• Registration times will be posted.

• 1st and 2nd place awarded for all categories except Tattoo of the Day (started and finished that day), Best of Show (best of all three-day winners), and Peoples Choice.
  The People’s Choice winner will be decided by online votes and the winner will be tallied at midnight. The People’s Choice award and trophy will be mailed after the expo.

Friday

Best horror/evil small (no larger than 8”x8”)
Best horror/evil large (no smaller than 8”x8”)
Best sleeve arm or leg
Best floral
Tattoo of the Day

Saturday

Best back or chest
Small color (no larger than 8”x8”)
Large color (no smaller than 8”x8”)
Small black & grey (no larger than 8”x8”)
Large black & grey (no smaller than 8”x8”)
Tattoo of the Day

Sunday

Best traditional
Best portrait color or black & grey
Best ornamental
Tattoo of the Day
Best of Show
Best of the Best
People's choice

The Rules

1. All judges are unbiased and agree to judge all submissions fairly, based on the quality of the piece.

2. Participants agree to keep the artists anonymous until the judging is complete.

3. Tattoos must be complete to enter.

4. Tattoo models must be present during registration.

5. Unfinished pieces can only be completed and enter into the contest if a fairly considerable amount of work is done during the convention.

6. Both the tattoo artist and the collector must be present to receive their trophies, with the exception of the People’s Choice Awards (which will be chosen and mailed). In the case of an artist or model’s absence from the expo, the runner-up will be chosen as the winner.

7. Judges will not be permitted to enter the contests as either models or artists.

8. Photographers and videographers will be present to shoot photographs/ videos of contest winners and participants. Dead Man’s Hand expo reserves the right to publish these photos for promotional and documentation purposes on social media/website/printed promotional materials.