Shotsie Gorman

There are several great books available on Public Relations "Gureilla marketing" is one. and a second one-- I think it's called "my elephant has a pink TuTu" There are more than likely many new books on the subject. They discuss every level of PR from customer service to putting together conventions. You can actually hire PR firms for short contracts to place you in NEws papers radio and tv for a fee. There are also companies that can track how many times your comnpany shows up in the Press. They list every time you name is mentioned online as well. The local universities often have PR classes in the adult schools for small businessmen. One thing for sure is to have a budget in mind thyen a seriously well thought out plan getting all your info together such as printed material like brochures etc. Don't for a minute think tattoo shops don't need such things to make it. Yopu can do the simple things like hire a local celebrity who has a charitable cause they work for and double whammy the money as a fund raiser and bring in people for autographs. Or Sponser a local Emergency squad or other local civic minded stuff never usually associated with tattooing. Always go for the strange bedfellows if you catch my drift. do a soft opening and get things up and running then plan for a major opening event some months later in the summer when peple are out in the streets and looking for something to do. Well I hope that helps. I can tell you what not to do DO NOT send out announcements to NEwspapers that you are opening a new tattoo business. No one effin cares... Shotsie

20th Annual Tattoos & Blues Event Schedule Thursday Feb 24th- 10 AM- APT Seminar- Cost is $75 for non-members and free for members 7 PM- Bert’s Roast- Cost is $30 per person Friday Feb 25th- 10 AM- Booth Set Up 12 PM- Doors Open 5PM- Fire and Wheels 8:30- Wild Fire Dancers in Lounge 9PM- 1am- Welcome Party In Lounge with Side of Blues 10pm- Ballroom Closed Saturday Feb 26th- 11AM- Doors Open Contest registration Opens 2PM- Fire And Wheels 3:45PM- Contest Registration Closes 5 PM- Tattoo Contest Best Traditional Tattoo Best Black & Grey Tattoo Best Individual Male- Small one sitting individual tattoo Best Individual Female- Small one sitting individual tattoo Best Overall Best Sleeve Best Flash Sheet 6PM- Uncle Mark’s Scorched Earth Blues Band 8:30- Wild Fire Dancers 9PM- Contest Awards 10PM-1AM Side of Blues 11PM- Doors Close Sunday Feb 27th- 11AM- Doors Open Contest Registration Opens 2PM- Fire and Wheels 3:45- Contest Registration Closes 5PM- Tattoo Contests Most Unusual Tattoo Best Color Tattoo Best Portrait Best Back Piece Best Tattoo of the Show Best Booth 6PM- Roger “Hurricane” Wilson 9PM- Contest Awards 9:30- Doors Close

After Burt Rodregues passed the batton to Izzy the show has remained steady busy. Held in the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa CA this show is like a walk through the past. It has a limited number of booths and most of the artists have been doing this show for 15 years or more. It brings in a tremendous number of attendess and all the booths stay busy busy busy! It's small scale and the location gives it a strong sense of camaraderie Unlike the caddilac shows where there are hundreds of over-priced booths slews of killer artists and no one walks through the door to get tattooed as a result of outrageous entry fees and poor marketing. There are free Blues bands playing in the lounge during the show. The food is good quality and the rooms are adequate and cheap. The Flamingo is a little long in the tooth but it's clean and affordable. This year there will be a special roast for it's founder Burt Rodreregus. Henry Golfield myself and many other artists from all over the US are attending there are interesting vendors as well. The supply area is cut off from non professional tattooers. Untitled

That's all news to me Dean. this is the first time I am hearing anything like this . I am not sure what you mean by "if I looked into this show? " I talked to the guys from your area who are listed to work at the show and other folks who attended last year no one seem to have any gripes other than the usual not well run efficiancy issues. I am already on the road headed there. Too bad you vetern guys didn't get the word out on your concerns to me and others earlier. I see Humbolt county guys listed as participating. Talked with Corey about the show he is Milan. Well,certainly, it's not my intention to work for the " Casino" They are promoting the tattoo show --which I was told was created by a local tattooer. They contacted me nearly six months ago to do my seminar for the professional tattooist attending. Personally I wouldn't sweat the new artists coming into the neighborhood deal-- conventions are so plentyful that unless a tattoo school opens up like ORegon or suppliers set up shop in town these conventions come and go without causing anything of harm to local guys. I am totally new to the scene in CA and obviously in Humbolt county. I understand how it feels when some one starts doing big things in your neck of the woods. MArio BArth open three shops within a mile of my home base shop and started a convention just 7 miles from my town. He was willing to sell out-- I was not --I had to grin and bear it as his shops began to sell pigment and machines and turn out apprectices like hot cakes so I get the angst. I certainly know the quality of work I see coming from northern CA is astoundly good and in the end that always wins out escpecially in these financially tough times. I certainly mean no disrespect to you perspectives but the world of tattoing is changing rapidly. If you have been following my career then you know I have always tried to do the right thing. I had plenty of opportunities to produce conventions mugs and socks and sell out etc,and I passed on all of that. If I had been wanting to cash in on being inauthentic I'd be as rich as Mario BArth or have my art on Tee shirts and hoodies selling everywhere in discount stores. So I have not changed my sense of authenticity --In fact I have been trying to give something back to the younger guys in the tattoo world by doing this seminar for free. That is my motivation I have no other agenda. I'll take your advice under consideration, although I am now already committed for this one and I will weigh out what they are up to once I have the experience myself. I am sorry we won't meet unless you pop into to the show or perhaps under better circumstances in the future. Thanks for puting me onto your sense of things. I look forward to having more connections with the authentic foilks of CA Shotsie Gorman

"A CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN" "Only the most mnd blowing seminar I have ever atended" "I left there so inspired I couldn't wait to apply the ides to my work" " My third eye was pulled open" " I had no idea a tattoo seminar could be this exciting" These are the quotes from people who have spent on hour of their time in "A CONVERSATION WITH SHOTSIE GORMAN" What is this conversation? This seminar is unlike anything you have ever experienced. During the discussion Shotsie seems to unravel the mysteries surrounding the creative life and put them back together in a manner that you can actually use in your daily life! Shotsie covers so much ground it feels like a roller coaster of thought. Visually a feast for the eyes the slide show is accompanied by a dialogue with the source of all creativity. You can leave this experience knowing you have new tools to work with in your persuit of the best quality art work you have always deisred to make. Tap into the 32 years of creative experience with one of the tattoo communites legends. This is not a technical or mechanical seminar, although new creative techniques are passed over and the mechanics of the creative process revealed before your very eyes. The most often heard statement from other tattooist who have attended is." I never thought I would experiance something like this at a tattoo convention seminar!" at Blue lake Convention and Tattoos and Blues Santa Rosa!

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Shotsie Gorman via Maureen Bailey I will be working and display new paintings at this show book appointments now! 707-299-0882 The 19th Annual Tattoos and Blues Arts Festival worldtattooevents.com The 19th Annual Tattoos and Blues Arts Festival February 25th - 27th 2011 LOCATION Flamingo Resort Hotel 2777 4th Street Santa Rosa, CA 95409, United States HOURS Friday 12.00 - 2