Notes from the Field - December 21, 2007

Kat Von D says that tattooing is a visual medium and so she thought it appropriate to donate all of the proceeds from today's attempt to break the Guinness world record, to Vitamin Angels 'Operation 20/20' campaign to eradicate childhood blindness!

By 7:30am when we arrived there were 50 people outside - some of them had slept outside after arriving at 9:30pm the night before. At 12 noon when Kat Von D's event started, the line had swelled to over 1000 people!

The scene in Kat's "High Voltage" studio is wild -    an amazing collection of Los Angels (though one of the first guys in line did fly in from Ohio). Most people are covered in tattoos, full arms, backs, legs, hands and even on their faces (Kat has some stars around her left eye). Multiple piercings and plugs are everywhere. People are getting the 'LA' tattoo (the one Kat is using to break the record') on their inner arms, thighs, ankles and butts, with some people getting multiple 'LA' tattoos (there is no limit from Guinness on the number per person).

Click here to view the video podcast of this event

The guy from Guinness called up 1 hour ago and he is stuck in NY in a snowstorm, so strict guidelines have been given - the entire event. All 24 hours has to be filmed with a time record, a digital clock and no breaks. Every person and every tattoo is getting documented. In between Kat's crew of 50 people who are working non stop to keep the tattooing area and equipment sterile, there are a non stop array of firemen, policemen, security people, and of course the media, trying to record the event and keep everything in order.

The reception for Vitamin Angels is amazing. When Rachel and Brittany were handing out Vitamin Angels 'Operation 20/20' bracelets many of the people in line had already gone to our website and were so excited that we were there. Kat and Karoline (her sister and the event manager) have been talking up Vitamin Angels all morning!

I keep saying Kat is breaking 2 records today - (1) the most tattoos in 24 hours, and (2) the first tattoo artist to save 32,000 children from going blind in 1 day!

And no, I am not getting a tattoo, though our terrific publicity person, Miranda from Pitch Publicity is fully committed!