Do You Know the Pros and Cons of Tattoo Design Contests?

For centuries, tattoos have been regarded as body art which serves as a form of self-expression. Tattoo designs abound on every subject imaginable, so to hold a design contest can bring in innumerable ideas. Wouldn’t that be great? However, if you’re thinking of hosting one yourself, you must be alert to the pros and cons of tattoo design contests. There are great methods of hosting them, but be careful when you launch the contest. Pros of tattoo design contests: • Original designs: Contests are the breeding ground of the most fantastic designs, with a whole bunch of them belonging to different categories like floral, landscape, animals, fantasy or any other category. All it calls for is uniqueness—they should be entirely original without a hint of being copied from any other tattoo designer’s work. • Imagination pours forth: You’ll be amazed by the intense creativity that you get to see at these contests. Each category has amazing entries—it’s really a feast for the eyes! • Classes for different body areas: Depending on the part of the body where tattoos would be inked, design contests can be the venue for some good instruction. Parts of the body that can be tattooed include the arms, neck, shoulders, hips, ankle, etc. It can be very interesting to see which designs tattooists come up with for all these different areas. • Vibrant colors: The colors used in tattoos must be vivid, vibrant and rich, and can be offset by pastels, black and white, and monotones. • Prizes: This is perhaps the most awaited part of the entire contest and the most rewarding and relevant to the participating tattooists. For them, it can be great fun gathering prizes from different contests and classes every now and then. • Unbiased judgment: Judges who neither know the participants nor the tattoo artists. • Sponsors: Sponsors play a great role in showcasing their studios and encouraging artists to do good work. Cons of tattoo design contests: • Cost: Depending on where the contest is held, it can work out quite expensive. • Which one is a unique design? If a jury is vetting zillions of designs, is there any foolproof way of telling which one is genuinely unique? It’s impossible to sift through all the designs available these days. • Judging: Local judges are sure to know local artists. If they don’t and are brought in from other cities, the host’s expenses could increase towards their lodging and travel. • Organization: The rules of the contest must be clearly spelt out with the categories and classes clear to everyone. It must be well-organized and be fair and unbiased to artists competing. No matter how much hard work this entails, fair play should be an overriding aspect of the contest. Hosting a tattoo design contest is hard work, but it can be a resounding success if you plan it soundly and well. Before launching the contest, ensure that you ask the contestants whether they are aware of the pros and cons of tattoo design contests. Then, look at both the pros and cons of your contest to make sure it’s worth your while.