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Nate Beavers

I think you should keep it, I mean you made your username based on it. Just get more tattoos and you won't even worry about it any more.

No matter what, remember that without your job you can't afford tattoos.

Any female applicant 38DD and up... I hire her on the spot if she shows up in a tube top. Keep her around just for the jiggle factor. Rob - - - Updated - - - Jeez... one of my vendors has an employee that did the guy-to-girl thing recently. The vendor had to get on board with the whole deal, counseling for the other workers (on the clock...) as well. It was part of the medical insurance he supplied the employees. I've known the person in question for maybe 10 years and the scary part... she/he is pretty passable as a female... yikes, would not plow though. Rob - - - Updated - - - When I buy shirts, I take a good look at them to make my ink won't show through the fabric. White shirts are outski... gotta be careful with the light colored stripes too. Oxfords have good coverage in all colors. You're right, let your co-workers know as little as possible about your off-work life. This goes for politics as well. Rob

I used to work in the financial services industry as a pension planner. Most of our clients were wealthy, older white men whose asses were so tight they squeaked. I can tell you that a function of some jobs is instilling confidence in the client. I did not have tattoos then, but I am 99.9999% certain that many of our clients would not have done business with the company if I had hand, face, neck or visible tattoos. It's not just about what YOU think, it's about what your clients think. - - - Updated - - - I used to work in the financial services industry as a pension planner. Most of our clients were wealthy, older white men whose asses were so tight they squeaked. I can tell you that a function of some jobs is instilling confidence in the client. I did not have tattoos then, but I am 99.9999% certain that many of our clients would not have done business with the company if I had hand, face, neck or visible tattoos. It's not just about what YOU think, it's about what your clients think.

I think you make sense in your views, but they are fundamentally wrong. In my opinion, the only reason anyone is judged for placement is because of stigma associated with tattoos and criminality. Placement of a tattoo on hands or neck indicates nothing more than someone who is will to display an image that they feel strongly enough to put on their body, in a spot that everyone can see. What is inappropriate about that? I do realise that later in your post, you go on to say that you would hire them for a non-customer relations position. At least you aknowledge that the person with hand/neck work is still worthy of being employed. But, I think the problem is just that. why is someone worthy of working somewhere and not able to deal with customers because of how they look? These statements are both partially towards you as a poster and just people in general. The only reason people set visibly tattooed people apart is because of stigma or personal opinion. that personal opinion is also derived from the image that tattoos USED to have. I work in a large tech firm and deal with customers on a weekly basis. While I really like working at this company, I also would not work here if there was a problem with visible tattoos. I have my right arm and hand fully covered. No one, and I mean no one, has ever said anything negative and I only get positive reactions from customers I speak with. Obviously my company is an exeption when it comes to tattoos and their company policy. We actually do not have a personal dress code policy. Tattoos should NEVER be a factor in whether someone can do a job well or not. A tattoo doesn't change how someone works or who they are. It changes what people think about them. It is a painful joke that people associate visible tattoos with any kind of job ability. The two things are copmpletely seperate. /rant P.S. I am not trying to be a mouthy little bastard. I realize this is a topic with strong opinions and I am simply sharing mine. Like anything else, there are two sides to a story.

One day when you have a sleeve or two and 30 other tattoos you'll be able to say 'this was my first'

Anderson Luna does beautiful Lady Heads. .@andersonluna | Webstagram - the best Instagram viewer

@Brock Varty Once you see them you'll think " Oh yeah " but they can be hard to spot -

ive gotten 4 this week and i am at many maddening stages of healing at once

I appreciate your response and passion. I bet there are a few years between you and I. Hopefully with time and people with an attitude like yours a paradigm shift will occur. We say don't judge a book by its cover, but how many do that with everything they deal with? When you decide to make a statement, such as visible tattoos (I'm talking uncoverable ones) you need to also live with whatever opinion is made of you. Like it or not, people will judge you. Both my arms are full, I am treated differently with long sleeves and short. Not all the time but there are those times. At my place of work I stand alone and adhere to the culture of the business. I love tattoos but I have to provide for my family and I don't see a future with tattoos and the workplace for me. My job isn't my life it's what I do to provide for my family now and well into the future. Generation Y has a different view on what the workplace means to them and will change employers or careers to suit them. Like you, the job needs to fit into lifestyle and I'm from a different mind-set. Good luck to you on changing this misconception, it's bold to be different and put your money where your mouth is.

That's one of the reasons I signed up, to show off my new work.

awesome.

Just in case anyone was wondering or didn't read this. Dear readers, First of all thanks again for all the support! We can’t thank you enough! A lot of people are asking questions about the situation at the moment. The story is so complicated I can imagine it’s not really clear if you’re not in it as we are. It’s not even clear to ourselves actually… I will try to explain it as clearly as possible in this blog. Most of you probably don’t know me. I studied cultural heritage and started working at the museum 1,5 year ago, a few months before the opening. I primarily joined because I love what Henk is doing as a collector. There are not many people that have such passion for collecting as he has, these days. Henk spent a few years searching for a museum to take care of his collection. Curators and experts told him the collection had the most value if it stayed together. That’s when he started thinking about building a tattoo museum again. He met a reintegration company that was looking for working places. They had some money to invest, Henk had his collection, and so the idea of a cooperation was born. This company would pay the rent for the first 10 years and the museum offered working places to people who are fundamentally separated from the working community. Due to a lack of time and in good trust we started building the museum without putting any of these agreements in a contract. Part of the agreement was that the foundation Amsterdam Tattoo Museum was going to pay for departments like promotion, events, exhibitions, etc. But as long as there wasn’t a signed contract al the revenue went to “Partners aan het werk” (the reintegration company). And also the invoices because the museum was already up and running and you can’t have a museum without promotion, events and exhibitions. But during the short time the companies were working together it became clear there was somewhat of a cultural difference. Something simple as replacing a lightbulb became a bureaucratic process. And as you can imagine this is not really how Henk was used to work. I’m not saying the lightbulb caused the problems, but it might have something to do with it ;) Henk might have had a bad temper now and then, but I know this was always from his passion for the museum. Small discussions turned into bigger ones and the fact that there still wasn’t a solid contract didn’t help either. In the meantime board members left, some just gave up because of the nasty negotiations, personal accusations. This was not what they signed up for. The board members leaving slowed down the process and the whole negotiation thing turned in a vicious circle. In the meantime the Dutch politics changed and less money went to commercial reintegration companies, so also to “Partners aan het werk”. These changes hit the company hard, salaries were payed later every month. From the perspective what’s best for the collection the new board of the foundation Amsterdam Tattoo Museum decided to end the cooperation with Partners aan het werk. The unpleasant way the meetings went had a lot to do with this decision. There just were too many accusations and disagreements. Then everything went really fast. One day we where negotiating with “Partners aan het werk” and the landlord (the building is rented by “Partners aan het werk”) and the other day we received a letter that told us we were all banned from the building: Henk, Louise, his kids, the board and his employees. The letter also said we were given 14 days to get our collection out. We were surprised by this development and decided not just to give up. We see the design of the museum as an artwork on its own that Henk made and don’t want to just give this piece of art away. We tried to get the art we lent from Sailor Jerry out, because the owners don’t trust the art to be save in there without Henk around, but the answer was no. So much for them telling us to get our collection out… What’s happening next? I don’t know. The most important is to get our collection back. We hope we can stay at the Plantage Middenlaan but there is a chance we have to look for a new building. One thing is sure: we need money. For starting up -again- in our old building. Or to build a new museum somewhere else in Amsterdam. I know one thing for sure: we can do this. I’ve never seen something like this before, the support is overwhelming. Tattoo and art lovers got together and are ready to fight for what is ours. Even without a clear plan we already received a lot of donations. There are some events organized: auctions, tattooing, benefit events. I tried to make a complete list here, if you miss something or organizing an event to raise some money yourself email me and I’ll add it to the list. Thank you all so much for everything, all the support, donations & offered help. Hope to welcome you all soon in our museum. Tessa

Just got this Kano Hogai inspired dragon from William Yoneyama at the New Plymouth convention. - - - Updated - - - Those pics need to be rotated, can't work it out on this phone,

So this is it almost totally healed. I guess it healed ok.

Look for the shapes with three little dots on them. The Horitoshi family tends to put three teardrop-shaped dots on their rocks, although, from what I know (and again, I'm not an artist), there are no hard and fast rules to that. Generally, you'll see a heavier, calligraphied outline on traditional Japanese rocks, but of course, each artist may have his or her own interpretation of them.

Ah well... So. I thnk I'm the oldest one posting here, and I've been an employer for 17 years now, and before that, a foreman and manager for another 10. I hired an old partner of mine to work a trade show last year. Did I say a "trade show"? Let me rephrase. I hired him to man a booth at the largest industrial exhibition in the world, for 8 days. The job was to be in the booth, hand out flyers and like that, talk to people, get names and phone numbers, all that good stuff. My partner has work pretty much all over his body, with the exception of his face. He has a second face tattooed on the back of his head, his neck is covered, his hands are both covered down to the nail, and 99% of the work is jailhouse. Well-done jailhouse, but jailhouse nonetheless. DIdn't hear a bit of negatory feedback. The industry I'm in has always been a tad more open to new things than most...pretty much, if you've got the stones to rock it in a machine shop, hey-go for it. There are exceptions, of course, and I can tell stories about customers banning me from shops, or kicking my co-workers out of field-sites because they didn't like the tattoos/beards/hair/clothes/whatever, but that's really in the minority. Even when calling on GM, Boeing, Cincinnati-Milacron, places like that, as long as you wore the uniform-suit and tie-you were good to go. Didn't matter if you had work that was visible from under the cuffs, as mine is, as long as you had that tie. Now, hell, I don't even think about it when I go out somewhere, and that's usually in a short-sleeve, open-necked shirt. But would I mind if someone else was like that? I gotta admit, if I went into my lawyers office, and found out I was laying out four bills an hour for a slacker in ratty jeans and a tattooed face, I would probably not go back. I know a good number of people who have work, a lot of it pretty radical, on their faces, heads, necks, and hands. I personally don't find the oak leaves and feathers around the eyes and down the cheeks to be a very professional touch, more like the equivalent of ratty jeans. Just my opinion. At that, I would say yeah, great to try to see everyone treated equally, but you have to be realistic to a degree as well. If you plan on EVER doing anything that is a traditional "white-shoe" type of thing, I'd pass on the face and hands. But that's just me.

It's nice when you are in a position to pick and choose. In this economy most of us are more concerned with keeping our jobs than in choosing clients that agree with our views on tattoos.

Rocks and water are very, very traditional. Maybe you're looking past the rocks because they have a very stylized look? Giving Mo free reign is the best possible idea. His Japanese work is gorgeous, and you'll do well to "trust in his experience and instinct." Great move!

I don't see a lot of wind bar/rocks/koi in Japanese work. I think that dynamic with the rocks and mayber finger waves could really set your sleeve apart.

@Jack That's a good point. The funny thing about what used to be a more outsider thing is that it can take making a good living to afford large coverage, especially by good artists and if travelling is involved. It might be that the people best placed to manage things like great bodysuits are people working for 'the man'.

yea it does have its ups and downs. My particular job ended up being something I do very well but don't really like the subject so I sold out as fast as possible. If you can bury your head in your work like I do, you can easily skip most of the BS. On a social note I would never be friends with anyone I work with anyway. Not my crowd!

That Nate Beavers tattoo is so good. The expression is different...I'd say "worried".

Politics....very dangerous in the workplace. The worst damage I've ever seen to a career was after someone made the stupid decision to voice their political stances on some subjects. Hell I almost jumped in (gun politics) but luckily kept quiet. Even something as easy as saying what car you just picked up can be taken the wrong way. A guy spent (probably more than he could afford) on a fancy new car. People thought he got some big bonus/raise and started the slow, painful death which is office political slander. Corporate world can be brutal and only gets worse as you move up. Damn do I miss my days being an intern when I could do no wrong!

My $0.02 I would avoid mixing money/business with family. It gets nasty quick. I have personal experience with this and know the issues that arise. My family owned a very successful business. As the business grew issues arose very quickly. Who own's the company? Who gets a bigger cut? Is <xyz> person getting a more favorable treatment than me? The list goes on. It's hard to be in business with the family. It screwed up my family really quick towards the end and we still don't talk to a few family members since there was legal shit being thrown at each other even after we dissolved the company. The wives even got involved. To this day my father still tells me "Never ever ever mix business with friends and family, unless you can happily walk away from them in a heartbeat" "Business is like war, and you don't want to being turning brother on brother." While I do know business that have run successfully in a family, I also know the behind closed doors issues that come up. There will always be someone who gets favorited. (In your case probably you favoriting your sons opinion over the other guy). Since you will just be financial backer you will be in a tough spot. Let's say the business tanks, you might end up getting mad at your son for "not trying hard enough, etc". When your son and this guy are putting in all the man-hours what happens if they decide to open their own shop and leave? At that point your business is just a building your renting since you cannot tattoo. I personally say it would be a bad idea, just because I've seen the massive shit-storm that can come from family/money. It's like water and oil. You don't think that emotions will rise now or you just want to make your money back but believe me ideas change over time.

Shocking!

That really sucks for that guy. This is also the reason why I have gave up wearing white shirts at work, they show tattoos REALLY easily (plus I always happen to spill coffee on myself). The way I see it in the proffessional world you are an "asset". Companies choose the best possible asset for the lowest cost. Simple really. When people start to realize this, they will hopefully realize to keep your personal life outside of work (at least for us office types). My clients/coworkers don't know I like metal music, ride motorcycles, have tattoos, hell some don't even know I smoke cigarettes. Why, you may ask, because they are not my friends and it is a "whatever you say can and will be held against you" environment. The less they know the better.

Just curious, Hank, but I've never heard of a guy wearing a "tube-top"...how does that work. As an empoyer, if one of my employees wanted our insurance to pay for a sex-change operation, they'd be down the road. I couldn't care less what a persons sexual proclivities are, but I wouldn't participate in financing them. .02

That's great to hear. I will say as an employer, I draw the line at tube-tops. No-one looks good in a tube-top.

pretty much anything you're interested in getting there will cover that thing. Keep us posted on your progression :D

That is something that's easily covered. Which in turn opens up a large amount of options that understandably makes it difficult to make a decision. It would be best to talk to your artist in person so that He/She can help read whats right for you and narrow down the options at the same time. Roses, Peacock feathers, and motion off a larger designs are my personal favorite to use covering up things like that. hope this helps.

cool looking plant life

Photo by stelltattooart • Instagram This was on a dear friend, who wanted to take what was on her back, and get rid of a few things... but mainly she wanted a ship.... She sits so good... Covered three stars on her shoulders with the eagle, and making the butterfly into a jollyroger... It's a work in progress but coming along nicely.

God damn...I am officially jealous of David Bragger. The man has tattoos from Scott Harrison, Shige and Filip Leu, and now he's getting a backpiece from Buffalo Bob? We gotta get him on LST. Thanks for the link, @kylegrey!

Does he have a panther on his chest? Because it sounds like he needs one.

Brutal Knitting by Tracy Widdess

I would say the subject matter they paint is very similar and the color palette as mentioned, but Conn's stuff has so much more going on and is looking for a much bigger effect. Cleen looks like he is trying to keep it simpler. If he was trying to rip off Conn, I think he would make his paintings a little busier, try to incorporate background elements that Conn uses. I think clearly Cleen has been influenced by Conn, but that can be said for pretty much this whole generation of tattooers. Same with Dan Higgs and even Aaron Coleman, I see a lot of these guys in the tattoos people do everyday, and I don't think people are ripping it off, they are just doing what they think looks cool.

Ursula--- I have to disagree with you, I wasn't familiar with Cris Cleen's work. After reading your post I went to look at his work and I don't see any similarity ( other than possibly his limited color palette, and the color red) to Chris Conn's. I just think it has a totally different feel to it.

For those of you who care and don't already know, I post shop pics under the handle acmetattooco I have a personal one misterdflores, but don't use it and there is only one picture of me singing Karaoke, under a disco ball thing. Tattoos and tattoo people just seem to be the only thing that interests me on instagram. I have already started following people on here as I find them.

If you don't like pain, by all means, go for a backpiece. Total cakewalk. :)

I just really hate emails.

Shark, sea snake, octopus- now there's a different one!