Here at Sinner HQ we always look forward to the Brighton Tattoo Convention. It’s always packed with tattoo fans eager to get stuck in to some new ink at the start of the year.

As always the convention is superbly organised and run. Everything we artists need is looked after with efficient ease and it makes the whole weekend so enjoyable. (Other show organisers take note… it’s not hard to provide the basics)

Being January of course it’s gonna be cold, but once inside it’s warm and cosy and so full of bodies it’s hard to stay chilly for long. The Sinners were based upstairs in a sweet spot just as you went in the room and our booth was always jammed with people checking out the tattoos and stuff for sale. Must have been a lot of guitar players about, ‘cos we shifted a fair few Seven Sins plectrums over the weekend!

For us the weekend went in the blink of an eye and was over too quick! We all agreed it was an outstanding convention and we’re already looking forward to next year!

Skull & Flowers by Chic

   

Joker by Chic

Chris working his first convention! Not nervous....!

Penguin by Chic

Here at Sinner HQ we love a bit of motorbike racing and waste countless hours on sundays watching Eurosport in pursuit of our two wheeled fix.

So we’d like to send a MASSIVE congratulations to our local hero, Tommy Hill for clinching the BSB championship at the weekend, in what was probably the most nail-biting and exciting racing we’ve ever seen!

Well done Tommy! Totally deserved mate!

We look forward all year to the London Tattoo Convention at Tobacco Dock. It’s quite simply one of the very best shows – rammed with awesome quality artists from all over the world, superb entertainment, and more merchandise than you can possibly afford or carry home!

It’s inspiring to see the artists you only usually read about in magazines actually doing their stuff, up close and full on.

If you’ve never been then put it in your diary for next year, you won’t be disappointed!

What can I say about the State of the Art tattoo convention in Derby…? I’d be expecting big things from this long-running, well respected show, but as usual, I came away really dissappointed

Dreary – it rained pretty much all weekend – too be expected I guess

Dull – severely lacking in atmosphere

Dearth - a real lack of punters through the door – possibly due to lack of promotion? One small sign in the venue window… not enough really

Disappointing – punters just wanting prices, with no intention of getting anything done – or having such big pieces they couldn’t afford them anyway

Dismal – the future of the tattoo convention as we know it? It’s obvious there’s now too many shows, sometimes three on the same weekend. This is seriously watering down every aspect of conventions.

Drawing – we counted dozens of artists sitting in empty booths just drawing because they had no-one to tattoo! It just doesn’t happen.

Disaster – the first convention that I made a loss! Ridiculous – it’s never happened – we’ve always at least covered our costs

Dingbat – me, for forgetting stuff yet again! One day I’ll do a proper check list like Mrs Sinner is always telling me to.

So there you go – a poorly attended show that fell flat and well short of my, and everyone else’s expectations – the general consensus of artists at the show that this was the beginning of the end of the State of the Art…. and possibly other conventions across the country

The highlight of the weekend for me was spending an hour or so chatting to Woody from High Wycombe – quite simply, the man’s a genius and I could chat to listen to him for hours!

a punter - quick - sit him down...!

Regular sinner blog readers will be well aware of my trials and tribulations at last months Bournemouth tattoo convention, so with more careful planning I was hoping this months convention trip to Portsmouth would be a lot less traumatic… Ha-ha!
This time I made sure to pack all the bits I’d forgotten last month! Top of that list was a lamp (which was really necessary given the dingy hole we ended up working in!) more small grips, etc etc. Hopefully all things covered…
So we make the journey fine in the comfy Sinnermobile and get to the historical port of Portsmouth via the gift of sat nav, then drive around the one way system for a while…. then being told by mrs sat nav that ‘you have reached your destination’? Er, no we ain’t… We’re still driving around looking for the Guildhall…!
Now forgive me for being stupid, but if you’re Read the rest of this entry »

Well the first tattoo convention of the year for us Sinners was, quite frankly, a stress-filled pain in the arse!
From the moment we arrived on day one, it was clear we were going to have problems.
We found our booth ok and started to get set up… but hold on… nowhere to put my power pack, colours etc? No water, no paper towels? What the fuck? So off we go to find someone who knows… an organiser (ha-ha) So we find one, who tells us there should be a stall for paper towels, water etc, but it’s not set up yet… so we leave it a while… then find another person with a smart ear-piece, and… surprise, they still don’t know where to find these basic essentials – he does manage to direct us to a sink though! Which isn’t really what we needed. Eventually we gave up trying to get anything with these muppets and Mrs Sinner went into town to get them instead. Then we began to put stuff up… and it fell down! brilliant!
Then I started to realise the bits I’d left behind in the studio… no lamp! excellent!
Good job I found my clip on the glasses led lights in my case!
More drama – Not enough small tips! so I have to go and buy a box of disposables. The I look and my cleaning bottle is almost empty! Blimey, I really must pay more attention when packing stuff up.
So, we get the booth looking okay and the punters start arriving, and asking for designs and prices etc – so I get the laptop going and try to scan stuff and print stuff…. and surprise, surprise! The fucking thing won’t work! No scanner, no printer! I get a bit flustered and delete the driver I need by mistake – bollocks!
So then I have to pay a fiver to get the internet (you’d have thought these days that a massive International Centre would have free fucking Wi-Fi wouldn’t you?) and download another one – and it still won’t work – I figure out it must be the USB cable is knackered… so as I don’t have a spare, I’m knackered too!
But, then one of the organisers (lol) tells me there’s a booth in the merchandise hall that can scan and print for us – result! So I leave the expectant customers waiting while I go and get the designs re-sized. Well these two idiots were fantastic! How about nearly 40 minutes to do two scans and print outs…! Honestly, it was the most frustrating thing, watching this dumbass who obviously had never managed to dress himself let alone used a Macbook before, try and do such a simple task. By the end of my long wait there was a massive queue behind me! So then I get back and at last manage to get the first tattoo of the day under way.
After that it got marginally better – though my wolf started pretty badly, looking a bit like a scabby dog for a while! Before I got my brain engaged, changed machines, and sorted it out. The Indian Chief and wolf turned out alright in the end, thank god, and the customer, Hank, was pleased with it.
By the end of day one I was ready to get back to the hotel and just disintegrate! Mrs Sinner and I went down to the hotel restaurant and had a bloody fantastic dinner! Just what the doctor ordered!
Day two was better – we nipped into town and got a new USB cable which sorted the scanning and printing drama – yippee! But despite being quite busy, it really lacked any atmosphere and people were just browsing and asking ‘how much’ and not really seeming to want much tattoo work. I did a funny finger moustache to add to our Facebook folder and some diamonds and stars but that was really it. No-one seemed to want anything big, but that’s how it goes sometimes I guess… At least it was less stressful!
So by about 4.30 the place was dying a death, so we packed up early and were back on the road home by about half six.
Will we go again next year? I doubt it. Pretty poor organisation, lack of atmosphere and lathargicl punters mean I’ll give it a miss thanks
Oh yeah – and they still owe me a bloody refund!

Mrs Sinner in hiding!

Good job I packed the 'eye-lights'!

Lamb Shank on parsnip mash... awesome!

Hayley and her new 'tache!

You can't go to a convention without getting a new toy!

Just to remind all you lovely Sinners that our week of Tattoos & Art gallery exhibition opens this thursday 19 May at the Greenstede Gallery in the Chequermead Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
For the last god knows how many weeks, we’ve been painting and drawing our backsides off in preparation for our very first gallery event!
And it’s nerve wracking stuff let me tell you!
Putting your art on display for all is leaving yourself open to all kinds of criticism, judgement and ridicule, so we really hope it’s well received and the paying public enjoy it.
So if you’re at a loose end this week, drop in and have a look, say hi and take in the hard work that is Tattoos & Art

Hi you lovely Sinners!
Here’s some dates for your diaries:
Chic will be working at these conventions

28 – 29 May – Bournemouth – www.bournemouthtattooconvention.com/

18 – 19 June – Portsmouth

16 – 17 July – Derby

http://www.tattoo-2001.com/index.html

Look forward to seeing you!

The Tattoo and Piercing Industry Union committee were shocked and dismayed to witness this Sunday’s edition of the popular motoring television show, Top Gear, featuring presenter Jeremy Clarkson driving a 4×4 vehicle over rough ground, while a so called ‘tattooist’ tried to tattoo a clover leaf design onto his friend’s shoulder, with as expected, shockingly poor results.

The issues of this practice are many, and obviously centre around the complete lack of hygiene, care and best practice the tattoo industry is trying very hard to promote, especially given the high level of media interest in tattoos in general at present.

The ‘tattooist’ appeared to be wearing latex gloves, which are not recommended by the TPI, due to the possible health risks associated with latex for the practitioner and client alike. The tattooist was heard to say that he’d hit himself with the needles, obviously subjecting himself to serious risk of infectious diseases, and when the ‘tattoo’ was finished, he appeared to spit on the tissue and wipe the fresh tattoo, again risking infection for the client.

Not content with doing this once, Clarkson went on to repeat the process in another vehicle, attempting to show the ‘smoothness of the ride quality’ between comparable vehicles.

Subjecting the viewer to this twice was unforgivable and will undoubtably result in the usual complaints against tattooing in general and ‘copycat’ idiots attempting the same stunt, with potentially disastrous consequences.

The TPI would expect Top Gear and Mr Clarkson to publicly apologise for this stunt, in a poorly judged bid to maintain viewing figures.

This Press Release was sent to:
Skin Deep, Total Tattoo, Tattoo Revolution, The Sun, The Mirror, The Express, Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Times
So far the only replies have come from Total Tattoo and Tattoo Revolution magazines.
Alex from Tattoo Revolution has asked to print it as it is, but so far nothing else.

Here at Sinner HQ we like a bit of the noble art…

Queensbury Fight League put on rockin’ shows all year and us Sinners are very proud to be one of the sponsors. On Nov 27 at Effingham Park they staged ‘Dynamite’, a packed bill of fourteen bouts with no less than three title fights. It was bloody freezing outside, so it was good to get inside and get to the bar.

The venue was sold out, totally rammed, and the atmosphere was pumping from the start of the first bell. Every bout saw the fighters giving absolutely everything they had and more, some of them fighting in public for the very first time – much respect!

Seven Sins were sponsoring the Queensbury Middleweight title, a five rounder between Ian Fletcher and Tom Green. Both fighters were challenging for the belt so it was going to be an awesome fight. The Sinners at ringside always support Tom. He’s a regular client in the shop and as hard as fuck! It lived up to the billing, with Tom showing his growing ring craft and really boxing clever, as well as launching into his usual bombardments! Ian was a very worthy opponent and between them they put on a superb fight. It went down to a points decision, with Tom coming out as the winner – and the new Queensbury Middleweight Champion! Nice work fella!

Something I failed to mention to anyone, was that the promoter Mark, who had the honour of being our first customer in the new shop, had mentioned to me while I tattooed him, that he would get me to present a belt on the night. I’d kinda almost forgotten about that, so you should have seen Mrs Sinner’s and the Alien’s faces when the MC announced that the championship belt would be presented by…. Chic Child of Sevennnn Sinssss Tattoooooooooo! They were a bit sunned and amazed as I headed off and barged my way past the bouncers (ha-ha), then once Ross Minter had given me the title belt I hopped into the ring.

It was a great honour for me to present the belt to Tom and have a photo taken to preserve the event. It will be hanging at my work station very soon.

Cheers Mark and the Fat Lip crew for another top, top night, with some spectacular boxing and a whole lot of fun!

Get yourselves some tickets (www.queensburyfl.co.uk) for the next one in February, you won’t be disappointed!