Meet the new organizer of the Vancouver Tattoo Show: Steve Peace!

Our series of 10 questions with tattoo artists where we like to pay tribute to beloved tattoo veterans of our trade. Many old friends and some new ones! Thank you Mr. Peace for letting TattooNews catch up with you! Here is 10 questions with veteran tattoo artist, long-time convention organizer, and new organizer of the Vancouver Tattoo Show; Steve Peace!

Tattoo Veteran and Convention organizer Steve Peace

Your Name and / or artist name if applicable: Steve Peace

Years tattooing: 30+

Years working in tattooing: 30+

PLACE OF BUSINESS: Immaculate Concept Tattoo and Piercing, Calgary, AB

Your Instagram: @stevepeacetattoos

Your Website: https://canadatattooshows.com/Calgary

1- How long have you been tattooing? Tell us a bit about yourself and your work!

Been tattooing over 30 years and feeling every one of them lately! Still love to tattoo as much as I can.

2- What got you into tattooing/the tattoo industry and organizing tattoo conventions?

Was getting tattooed a lot and used to paint quite a bit in the late 80’s so it seemed like a great job. Really hard to get into back then so took me a while to gather good equipment and learn enough to get started. A couple friends talked me into starting the tattoo show in 2003. 

3- How long have you been organizing/working for tattoo conventions? Which conventions have you worked for/organized?

Been organizing the Calgary show since 2004. We did our first Edmonton show in 2005 and then sporadically till we began yearly in 2014. We are adding Vancouver to our list of cities in Jan of 2027. 

4- Why do you think tattoo conventions are important?

Conventions are important to promote tattooing and local artists. We provide full day event shows with lots of entertainment and artists to watch. A lot of artists depend on shows to help financially, both at the show and any future clients they attract while at the show. 

5- Could you tell us about the team behind these events?

There is a core team of three people who run our events. It sounds insanely small but a lot better than past years when it was basically a one man team. We have Terra who does all of the work in the office that we don’t want to touch. Bills, contracts, advertising, floorplans etc. we have Erin who does our social media, healthboard forms, MC for all events and even helps us set up and tear down each show. Then there is me who used to do all that but just kisses hands and shakes babies now…or did I get that backwards? 

6- What goes into organizing tattoo conventions?

Lots! I don’t think anyone realizes the scope of what needs to happen. It is a lot easier now but in the first 10 or so years things were pretty stressful. You always have to put on a great show whether you can afford to or not or you lose momentum year after year. We had a couple slower years where we had to remortgage our house but the show must go on! 

7- We hear you are going to be organizing the new Vancouver show! Are you excited?

Yes. There have been shows there in the past but not by the tattoo industry. So many artist have been requesting us to come out and do a show that we finally agreed. The tattoo industry is struggling right now and each city required a great show to help local artists promote themselves and their work. 

8- What other projects/things do you work on?

We have put together a new app that connects to all of our shows as well as any other participating show that is interested. It shows clients and opening attending artists may have which makes it a more successful show. It is called TattooDay and is available in the app stores now. 

9- Outside of tattooing, what are some of your other interests? 

Wait…there is stuff outside tattooing?

10- Who are some of your biggest inspirations? Tattoo or otherwise?

Biggest inspirations are those that came before us all and those still in the industry that feel they need to serve the tattoo industry as much as they can give rather than those that feel the industry is here to serve them.