RoryQ

Oh, and re: Queues... I think I'd get there well before opening time if you want to get in early. There was even a long queue for advance ticket holders today... Took me 30 mins to get in. Couldn't judge whether the queue for people buying tickets was moving well or not.

Wow, great day today... I think this year's line-up lives up to the hype. Saw Ed Hardy just chilling but I didn't want to bother him. Freddy Corbin was floating around and tattooing, cool to see him in the flesh after loving the Vice episode on him. I got tattooed until evening by Tomo and made a bit more progress on my front. Next year will see it finished (kind of sad about that, the Yellow Blaze experience is kind of sweet, sad to call it a day in some ways). Most importantly I met @jade1955 and @Jade1959 ... Nice to shake hands and say 'hi'. And now I'm drinking a nice Brewdog 5AM Saint...

I read a lot of SF / Fantasy and horror, but normally I have something non fiction on the go at the same time for balance (usually religion, history or lately been reading a lot of classics stuff). When I'm at home I always favour real books. But when travelling then the kindle comes into its own... Three books in your bag versus a kindle that takes up less room than one? A no brainer if you like travelling light, like me. Plus, you can "turn the page" one handed.

I couldn't do that "off the long-haul flight right into the long tattoo session" thing... Maybe if it was a one-shot piece or a short sitting, but not for a long session on something like my back or front. I know a guy (an Irish tattooist) who flew to Yellow Blaze in Yokohama for sittings every weekend or second weekend for sittings on a big belly tattoo until it was done... He said he slept on the plane, got tattooed and more or less got straight back on the plane. Took about 3 months. Couldn't do that, I'd end up in some Japanese hospital gibbering about the army of 12 monkeys.

I think you got some good advice re: speaking to Chad, because it seems like he might have a strong preference around the way he tattoos. I get the impression he might do enough for both of you in 3 hrs given how he tattoos. If it was me, in terms if travelling, recovery and spacing:- 1. Are you going to be jet lagged? If so is consider giving yourself a day to rest up post - arrival. Getting tattooed hard when tired is hell. 2. Session-wise I find doing 2 days back back OK. If I were you I would do something like Arrive, Rest, Tattooing, Tattooing, Recover, Tattooing, Relax, Fly home (8 days?).

I read when getting long sessions... I started doing it when I was getting my backpiece and still do it on frontpiece sessions. If it's something I've been saving up to enjoy then it definitely helps. When I was getting my back done I remember one of the books was Dan Simmons' "Carrion Comfort". The last few things have been B-Move / super trashy but readable Larry Correia novels. The kindle works best if you only have one hand. For smaller pieces / one shots I don't bother- usually I'll see if the tattooer wants to shoot the shit.

Always been interested in Buddhism but never quite bought into some aspects. Heard this was good.

@Graeme Looks great dude. I see the missus in the corner looking after her investment.

I'm just there the Friday... Just being tattooed by Tomo from Yellow Blaze (some more colour on my front piece). I love the idea of getting a small walk up from someone too, but I don't know if I should, money-wise. Spent a lot on tattooing this year. Either way I'm looking forward to doing a little walk-about and snagging some loot like t-shirts.

I'm sure you'll be there another year.... Sometimes life upsets the best laid plans.

Reading 'Abbadon's Gate' by James SA Corey, on the strength of it's endorsement by George RR Martin. It's the first in a big space opera series about tensions and intrigue between 'inner' planets and a colonised 'outer belt' in our solar system. I was worried that it looked a bit dry but so far it has really hooked me... Very very readable and feels a bit like there are elements of everything from 'Total Recall' (the underrated movie) to 'Bladerunner', 'Star Wars' etc. When I was getting tattooed in Tokyo I read Larry Correia's 'Monster Hunter: Nemesis'. Don't judge! I just wanted something easy and distracting. This is like childhood Saturday morning cartoon action in a book form for adults.

If you buy an advance ticket online (comes as a printable PDF) then you can get in 30 mins earlier and probably avoid queuing. It's £23 or so (including CC fee) versus £25 if you pay on the day, not much difference price wise though. As far as pricing- some guys like Beau Brady had prices on the designs they had laid out. I'd not feel too embarrassed about being up front about what you have to spend... Different thing from haggling I reckon. Looking forward to this now!!

I'm probably being tattooed from roughly 12 to 6, but any plans for a time for an LST pint / meet-up? Selfishly, around 6 would work for me ;) After that it's family time...

@Lance it's a Namanari - as was explained to me it's a stage before full transformation into a Hannya... Thanks for all the positive comments guys.

@hogg Ha ha, yeah might need a little more. If you look square on standing it looks all done but when I stretched my arms up and lay down I guess not.

@Iwar I've got stuff on my thighs on both sides so he has tied in the front piece, so the background and flowers kind of roll down around them. As for being a tattoo warrior- not me! This has been a real learning experience for me, handling the pain, it's quite humbling. We'll continue this at the London con. I think a 2 day visit next year might finish it off... I think! The guys at Yellow Blaze are perfectionists so who knows.

My never-ending front piece by Tomo...

Anyone know what time the convention tends to shut down / stop tattooing on the Friday?

Bit of space opera meets country house murder mystery... ...David Brin's 'Sundiver'.

I don't know if this has been mentioned already and I missed it, but there's the first of a 3 part documentary up on the Scorpion Font website about the Stab City book by Ross Nagle. Worth a look... He's a real top bloke.

Damn, if it was nicked I hope karma bites the thieves on the ass...

I got my knee done on vacation in Chicago and it didn't really slow me down to be honest. Tegaderm helped cover it after, because the knee is an awkward spot. But having been tattooed by Chad before I bet a kneecap by him is somewhat more ... thorough... of an experience. Could you get tattooed on your second last day, @Graeme ? Always a neat trick... You have your sight-seeing done by then. I tried to get tattooed at Aloha last year but it was mysteriously closed the day I tried... Unlucky. It's in, IMO, the best part of the city. I found a little bar serving craft on tap (BrewDog, oddly) and spent the evening imbibing instead.

I think provided you and the artist are both happy with the arrangement there is no 'wrong' way to do large-scale tattooing. From a financial point of view you need to honestly evaluate what your income is, and then judge how much tattooing you are going to manage in a given year. If you're able to get in several days of tattooing throughout the year then most backpieces would still be finished somewhere between 2-4 years I would think.... Depending... Which to me is not an unacceptably long time (10 years would be, frankly, although I think that was the OP making a point rather than a serious plan). Although I did my back piece quickly (less than a year), it was because I was in a position to get tattooed repeatedly - the artist was available and I had the money. Now, working on my front piece, I find myself in a different situation - I still have the money, but the artist is on the other side of the world. I can travel once a year for a couple of days work, but so far it is 2 years and counting. I think we might be finished next year or the year after, which would mean it took us 4-5 years. What would probably be a bad idea is embarking on a large scale tattoo like that without knowing where or when you're going to be able to find the money to be able to commit to finishing it.

Re-reading Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire". The definitive historical fiction account of the battle at Thermopylae? I think so*. I'm enjoying it a lot more the second time around. Getting a decade or two of adult working life under my belt has allowed me to appreciate the plight of the helot narrator a lot more. It's about finding the parallels. Him: Whippings at the post. Me: Mortgage payments. Him: Parents murdered during sack of his polis. Me: I cannot find my favourite hoodie for the last year. Etc *I've not read any others, but I did see "300".

After much procrastinating, booked flights yesterday. I'm just there the Friday, getting another session in on my front by Tomo. I'm up for a pint after at some stage if anyone fancies it.