Tattoo Competitions
Entry cost:
Healed: $15
Tattoo of the day: $20
Best in show: $20
All tattoos entered in HEALED categories must be fully healed to enter competitions.
These categories are open to all artists, you do not have to be an attending artist to compete.
All tattoos entered in FRESH categories, must be done at the expo by an attending artist.
The tattoo does not need to be done the day it is entered but MUST have been done at the expo.
All tattoo of the day entries must be started and finished on the day of the competition you are entering. You can ONLY enter a tattoo you started and finished the day of the competition. You must state your intent to register the morning of the competition i.e. you must have your client/canvas verified by competition registration BEFORE you start the tattoo! Tattoo of the day are for work from single artists, not collabs.
All tattoo of the day must be started and finished the day you enter, if you are working on a large piece that takes multiple days, you will need to enter best in show on Sunday, you can NOT break up your tattoo and enter it each day for best of day!
All tattoos for Best in Show on Sunday must have been completed at the show by an attending artist.
Competitions will start PROMPTLY at the times listed and categories will follow the published order. Competition times for each category will depend on the number of participants who enter each category.
PLEASE REPORT TO THE COMPETITION AREA AT LEAST 15 MINUTES BEFORE START OF COMPETITION, IF YOU HAVE ENTERED A COMPETITION. No refunds will be given for missed competitions. Keep in mind you cannot hear the announcer on stage throughout the entire building, so please be at the stage when competitions start if you have entered!
Tickets will be given at registration YOU MUST HAVE YOUR TICKET TO GET ON STAGE TO COMPETE! No ticket, no competing.
All sales for competitions are FINAL. No changes can be made once your register.
Any categories with an * have more information at the bottom. Please note the sizes of tattoos and see notes below.
Competition Key & Size Guide
Category Descriptions
*Animated Characters: cartoon characters, anime, Disney, Marvel, DC, etc… any type of ANIMATED character
*Black & Grey: a tattoo with the predominant use of black ink and washes/ any tattoo that contains less then 50% of opaque ink. If the tattoo has 50%+ opaque, please enter in color categories or the opaque comp on Sunday.
*BG Opaque: Any tattoo using more than 50% of opaque ink, no size restrictions
*Blackwork: solid black work, tribal, blackout, abstract
*Emerging Talent: any style, any size this competition is ONLY for individuals who have been tattooing for 2 years or less, apprentices etc…
*Most Creative: bring whatever you got, we are looking for a unique piece that
you didn’t find on Pinterest; watercolor, trash polka, glitter etc…
*Most “Florida” Tattoo: bring us all your Florida man stuff, gators, palm trees, natty ice cans… anything you think is “Florida” we want it.
*Pop Culture: animated characters, movies, anime, Disney, etc…
Size Descriptions
We will provide references to determine sizes of tattoos.
Tattoos must fit inside the size reference perimeters to be entered.
Micro: no larger than 3x3
Small/Medium: no larger than 8x8
Large: larger than 8x8, NO sleeves, full backs or chests, torsos etc.… this is for individual pieces, sleeves and full coverage of body pieces should be in their categories.
Sleeve: Leg or arm; FULL sleeves are coverage of BOTH inside and outside of arm or leg
Large tattoos cannot be sleeves, chest, or back pieces etc…, please enter those tattoos in the categories for those tattoos. This category is for large standalone pieces.
Competition Descriptions:
*Healed Categories: open to all tattooers. Do not have to be an attending artist at our show to compete. Tattoo must be FULLY healed.
*Fresh Categories: can be any tattoo that fits category that was completed at the expo any day Friday-Sunday. Must have been done at our show by an attending artist!
*Best of Day: must be started and finished on the day of the competition you are entering. You can ONLY enter a tattoo you started and finished the day of the competition. You must state your intent to register the morning of the competition.
*Best in Show: can be any tattoo that was completed at the expo any day Friday-Sunday by a single artist. Collabs are not eligible.
*Best Overall Collab: can be any tattoo that was completed at the expo any day Friday-Sunday by 2 or more artists.