dari

Chez Panisse with the lovely Collelas!

Does anyone have a good recommendation for someone in Philly?

Is there a certain style that you're looking for? People might be able to narrow it down if you give us an idea as to what you're looking for in a tattooer.

What?!?!?!

Just starting a rumour.

This just in-

Nick Collela's wife wrecked Scott Sylvia's car, pass it on.

Scott has talked me into bringing the kids down tomorrow, claiming that he won't be working, so I'll be there shortly after 11, would love to officially meet you.

Amoxill, did that hurt? Kidding.

I can't believe how much he got done on you, you poor thing!

i love them, too.

Gia, there's so much about this site that makes me want to say "I love you guys," but I've held back, so far.

On a few occasions, I've suggested the parent not only leave the premisis but also whip their kid's ass.

I like your style.

Went to the sweet tatty convention tonight and actually had a real good time. I got to meet a few friends in person that I've met here in cyberspace, and it wasn't even a little bit weird. This convention has a classy vibe to it, nothing resembling the madness of some other conventions. I'll be missing it tomorrow, but please come say hello to me if you make it out on Sunday.

My kids are only 4 and 1 and my crystal ball is broken, so I can't say what's going to happen when they get older, or how I'm going to feel about it. Scott made Henry his own machine, the only difference is that it has a ballpoint pen coming out of the needle area, it's even been hooked up to a power supply so that it vibrates when he "tattoos." Several parents in our babysitting co-op have made jokes about Henry stealing a real machine from Scott and tattooing the other kids when they're older. That thought has crossed my mind and it terrifies me, although I'm hoping both of our kids will have a little more common sense than that.

I do know that I've had a million really, really bad ideas in my life, but they've been tapering off as I age. I'm fortunate that I didn't get every bad idea I ever had permanently scratched into my skin. I would prefer that my kids wait until they're older to get tattooed, but I would certainly rather they get tattooed by their dad or one of our friends than tattoo themselves. So I guess the answer is that I WOULD let my kids get tattooed before 18, with my own restrictions, not unlike the ones wtjon06 posted.

Scott's niece came in for a tattoo on her 18th birthday. It was a pretty nice event, the whole family went out for a fancy dinner and then to the tattoo shop afterwards, a very ceremonious right of passage type thing. And it wasn't a tiny butterfly, it was a BIG piece in her hip, and it came out great. The words she wanted were a little hoaky, so he said, "Yeah, let's save that for your next tattoo." I hope she still likes it in 20 years, I bet she will. I can't imagine her getting too many more, I think it was just about growing up around Scott's and asking him questions about tattooing. Her other birthday present? A strand of pearls!

For me, as a customer only, I'd have to say that it's my need that's getting fulfilled when I get tattooed. But I choose my tattoo artists carefully, and if they tell me that it will look better a certain way that's different from what I had in mind, then I trust them. My husband doesn't tattoo me (because he's a lazy bum, among other reasons), but if I tell him an idea I have for a tattoo, and he tells me that I'm "trying to stuff 3 lb. of shit in a 2 lb. bag," I take his word for it. He's also fond of saying things like "I don't know how big you think your arm is, or what you think is possible in the world of tattooing." I'm getting tattooed today, and I've done my homework and shown some reference (not on my iphone), but if he says we're doing something a little different or a lot different, I know whatever he does will be cooler than what I could cut and paste together myself. But I know most clients don't have the good fortune of a spouse who rolls their eyes at them when they explain their brilliant new tattoo ideas, and maybe they really do need all 3 lb. in that 2 lb. bag? It's a delicate balance.

Okay, got it. See you soon, Mr. Frog.

I don't know where any of the other pictures are, other than a picture of Scott as Mr. T that's currently hanging in his mom's kitchen. Here is a picture of Scott's brother Damien as the cake-

Here's a more recent pic of me if anyone I don't know already wants to say hello. I will be a little late as I'm getting worked on by Jondix today, but I'm planning on being there.

I haven't heard of any shuttle, at least not one organized by Blackheart, but cabs are pretty abundant.

I'm crossing my fingers for those of you waiting on flights!

Fabulous. I'm assuming they're also vegan and eco-friendly, serving only organic brew and formaldehyde and phythlate free polish?

Damn! What a great idea, that must be one hell of a shop. I like that the shop helper was involved, too. Fabulous stuff!

Oooh, keep it up! Can't wait to see what comes up next.

Hello and welcome! We're having a pretty good time on here so far, glad you could make it to the party.

Love it! I think this season's really starting to get good. And don't worry, MsRad, I think every thing's gonna be okay!

You guys say Freddy Corbin in it last season, right?

It gets worse: I requested them in green. Whoever said that everyone gets the tattoo they deserve sure had his thinkin' cap on tight that day.

My first tattoo was done by a friend at his house. I was once young and dumb enough to show it to Jack Rudy. He said "He was your FRIEND?" Anyway, it worked out, I married the handsome devil who was kind enough to cover it for me many years later.

I'm a yoga teacher, and just like tattooers, there are more and more of them every day. When one of my teachers, Dharma Mittra was questioned about this, he said something like "Not everyone deserves a good teacher."

I'll be interested to hear what everyone has to say, Scott gets a lot of pain in his hand from stretching the skin the way he does, and he's slept a wrist brace when it gets real bad. He mostly manages it with aleve and massage, acupuncture was working, but his acupuncturist moved to NY.

Yeah, not douche bag proof.

Let's never speak of this again, no one here wants to discuss their personal finances!

Come by Scott's booth and say hello so I can put a face (or beard) to your name!

the original artist contacted me, as well as the artist who did it on me, both sharing their side of the stories.

ewww, how awkward. Why did they make it your problem?

Hey you guys, I'm not a tattooer, but I am married to an awfully opinionated one who really loves his job and wants to protect the trade. We're not here to open up discussions on peoples' finances, personal lives, or to educate people on how to become a tattooer. I think if someone wants to ask if/how much to tip their artist, they can ask their friends who've been tattooed, another artist, or even the shop helper. If someone wants to become a tattooer, they should probably stop talking and get drawing. We just want to support and promote tattooing in general with interesting stories of tattooing in the past, interviews with tattooers in the present, and remind people to brush their teeth before their appointment. As this is a really young site, you as the early users can help control the direction LST takes. Start some threads going in the direction that you'd like, whether it's about history or upcoming events or apprenticeship stories or restaurants or whatever, doesn't even need to be tattoo related. User shaneenholm is a great example of a user sharing some interesting tattoo related knowledge, and he certainly isn't giving any tech secrets away. Also, if anyone wants to contribute an article or interview with another tattooer, video or written, we would be thrilled to have it.