gougetheeyes

Scott did this one last night on my arm. i'm pretty stoked on it, and all morning Jackson and i were joking around, me moving my arm quickly towards him at random points and saying "ROARRRRRR". it's not the best photo, just one from my laptop, and before i get asked, it's a California Grizzly Bear and the 1922 is the year they went extinct.

Well, its kinda funny you mention that, my Dad is going to go in with me to get a new tattoo (first since 1957) pretty soon and he is 74...so maybe I will end up with at least hands...I could get knuckles that said AARP LIFE or something...

I'm just surprised that this many people really have an interest in being part of another social networking site. (Full disclosure, I had to google Google+ yesterday.)

I made this post in another tattoo forum. It applies here.
"Im not saying facebook posts are going to make any difference to TLC. Im saying our voices are important for the regular public to hear also. Just because you may not have heard of the show doesn't mean all the "middle america, sit on the TV all day" kind of people haven't. I want regular non tattoo people to understand how we feel about this and why. I would like to counter the immediate response to thinking that a tattoo school is a good idea. I want the people who might watch this show and decide they want to go to a tattoo school. The kids who get turned away from apprenticeships and see this as a backdoor into the craft. I want them to hear why that's a bad idea. From the people who they would be looking at for employment.
I am under no illusions that a bunch of posts on the net are going to change a networks mind necessarily. More that I want as many people as possible to understand that this isn't the norm in tattooing, nor the way to go for anyone."
I feel we need counter measures.

Nope, I think that pretty much sums everything up across multiple threads in a very succinct, respectful, helpful and constructive way.
I was also thinking about this today when I was out, and while I did say "fuck em, don't say anything," I do think if you have a close friend or some sort of "fellow embroidery colleague" with whom you get along really well and establish some kind of awesome working relationship with, then it's only natural to want to share and learn, on both ends. But that's not really advice or anything, just something that'd obviously grow out of it.. Also, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT PAINTS YOU USE AND THE BRUSHES FOR PAINTING ON YOUR SEWINGS AND WHO I COULD MAYBE REFERENCE FOR SKULLZ AND ANKURZ, LIKE MAYBE THIS ED HARDY HAT I HAVE K THX LOL!

A professional magician once showed me how to perform a trick.
When I told him I thought things like that were secret, he said that a concert pianist can impart tips and hints to a layman because he can never be a concert pianist.
I think that's what Ursula just said.
If a harmlessly curious/nervous/interested tattoo customer asks me why Im doing something or what that nice smelling liquid is, I tell them and often quietly explain why.
When a nosey customer/wannabe tattooer/apprentice asks what needles or ink I'm using, I tell them its a big sharp one and it's monkey piss, or it's red.
I share pretty much everything with my colleagues and peers because that's how I learned almost everything I know.
I guess that's a long-winded way of saying "I agree"

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

Nope, I think that pretty much sums everything up across multiple threads in a very succinct, respectful, helpful and constructive way.
I was also thinking about this today when I was out, and while I did say "fuck em, don't say anything," I do think if you have a close friend or some sort of "fellow embroidery colleague" with whom you get along really well and establish some kind of awesome working relationship with, then it's only natural to want to share and learn, on both ends. But that's not really advice or anything, just something that'd obviously grow out of it.. Also, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT PAINTS YOU USE AND THE BRUSHES FOR PAINTING ON YOUR SEWINGS AND WHO I COULD MAYBE REFERENCE FOR SKULLZ AND ANKURZ, LIKE MAYBE THIS ED HARDY HAT I HAVE K THX LOL!

OK here's the thing Bubbleberry. You aren't a tattooer. Not that your opinion isn't valid, but try to understand things from this perspective:
Among craftsmen, information is the true currency. It's why master woodworkers, calligraphers, metal smiths, violin makers etc. guarded their secrets. It's keeps the things that you do special. When everyone knows everything, what is special? Thats why the Stradivarius violin is what it is and not just some normal violin.
When I was in my apprenticeship my teachers told me things. Very valuable things that helped me in my journey. Things I still think about today. One had been tattooing 14 years and the other 9. They had accumulated a lot of experience. They made mistakes, figured some things out, talked and worked with other tattooers, and had a chance to see a lot of things they did age and make adjustments to compensate. When they taught me stuff, they put their faith in me that I wouldn't just treat the things they passed on as just stuff to talk about or things to say when you want other dudes to know that you know what you're talking about. It was truly valuable and needed to be seen and treated as such.
I had very good friends working at other shops in town on their own similar beginning adventures in tattooing, and I never told them any of the shit my bosses told me even if I thought it would help. Which was hard, but here's the thing. It wasn't my secrets to tell. As much as I would like to help someone out that I think might benefit from a hint or two, it's not my information to tell. I couldn't betray that. It's what keeps it valuable and helps keep that bond between student and teacher sacred. I truly believe that. That's maybe why so many of us are up in arms about the tattoo school thing. Because we may have gone through the student/teacher apprenticeships, and value that. I'm proud of my lineage. They aren't huge name dudes or anything, but I think that are some of the best tattooers I know. My stuff has a look to it that you can trace back to the people I worked with and learned from and that's important. It keeps things rich. It's the best way to cultivate and nurture tattooing as a whole. My stuff may not be the best stuff out there, but it's mine, and what's mine is a combination of the people who taught me, and I'm proud of that.
Think about your wife. She's going through her very own apprenticeship. What about the accumulated knowledge that her teacher is passing on to her. Should she not hold that in truly high regard? Shouldn't she keep his secrets and put them to good use? She is now part of his lineage. That's not something to take lightly. That information is valuable and she should treat is as such.
That's not to say that you can't ever mention it. Trading bits of information between craftsmen is another way to honor the value of the knowledge, AND that gives me the privilege of being able to go back to my teachers and tell them what i've learned as a part of the way you can pay them back for giving you so much in the first place.
As craftsmen we meet up at conventions, guest spots, shop visits on vacations, writing to each other, and we can sometimes trade portions of information to each other and we can in turn use these in our own ways and it helps keep tattooing robust and alive. It helps us form bonds between each other. However even in those situations I try to hold back certain aspects of the info, as do the people on the other side. It keeps the level of mystery, not in a mystical sense, but in the sense that we now have to figure out the key to unlock this particular piece of knowledge, and sometimes we find our own key and use for it.
Tattooing is different than most things in that it's still a largely master/apprentice craft. True a lot of tattooers came in through different means but most of them respect the apprenticeship as the proper way, and although more tattooers than not shouldn't actually be giving apprenticeships since they aren't really cut out for it, and we have too many to begin with already, it's still the proper way. That is part of the tradition that, at least I hold in very high regard.
Ursula, if you're paying for info, that you've in turn used to help you create something unique, then yes you should see it in that light. Hold it back. People ask and ask, but that shows you just how valuable and special your stuff is. Let them find their own secrets. Now if you are meeting up with other people and can trade parts of things for more info, then good on you.
I could write more on this subject but I think I need food right now. I'm sure smarter people than me can expound in a better way.

I'm just surprised that this many people really have an interest in being part of another social networking site. (Full disclosure, I had to google Google+ yesterday.)

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

I like "ebay suks".. I think there's a thread about that..

Fuck em, don't tell em anything. I wouldn't expect any tattooer to explain to me their technique for lines, shading, etc. Especially if they're asking you on your facebook. Craft a tactfully-worded generic response you can send out that politely says, "Thank you for your interest, but I am not at liberty to divulge the way in which I create these pieces. Now get off the internet and go outside," or something.

Got this a few weeks ago in Chicago from Nick Colella.

In answer to someone who was wondering why some of us from the 'OTHER' shows don't use their social networking to comment: why would I want point out to tens of thousands of people about a terrible thing and make them look, it gives TLC more power and free advertising, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna do that. The best thing to do is not watch, hell don't watch any reality tv for that matter. None of us knew about this new show, it's not like we talk to TLC unless it's for a legal purpose now and then. TLC is owned by Discovery Chanel and is a monstrous, soulless network. They buy episodes from a production company who pitches the idea and then makes it happen. Find the production company who made this atrocity and you will then find the source and creator of this. They probably pitched it to several networks but TLC paid them the most for it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkM5cEGWzso&feature=youtu.be"

Lucero as well.
But it is fishing season so Chuck Ragan and Austin Lucas.
And Hank III. And Hank Sr. of course.

On Thursday, July 14 at 9pm, TLC will air "Blow School". Award-winning Porn Actress Lucy Felatio runs a hands-on and unconventional porn school in upstate NY where students from all walks of life learn how to suck dick in just two weeks. These rookie students are seeking to change their lives through eating cock. With just two intense weeks under Lucy's instruction, they will get the experience blowing cock after cock with varying levels of difficulty.
Rookie students, models risking their cocks to first time nosher artists, ...who will bear the drama of competition and keep wood.