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15th
annual Long Beach Tattoo Convention
By Jeanette Prather
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
There is only one place that a six-year-old can sport a small purple tribal band
across her arm: the 15 th annual Long Beach Tattoo Convention.
Vicky Santos from Chicago was on vacation with her family visiting relatives
when they all decided to partake in the convention aboard the Queen Mary last
Friday.
" The children are only allowed airbrush tattoos," said Vicky’s
father,
Arthur, "We’re visiting my grandson in California and the whole plan
was to attend the expo while we came out. I guess you can say we planned the
trip around it."
Vicky’s opinion on the day and events in addition to her new tattoo was, "I
love it!"
Lea Nahon, a tattoo artist from Paris, France, flew out to Long Beach just for
the convention. Nahon was not available for comment because she was out enjoying
the many facets of entertainment provided while in-between clients.
These facets did not merely include tattoos but also men’s and women’s
clothing, art, alcohol and head shops.
One women’s vintage boutique and salon, "Salon Lucy," was primarily
focused on the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s style and look. Employees
Carly Velez and Jesika St. Julien were relaxing in the styling chairs while owner
Terri Lucero was on their mod-influenced red velvet couch.
" We’ve done a couple hairdo’s and sold a couple dresses," Lucero
said, "We’ve been here since 11:30 a.m. and there are cute boys everywhere
you look and we get to kickback on a couch and drink…tough job!"
Another option apart from clothing and tattoos was art.
Mark Ferguson, owner of Ferguson Fine Art, was pleased with how the day was faring
out for his business. "This is our market," he said. "It’s
an art form that goes on skin and the same stuff you put on your body you can
also hang on your walls at home."
Ferguson and the others were all located on the first floor of the Queen Mary,
although there were two more floors under them. It was as if the deeper down
the floor level the more hardcore the piercing, artwork, pipes, alcohol and tattoos
got.
Artist and owner of Fishhead Art, Matt Kotch, was an epic example of this crazy
and unique display of tattoo rebellion through colorful images of distorted fish
with large eyeballs.
Also known as the "Fish-Eye Guy," Kotch describes
himself as "a psychotic fisherman. My art is popular with the tattoo artists
because it’s intricate and creepy."
Kotch said business is great and that most of his income comes from tattoo shows. "I
sell a lot, this is a good market. I’ve been painting for seven years and
[doing] the eyeballs since 2001."
Kotch also explained his inspiration came primarily from "sitting on the
couch with Bob Ross when he was on PBS," in addition to his love for color,
fish and abstract.
Another pleased patron Franco Vesconi, owner of El Toro Ink House Tattoo, said, "It’s
been pretty mellow but really good business and good times."
Vesconi had confidence with his good sales despite believing that this year’s
convention was "definitely mellower than previous times."
Another patron and tattoo apprentice, Alex Werder, claimed business was booming. "We’ve
already sold two tattoos by 2 p.m. and there are more lined up. But, sometimes
we’re slammed, sometimes we’re not," he said.
With all these tattoo parlor and piercing booth choices -67 to be exact- the
options were endless. Which tattoo parlor and artist is the best choice for body
art?
According to Vic Back, tattoo artist and owner of Shogun Tattoo, "You have
to browse through the artists’ portfolios and find what you want to tat
on yourself, and if it sparks an interest, then great."
Meanwhile, between the tattoos and shopping, cocktail waitresses walked from
the bars located on each floor to anybody and everybody.
One inebriated man, Nick Heilbron said at 4 p.m., "I’ve been here
and drinking since 11:00 am. A lot of people walk by and suddenly everyone gets
into it. They drink more and feel good." to exist.
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