Restaurants, bars and hotels aren't the only ones who are extremely busy during South by Southwest. Some tattoo shops are also raking in the cash.
For many getting a tattoo is a big step. It is with you for the rest of your life. However for some, like the members of the hip hop group The Outfit Texas, getting a tattoo is something they have been waiting their whole lives to get. This is their third year at South by Southwest and a tattoo of their logo was the perfect way to honor their achievements.
"This is what we love," Mel Kyle of The Outfit Texas said. "It's starting to become a thing where this is all that we do so this is kind of like symbolic really, to put it simply, and it was just perfect timing with South by Southwest
Aside from the emotional attachment Austin had something else they really wanted.
"We did some research on the tattoos and the things that they've done and we liked their work, it was something that stood out to us," Tremayne "Jayhawk" Walker said.
South by Southwest is definitely one of the busiest times of the year for Affinity tattoos. Staff made sure they would be ready this year.
"We pulled some people from out of town," said Ryan Terrillion the owner of Affinity Tattoo and Bodypiercing. "We did get some guest spiting as well as just being here at all hours, extra hours just running the business"
The shop is seeing a month's work in a week's time. As the festivities continue, more and more people walk the shop.
Despite the popular myth, the shop refuses to tattoo anyone who is intoxicated.
"You can't sign a consent form legally," Terrillion said. "And two you can't sit very well . You tend to be moving, applying on your phone, talking all the time and when you're doing a tattoo you definitely don't want to be moving."
South by Southwest comes to an end on Sunday.
