saw the black power ranger while getting my smallest tattoo. It was fun but I was in-out and went home and ordered pizza.

 

Edited by bongsau
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I'd have to take it by a case by case basis, but in general, I'd say no to this.  I don't like the idea of getting tattooed being used by a business to sell something that isn't tattoos.  The last tattoo I got was posted on the Black Claw instagram to show how good their needles work, and that's cool because that's tattoo-related, but fuck a bunch of "tattoo lifestyle" bullshit like hipster beard pomade or whatever fuckery people pitch at tattooed people.  That seems really vulgar and tasteless, and not what I want from tattoos.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I appreciate the replies!

@bongsau that must have been a really weird experience!  Have an area dedicated to tattooing is what I assumed went on at these non-tattoo trade shows, however today i saw a post on Instagram by a pretty big knife company,  advertising a tattooer that they are hosting in their booth at Blade Show. They are  booking appts for him! That's right on the main floor and I just can't imagine it's a good idea.

@Graeme I'd have to imagine this knife company is taking a cut of what the tattooer brings in. It is their booth after all.  You would really have to love the knife company to be cool with it. It's bizarre. 

Like selling bicycles at a bake sale.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Got a source for that MRSA from SHOT? You'd think that stuff would end up on at least a blog from the firearms industry considering the insane amount of press there. What I can find is from SHOT 2015 is Eric Fritz and Jeff McIntosh tattooed as a part of a AIATT Foundation fundraiser. I also heard about tattoos at the 2016 show as well, but I can't find anything on it at the moment.

If the tattooer is a professional, I wouldn't really care if it's at SHOT, Comicon or whatever tattoo convention. They all use the same convention venues anyway... I'm pretty sure they didn't sterilize the entire carpet floor at the Vancouver tattoo convention the two times I've been there, so is there a higher chance of getting MRSA at a non-tattoo convention vs a tattoo convention?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@lape yeah, Jason Loui posted about it and the cover up pics on Instagram. 

good to know that for the most part that it's sanitary at these conventions. In the case of the knife company hosting a tattooer in their booth at blade show, it just seems a bit weird. 

Edited by Rob I
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

In my work I treat patients with MRSA and it is everywhere.  You can pick it up anywhere in the community now, not just hospitals and nursing homes. For most of us, hand washing and general common sense, keeping wounds covered, etc. will be enough, but if your a drug addict or otherwise have a compromised immune system you can get it easily

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...