Art Tattoo Montreal, September 9-11, 2016

[Graeme]

The Montreal tattoo convention is coming up in September and it's always a fun time and an excellent opportunity to get a great tattoo.  The lineup is always incredible: this year's convention is going to feature, among others, Henning, Mike Rubendall, Guy Le Tattooer, Steve Byrne, Paul Dobleman, Bert Krak, Robert Ryan, Mario Desa, Nick Colella, Andre Malcolm, Ron Wells, Chad Koeplinger...and this is only scratching the surface.  There are so many good artists working it.  And if you needed any other incentive, if you've never been to Montreal, it's a great city to visit.  If you have been to Montreal, you're probably looking for a reason to visit again.  Lots of things to see and do, great architecture, world-class dining, and for you Americans, the Canadian dollar sucks right now so you can stretch your money.

Who is thinking of going?

Closer to the date I will plan some kind of LST meetup because it's always fun hanging out with the people from this forum.  You're a great bunch of people and it's always nice to meet up and talk tattoos and share our tattoos in real life.

http://news.arttattoomontreal.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Montreal-Art-Tattoo-Show-9786505473/
https://www.instagram.com/arttattoomontreal/

Edited June 22, 2016 by Graeme

[polliwog]

I'm planning on going. I couldn't tell from the website (though I didn't do a ton of digging) whether or not there was a hotel associated with the convention that offered a special rate. If not , I'd love to hear about where people have stayed in the past.

[Graeme]

3 minutes ago, polliwog said:

I'm planning on going. I couldn't tell from the website (though I didn't do a ton of digging) whether or not there was a hotel associated with the convention that offered a special rate. If not , I'd love to hear about where people have stayed in the past.

One year @BrianH stayed at a place that had a secret passage.  Like you pulled a book on a shelf and the passage opened. I say "had" because the place got rid of it, which is the dumbest business decision I've ever heard of because who doesn't want to stay at a place with a secret passage. 

[polliwog]

Damn. James would probably tolerate a weekend of tattoo conventioning if he could stay in a hotel with a secret passage.

Edited June 22, 2016 by polliwog

[tatB]

@polliwog i think it was called Heritage Victorian B&B

 

Edited June 22, 2016 by BrianH

[polliwog]

@BrianH thanks!

[Graeme]

I just looked at Airbnb for the convention weekend and it looks like there are a lot of inexpensive options there too.

[Shaun1105]

I've been waiting months for you to post this thread, @Graeme!

I will be there.

[Mark Bee]

If you are on the fence about going, you should probably pack a bag and go. Its a great convention and Montreal is one of North America's great cities. We will be going, if our September work schedule allows.

[Graeme]

9 hours ago, Shaun1105 said:

I've been waiting months for you to post this thread, @Graeme!

I will be there.

This year I actually hope to make it!|

It will be good to see you again.

[polliwog]

Time off work: obtained!  Can't wait to see Montreal again, it's been at least a dozen years.

[marley mission]

so... say i decided to come to montreal for the convention

whats the 101 on it

-best to have an appt?

-some days better than others?

-good hotels / restaurants in the area?

looking at the lineup - whoah

so many tattooers i would love to get tattooed by

obviously a LST related gathering sounds fun too

hmmmm....

 

EDIT: I should mention too that I have never been tattooed at a convention - not so sure I would enjoy the big crowd aspect so much but who knows

Edited June 24, 2016 by marley mission

[Graeme]

3 hours ago, marley mission said:

so... say i decided to come to montreal for the convention

whats the 101 on it

-best to have an appt?

-some days better than others?

-good hotels / restaurants in the area?

looking at the lineup - whoah

so many tattooers i would love to get tattooed by

obviously a LST related gathering sounds fun too

hmmmm....

 

EDIT: I should mention too that I have never been tattooed at a convention - not so sure I would enjoy the big crowd aspect so much but who knows

If you want to get tattooed by somebody specific, make an appointment, but there will always be opportunities to get a walk-up.  I wouldn't expect some local tattooers to be completely booked and there are a lot of tattooers here making quality tattoos: check out Arno Schultz, Nick Oaks, or Joel Marlo to name three.

In my experience the Friday is probably the best to get tattooed because it isn't as busy as the Saturday, but it's all good.  Honestly, I would rather get tattooed in a shop if there was the option, but this is an opportunity to get tattooed by people locally that I'd otherwise have to travel for, so it's fine.  It's cool getting to meet and talk to new people and there's a good energy at the convention.

There are so many good restaurants in Montreal.  It's an amazing food city.  If you want fine dining check out Park (I heard about this place when I got tattooed by Chad, he said it's the second best sushi he's had in his life, I don't have as much dining experience as him so it's the best I've had), Maison Publique, Joe Beef, or Au Pied de Cochon.  We also have smoked meat and the best bagels in the world.  Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options if you're into that too.  There are also some great public markets well worth checking out.  I know the food here better than I know the hotels but there is plenty of accommodation in the city.

Think about it!

[marley mission]

@Graeme I definetly am - I have wanted to go to Montreal since I was a kid - grew up a Gary Carter fan and my parents had a trip planned for us to go see an Expos game, be tourists, etc - then...Carter gets traded and I also go to the Mets in the trade :) Trip cancelled

anyway - lots of good info in your post - I would guess I would make an appt and go from there 

btw - you scheduled for tattoos yet? You were trying for Rob last year right?

[Graeme]

1 hour ago, marley mission said:

btw - you scheduled for tattoos yet? You were trying for Rob last year right?

Yeah, I had an appointment with him that I had to cancel because my son decided to arrive into this world a few weeks early.  I don't have anything booked yet but I intend to try to get tattooed by him again and get something with good vibes.

[El Dolmago]

2 hours ago, marley mission said:

@Graeme I definetly am - I have wanted to go to Montreal since I was a kid - grew up a Gary Carter fan and my parents had a trip planned for us to go see an Expos game, be tourists, etc - then...Carter gets traded and I also go to the Mets in the trade :) Trip cancelled

anyway - lots of good info in your post - I would guess I would make an appt and go from there 

btw - you scheduled for tattoos yet? You were trying for Rob last year right?

MTL is an amazing city - I can't get there enough. 

[Mark Bee]

@marley mission Gary Carter was all class. Sorely missed.

[marley mission]

36 minutes ago, Mark Bee said:

@marley mission Gary Carter was all class. Sorely missed.

and that 86 Mets team was full of maniacs too

Carter was the moral compas of that group

damn fine catcher too

RIP Gary

 

@Graeme good to hear man - Rob is an awesome tattooer and such a cool guy too 

[Shaun1105]

10 hours ago, marley mission said:

 

EDIT: I should mention too that I have never been tattooed at a convention - not so sure I would enjoy the big crowd aspect so much but who knows

 

5 hours ago, Graeme said:

In my experience the Friday is probably the best to get tattooed because it isn't as busy as the Saturday, but it's all good.  Honestly, I would rather get tattooed in a shop if there was the option, but this is an opportunity to get tattooed by people locally that I'd otherwise have to travel for, so it's fine.  It's cool getting to meet and talk to new people and there's a good energy at the convention.
 

The first time I went I had an appointment, last year I just went looking for a walk-up.  I agree with Graeme, at least on Friday night there were lots of amazing tattooers who were available (I ended up getting something from Jeb Riley).

For me, getting tattooed at a convention definitely sucks compared to a shop.  That said, you ARE getting a tattoo so it's still awesome.
 

[tatB]

this is a great convention. i think i'll be there again this year.

[omeletta]

Would love to go but it'll be a few years until I'm back in Montreal I'm afraid. If anyone needs a recommendation, I've just spent a couple of days at a super nice and pretty affordable AirBnb apartment over there. It wasn't quite central (Maybe that's why it was kinda cheap, but the place was quite new and rather posh) but 2 minutes walking distance to the metro station 'Du College'. 30 mins to central Montreal. Happy to sent info via PM. 

[SStu]

and for you Americanos who haven't actually visited Canada in a few years = don't forget you need a passport, now.

[marley mission]

i wont be making it to montreal this year - not gonna work timing wise for me - but i will look to make it happen in 2017 - sounds like it will be a great time with a top selection of artists

[Graeme]

9 hours ago, omeletta said:

Would love to go but it'll be a few years until I'm back in Montreal I'm afraid. If anyone needs a recommendation, I've just spent a couple of days at a super nice and pretty affordable AirBnb apartment over there. It wasn't quite central (Maybe that's why it was kinda cheap, but the place was quite new and rather posh) but 2 minutes walking distance to the metro station 'Du College'. 30 mins to central Montreal. Happy to sent info via PM. 

Sorry you won't be there, but for everybody else, the convention venue is on the metro line so it's easily accessible from pretty much anywhere in the city via the metro so there's no need to stay super central as long as you're a reasonable distance from a metro station.

[Fala]

I'm going, so is my husband.  Not going to get tattooed though - I filled my quota for the year back in January, and I'm trying to save $ to go back to school, so there's that too...  It's a great excuse to finally get up to Montreal, and to hang with some great people.