Bring on the 2009 circuses of INK! Whether you are hoping to see, be seen, or rub inked elbows with the most coveted professionals in the tattoo industry, we’ve picked the top 10 tattoo conventions of 2009 to keep you covered all year long.
Singapore Tattoo Show: January 9-11, 2009
Location: Singapore Expo Exhibition
Contact Information: admin@tattoo.com.sg
Website: www.tattoo.com.sg
The first annual Singapore Tattoo Show will gather famed tattoo artists from around the world, including show ambassador Chris Garver of “Miami Ink.” The show is sponsored by the Singapore Tourism board and will feature tattoo contests, trade seminars and live performances.
Miami Tattoo Expo: January 9-11, 2009
Location: Miami Beach Convention Center
Contact Information: info@miamitattooexpo.com
Website: www.miamitattooexpo.com
The 2009 Miami Tattoo Expo, formerly the Gold Coast Tattoo Expo, will include world-renowned tattoo artists, live tattooing and piercing demonstrations, seminars, custom cars and choppers, special guests and much more.
23rd Annual New York AM-JAM Tattoo Expo: January 23 - 25, 2009
Location: Holiday Inn - Syracuse/Liverpool (Exit 37) New York
Contact Information: 518.893.2273
Website: www.am-jam.com
Imagine three epic days of all things Ink. Expo features live music, special guest the “Lizard Man,” over 75 working artists and piercers, tattoo competitions including “Tattoo of the Day” awards, leather and jewelry vendors.
14th Annual Motor City Tattoo Expo: February 27-March 1, 2009
Location: Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan
Contact Information: 517.540.6055
Website: www.eternaltattoos.com
Award-winning tattoo artists, tattoo competitions, trade seminars and vendors from throughout the nation will help celebrate the 14th year of this famous Expo in Detroit.
Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo: March 6-8, 2009
Location: Sydney Showground, Australia
Contact Information: mike@tattooexpo.com.au
Website: www.tattooexpo.com.au, www.myspace.com/sydneytattooexpo
The first annual Sydney Tattoo & Body Art Expo will feature over 100 international artists and body piercers, tattoo supplies, merchandise, 8 live bands, tattoo contests and a tattoo art-fusion project.
7th Annual Lady Luck Tattoo Arts Expo: March 13-15, 2009
Location: Reno, Nevada
Contact Information: tazinger@comcast.net
Website: http://ladylucktattooexpo.com
Hundreds of vendors and world-class tattoo artists will attend this year’s convention in Nevada. Seminars and demonstrations, live music, fashion booths and the latest techniques in the tattoo industry will also be on display throughout the weekend.
2nd Annual Tats & Art for a Cure Convention: April 10-12, 2009
Location: Los Angeles Convention Center
Contact Information: tatsforacureconvention@yahoo.com
Website: www.tatsforacure.com
Sponsored by the Healing Art Foundation, this convention honors breast cancer survivors (men and women). Boasting the motto: “Save the Boobies: Tats for a Cure,” tattoo artists will perform cover-up tattoos, permanent makeup and areola re-pigmentation.
2nd International Moscow Body-Art Festival: September 11-13, 2009
Location: Moscow, Russia
Contact Information: av@asinternational.ru
Website: www.moscowbodyartfestival.com
The 2nd International Professional Convention of Body-art and Body-painting in Moscow will feature Russian tattoo artists, singers and performers.
Hell City Tattoo Fest 7 - “Let It Bleed”: May 29-31, 2009
Location: Columbus, Ohio, Hyatt Regency Downtown
Contact Information: info@hellcity.com
Website: http://www.hellcity.com
With over 130 artists on board (this year’s roster includes Kim Saigh of “LA Ink” fame), 75 booths, live entertainment and more tattoo-inspired activities to mention, Hell City’s Tattoo Fest has become one of the most popular tattoo conventions in the world.
11th annual Northern Ink Xposure, Toronto: June 19-21, 2009
Location: Toronto Hilton, Toronto, Canada
Contact Information: www.tattoos.com/nix
Website: www.tattoos.com
Scheduled for three nights, this convention will feature live music, hundreds of vendors and booths, live tattooing and special guests.
Tattoo Convention Tips:
1. Most conventions offer cheaper prices for pre-bought passes, so buy tickets early.
2. If you want to get inked by a particular artist, book with them ahead of time; via email or the instructions given on the convention website. If your artist is especially popular, he or she may be booked from day one; leaving all non-booked clients shut-out.
3. Do your research. Just because you are at a convention doesn’t mean the tattoo artist before you knows shit about tattooing. Always check out portfolios and even ask around if people have seen or front the work of the artist you are considering.
These are just the top ten tattoo conventions in 2009, but there are hundreds of tattoo conventions annually, some in a city near you. To find out more, you know the drill: Google.
Peruse our directory of tattoo photos here and read up about tattoo lifestyle here.
Hey thanks for listing the 1st Singapore Tattoo Show 2009 - Awesome !!!
December 11th, 2008 at 10:36 amHi,
I have to disagree with your posting of the Top 10 list. IMHO you are missing one of the Best Shows bar none. If you were to ask some of the Top artists in the world who have shown up and participated and now return on a regular basis to this event you will soon see that it is One of the Top 5 in the world! I know, because I have been to the show twice and have had the oppertunity to chat with and now call friends some of the Top Artists in the world. Bob Tyrrell has said and stated that he will continue to return every year and has since its inception. Larry Brogan is another artist that has also stated and echoed the same sentiments. The Calgary Tattoo & Arts Festival will be held Aug 14, 15, 16th this year. It has had such great visit as Kat V, Nikko, Sean Herman, Josh Woods, Paul Booth, Steve Moore. Returning artists such as Hannah Aitchison, Kim Saigh, Corey Miller, Bob Tyrrell, Larry Brogan. This year Mike DeVries will be making an appearance as well.
This show is put on by a very tallented artist in his own right. Steve Peace. He puts on a show that is like no other. Artists have said, they are very, Very impressed with how he treats the artists and how he puts the show together for them and the public at large that visit the show. Something that other shows really should take a strong hard look at and take pointers from.
So, really it is one of the top shows in the world and should be put in the top 10 easily by any standards out there.
Thank you for listening.
January 4th, 2009 at 6:09 pmSincerely
Faron
Ink-Enthusiast
May 1-3, 2009
Mesa Convention center
Arizona’s 9th Annual Tattoo Convention with over 18,000 people in attendance in 2008, this year’s event is expected to reach 20,000. On site tattooing and body piercing by hundreds of the world’s best tattoo artists and body piercers. Tattoo & Piercing contest all weekend. 1-3 place, with a grand prize of $500. Music, food and spirits, temporary tattoos, permanent makeup, live side shows, tattoo related merchandise & memorabilia. Many celebrities and NFl players expected in attendance again this year. A lifestyle event for everyone to enjoy.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:12 amThanks for posting this!
March 28th, 2009 at 5:27 pmThanks so much for posting this. Now I’m updated!
June 25th, 2009 at 2:56 am