Just been booked to do a tattoo convention, I'm going to do 99% of my normal close up set as it's a busy event but can anyone recommend any tattoo effects worth learning? I don't have any tattoos of my own and its a fully lit building if it needs to be taken into consideration,
cheers guys

That's an interesting gig. I wonder if you could do a variation on the old "ashes" routine using a small rubber stamp glued on your thumb.

Quite possible, 1 of 2 strange gigs, got an extreme sports festival a month after!

I would hit the Creative Magic web site and see if you can still get Bruised. It would be cool to perform at this gig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1TLJ06Xe9o

http://www.ellusionist.com/stigmata-by-wayne-houchin.html

http://www.theory11.com/tricks/exile.php

Andrew Mayne has an effect called Ghost ink. He makes a tattoo appear and vanish from his arm.

John Bannon's tattoo you

Get real tattoos.

Try "TATOO JOE". Works pretty cool. I googled tatoos and downloaded the ones I liked. You can make various tatoos that appear and disappear on your forearm.

-Ron

Borodin and Ted Lesley each had variants of the rubber stamp idea. Look in Sheherazade.

Don't think I will be getting real tattoos, not my thing at this moment in my life, 1 day but not yet.

I will check out the suggestions given, thank you

Tabman - that trick already exists! It's called Stars and Hexes by Reed McClintock. It's basically his take on the old Sugar Cube/Ashes on the Arm trick. Look that up!

I second Bruised.

Another to think aboout looking into would be "Tagged" from Rich Ferguson.

What about having some tempory henna tattoos for reveals, seques etc.?

Perhaps get some tattoo designs put on playing cards / business cards and doing a routine with them (mentalism / card etc)

Not surprised. There's only so many good ideas to go around. We used the idea in a Kozak show 20 years ago involving a tattoo and a fake arm.

I had Stars and Hexes, but the handling was so difficult as far as prop management was concerned. It might be easier if you're not carrying a lot of stuff.

X-Con from Reed McClintock is a simpler version of Stars & Hexes. Much easier handling. Also Ellusionist has a bunch of temporary tattoos. They look real and will last several days if you want. In fact if you apply them a couple of days before the show, they will look better. I would skip the DVD and just buy the sampler pack.

Ellusionist - Stained Skin - http://www.ellusionist.com/stained-skin-tattoos.html

Needle through arm as a throw away -- this crowd would probably love it.

Any fake tattoos are going to be noticed at a tattoo convention, best go with effects that do not involve them. Nathan Kranzo had a great effect where you move your tan from your wristwatch to your upper arm..that might be fun to do. Oliver Meech had a great idea where you have a card revelation on your arm that is written on by ball point..the premise being you are thinking of getting one and testing it out first. Just a few ideas....

Charlie

Just a thought....draw a replica of a tattoo (using frixtion marker) of an old girlfriend, for example LUWANDA, on the back of your biz card. Talk about how much you regretted having her name on your body. Remove the name (lighter) to reveal a different message( REMOVE THE "L", A PORTION OF THE "U", A PORTION OF THE "A", AND THE "D" AND THE LAST "A". This will leave you with "I WIN" as the new tattoo.
patrick