I was jolted out of bed the other morning by the “Bandit” phone ringing off the hook. Knowing I hadn’t done anything wrong, I picked it up without hesitation, “yea what’s up?
“I thought you were sending some words for all these tattoo expo pictures!” Someone screeched in to the phone.
While the cobwebs and Jack Daniel haze had not yet cleared, there was something different about this call, the voice wasn’t gravely and had a somewhat softer tone. Had the big guy finally been forced to attend that court mandated sensitivity class?
“Look, I got enough problems trying to keep this place going, with Bandit being gone on his new adventure and all the work still to be done around here. Send me the words!” Layla commanded and the line went silent. Didn’t seem like the time to point out that “A picture is worth a 1000 words”. So it was off to the fuzzy memory banks of my mind to recall the events of that weekend.
The Voodoo Tattoo Expo was a 3-day event held over the Halloween weekend, October 29 to 31 at the Crockett Center in Austin, TX. On hand were talented ink slingers from around the country, as well as some of the latest creations by several Texas area motorcycle shops. Whether you were in need of new ink, something covered, something pierced or even something sprayed on, this was the place. For those not so much into the fun and joy of having thousands of tiny ink holes carved in their skin, it was not.
And that was just inside the building, outside the main stage had bands like the Dirty Wormz, Baghdad Bombers and Pitbull Daycare to entertain the crowds. There was motorcycle stunt riding by Team XLR8 as well as Extreme half pipe skate board stunts performed by Skate Park along with all the standard vendors and munchie merchants.
This is not Mary and Hannah.
Folks (guys mainly) never seemed to miss an appearance by Mary Carrey and Hannah Harper. These two ladies are famous movie stars; chances are you have not seen them on your local channels. However, they can be found at several selected stores in your area. Another crowd pleaser was Human Suspension by Cicatrix. Now if you are not sure what that may be, it involves, a guy or girl being lifted off the floor and suspended by the numerous piercing in their bodies.
This is not Steve-O from Jackass.
The biggest event of each night was due to Steve-O of Jackass fame from MTV. One-way of telling someone’s age is to ask him or her if they remember when MTV played nothing but music. Seeing is how I would fall into that category, I had not a clue, to me a Jackass is usually the person in front of me, in the fast lane.
If you have ever attended a tattoo event, then you know these people are very passionate about their lifestyles, be it the ink, clothes or the cars they drive. It was interesting to watch the looks on the faces of the standard citizens that ventured into the expo just out of curiosity and see their expressions having an already eclectic group of folks partying on Halloween weekend just seemed to confuse them. I myself managed to make some new friends, along with getting plenty of options from folks more then willing to update my look with some new color and imagery.
How I managed to come out of a 3-day tattoo event with no new ink is beyond me? It is definitely not for want; you see my entire assortment of tattoo’s fall into the 1970’s military day’s category, except for a couple done by a friend when he decided he was going to start a new career as a tattoo artist. They apparently don’t make a surface to practice tattooing on once you have decided this is the vocation for you.
So you have to find friends, either really good ones or incapacitated ones that will let you practice putting a permanent mark on them. Good thing I indulged back then. Boy those were the days?
Till Next Time,
Rigid Frame Richard
