the short version
- 3big socal shows to plan around: san diego in january, long beach in summer, pasadena in september.
- 30days ahead is when los angeles county wants your event paperwork in.
- $750and up for a booth at the villain arts shows. a booth fits 2 artists.
last checked: october 9, 2026, on each show's own website and each county's health page. dates and fees change, so confirm with the organizer before you book anything.
the shows
the socal conventions coming up
the golden state expo has run in mid-september the last few years (2026 was sept 18–20). watch their site for 2027.
that's every socal show we could confirm on the organizer's own site today. if you know one we missed, tell us and we'll add it.
getting a booth
most shows sell booths, and some only take invited artists
for a 10x10 booth at the villain arts shows (san diego and long beach).
artists fit in one villain arts booth, so a lot of people split one.
at villain arts, artists need 2 years of shop experience and a solid portfolio to get approved, and they say artist spots are by invitation. if you're buying your own booth, you fill out both the artist form and the booth holder form under one email. their booth page has the forms.
- 1pick your show earlygood booths go months ahead, especially for the january san diego show.
- 2apply with your best workorganizers look at your portfolio. lead with your strongest, most recent pieces.
- 3split a booth if it helpstwo artists per booth cuts the cost in half.
- 4do the health paperworkthe county wants it weeks before the show. see the next section.
permits
every county wants event paperwork before the show
tattooing at a convention needs its own permit, even if you're already registered at home. the show organizer gets approved first, then each booth applies.
los angeles county (per event)
the permit lasts for the event, up to 7 days in a 90-day period. source: los angeles county body art events faq.
orange county
fees aren't listed on the page. source: orange county health care agency body art page.
san diego county
source: san diego county event sponsor packet. forms are on the county body art page.
shows in long beach or pasadena
long beach and pasadena run their own health departments, so a show there goes through the city, not the county. check with long beach's body art program or pasadena public health for their event rules and fees.
not legal advice. rules and fees change, so confirm with the health office for the city or county the show is in. registering at home first? see la county body art registration.
the guest-day rule
your home registration covers up to 5 days in a row somewhere else
a los angeles county registration is good in another california county for up to 5 days in a row, or 15 days total in a calendar year. you still need the event permit for the show itself.
a year, total, outside the county you're registered in.
planning to work a shop while you're in town too? guest spots in socal covers that.
before you go
book your convention clients before you get there
a lot of artists fill their show slots before they get there. people like to know who's coming and what they're drawing.
what to do with this
- post your show dates and booth number as soon as you have them.
- draw a small flash sheet just for the show, with fixed prices. walk-ups say yes faster to a price they can see.
- take deposits for longer pieces ahead of time so your slots don't sit empty.
- put your show flash on goodwork so socal clients can find it and book you. free to list, and 15% only on the first booking of a new client goodwork finds for you.
need a flash sheet idea that sells? friday the 13th flash walks through pricing a sheet of small, fast designs.
on goodwork
book your convention clients ahead of time
put your show flash on goodwork so socal clients can book you before the doors open. free to list. 15% only on the first booking of a new client goodwork finds for you. repeats and your own link are 0%.
list your flash free