Tattoo conventions around the world are in flux. The industry itself is at a crossroads - as it becomes more open, inclusive and supportive, we also lose some of the exclusivity and the focus on art that makes our industry and culture so unique.

James Brennan, owner of Stag and Bones Tattoo, along with Brad Wallis and their trusted partner Greg, are doing the unthinkable: starting a new tattoo convention from scratch!

We sat down with Brad and James to discuss the highs and lows of tattoo conventions, their dreams for the future of The Docks Expo, and why theirs was designed for artists first.

By Artists, For Artists

The most important thing for Brad and James when planning for their first tattoo convention was authenticity. They knew that this should be an event run by tattoo artists, that would put the needs of artists at the forefront, in terms of cost, entertainment and atmosphere.

“The tattoo industry is slowly and surely being taken away from tattooists,” James said. “The people making the most money out of tattoos are not the people doing it.” So James and Brad have decided to take it back - booth prices were set at what the pair agreed they would be willing to pay, and advertised to include VAT, a real pet peeve for tattoo artists planning their next event. They ensured that the booth tables would be large enough, with plenty of space between rows, and that the artists have their own relaxation lounge with free food.

One of the major ways they’ve changed the classic format is in letting artists have some say in where they’re sat. Some artists want to be in the hustle and bustle - others prefer a quiet corner away from the madness. They allowed each artist to choose three tables from a map that they’d be happy in - a much fairer system than ranking by quality, or banishing the junior artists to a side room. “I felt it was important to ask,” James shrugged, “rather than trying to guess.”

All of the artwork for the Expo was done by James or Brad - and we mean ALL of it. From the logo and flyers to billboards, no artistic job was farmed out. James has even been painstakingly creating the awards himself, occupying his dining table with sacred hearts and ship steering wheels for the cause. Next year, they plan to get a guest artist to design the posters - Dan Hancock, keep an eye out for your commission!

Scouse First

After an artist-first approach, James and Brad wanted to make sure that this convention was authentically Scouse. As denizens of this fine city, it was their duty to make sure Liverpool had a world-class tattoo convention, and that it was run by people who held the city and its artistic scene close to heart.

There was a moment where they almost lost the fight - another company was sniffing around the Expo Centre with designs of making a new Liverpool convention. Thankfully, Liverpool’s convention will remain in the hands of Scousers with a genuine love for their city!

But that doesn’t mean Liverpool is their only goal. “We’re doing this one,” said Brad, “but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to do others.” While Liverpool is their home base, there could be Docks Expo all over the UK - or, at least, in any city with a dock.

Who Makes the Cut?

Getting the right quality of tattoo artists to pull in the crowds, while respecting the objectivity of art, is tough.

The pair have sacrificed countless lunchtimes, off-days and hours of sleep to make this convention a reality.  “Getting through the applications is a lunch-time process,” laughed James. The team would sit and eat while poring over artist applications, discussing the merits of each artist and carefully hand-picking who to invite.

As black and grey realism artists, they already knew plenty of other artists in that style - it was finding other styles, like Japanese, that would prove to be a real struggle. The initial list contained zero Japanese-style artists, something they moved to remedy quickly.

While the quality of artists accepted is important, James and Brad wanted to make sure that none of the artists feel neglected. “You want everyone to feel valued,” said Brad, “everyone’s paying the same price for a booth.” And while the global names might bring in more of a crowd, blatant favouritism comes at the expense of other artists.

At the end of the day, knowing people is important, but Brad and James wanted artists to be chosen entirely on the quality of their work - not the number of followers they have.

So it’s no real surprise that several of our sponsored artists have made the list! Seek out Adam Blakey, Thomas Carli Jarlier, Arron Raw, Yarson and Thomas Farrow for black and grey realism; Anthony Lennox, Peter Murray and Veda Ink for neo-traditional; Amy Edwards for colour realism, Simon Mora for blackwork, and Rysaa for sketch-style pieces across blackwork and colour.

Art First

There’s a reason why this convention is named the Docks Tattoo and Arts Expo - it was important to James and Brad that the convention reinforces that link between art and the art of tattooing.

There will be an art gallery for visitors to explore, with pieces from both tattoo and other artists, and a large collaborative wall of art that anyone can contribute to. “Tattooing is an art,” James said, “but a lot of artists don’t see it as a medium of art.”

Getting the Right Entertainment

Expect DJs, live music, a strong man who drives nails into wood with his head, and of course everyone’s favourite Fuel Girls. The Fuel Girls are a staple of tattoo conventions, but they bring the crowds in - ticket sales spiked as soon as they were announced, with people reaching out to find out when they’re performing.

Brad and James tried to find a balance between entertaining the customers - whose ticket purchases will ultimately make or break the convention - and making sure the tattoo artists aren’t bored out of their skulls by watching the same few acts over and over again.

They’re keeping the scouse connection alive with local comedian Gary Hyland taking the role of MC. There will also be live music from Seafoam Green, A Hundred Endings, Pant Tearer, and local Deana, most known from her appearance on The Voice.

And with a healthy mix of clothes, jewellery, candles, aftercare and taxidermy for sale, there’ll be plenty to see and spend your money on!

Family-Friendly Fun

As tattoo artists with kids, it was important for both of them that The Docks Expo was a family-friendly affair.

Sure, the Fuel Girls will be there, plus Steve Titan and his brutal sideshow antics - but the team made sure to stay away from anything explicitly adult. There’ll even be booths for the kids - one allowing them to express their tiny artistic selves on canvas that they can take home, and another for them to get temporary or airbrushed tattoos.

Tickets for the very first Docks Expo are now available at the reasonable price of £33 for the weekend and £22 for each day (VAT included, of course). Discounted prices are available for 12-17 year olds, and entry is free for under 11s.

Hurry up and grab your tickets for this epic new event - we can’t wait to see you there!