David Flores

Most people I just simply tell them they watch too much TV and I don't want to talk about my tattoos because they bring up a dark part of my life and I paid my debt to society. Either that or that I was really drunk and don't remember why I got them.
In the shop talking to customers, I usually use a sports analogy. I explain that tattoos are what I follow, like most would follow a sports team. Can you imagine being able to book a couple hours with your favorite sports star and have a permanent souvenir. The experience holds more meaning than the tattoo,but the tattoo is a reminder of the experience. I usually let the tattooer pick the image, because I want a tattoo that represents their style, so I remember where I got it from.
They either get it or just continue to mouth breath, until I start talking about their idea again, but either way it shuts them up. I think the most important thing is having people in real life an on the internet to vent about these things and understand we to some degree go through the same things having tattoos.

We are all one face tattoo away from a lucrative modeling career.
I kind of like this thread, gives me something besides an avatar to associate people with.

It all depends on the event, how busy it is and the people involved. But for the most part when people say no changes, they mean no changes. Making something orange, instead of red seems like an easy request, but once you start that, you have to start entertaining everyone's color requests and I know from experience if you allow people any input they want all the input. That being said, it may not be no big deal for the person doing it, but you just never know and remember you are getting what you pay for in these scenarios.
Edit
BTW i think the coolest one of these special tattoo days I can remember was done about 8 years ago here in portland for Halloween. You basically stuck your arm or leg into a curtain, you didn't know who was tattooing you or what you were getting until the tattoo was done, but you did get to look at the sheet, you just had to be cool with getting anything on there. I didn't get tattooed, but it seemed like a fun idea.

It all depends on the event, how busy it is and the people involved. But for the most part when people say no changes, they mean no changes. Making something orange, instead of red seems like an easy request, but once you start that, you have to start entertaining everyone's color requests and I know from experience if you allow people any input they want all the input. That being said, it may not be no big deal for the person doing it, but you just never know and remember you are getting what you pay for in these scenarios.
Edit
BTW i think the coolest one of these special tattoo days I can remember was done about 8 years ago here in portland for Halloween. You basically stuck your arm or leg into a curtain, you didn't know who was tattooing you or what you were getting until the tattoo was done, but you did get to look at the sheet, you just had to be cool with getting anything on there. I didn't get tattooed, but it seemed like a fun idea.

It all depends on the event, how busy it is and the people involved. But for the most part when people say no changes, they mean no changes. Making something orange, instead of red seems like an easy request, but once you start that, you have to start entertaining everyone's color requests and I know from experience if you allow people any input they want all the input. That being said, it may not be no big deal for the person doing it, but you just never know and remember you are getting what you pay for in these scenarios.
Edit
BTW i think the coolest one of these special tattoo days I can remember was done about 8 years ago here in portland for Halloween. You basically stuck your arm or leg into a curtain, you didn't know who was tattooing you or what you were getting until the tattoo was done, but you did get to look at the sheet, you just had to be cool with getting anything on there. I didn't get tattooed, but it seemed like a fun idea.

It all depends on the event, how busy it is and the people involved. But for the most part when people say no changes, they mean no changes. Making something orange, instead of red seems like an easy request, but once you start that, you have to start entertaining everyone's color requests and I know from experience if you allow people any input they want all the input. That being said, it may not be no big deal for the person doing it, but you just never know and remember you are getting what you pay for in these scenarios.
Edit
BTW i think the coolest one of these special tattoo days I can remember was done about 8 years ago here in portland for Halloween. You basically stuck your arm or leg into a curtain, you didn't know who was tattooing you or what you were getting until the tattoo was done, but you did get to look at the sheet, you just had to be cool with getting anything on there. I didn't get tattooed, but it seemed like a fun idea.

@Delicious I would add that just because people love you and our on your side, doesn't mean they know what is right for you. At some point I think we just have to gain the confidence enough to disagree with our family and understand that their preconceived notions of what society deems appropriate is not going to determine your happiness, only you can do that. And disgreeing with them doesn't mean you love them any less, just that you have become your own person.
Their is that old saying, you live under my house, you follow my rules. Well I have my own house and I say fuck rules.

@Delicious I would add that just because people love you and our on your side, doesn't mean they know what is right for you. At some point I think we just have to gain the confidence enough to disagree with our family and understand that their preconceived notions of what society deems appropriate is not going to determine your happiness, only you can do that. And disgreeing with them doesn't mean you love them any less, just that you have become your own person.
Their is that old saying, you live under my house, you follow my rules. Well I have my own house and I say fuck rules.

All your points are totally valid to people like us who will put in the time and travel and do what we need to do to get tattoos, but majority of people don't like tattoos, they just want to have a tattoo. They just want people to be able to see the tattoo so they know they didn't chicken out, and are usually not as concerned with how the tattoo looks or if the idea is sound. Is that for me, not at all , but if that's how people party, then so be it. They have to live with it not me. I got a little pissy with a client who came in with a new tattoo yesterday, I could tell was done in someone's kitchen. But I mean she knew it was shit and she paid 10 dollars because she is broke and wanted a tatto and the only thing you can get in the shop for 10 dollars is a t shirt so it's not like their was any business really being taken from anyone and she now has a shitty tattoo on her forearm.

Can't compromise your secret agent status, I dig it.

We are all one face tattoo away from a lucrative modeling career.
I kind of like this thread, gives me something besides an avatar to associate people with.

You mean you're not Bryan Burk?
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Here is a mini photo montage of me.

Most people I just simply tell them they watch too much TV and I don't want to talk about my tattoos because they bring up a dark part of my life and I paid my debt to society. Either that or that I was really drunk and don't remember why I got them.
In the shop talking to customers, I usually use a sports analogy. I explain that tattoos are what I follow, like most would follow a sports team. Can you imagine being able to book a couple hours with your favorite sports star and have a permanent souvenir. The experience holds more meaning than the tattoo,but the tattoo is a reminder of the experience. I usually let the tattooer pick the image, because I want a tattoo that represents their style, so I remember where I got it from.
They either get it or just continue to mouth breath, until I start talking about their idea again, but either way it shuts them up. I think the most important thing is having people in real life an on the internet to vent about these things and understand we to some degree go through the same things having tattoos.

The ectasy frying her brain probably has a lot to do with that, but nothing wrong with partyin a little while you are young I guess, and her blacklight tattoo, will be the equivalent to 90's armband tattoo that a lot of people regret.

Just another way for people who don't like tattoos but want to "be tattooed" to do so , one step below white ink tattoos. Honestly I haven't heard any one speak about Blacklight tattoos in a couple of years, and usually just someone with no tattoos tagging along with a friend who is getting tattooed to ask questions about tattoos.

I don't think this thread could teach someone to tattoo, but if someone came in an requested to get tattooed by a rotary I would be besides myself that they thought they had a say in the matter. Why can't tattoo machines, be magical devices conjured up in secret lairs with parts unknown to modern man. I have been tattooed by a rotary machine and i guess at times it was less painful than a coil, but not rainbows and unicorns better, and after two hours it sucked just as bad. Tattoos hurt

Matt Howse did this on me yesterday at Fortune Tattoo here in Portland and yes it is right up in my business.

Got this at the Oregon Ink Convention this week by Mike Volkakis @ Artwork Rebels Portland. I have always loved this Sailor Jerry Design and Mike is a hell of a tattooer and cool guy to hang around. Big thank to @hawk , who owns the first shop Mike tattooed in.

I think Hipsters are the ones getting all the lettering and seem to require all their tattoos to be meaninful and quirky.
I have a four word rule. My tattoos should have no more than four words ex Love Thy Neighbor, Sink or Swim, Heads I Win, Hardcore Roadwhore and you should be able to describe your tattoo in less than four words ex Panther, Rock of Ages, Kewpie, Rose, Skull and Dagger otherwise you put too much thought in to it.

I am not trying to be mean, but the way I look at it good Music is creative, tattooing lyrics to a song on you verbatim is not very creative, I would say it's the antithesis of creative. Any good song should inspire strong imagery. There is so much tattoo imagery inspired by music, and vise versa. Look at the Social D Skeleton, Misfits Crimson Ghost, Tron and her Morrissey, Bikini Kill, Jawbreaker flash, etc. I remember the first time I talked someone out of getting a bunch of lyrics tattooed on them. They wanted all the lyrics to pink floyd wish you were here. I simply said why not get two fish in a bowl and the words "Wish you were Here" above it, it was the simplest idea and the first that came to mind, but never occurred to the client and blew her mind when I suggested it.
Someone liking their tattoo is the most important part, but ultimately the point of this forum I feel is to open people up to ideas they never thought of, and help people get better tattoos.

The ectasy frying her brain probably has a lot to do with that, but nothing wrong with partyin a little while you are young I guess, and her blacklight tattoo, will be the equivalent to 90's armband tattoo that a lot of people regret.

Just another way for people who don't like tattoos but want to "be tattooed" to do so , one step below white ink tattoos. Honestly I haven't heard any one speak about Blacklight tattoos in a couple of years, and usually just someone with no tattoos tagging along with a friend who is getting tattooed to ask questions about tattoos.

It's all in Fun, does it really matters who wins, not that the idea isn't cool, but other than being a pseudo celebrity on the board, it's really just a t shirt at stake. The goal is just to show off our tattoos, and see the work people are getting around the world. I like tattoos that I think should win or that i would want to wear.

I don't think this thread could teach someone to tattoo, but if someone came in an requested to get tattooed by a rotary I would be besides myself that they thought they had a say in the matter. Why can't tattoo machines, be magical devices conjured up in secret lairs with parts unknown to modern man. I have been tattooed by a rotary machine and i guess at times it was less painful than a coil, but not rainbows and unicorns better, and after two hours it sucked just as bad. Tattoos hurt

The ectasy frying her brain probably has a lot to do with that, but nothing wrong with partyin a little while you are young I guess, and her blacklight tattoo, will be the equivalent to 90's armband tattoo that a lot of people regret.