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| Philly Tattoo Convention Adventure |
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...by Lollie
"So…my head is still spinning & I've only had my feet back on the ground since last Monday… it's doesn't seem like it's been a whole week since I left Philly.
The Tattooed Kingpin crew puts on one helluva show a red carpet tattoo event, presided over by mister Philadelphia Eddie himself. This was my second year to be at the Philly show, it was also my first show to ever tattoo at (usually I am the one getting tattooed & getting drunk).
     
I packed light, last year, we had an issue with some baggage {Mel’s}
being overweight at the Newark airport, suffice it to say, it was not a
good day for arm rests or for Lollie. So I unpack when we get to
Sheraton only to discover I have forgotten key components of not only
my Friday outfit but my back up outfit as well. I know this may sound
petty to you but this is earth stopping for me: I pack for conventions
based on what I am doing, what pieces I am showing in competition &
what {if any} work I am getting done. Not only does it have to not get
in my way or rub a new tattoo, it must be adjustable for competition.
Ugh! So I scurry to the local Buffalo Exchange {love that place!} and
snab some nearly-new goodies to cover myself with.
Did dinner at a rockin joint called the Continental Clever. The bathroom mirrors were 2 way so as you were walking toward the bathroom, you can see people preening in the mirror. The champagne-o-rama cocktail was divine incarnate. Headed back the hotel bar to hang out, make new friends & meet up with old ones. Met Wolfie in person, a MySpace friend & real life mutual friend of Marshall & Dawn, two of my favorite peeps in the industry. Got tattooed early Friday afternoon: a portrait of my teddy bear on my right arm. by Mel D. of Inkjunkys. It is flipping adorable!   As I am getting ready to get tattooed this cat is hustling Mel for a tattoo for his friend who is "The King of Philly" his dad had been someone in Motown & this cat is somebody & wants a tattoo but has no bones for it. So Mel says “No thanks but sometimes you can find an apprentice or someone just starting to do shows who will do free work just to do something at the show” and he looks to me. I ask about the tattoo and he goes to get the drawing while Mel sets up to do my arm. During my lightening fast {under an hour & a half} tattoo, the cat returns with the book: the tattoo is “love” written in graffiti, negative space style. I agree to do it because I cannot pass up the chance to do "love" hella big on a forearm. So my first tattoo was something I wanted to do & something that meant a lot to the client,. my favorite kind.    Friday night I assed out early and slept while Mel played at the bar & go to meet will.i.am. unfortunately he did not appreciate this as much as I would have as Mel had no idea who he was. Saturday was busy with competition & the Miss Philly Tattoo Convention Pageant. I won 3rd place medium color for the dagger on the inside of my leg. I also won 3rd place & a rockin swag bag in the pageant. I think maybe this whole pageant thing is getting a wee bit overplayed. It was a novelty, now it is becoming the norm…who wants to be norm? Saturday was so busy with competition & the pageant, I only did one tattoo: Sanskrit on the back of a high school senior's neck. after the floor closed we were invited to Deep 6 Tattoo Laboratory for an after party… flippin' awesome. We all piled in Annette’s SUV & took a mad dash a few blocks to the studio. Walking in the door is like walking into a different universe: situated in shopping center, the unassuming storefront belies the quality of art inside Deep 6. {www.myspace.com/deepsixtattoo}. I got to be a total groupie & snap a shot with the legendary Bob Tyrell! got to chill with Marshall & Dawn whom I adore & saw Carson Hill & Megan for the first time all weekend that night as well. met PU Nastee, a funny cat that carries his own Texas Pete hot sauce in his bag & on his leg along with a big-as-life portrait of Oprah with "Oprah Moments" scripted beneath her signature chin, a reference to a standing joke with his mom that they too would have an “Oprah Moment” one day.         So exhausted we prepare to bounce back to the hotel & call it I a night when a stretch Hummer limo pulls up, tricked out & ready to take our Cinderella selves back to the hotel. Many room temperature vodka shots, bad photo ops & old school songs later we are back at the Sheraton, taking group photos like deviant prom rejects by our Hummer. Sunday I only had sleeve competition so I was at the booth all day, I had to turn clients away I was so busy! I had the amazing chance to tattoo some really important pieces for some very special women. I started my day tattooing "I am not afraid. I was born to do this" in my own handwriting on a darling girl's feet. she was preparing to move to Vegas from Philly for school. Next were eyebrows--two floors worth of artists and I was the only one doing permanent cosmetics, after which I did stars on the back of a Derby Doll's neck. super busy & so exciting. I lovelovelove working shows@ the energy is amazing; you are surrounded by stellar artists. I was lucky enough to have some collectors share their art with me..and a couple of artists sharing their tattoo stories as well.  
You can see more of Lollie's photos from Philly in the Tattoo Convention section of the Photo Gallery and be sure to take a look at some of her portfolio in the Artists and Studios section. |
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