Getting tattooed at a pop-up: What makes it unique?

IN the present day, it seems that tattoo shaming has become a thing of the past. Now, it seems as if every corner you turn, you either see someone with a tattoo or a place where you can go and get one yourself. 

Such is the advent of modernity in the country. Though Philippine society has come far from its traditionalist thinking on several other things, one thing that can be seen is that more and more people are starting to come to the same general consensus when it comes to tattoos: they’re sick. End of story, period, no erase!

Before, you may have been limited to the anxiety-inducing process of having to find a tattoo parlor near you and schedule an appointment, then be left alone with your artist for a number of hours to get your design down.

Now, though, it’s as easy as going to a pop-up event, and bam! New ink in less than an hour. 

There are, of course, pros and cons when it comes to getting a tattoo at a pop-up event, just like with every other thing. If you’re planning to get one at a pop-up coming to your area soon, you may want to read ahead before doing so. 

In the studio vs. at a pop-up

26-year-old Andrea Cao, a hand poke tattoo artist over at Idle Hands, has worked at three pop-up events thus far. republicasia was able to sit down to talk to her during Vinyl on Vinyl’s listening party last September 2nd at their place in Chino Roces, Makati.

At present, the most she’s done in a day is 17 due to her overbooking – a stark contrast to the four that she usually does at her studio. 

Cao has noticed a difference in ambiance when tattooing at a pop-up as compared to being in her studio, given that she sees her medium as a rather intimate process.

“Pag nasa studio, mas comfortable ka in a way, kasi safe space mo yun,” she explained.

“When you’re in a pop-up, fast-paced siya. As much as you want it to be intimate – to talk to your clients – very limited yung time mo.” 

Noreen Sta. Ana, the tattoo artist who owns Tusok Studios, shares similar sentiments, stating that there’s a convenience to be found in your studio not present at pop-ups. As someone who uses a tattoo machine, she can finish around 15 clients within one pop-up.

In the stress of being in an unfamiliar environment, a lot is going on aside from your tattoo, as well. While you’re getting your tattoo, you’ll see people walking around you, DJs playing music, and merchants selling their items. It can all get very overwhelming, very fast.

As someone who struggles with autism and doesn’t like being touched, Sta. Ana also often feels that pop-ups can be scary. 

She explained: “Any stranger can just check you out, tapos didikitan ka kahit na may clients ka.” 

26-year-old Yara El Arini also recounts a not-so-pleasant experience getting pierced wherein she started to feel nervous due to the number of people watching her. 

Someone even started taking a video of the whole thing, not even bothering to ask her if doing so was okay. Though she still loves going to pop-ups and would recommend the experience to anyone who asks.

Something spontaneous

Yes, there may be some issues when it comes to getting a tattoo at a pop-up. 

One such issue is that you can’t control the number of people coming into the space, nor can you stop them from looking at you when you’re getting your tattoo done. But if that doesn’t matter to you, then what’s stopping you? 

While it’s difficult to compare getting a tattoo at a pop-up to getting one at a studio, since they’re two entirely different experiences, there are some benefits to pop-ups that you don’t often get at a studio:

1. it’s a lot faster than a regular tattoo.

27-year-old Julie Terrei, who got two flash tattoos done at Vinyl on Vinyl’s event, managed to get two handpoke tattoos done in less than an hour.

She notes that her first tattoo took around 30 minutes, whilst her second one lasted about 20. In total, she paid PHP 3, 000 for both of them. They were about one to two inches in size, as is the usual for flash tattoos at pop-ups. 

“It wasn’t painful at all – mas masakit pa magpa-thread ng eyebrows,” she commented.

26-year-old Renzo Magnaye, who got a tattoo done by Sta. Ana said that the process took pretty much the same amount of time: 20, 30 minutes tops. 

While Magnaye already has several tattoos, he notes that he’s a rather impatient person when it comes to them. Though he’s aware that doing them takes time, it’s hard not to get antsy when you’ve been sitting in a chair for over three hours.

“In pop-up events, there’s a sense of time sensitivity,” he said.

“It’s nice to know I can pick a tattoo, have it done in 20 minutes, and I’m out.” 

2. it’s a way to meet new people.

Though 26-year-old Jamey Arceo usually struggles with social anxiety, she found that she felt right at home at Vinyl on Vinyl’s event. 

The crowds at pop-up events may not be for everyone, but for others, it just adds to the experience. Arceo’s friend, 26-year-old Moncy Garcia, found the people to be one of the highlights of the event. 

He stated: “Sobrang fun yung may DJ tapos may naglalakad sa likod mo, tumitingin [lang] sa tattoo mo.”

3. it’s a great avenue for spontaneity.

Perhaps one of the biggest perks of getting a tattoo at a pop-up is that it’s a cool way to live in the moment – to seize the day, as it were. 

For the likes of Magnaye and El Arini, who often like to get tattoos on a whim, pop-ups are perfect. There isn’t always a need for a deeper meaning when you get something inked on your skin. 

Sometimes, the decision just boils down to: “Yep. That looks cool. Now put that on my skin and let me live with it for the rest of my life,” and Magnaye feels that pop-ups are most conducive for that kind of behavior. 

El Arini also notes that it’s a way to remember the events that you got them at. Aside from a sick design, it helps to immortalize your memories, too. 

And even though it’s an on-the-spot decision, Terrei reassures you that it’ll turn out just as good as any other tattoo. 

“The quality is still the same, the experience is still the same,” she said.

“It’s just more fun in a pop-up!”

Just a quick reminder:

 It can be hard to pinpoint when there’ll be a pop-up in your area, so it’s important to follow an assortment of local events pages to stay updated on all the latest happenings in the country. Vinyl on Vinyl is just one example of the accounts you can follow.

If you’re looking for tattoo pop-ups in particular, keep yourself posted on the pages of your favorite artists; they often post the details of the events they’re going to be a part of a few days in advance so you can schedule a slot.

While one big factor associated with pop-ups is their spontaneity, there’s always the option to book ahead of time to ensure that your desired artist has time to tattoo you.

It also ensures that you don’t have to wait until the very end of the event just to be accommodated, or to be told at the last minute that they won’t be able to fit you into their schedule. 

Just take note: at the end of the day, it’s your choice.