Tattoo Convention
What’s on my mind?
I've stood atop the Acropolis in Greece, marveled at Bangkok's reclining Buddha, and wandered the streets of Rome. Never did I picture myself at a Tattoo Convention in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
As I stepped inside the convention and flashed my neon green wristband, all my preconceptions about tattoos and tattoo artists vanished. The atmosphere was electric, with renowned tattoo artists gathered for the 2025 Havasu Legends Tattoo Show to showcase their talent and compete for coveted trophies.
Curious about the tattoo experience, I drifted toward those getting inked and couldn't help but wonder how much it hurt. Nervous but inquisitive, I asked them. Most smiled and said the pain was bearable, then unwrapped and popped hard candy into their mouths. I was later told the candy raised their blood sugar and helped distract them from the pain.
Wandering from booth to booth, I watched as gifted artists transformed bare skin into living canvases. At one station, four artists worked in unison, their needles inking a fiery, infernal design across a client's entire leg. The man, entranced by pain, clenched a pillow to his chest and let out a low, steady groan.
Eventually, my path led me to tattoo celebrity Matt Gone, the world’s most tattooed man—a highlight of the event. He’s 99% covered, even the whites of his eyes, and holds the Guinness World Record for 848 black squares. He said he chose squares because they don’t frighten children, which mattered to him. His approachability, warmth, and patience with us, even when we asked dumb questions, stood out, as did the welcoming vibes from the other vendors. We were the only people in the room over the age of 60, which made us feel as if we were the “cool” parents for showing up. Of course, we were asked repeatedly if we wanted to get inked, even if only a dot, but we politely declined and praised their work.
I never expected to add 'Visit a Tattoo Convention' to my bucket list, let alone cross it off. Yet, as I left, I felt unexpectedly grateful and changed.
