Tattoo Convention 2012, Philadelphia, United States

The first I.T.A.A. Convention were held in 1977 in Reno, the first National Convention in Denver, Colorado March 23rd - 25th, 1979 at the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Speakers at this convention were: Don Ed Hardy, Terry Wrigley, Peter Tat 2 Poulos, Diane Poulos, Bob Shaw , Big Walt Kilkucki, Painless Jeff Baker, Dave Yurkew, and from Germany Horst Heinrich Streckenbach and Manfred Kohrs.
Tattoo conventions range from small events sponsored by a local business that may last a day, to major international conventions spanning a weekend or the better part of a week.
They may include contests and exhibitions, booths selling tattoo-related items and even booths rented for use by tattoo artists who work during the convention. Collectors may attend conventions specifically to obtain a tattoo from a particular visiting artist.