Early Days of The Richmond Tattoo Convention And American Conventions — JD Crowe
Early Days of The Richmond Tattoo Convention And American Conventions
[14:46] “For tattooed people back then, the whole community was smaller. But a tattoo convention back then was like… Muslims went to Mecca, bikers went to Sturgis, and tattooers went to a tattoo convention. It was a big deal to people.”
— JD Crowe
Being part of the early days of tattoo conventions must have been incredibly exhilarating. Back then, only a handful of shows would emerge each year, perhaps 1-3 shows, and even then, they were not consistently held year after year. The exclusivity of being invited to one of these shows meant that you were considered somebody in the tattoo world.
Similar to today, organizing and hosting these conventions required significant time and resources. Securing suitable venues and sponsors who believed in the project was crucial. Additionally, having connections with enough tattooers who would participate and draw in crowds was essential. It was not uncommon for conventions to skip a year or undergo changes in management due to various factors.
Fast forward to today, and the number of tattoo conventions is countless. While there are still exclusive and invite-only events, they have become less of the norm. This is not to imply that present-day conventions are inferior or lacking; they are simply different from what transpired in the early days. It serves as a testament to the remarkable growth of tattooing and its surge in popularity over the years.
The evolution of tattoo conventions reflects the significant strides tattooing has made as an art form and industry. It showcases how far the community has come and highlights the widespread recognition and appreciation for tattooing today.
