Poster

What is it?

‘Hot Ink’ is a Hollywood–style tattoo party for queer men and women and their straight friends to meet one another and show off their tattoos.  It is an official part of the 2010 Mardi Gras Festival and is included in the official Mardi Gras Guide, page 69 .

It will also be a ‘meet and greet’ for some of the 25,000 people visiting Sydney for the Mardi Gras and those in Sydney for the 2nd Tattoo and Body Art Expo at Olympic Park on 5-8 March (contact).  ‘Hot Ink’ is being held in conjunction with Dykes on Bikes, Harbour City Bears and New Mardi Gras.

 

When is it?

Thursday 4th March from 8pm to 1am.  The tattoo competitions will take place between 9pm and 11pm.  The bar will stay open until 6am.

 

Where is it?

Outback Bar at the Clarence Hotel, 450 Parramatta Road (corner of Crystal St), Petersham.  The hotel is on a direct bus route from the city with many different buses passing the door.  Also, for those travelling by train, it is a 12 minute walk along Crystal Street for Petersham Railway station.  The hotel telephone number is 9560 0400.  The Tattoo Party will have appropriate security and liability insurance.

 

How much does it cost to get in?

Tickets are only available at the door. Full price is $15 and the Concession for members of New Mardi Gras, Dykes on Bikes and Harbour City Bears is $12.  There is no additional fee to take part in the competitions.  Everyone with ink on their skin is invited to take part.

 

Will there be a cloak room?

Cloaking for jackets and coats will be available for a small donation. 

 

Can I eat there?

For people wishing to dine at the hotel, the very reasonably priced bistro in the front bar will be open from 6pm. 

 

Who is on stage at Hot Ink?

The compeers of the evening will be Ms Sandy Bottom, well-known Cabaret performer and Geoff Ostling, winner of the Melbourne Cup of Tattooing (Best Overall Tattooed Male) awarded by the Professional Tattooists Association of Australia in 2008.

Plus other live performers and a DJ playing “groovy tunes” until late.

 

Who are the judges for the competitions?

Some leading Sydney Tattoo Artists, tattoo enthusiasts and members of the Board of New Mardi Gras have been invited to join the judging panel.

 

Competition Categories:

 

Prizes:

Some $3 000 worth of Vouchers have been donated by tattoo studios, piercing studios, bookshops, gymnasiums and the Clarence Hotel for prizes.  There will also be T-shirts, beer vouchers and other consolation prizes.  They will all be worth winning.

 

Sponsors of ‘Hot Ink’:

New Mardi Gras
The Clarence Hotel
Dykes on Bikes
Harbour City Bears
Diablo Art
Gold’s Gym
Platinum Ink
Kaleidoscope Bondi
Mischief Moon
Tattoo World
The Bookshop, Darlinghurst
Steel Lotus
Maxxx Black
Inked-Up.com
2nd Sydney Tattoo and Body Art Expo

 

Platinum Ink is a tattoo and fetish clothing store three doors from the Clarence Hotel in Parramatta Road.  They will be open until midnight for people wishing to take home a permanent souvenir on their skin and have generously donated $300 in Tattoo Vouchers for prizes.  If you are lucky enough to win one of these vouchers you can have your tattoo done almost immediately and then show it at the Official Mardi Gras Party on Saturday night.

We want to thank all our sponsors and especially www.inked-up.com, the queer tattoo internet site for modified men and women.  It’s a great site and everyone with at least one tattoo or other body modification is invited to join up.  You must send photos of your bodmods to go on your profile.

 

Need further information about ‘Hot Ink’?

Ring Geoff (also known as Heavily Tattooed Bear) at 0425 359 264.