International Tattoo & Art Expo product reviews

This was actually a very difficult to assess fairly, since a number of factors conspired to make things awkward.

For a start, a fair few of the stallholders didn't bother to show up, and same too with some of the displays (eg. Hotrods and Custom Cars - those few that did turn up were far from top-line)... on top of that the turnout was almost double what was predicted... and planned for. Thus the alleyways between stalls were far too packed and the outdoor areas were too crowded to see much of the attractions.

Despite that, the displays that were full were pretty impressive for those who dig getting inked, with a lot of 'live action' going on, plenty of suppliers of tattoo gear at very good prices (especially good for those wanting to get their own kit together and open shop) and some very interesting and talented artists from around the country, and the world.

The Saturday was by far the better day, despite the crowding, with the most displays and artists in site. The Sunday, however, was a lot less impressive, with the stalls packing up well ahead of the closing deadline... those that even turned up at all. Well over half the stalls were empty before lunchtime.

Overall, this was the first event of it's kind in New Zealand, and organised 'on the fly' from all accounts, so it's not really surprising that whatever could go wrong, did in many cases. However, learning from the mistakes and upsets this time around should make it a lot more likely that next year, if it goes ahead, it should be a much better, more co-ordinated event. Not too sure if I would say this event was worth the $25 weekend pass, but next year could certainly be if they get some good backup planning in place.