2nd day, Sunday. Waiting time. Thinking time
２日目。定番の（笑）”会場が開いていない”パターン（前回はこちら）
それにしても皆さんあまり二日酔いの様子もなく真面目に朝から会場入り待ち。このコンベンションは２日限定のため、打ち上げ的な物が無かったからか？（笑
Both days were quite good for me. Tattooed some good number of people, including the one’s that had made appointments in advance and others jumping in.
Gill the boss was promptly booked for the 2 days, and basically the first day I got to tattoo some people that were looking for his services. He’s been attending this convention for many years, so he’s known by the locals.
In the second day, I decided that this wasn’t going to be good for me in terms of learning how to deal with customers here. So, while I tattooed my first customers (booked in advance); I would talk to people around the booth during breaks and trying to find some potential one’s.
Again, the language barrier still huge, but if you don’t try you don’t learn.
So, with this in mind I did my best to be understood. And understood I got by a young couple that choose some from my “Wanna do” flashes. What a score man! Not money wise, but for the fruitful results of my efforts.
The guy choose the samurai, and the girls choose the bamboo pattern.
写真はあえて全部は載せませんが、初日と日曜日共に朝から順調にお客さんを彫っていた。予約済みの方もいましたし、飛び込みもチラホラと。
ボスは２日間予約一杯だったんで、初日は何人か”おこぼれ”をいただく。ただ、自分の中では”おこぼれ”ばっかにあやかっているのはなぁ～と思いながら格闘。
２日目は作戦を切り替える。予約済みのお客さんをこなしながら、休憩の合間にブースに群がっている人に積極的に話しかける。タトゥーを”おすすめ”するのはハッキリ言って抵抗はあるが、本当にタトゥーが嫌でしょうがないならコンベンションにはまず来ないだろう。
その中で”Wanna do”を彫りたいという若いカップルが！さっそく彫りました。彼氏は前回のコンベンションの”売れ残りWanna do”のお侍さん。
彼女は今回描いた中の竹をチョイス。
Bellow, finishing the dragon that this client had started back in the shop. Check it here
そして以前（こちら）お店で始めていたドラゴンタトゥーも会場で仕上げる。
And meanwhile…
I couldn’t believe my eyes! Met my friend U. and his wife! Man, what a surprise…I had tattooed him around 2007/2008, I guess. We kept in contact sporadically and I had told that I moved here a while ago. He lives in a totally different state, so I was not even expecting to be able to see him this year.
Who could imagine that our worlds would collide once again after these years? Small world…and again, I felt blessed for being chosen by this job.
I wouldn’t be able to visit (or even live, like now) distant countries and meet different people and cultures, if wasn’t for tattooing.
On top of that, my friend had added a wonderful collection on his body by a renowned artist. He proudly sports an incredible beautiful body suit now!
I confess that I’m so happy for him, he really got hooked on tattoos since them.
Again, how wonderful is this our world of tattoos!
そうこうしているうちに。。。
何と！約５年前(２００７~０８年）、日本で彫ったお客さんが目の前に居るではないかぁ～！！！！
当時、彼は出張で日本に数ヶ月滞在しており、タトゥー・チャーチに彫りに来たという縁から出会った方。
僕がこっちで暮らしているという事はメールで報告済みで、会えたらいいねぇ～という軽い感じでやり取りをしていた。まさかこうして急に前振りなく来るとは。。。本当にありがたいし、義理堅い人だなぁ～と感謝。またこうして以前彫った方にまた会えるというのはこの仕事に関わっていてよかったと思う瞬間である。タトゥーのおかげでなかったら、こうして違う国、違う文化や人と関わる事はまずなかっただろうな。。。
本当にハートと心が行き交う世界に居れて幸せです