Category Archives: Tattoo & Body Art

3 things to know about this weekend’s Tattoo & Body Art Expo

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The Tattoo & Body Art Expo is back at Fairplex this weekend (Jan 11-13) and it is the mecca of all meccas for anyone with an itch for the ink.

It used  to be that tattoos were only for the rebellious and wild at heart, but it is an increasingly common outlet of self expression. The Pew Research Center did a survey in 2012 announcing that 40% of adults ages 26-40 have at least one tattoo.

Tattoos don’t have to be full-on sleeves. Plenty of college kids (and older!) have smaller tattoos representing a piece of themselves to the world. Not convinced? Here are my top 3 reasons to check out the convention yourself:

1. Diversity: The Tattoo & Body Art Expo caters to all ages and all walks of life. Of course those under the age of 18 won’t be getting inked here but it is great exposure to a unique artistic culture. You will see things and meet people you didn’t know existed. That is a solid guarantee.

2. Get Inked: Over 200 tattoo artists are setting up shop just for you. Some of the most professional and skilled artists will be on hand including experts from New York Ink and L.A. Ink. Booking appointments with your favorite artists is advised.

3. Plenty of entertainment: Best Tattoo of the Day Contest, live bands, the Enigma Freak Show and the Miss Body Art Expo Competition are just a few of the events going on throughout the day. Plus the KROQ promo crew will be blasting their tunes on Saturday afternoon.

If tattoos are your thing or you just have a penchant for novelty, stop by Fairplex this weekend and see the creativity for yourself. Purchase a ticket at the door, grab a beer and stroll through the aisles of talent and enjoy the sights.

For information on ticket prices, hours and more, click here.

A New Tattoo and the Human Pin Cushion

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Yes, you can experience both at the Tattoo & Macabre Expo this weekend at Fairplex. Our pal Nate tells us all about it:

Alright, here we go again! Tattoo Expo is back! As at past shows, there will be more than 300 tattoo and piercing artists from all over the world, more than 20 bands performing live, a beauty pageant (Body Art Expo style) and a contest (also Body Art Expo style). Same old thing different day, right? WRONG!

They’ve added a new element to the show this year and I can’t wait to check it out. I don’t exactly know how to pronounce it, but I think it rhymes with chupacabra, and just like the legendary cryptid it is gruesome, horrifying, ghastly and maybe even deadly! MACABRE! (Pronounced [muh-kah-bruh] – it’s French).

This year, for the first time at Fairplex, the Tattoo & Macabre Expo will be showing off awesome freak show performers like The Enigma, who has been featured on Ripley’s Believe it or Not! along side Serana Rose, and freak magician Dan Sperry who has been featured on America’s got Talent. And that’s just to name a few.

Every year I visit the Tattoo Expo and experience something different every time. But the one thing that never fails to impress me is the traditional Polynesian tattoo art and technique. They actually tattoo ink into someone’s body using a foot-long stick with a VERY sharp end, then that stick will get hit by another stick to make the punctures while assistants around the artist help by stretching the skin and cleaning the blood off the victim, oops I mean the client. Take a look:

I encourage anyone with enough courage to check out the show this weekend. There’s always amazing art and merchandise for sale; the show never fails to impress. drop me a comment on this blog, let me know what you think about the Tattoo & Macabre Expo.

Tattoos & Mixed Martial Arts – My Kinda’ Weekend

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tattooIt’s gonna be a tat and splat weekend at Fairplex as the Tattoo and Body Art Expo returns with an added bonus – the Mixed Martial Arts Expo, featuring 10-12 amateur cage fights. The world’s largest ensemble of body art experts with the Gladiator Challenge of MMA – what more could you ask for in one weekend?

MMA superstars Randy Couture and Joe “Big Daddy” Stevenson will be here, so come and get their autographs. The MMA Expo is Sunday only, with fights starting at 1 p.m.

The Tattoo and Body Art Expo begins Friday and runs through Sunday.tattoo2 More than 300 body art and piercing artists will be here. There is lots of entertainment, contests. Check out the website for more info.

If tattoos aren’t your style, hope on over to the Gold and Treasure Show, here Saturday and Sunday. Find out everything you wanted to know about prospecting! Check it out at goldprospectors.org.

Tattoo You

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tattooAll this rain gettin’ to you? Chase those SoCal storm blues away by getting a colorful tattoo! The world famous Tattoo and Body Art Expo opens tomorrow for a three-day gig at Fairplex. This is one of the largest tattoo expos in the world, featuring some popular artists displaying (and creating onsite) their finest work.

Tattoo and Body Art Expo features tattoo contests, live entertainment, body piercing and the Hot Babe and Hot Stud contests. This could be the event to bring some sunshine back to your day.

Hours are:
Friday 2 – 11 p.m.
Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Tickets, available at the door:
$20 one-day ticket (on sale all three days)
$45 weekend pass (on sale Friday only)
Children ages 10 and younger free with paid adult

Caged Ink Leaves a Mark on Fairplex

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caged_ink_resized1Caged Ink. Ya gotta love the name of this event. Billed as “something that has never been brought together under one roof,” it’s a combo tattoo, extreme sports, paintball, battle of the bands, trucks, BMX, FMX, and surf shops. (Surf shops?) They’ve even thrown in an MMA Cage Fight. Not my thing, but hey, there’s stuff here for everyone’s taste. I can tell you from my preliminary visit Friday afternoon when things were just getting started that it promises to deliver all of the above and more for just $20. Is it an accident that this is all happening on the anniversary of Woodstock? I think not. (Note: If Woodstock is ancient history to you, remember that Woodstock is the reason you have events like Caged Ink now: nearly 400,000 college kids and about 30 bands did things that upstate New Yorkers have not imagined since. Totally epic.) So come on down.
Caged Ink
Saturday 1 - 10 p.m.
Sunday 1 - 9 p.m.
Fairplex 4 and grounds
Park at Gate 9 on White Ave.
One Day Admission: $20
VIP pass: $100 (all events + VIP room and afterparty)

Hip Hop Joins the Line-Up at Tattoo & Body Art Expo

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tattooexpoOk, there’s no question that body art and tattoos aren’t for everyone. But truly, look around. This phenomenon is no longer the exclusive domain of bikers. Just ask any college kid you know. If their parents aren’t around, many of them will probably have at least one “tat” to show you.

According to a 2008 Harris poll, 14% of the population has at least one tattoo. One-third (32%) of ages 25-29 and one-quarter (25%) of ages 30-39 have tattoos. Men (15%) are slightly more likely to have a tattoo than women (13% ).  Compared to people without tattoos, partictattoogirl_resizedipants in the poll think people with tattoos are less intelligent (27%) and more sexy (39%). If you’re interested in learning more about this phenom, check out Tattooblog, “Your gateway to the world of Tattoos and skin art.”

If you want to find out for yourself what atll the fuss is about or if you’re ready for your first or next tattoo, Fairplex is definitely the place. The annual Tattoo & Body Art Expo in Fairplex 4 is the largest tattoo expo in the world. About 10,000 people attend the three-day event that starts Friday, July 17 and ends Sunday, July 19 to see and be seen as well as get tats and various body piercings.

Joining the line-up this year, Mack 10, Warren G, and Tattoo from Power 106’s Big Boys Neighborhood will perform Friday and Saturday at the Expo.

There’s also a Miss Body Art Expo Beauty Pageant and a Best of The Day Tattoo Contest at the end of each day of the show.tattoo_expo_resized1

Even if you’re not ready to embrace the tat culture, the people watching is worth the price of admission.

Have a tat? Want a tat? Leave a comment and let us know which side of the ink you fall on, so to speak.

Fairplex 4
Friday, July 17-Sunday, July 19
Parking at Gate 9 on White Ave.
Admission $25; three-day pass $50
Fri. 2 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun.11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Three Fairplex Events Kick Off 2009

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We’re only taking a small break for the holidays. Then’ll we’ll kick start the New Year with three fun shows. The Tattoo & Body Art Expo, a long-time Fairplex fave, will hit Fairplex 9 Friday, Jan. 2 through Sunday, Jan. 4. Ok, there’s no question that body art and tattoos aren’t for everyone. But truly, this phenomenon is no longer the exclusive domain of bikers. Just ask any college kid you know. If their parents aren’t around, many of them will probably have at least one “tat” to show you.Even if you’re only thinking about a tat, this is the place to come. You’ll meet every artist who’s anybody in the world of body art and you’ll see some truly unbelievable body art.

This is a recession buster show. The promotors have reduced the daily admission to $20. Park at Gate 9.


Hours:
Fri. 2 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sun.11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

If your not into ink, don’t worry. We have other shows that weekend. Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4, the all new
Reptile Super Show at Fairplex 6 has more than 300 tables of exotic animals. Admission is only $8 (kids $5; kids 3 and under free).

Looking for a fun, completely free event? There’s the California Rabbit and Cavy Show in Barn 9A on Sunday, Jan. 4.