Manchester Tattoo Show 2010
This was my second year at the Manchester Tattoo show. I found the crowd to be a nice mix of heavily tattooed enthusiasts to couples and family looking out of curiosity. The organizers had set up some cool stores selling clothes and jewelry, a ramp had been built for BMX’ers and Skaters (that was good) and a graffiti area which I missed!
They even shipped Cut throat razor specialist Richie the Barber in from Hollywood. So with that and all the tattooists I had a lot to keep myself busy.
First things first though, find the bar not the best selection of beers… Stella, it u’ll do.
So I had a bit of a walk about looking at the other artists working, Liorcifer Tribulation tattoo was just getting started on a interesting piece, Nikole Lowe Good Times Tattoo was working on a nice Kio design – the guy having it done looked to be really in pain. I headed over to the Sake Tattoo Stall, these guys was one of the stand out stalls at last years show and it was good to see them putting out some more great work. Same can be said for fellow Greeks Tattooligans.
Other standout stalls where Grizzly Tattoo (nice Gypsy lady style tattoo), Naughty Needles and Le Segaula Tatau.
I remember seeing Le Segaula Tatau at last year’s show, and was in two minds weather to get one done, I didn’t and it was something that I later regretted – so after another pint and a bit of pondering I decided that if he was free I would bite the bullet and get a traditional style Samoan tattoo (see my tattoo on Le Segaula Tatau website).
What’s a traditional style Samoan tattoo? I hear you ask. Well the difference between this style and a Machine Tattoo is the tools used.
The Tattoo is done in pairs one guy wipes the blood away and stretches the skin whilst its beaten by the other guy – yes beaten, the cutting tools are different in size depending on the how big the tattoo design, usually four widths are used. The tool can only be described as a piece of bamboo with a row of needles attached (bit like a comb) which is dipped in ink, this is then tapped with another stick. So now you know.
I managed to have a chat with Lawrence and we went over a couple of ideas for my tattoo – my girlfriend (Bekki) was also interested in getting one done so he agreed to do us both for £100 which I thought was very reasonable. A mad dash to the cash machine and 20mins later we as back and ready to get a tattoo (my first I might add). Bekki volunteered me to go first (thanks). I rolled my pants up and laid down, whilst Lawrence marked out a guide line a crowd had stated to gather, with lots of faces looking down on me. That felt a bit odd – thinking about all these people who don’t know me with pictures of me getting a tattoo… Now I know how those people I took pictures of feel J .
So with me not knowing what to expect (pain wise) a big crowd gathered, Rebecca recording me on her camera and Lawrence about to start the tattoo – I prayed that it wouldn’t hurt and make me look like a complete wimp in front of all these people, Tap, it had started and to be honest dint really hurt, It was more like a warm feeling growing with every tap… until he reached my ankle bone that was!
I think I managed to hide the pain ok, but the ankle bone and the shin bone where really not a very nice feeling.
Bekki was next up, no tears all went well, she did have a lot of bruising like I said, “beat the skin”.
One thing I did notice was how much more involved in the event you are when you have a tattoo done there, so many people would stop me and ask about what I done and weather it had hurt – we meet a great couple from Bolton who where there for the full weekend, some guys producing a DVD for Dan Gould (paying them in tattoos). Lots of really friendly people.
I ended the day with a straight razor shave curtsey of Richie the Barber, I liked my beard but it had to be done – The guy is so cool with his heavily tattooed body and handle bar style moustache I just wanted to say I’ve had a shave of him… It’s quite scary the way he waves that cut throat about, and the aftershave hurt more than the tattoo arrrghhh!
Can’t wait for next year’s show – think I will do the full weekend… just need to decide what tattoo to get next now.
