Lizzie

We have a client who I've tattooed for 6 years now. I've seen him through girlfriends, drug problems, etc. I've spent years covering up all his hateful skinhead tattoos and we are almost all done. Reecntly, I've seen him meet the love of his life, with almost all his history covered on his skin, and he just had a baby. I tattooed him on his 365th day of sobriety just recently. I almost get teary eyed at the thought of what a difference he has actively made in his life and he went from being a difficult, cancellation-crazy customer to someone who I just wqnt to hug when he's on his way out. When he leaves, everyone in the shop has smiles about how this guy turned his life around.
I love that we all get inspired to be better people through his hard work. Such a great guy.

We are a Queer positive shop so we have no - NO - shortage of every kind of person from every fringe queer community and it's AMAZING. The other day, a guy said to me "This new album is SO gay." and I replied "YES THAT IS AWESOME!" It felt mututally nice that when someone called something gay the first reaction we all had wasn't like "Oh, really? It's stupid?" LOL
Anyway, as for the massage tables -- STAY AWAY from the ones that have the beams that pull out and you click them into the four corner legs. They're cheap cuz they're week. Try to find one that fold out as simply as possible with as little assembly as those are the ones that I've used for years and had no problem getting REAAAAL big boys and girls on top.
It's a nice thing, too, to be able to tell a client who is scared that they m ight d amage your table by virtue of their weight to, "do their worst." Or similar jokey-type-thing. Really breaks the ice and let's 'em feel like no one gives a shit if they've got a few extra pounds. We just wanna tatttoo em and not judge.

We are a Queer positive shop so we have no - NO - shortage of every kind of person from every fringe queer community and it's AMAZING. The other day, a guy said to me "This new album is SO gay." and I replied "YES THAT IS AWESOME!" It felt mututally nice that when someone called something gay the first reaction we all had wasn't like "Oh, really? It's stupid?" LOL
Anyway, as for the massage tables -- STAY AWAY from the ones that have the beams that pull out and you click them into the four corner legs. They're cheap cuz they're week. Try to find one that fold out as simply as possible with as little assembly as those are the ones that I've used for years and had no problem getting REAAAAL big boys and girls on top.
It's a nice thing, too, to be able to tell a client who is scared that they m ight d amage your table by virtue of their weight to, "do their worst." Or similar jokey-type-thing. Really breaks the ice and let's 'em feel like no one gives a shit if they've got a few extra pounds. We just wanna tatttoo em and not judge.

You guys are so lucky to have that kind of stuff happening over there. We're so brand new at my place that we're still settling in, I'm jealous!!

We are a Queer positive shop so we have no - NO - shortage of every kind of person from every fringe queer community and it's AMAZING. The other day, a guy said to me "This new album is SO gay." and I replied "YES THAT IS AWESOME!" It felt mututally nice that when someone called something gay the first reaction we all had wasn't like "Oh, really? It's stupid?" LOL
Anyway, as for the massage tables -- STAY AWAY from the ones that have the beams that pull out and you click them into the four corner legs. They're cheap cuz they're week. Try to find one that fold out as simply as possible with as little assembly as those are the ones that I've used for years and had no problem getting REAAAAL big boys and girls on top.
It's a nice thing, too, to be able to tell a client who is scared that they m ight d amage your table by virtue of their weight to, "do their worst." Or similar jokey-type-thing. Really breaks the ice and let's 'em feel like no one gives a shit if they've got a few extra pounds. We just wanna tatttoo em and not judge.

Chad Koeplinger's name should have come up long ago - dude is so fucking fast that sometimes, I think for laughs, he posts the amounts of times things took under photos on facebook. It's wild. Combination of years and years of practice, as well as years invested finding the perfect machines for your hand speeds... regardless, when you're getting a hguge piece it's so nice to have someone that speedy!

This makes my blood boil up into my scalp. Everyone gets a few days in the year to feel like shit and be sad. Work is hard, and tattooing is REALLY hard some days. Clients can make you feel like you'll never make them happy, appointments can start to back up... and most of all, sadly, other tattooers in your city can make you just want to quit on certain days.
It happens.
But as a young'n of 29 years myself, working in tattoo shops for 9 years now, I still can see the bright bits of light through the clouds on those days and man... I'm PSYCHED to be where I am, and I feel lucky to have this job.
I don't understand the type of tattooer who has been doing this for not long enough to be jaded and crusty, yet wants so badly to have that old man attitude of "No Tits in the Biz" or "That guy needs his thumbs cut off" or "This job ain't what it used to be" or... well, being a complaining, whining, crusty curmudgeon who'd rather TALK about everytihng wrong with tattooing and the other tattooers in his city, than he would just sit down and zip the lips and work on learning to draw hands better or doodle something that you can sell later....
It's SUCH an amazing job. It affords us the craziest opportunities all in the name of doing something that most of us don't just "love," but are consumed by.
I just want to offer this pat on the back to keep in your pocket and next time you feel like you're having a complainy day about this amazing job, take it out, pat yourself, and remember you're doing this for you, so smile and pick up a pencial and be thankful you're still making it.

This makes my blood boil up into my scalp. Everyone gets a few days in the year to feel like shit and be sad. Work is hard, and tattooing is REALLY hard some days. Clients can make you feel like you'll never make them happy, appointments can start to back up... and most of all, sadly, other tattooers in your city can make you just want to quit on certain days.
It happens.
But as a young'n of 29 years myself, working in tattoo shops for 9 years now, I still can see the bright bits of light through the clouds on those days and man... I'm PSYCHED to be where I am, and I feel lucky to have this job.
I don't understand the type of tattooer who has been doing this for not long enough to be jaded and crusty, yet wants so badly to have that old man attitude of "No Tits in the Biz" or "That guy needs his thumbs cut off" or "This job ain't what it used to be" or... well, being a complaining, whining, crusty curmudgeon who'd rather TALK about everytihng wrong with tattooing and the other tattooers in his city, than he would just sit down and zip the lips and work on learning to draw hands better or doodle something that you can sell later....
It's SUCH an amazing job. It affords us the craziest opportunities all in the name of doing something that most of us don't just "love," but are consumed by.
I just want to offer this pat on the back to keep in your pocket and next time you feel like you're having a complainy day about this amazing job, take it out, pat yourself, and remember you're doing this for you, so smile and pick up a pencial and be thankful you're still making it.

This makes my blood boil up into my scalp. Everyone gets a few days in the year to feel like shit and be sad. Work is hard, and tattooing is REALLY hard some days. Clients can make you feel like you'll never make them happy, appointments can start to back up... and most of all, sadly, other tattooers in your city can make you just want to quit on certain days.
It happens.
But as a young'n of 29 years myself, working in tattoo shops for 9 years now, I still can see the bright bits of light through the clouds on those days and man... I'm PSYCHED to be where I am, and I feel lucky to have this job.
I don't understand the type of tattooer who has been doing this for not long enough to be jaded and crusty, yet wants so badly to have that old man attitude of "No Tits in the Biz" or "That guy needs his thumbs cut off" or "This job ain't what it used to be" or... well, being a complaining, whining, crusty curmudgeon who'd rather TALK about everytihng wrong with tattooing and the other tattooers in his city, than he would just sit down and zip the lips and work on learning to draw hands better or doodle something that you can sell later....
It's SUCH an amazing job. It affords us the craziest opportunities all in the name of doing something that most of us don't just "love," but are consumed by.
I just want to offer this pat on the back to keep in your pocket and next time you feel like you're having a complainy day about this amazing job, take it out, pat yourself, and remember you're doing this for you, so smile and pick up a pencial and be thankful you're still making it.

You guy sshould look at Adam Sage. He's amazing. I think he's on myspace pretty much exclusively as he's not th ebiggest internet guy. We had him at our shop this year doing some handmade tattoos and he's incredibly skilled. I think we're even lucky enough to have him come work here for a longer extended time now!
When I think tribal, I think black, patterns, geometric or organic, that have to be perfect in terms of design and layout. I guess tha tsome people may have a taste for rougher or less organized stuff but my personal taste always leans toward images that test technique and skill.

Mario -- there's a place in Europe where this piercer tries to seduce many famous american artists to come to work for his shop and because no one knows him or his small tiny town, he has often succeeded.... when you get there you realize you're working for someone who has no idea about the business, isn't excited to seeyou do cool stuff, has no stencil maker or photocopier (the closest photocopier is at some sex shop) and then collects way too much money as a split. He's given me a run for my money because I'm a woman and apparently don't have the "cool" factor that a man brings into the shop. I cringe even typing this.
Then you look at our shop: I own it, but Hayden Menzies bought in 30% after doing half the work opening it and keeping it operational for a year solid. He isn't a tattooer. I've tattooed him what seems like an endless amount and he's made efforts to meet and be tattooed by interesting artists who are making waves. All of our guest artists are taken care of very well because he offers part of his own home to them to stay. He has worked NO PAY when things got rough in the beginning and will get in his van and drive across the city on the drop of a dime if the shop needs it.
I have never met a non-tattooer who has suhc a respect for this industry... He doesn't want to tattoo because he respects it too much and knows it's not his place, despite intense artistic ability. Half of our guest artists want to come abck to see HAYDEN hahahhahahha!!
Long story short, although he only owns slightly more than a quarter of the shop on paper, I am proud and honoured ot have this one person as my co pilot at the shop. It's a unique situation and makes me a fucking hypocrite because any othr shop woudl make my blood boil, but when you compare the shop in Europe tha tI've worked for (and wanted to slit my wrists at) to our shop, it goes to show how it's not the NON_TATTOOER aspect tha tmakes someone a piece of shit sop owner. It's a non-tattooer who also seeks to exploit our very special, unique trade for their own cool guy gain and money.

I agree that it gets peep out to get tattooed but it gives people a fucking retarded idea of what success is in this industry:
About a week ago, two of the types of guys who LOVE those shows come in and bro down for their bro tats. They keep telling me that maybe "one day I'll be on one of those shows." so as always, I act polite. I tell them that for me personally I wouldn't be interested in the extra work that a show would give etc. Etc.
They seemed to lose all faith in me after that as though I just said I went interested in being a good tattooer. Therefore, my only complaints about those shows are (a) the Eikon sponsorships and (b) the attitude it gives clientele that those tattooers are the end all be all of the industry and choose not to look more into the art than staring at the boob tube.
Just my opinion.

Just got back from this. My wife's favorite piece was by (drum roll please) Lizzie! That was awesome! Please post a pic of it here so everyone else can appreciate it.
I also saw the California condor you did on Ms. RAD in person the other night. That thing is killer. Props to Lizzie Week in SF.

Hogg thanks so much!!!

Hogg thanks so much!!!

I will be at these shops on these dates with openings to spare. I'd love to tattoo some LST'ers if they are so inclined -- it's always nice to meet people from this community!
March 3 - 9, Musink & Sid's Tattoo Parlour, Santa Ana, CA
April 6 - 10, Three Kings Tattoo, Brooklyn NY
April 11 - 14, Chicago Tattoo Company, Chicago IL
April 15 & 16, Mt Idy Tattoo (just have one spot open)
April 17 & 18, Tattoo Paradise DC (I can take appointments on the 19th as well, just no walk ins...)
Thanks for all your feedback and for telling your friends!
Lizzie

I will be at these shops on these dates with openings to spare. I'd love to tattoo some LST'ers if they are so inclined -- it's always nice to meet people from this community!
March 3 - 9, Musink & Sid's Tattoo Parlour, Santa Ana, CA
April 6 - 10, Three Kings Tattoo, Brooklyn NY
April 11 - 14, Chicago Tattoo Company, Chicago IL
April 15 & 16, Mt Idy Tattoo (just have one spot open)
April 17 & 18, Tattoo Paradise DC (I can take appointments on the 19th as well, just no walk ins...)
Thanks for all your feedback and for telling your friends!
Lizzie

I will be at these shops on these dates with openings to spare. I'd love to tattoo some LST'ers if they are so inclined -- it's always nice to meet people from this community!
March 3 - 9, Musink & Sid's Tattoo Parlour, Santa Ana, CA
April 6 - 10, Three Kings Tattoo, Brooklyn NY
April 11 - 14, Chicago Tattoo Company, Chicago IL
April 15 & 16, Mt Idy Tattoo (just have one spot open)
April 17 & 18, Tattoo Paradise DC (I can take appointments on the 19th as well, just no walk ins...)
Thanks for all your feedback and for telling your friends!
Lizzie

Thanks for the nod, Ms. Rad. Those actually healed effing PERFECTLY. They look great. That is on a shop regular, and the same day that I did that, someone else did the same tattoo and we both posted them on tumblr. Mine was better though, haha

Thanks for the nod, Ms. Rad. Those actually healed effing PERFECTLY. They look great. That is on a shop regular, and the same day that I did that, someone else did the same tattoo and we both posted them on tumblr. Mine was better though, haha