This past weekend tattoo artists from all over the country descended upon the Sturbridge Host Hotel for the Fifth Annual Mass Tattoo&Art Festival.  It was a sight to behold.  Artwork,hand crafted jewelry, contests, live music, sideshow acts, a comedic rapper etc.

A wide array of vendors had their booths set up with merchandise that was just as diverse and eclectic as the tattoos that were being inked. “Pumpkin Pete” from Morbid Creations had his booth displayed with his hand sculpted/painted zombies,clowns & other morbidly wondrous dolls.                                There were dozens of booths,&most were similar in appearance-but each one had its own essence.

Over at Ken Karnage’s booth (Vigilante Tattoo) my friends and I overheard Ken’s detailed step by step instructions on how to get the gnarliest mohawk known to man. He suggested certain products to use, and even demonstrated how to apply the products.  A woman who was going to be a bridesmaid in her friend’s wedding was inquiring.

Eventually we headed over to the booth of “Body Piercing by Rob Hill.” My friend wanted an upper ear piercing.  It was a long wait and a long process, but the end result was worth it.

As we made our way thru the crowd, toward the stage of “The Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow” (which I will elaborate further on in a moment, saving the best for last).  A newly inked tat caught my eye.  It was a portrait of Charlie Sheen tattooed onto someone’s leg, with “Winning” in a banner beneath it.  The detail was amazing.  I’m sure Chuck and his “goddesses” would have approved.

Now onto the highlight of this event. The aptly titled “Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow”-which consists of the very beautiful “Dominatrix of Danger” Thrill Kill Jill, and her husband the charismatic ringmaster Tyler Fyre.  From the moment they stepped out onto the stage, they had the crowd (myself included) in the palm of their hands. Tyler has a knack for making the insertion of knives into ones nasal cavity seem effortless. He followed that demonstration up with swallowing not one, but two swords. Simultaneously.

Audience participation is an element in their stage show. Thrill Kill summoned an audience member up onstage to assist Tyler in extracting  a sword he had just swallowed.  Soon after Thrill Kill commanded the stage.  As you can see from the pictures, snake charming is her specialty-but she also swallowed her share of knives&swords.  If you were standing within ten feet of the stage, you may have felt the heat wave generated from the massive fireballs Tyler was repeatedly spitting out into the air. Plumes of black smoke floated up into the rafters as everyone stared at him in complete and total awe.

“The Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow” isn’t really a “show.”  It’s more of an EXPERIENCE.

As is this entire event.  I highly recommend checking it out next year, and every year thereafter.