Now and Tomorrow...
So, it's July and you all are getting three written reports rather than one, too much information is never enough correct? And three is the perfect number. We apologize now to those of you who are dead bored or just dead but we're nearly done...... Anyway, after returning from the last tattoo convention, it got us thinking about how much stuff has changed since we went to our first. Back in 1993 it was, traveling from New Zealand in those days. It was the first three day convention the PTAA put on and was held at SeaWorld in Surfers Paradise!! What a party that weekend was and a pretty historic occasion it was too, being the first national 3 day big budget event Australia experienced as a tattoo nation!
Now, in 2008, we have just returned from the 23rd convention, and after living and tattooing in Adelaide for the past 15 years, running our own studio, being involved as tattooers and members of the PTAA - even Mike holding state rep positions in SA for 06 and 07, yep things have changed for sure, the industry, the people in it, the way tattooed people are perceived, styles, techniques and tattoo technology - all changed. Improved in most cases for sure but with huge world interest some people say that tattooing has become de-sensitized. It's all about opinion and change only works when it is embraced!
Tattoo fashion is everywhere, Ed Hardy is cashing in on his namesake fashion label - everyone's wearing it from Danny Trejo to Jeff Fenech...A dude came into our studio the other day wearing an Ed Hardy T [knock-off from Thailand - sorry Ed but he paid AU$2 for it] and he didn't even know what the design was on the shirt or who Ed Hardy even is?? You could get annoyed about that eh! Yeah but nah....no point....
One thing that is changing NOW and will affect the tattoo industry over the next ten years is legislation. Currently each state's legislation that incorporates tattooing and body piercing evolves at its own pace - it's all about 'what's hot' in parliament in each state. In some parts of Oz you can just open a shop and start tattooing, others you need to be registered and others again each artist needs to be licensed. As a result of individual licensing legislation, no tattoo conventions can be held in the state of Queensland any more! No license no tattoo! Which means a big fat SORRY to international artists, guest tattooers from other states and of course tattoo fans!! What's the point of having a tattoo convention without tattooing?? ...This is a direct impact from legislative change in Australia that does not benefit the tattoo industry. I guess that's what got us reminiscing about the cool conventions we did go to in Qld - the first 3 dayer at Seaworld in 93, again at Surfers at the ANA in 2000 and then I reckon the last but by no means least in Townsville in 04.
Each year we have seen the international delegate contingent grow and over the past few years we have been fortunate to have not only Japanese and other Asian tattooers but also American and European artists come and enjoy the conventions with us.
The artistic end of the tattoo industry is stitched up - there are fantastic artists working in the tattoo industry nation-wide in Australia, some are in the PTAA and some aren't. Being professional is something that every tattooer needs to be regardless of whom they are and what association they belong to. When you start your career as an apprentice tattooer, you must agree to abide by a code of ethics, to be professional, clean, use sterile equipment and be moral. Always give your best and always respect your art!
The industrial end of the tattoo industry does need fine-tuning and constant monitoring. We need government liaison in each state, we need PR people who are capable of keeping abreast of health and government legislation, people who can monitor and address the media. We need websites with information sharing so that all professional tattooers know what the law is in their state, know what products are out there that can best assist and keep abreast of change! We also need to continue our education of the public to 'think before they ink' and visit a professional rather than an amateur.
Mike, who was the Professional Tattooing Association of Australia Inc's State Rep for SA in 06 and 07, and part of the national committee at the last convention has since made a decision to stand down in 08 and has passed the job on to Jacyn [Jumby] of Xanchies Tattooing and Body Piercing. Mike's opinion [and the opinion of many members] is that new people need to get more involved in what/where and how the ptaa is presented as an association. We need to be more industrial and less like a social club. We need to re-invent our conventions to be in line with those in America and Europe. The PTAA needs change.
To wind up this final blogg, we want to put in a word of thanks to those doing positive things in the world of tattoo and in Australia as a tattoo nation: Mick at Protat/Tattoo Ink Supplies for his creation and distribution of the pamphlet "think before you ink" - pick one up from your closest tattoo store that stocks Protat. Chris Reid for his creation of the PTAA myspace page www.myspace.com/ptaavic and positive projection of the tattoo industry in Australia - but hey Chris, if you're reading this - use a bloody spell checker mate! And finally to Mik Massingham of Semaphore Road Tattoo [SRT] and Tattoos Downunder for their article on Adelaide Ink [Tattoos Downunder Issue 66]. Great support of living and ever evolving beautiful art in South Australia guys. We Thank you.
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