In 2007 I had written a column on tattoo conventions and just what occurs there. I'd like to elaborate as this past month we were honored to hold a booth at the 32nd Annual National Tattoo Association Convention in Reno.   My husband and I have been members for over 25 years and attended every gathering since '88 so we were thrilled to be invited to 'booth it'.  We are retired security directors for National and never had the opportunity to work behind the table!

 
My husband, Dave, checking in.  The Nugget gave us a great welcome!

Most of the spring we were busy getting our ducks in a row...lists upon lists, a list to find our lists!   Materials, equipment, etc as required by the NTA checklist.  National sets the standard in gatherings and their requirements are in black and white....no gray areas allowed!

After that it was what will the airlines allow us to ship?  What do we buy there?  We were so fortunate to have so many tattoo friends in the area who supplied us with armrests, work tables, etc (thanks Apache Jil!). Mainland tattooers within driving distance sure had it easy!

A week prior to the show we received a call from Wes at the Washoe County Health Department.  His DOH would do a second inspection opening morning and if we didn't have EVERYTHING Washoe County required... we didn't work.  Period.  It was a welcome professional call that solidified the calibre of this show!

NTA and final Washoe Cty DOH tattooer/booth inspections...have your ducks in a row or it's a NO GO!

We were up and in the booth by 7 am Saturday morning.  Do you know how hard that is on a work force that usually gets UP later than that?  Lots of coffee, lots!

The Washoe inspectors had arrived earlier and made sure the convention center and National had done their parts.  Proper floor protection, hand washing stations, sharps containers, separated trash receptacles, etc.  Then they came to each booth double checking the pass inspections done by NTA the prior day and  covering their own checklists.  They asked questions of the artists... good questions about safety and sanitation.  I was thoroughly impressed with these folks!

 
Portable handwashing stations....a requirement at NTA

The Nugget did a wonderful job of making sure everything National and the DOH required was done properly.  As a board member and advisor for National I've been to other gatherings where the host center had no clue and the results
were quite disastrous.

At our management meeting with the Nugget staff prior to this show it was evident they had done their homework and were ready for our needs.  Whew!

Keep in mind, tattooing is a body invasive procedure that exposes not only the client and the tattooer to blood borne pathogens but in a gathering such as this the unsuspecting public too!

During the two days of public attendance the staff at the Nugget stayed on top of hazardous trash disposal and the hand watering stations.  We didn't have to ask for a single thing from this great convention host!  As a bloodborne pathogen instructor for the Alliance of Professional Tattooists I observed the Nuggest staff taking proper precautions--always a concern outside of our studios.  They made sure all facilities in the center were monitored for any sign of a problem be it a disposed of bandage, dropped trash, etc.  Kudos to the Nugget!

From Thursday through Sunday seminars were available to tattoers who preregistered.  Anything from areola reconstruction, airbrushing, customer service (mine!) to photography for a tattooer were covered.

The show was a success... as all National's are!  The 'family' as we call ourselves gathered, talked, laughed, cried and exchanged tales and facts (there IS a difference) once again. 

Until next year, Aloha a hui hou!