from Stuart mears, President of Jazz Publishing and Owner of TattooJam UK
Despite all the s&!te I have had to read, hear and deal with for the last month. Despite all the questions my colleagues here have had to unnecessarily answer. Despite the immigration being tipped off about overseas artists coming over. Despite someone who owns a tattoo studio in Doncaster as well as several other studios (there’s hypocrisy right there for you!) phoning up the council and shouting and screaming at them down the phone a day before we opened, trying to close the show down. Despite the alleged boycott by artists of the show (I think you saw that was not true). Despite traders (of which there was only one who did) being told to pull out because of being given false facts. Despite good people within this industry being pressured and condemned for working Tattoo Jam. Despite several key staff being ill and unable to work the show. Despite me being led to believe that I was personally going to be presented with a whole load angry folk (there was not one either during the pre-show party, the event itself or the after show party, NOT ONE). Despite ALL of this…
…I am pleased to say TattooJam was awesome!
A big thank you to the guys here at Jazz who helped organise another great show, proud, very proud indeed. Thank you to our Judges (Paula, Sly, Rebecca, Matt & Sam) who dedicated some of their time to make some tough decisions. Thank you to the racecourse and their staff who once again were as helpful as ever (Big thanks to Louise, Rob and Dave). Thank you to all our contractors again for a smooth set up and break down (Big thanks to Woz and Simon). Thank you to two of my mates who helped organise the Battle of the Bands, Sam and Arun - thanks dudes.
The guys who have been in the firing line for the duration of this show, Shelley, Wendy M, Wendy L and Dee, I seriously cannot thank you enough for your help. A big ‘Big’ thank you to Louis Molloy for accepting and dealing with the many requests from Shelley, and the help and support you have given her and this event. Thank you.
Thanks to our sponsors – your support is hugely appreciated as ever – and we hope to work with you again in the future.
Thank you to all the people who gave their time and got involved in the ARTIST FriDAY seminars. Thank you to all the artists / traders / vendors who worked the event and ignored the terrible rumors. Thank you to Paula for organising the art display, Michelle and her team from 20/21 Visual Arts and Willy and Tony who brought along their Tattoo Museum which was just incredible!
Thanks to Jane and Steve from Doncaster Council who aided us in keeping the right side of the miles of red tape – not easy with over 350 stands! You had a tough job and we really appreciate your patience with us… also thanks to Alexander from Prowess PR who helped us in coordinating the huge media and press attention and coverage we received.
I hope I have not missed anyone out but to anyone that helped out this weekend in making it the success it deserves, thank you.
Congratulations to all of you who won awards from the Industry Awards on Friday night, the Tattoo Jam show awards and the Battle of the Bands. Details and pics will be on our website for you all to see very soon.
Despite some peoples thoughts, attendance was up by 18% overall, with Sunday being our busiest day and 22% up year on year!
It was good to meet up with many people again (new and old) and thanks for your kind words and constructive comments. The standard, as ever, from the working artists was incredible and it was an honour for us to have so many artists that have never visited the UK before. Plenty of funny stories, too!
The plans that we put in place for this years event were overall successful. The Artists only lounge, bigger bar area on the 1st floor, more food options, the outdoor stage for the bands (much better!), the photo-booth set up, these were just some of the improvements made.
We never rest on our laurels though, and if you have any thoughts for improvements for next years show please let us know here:
www.tattoojam.co.uk/questionnaire
Thank you,
Stuart
OH! I almost forgot… We smashed the World Record too!!!!! TattooJam is now ‘officially’ the world record holder for the most people tattooed simultaneously… thanks to Mia who traveled up from Guinness offices in London to adjudicate and to those who helped count!