Rod waited 50 years to get his first tattoo. When the artist he wanted was booked a year out, the artist offered a spot at a tattoo show in Juneau, Alaska. We had never been to Juneau, and it's a port city we wanted to see anyway, so we said yes. Here's how the trip came together and what we'd do differently on our next Juneau trip.
Our Visits
June 2023: A few days exploring Juneau, then three days at the True North Art and Tattoo Expo
At a Glance
Where: Juneau, Alaska's capital. You can only get here by plane or boat.
Why we went: Rod's first tattoo, done at the True North Art and Tattoo Expo
How long: A few days to explore, plus three days of tattooing
What we saw: The glacier, the falls and a small, friendly convention
Book ahead: Your hotel. Read recent reviews before you pay.
How a Tattoo Got Us to Juneau
Rod started thinking about a tattoo about five years before this trip. His first idea was a lion. The more tattoos he looked at, the more he realized how common lions are, and he wanted something that was his own.
Finding the right artist took even longer. Rod waited a year and a half to get on one artist's list. Then the artist left the shop, and Rod's spot disappeared with him.
We found Derek of Beast Status Ink at a tattoo convention in Sandy, Utah. There were about 150 artists there, and we spent hours walking the booths. Derek's realism work stuck with Rod after the first pass. We came back a couple of days later and met his booking manager at the same time. Derek was a year out, but he had an open slot at a June show in Alaska. Rod took it.
Tip 1: Go to a tattoo convention before you book anyone. You can see a lot of artists' work in one afternoon and talk to them in person.
Tip 2: Ask if the artist has a booking manager. We didn't know that was a thing. It made getting on Derek's calendar much easier.
33 Hours in the Chair
Before we flew out, Rod spent a morning with Derek at Legacy Tattoo in Ogden, Utah, to get the stencil ready. Day one in Juneau started with the stencil and the most painful spots first.
Day two was all detail work on the feathers and beads in the headdress. Day three was the final session at Centennial Hall. Rod woke up with a little headache, which he'd heard can happen after long sessions.
The needle wasn't the hardest part for Rod. Sitting still in one position for hours was harder. His back knotted up from being tense, so he rolled it out every night and morning.
Tip 3: Bring a cushion and plan for stiffness. If you're sitting for multiple long sessions, your back and hips will feel it before your skin does.
Tell us in the comments: Would you plan a trip around an event like this, or pick the destination first?
The Design
Rod went from a lion to an owl. An owl is a predator that hunts in the dark and flies without a sound. Rod says that fits how he works: he gets things done without needing to be loud about it.
The second piece is a princess in a feathered headdress. For Rod, she stands for his family and the people he'd do anything to protect.
Where We Stayed, and What We'd Do Differently
Our hotel was the weak spot of this trip. Most nights the room was too hot, and we had to open the windows. One night the heater broke completely, and the front desk sent up a space heater. There was a private party in the building most nights, and we could hear it from our room. The gym turned out to be a hotel room with a treadmill in it.
The listing photos made the place look bigger than it was. We sell homes for a living, so we spotted the virtual staging: the bed looked huge and the dresser looked tiny. Another hotel up the street had staged every room photo the same way.
Tip 4: Check guest photos, not just the hotel's photos. If the furniture looks oddly sized, the room may be virtually staged.
Tip 5: Ask for a room away from event space. In a small city, hotels often rent out their restaurant and ballrooms for private parties.
More Juneau Coming
Before the tattoo sessions we spent a few days exploring town, including the glacier and the falls. We're editing those videos now, and we'll add them to this page as they come out.
A big thank you to Derek and Amber of Beast Status Ink at Legacy Tattoo in Ogden, Utah. Derek turned Rod's ideas into something better than the idea.
Book This Trip
Hotels in Juneau: Compare stays on Expedia
Pack these: A packable rain jacket and a travel seat cushion if you're booking a long tattoo session
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