Ink Lovers Gather At Tattoo Artists Convention In Philadelphia
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The 15th Annual Tattoo Artists Convention is underway at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
"You'll see stuff here that you'll never see in your entire life again."
Organizer Troy Timple says more than 20,000 ink lovers are expected to attend the conference, which boasts hundreds of artists from as far away as LA and England to as close as Eddie's on South Street. He says it's a feast for your eyes.
"They can come down here, get tattooed, see amazing death defying sideshow acts, suspension acts, burlesque, heavily tattooed people," says Timple.
He says celebrity artists from TV shows like LA Ink TV shows, Ink Masters, will be there. But if you want a tat it could cost you anywhere from $100 to $250 bucks an hour, or more.
Edwin is a tattoo artist from LA and says it does hurt, but they work through the pain.
"You have to be a little sadistic so you don't care when they cry," he says. "I keep going until they say stop."
History is also a big part of the convention. Jimmy Skuse is president of the Bristol Tattoo Club, which he says is the oldest club of its kind in the world.
"Tattoos have been around for centuries," says Skuse. "And getting together and meeting is what it's all about. I brought Paul Rambo from Manchester, he has museum and he brought some of his collection."
"If it wasn't for the history," says Rambo, "a lot of these LA Ink rock star tattooists wouldn't exist. The history is really important because if you don't know where you come from, it's hard to figure out where you going to. Tattoo is not a new thing."
Skuse and Rambo say some inventors of tattoo needles and machinery will also be in attendance.
The convention runs through Sunday. For more information, go to worldtattooevents.com .
