Stewart Robson

[MENTION=969]ShawnPorter[/MENTION] we have child actors, maybe you were a child blogger?...

I could do with another youthful nemesis to add to the list of "people who's day I ruined" a palm tat surely does that. Glad I could help :)

I always wanted to feel like Ming the Merciless.

[MENTION=3336]Our Endless Days[/MENTION] Ok, before this gets really out of hand and scares [MENTION=3970]Brock Varty[/MENTION] into never writing anything about tattoos, ever...

If I used harsh words, I apologise. I always reserve the right to be a dick but I usually try to have a helpful intent, especially on the internet, well everywhere on the internet except twitter.

I just checked your blog again and noticed that you did, in fact post original content. Sweet, now your blog is doing something great. I guess you're not just harvesting Instagram then. Awesome.

It's not for me to tell you what to do with your life but you're blogging about my livelihood / profession / whatever, so I thought it appropriate to offer ideas to improve what you do and help you achieve what you set out to do i.e. promote quality tattooing.

If it's a battle between quality and quantity, it's your call. When you're posting 30+ photos each day without contact info, maybe 10-15, with info would address that. But probably not. I for sure know how time-sucking a keyboard and blog can be.

Here's a suggestion. I'm definitely not trying to be a dick this time: make a static page with links to the tattooers you feature regularly. Update it when you start adding a new guy or girl.

If 2 tattooers say the same thing to you, does that mean they are just playing parrot? While we live and work together, Valerie and I are different people who often approach things differently. Though we both feel strongly about crediting creative or craft work wherever possible.

Re: permission. It's not required, but it's certainly appreciated.

You need to understand that it's a touchy subject because we have been through this many times, even in the last couple of years. Not many blog owners or contributors listen to what tattooers say and people bring us uncredited tattoo photos printed from tumblr and ask for the same thing. I've had someone bring me a photo of Brian Paul's work and tell me it's mine. While flattering, it's not very helpful to me or Brian.

Each time someone is brought to task, they say the same thing: "I'm just a fan", "I'm spreading the word to help you guys" or "I don't need info 'cos everyone knows those guys" and "People can google the artists names" I had a similar themed discussion with Lochlan and Dari when LST started adding categories for the image galleries.

In December, when we chatted, I mentioned in a p.s.

you seem to have an eye for decent tattoos, in my opinion you should make more of an effort to credit tattooers in relation to their photos. While a list of names and links helps search engines, it doesn't help human readers.

So yeah, I didn't change the intent, I just changed the tone. Because the first one left you thinking I was super-nice and everything's cool, while the second may well have instigated a change for the better and a constructive discourse. - this is the same tactic older tattooers use to critique younger tattooers work. It hurts but it works - but only on people who give a shit.

I guess if you add a links page, your "wasted potential" label gets erased and changed to "Sweet Blog, Doing it Right" while I get labelled "Pushy Dickhead"

It's a result that benefits everyone.

Again, thank you for the kind words regarding my work, they are appreciated.

[MENTION=3336]Our Endless Days[/MENTION] wow. I guess putting work online elevates you above criticism.

• I do still think that your blog is better than 99% of blogs. I also said you had an eye for a great tattoo. If you take the time to properly credit and link to the people who's work you use, your blog would be great. If you added original content, it would be fantastic.

• I also expressed gratitude that you offered to help my project and asked to post a video clip of mine. I noticed that you didn't ask permission to post my tattoo photos. I'm guessing that you're deleting my photos as I type this.

• I also remember taking time to have a conversation about contact details and checking that they are available, regardless of platform.

• I remember giving you advice on how to get the most value for money with video equipment.

Because we had a decent, mutually beneficial conversation and I liked what you'd started to do with your blog, that doesn't mean I'm 100% cool with everything you do, ever. Nor did it mean that I didn't think there was room for improvement. Improvement that never materialised.

I'm pleased you liked some of my work enough to include it but "Spreading the word" means nothing without up-to-date contact details. Thank you. This is the same argument we hear all the time from blog owners, Instagrammers, tumblrs etc.

If you've had 'negative' opinions from myself and Valerie it's been to remind you to credit the source of your content and add contact details. Instead you removed the photos. If we thought your blog was a total piece of shit we'd ask you to never use anything of ours. We didn't do that, we asked you to credit ALL tattooers and add contact information for ALL tattooers. We were trying to help you make your blog better. Instead you removed the photos because adding contact details takes time. I understand that not everybody has time to update thing properly. That's why tumblr is full of re-blogs to the point of it being almost impossible to find the original creator of any works posted.

I'm guessing your sarcastic sign-off means you don't care about doing something really well and you'll discount anything I say in the future as sour-grapes from the mouth of a back-stabber. Please prove me wrong.

'Last Bullet'? If you mean the site I didn't want to link to, no. It's not yours. It's a site that started like yours, didn't link or add contact details but now the owner makes a decent living (i.e. He doesn't have a 'real' job and his business is built on posting tattoo photos he didn't ask for) from the site by selling merch online and at conventions. If you're talking about the ego-boost blog comment, see 99.9% of tattoo blogs on tumblr.com

I just like seeing decent blogs and sites by people that give a shit. Sadly they are in short supply.

[MENTION=4349]Shaun1105[/MENTION] I guess this string of comments lets you know what you're in for regarding tattoo blogs. Just make it a good one.

my 2cents:

• If you don't know what to write about, don't do it.

• like [MENTION=4349]Shaun1105[/MENTION] said, make it personal, about your experiences. I've seen many tattoo blogs come and go (well, lay dormant) because the writer wanted to be the NYTimes or National Geographic of tattooing. The best blogs (of any subject) are narrow in focus and very personal. You don't have to catalogue the trials and tribulations of your life, but share your perspective.

Examples:

• If you're making a tattoo blog - Remember to link to tattooer websites, blogs, twitter etc. and use up-to-date contact information for them. If you can't provide contact info, don't use photos of their work. There's enough scum-fucks who trawl instagram to populate their ego-boost blog. We don't need another.

• Which brings me to: Don't be lazy. Just 'cos it's on the internet, that doesn't mean you don't have to check your sources, reference and spend the time to credit material and quotes.

Q) Which platform?

A) WordPress.com - Get a Free Blog Here

Well, wordpress gives you more control and is easier to manage in the long run.

I would suggest a wordpress that makes posts to twitter and re-posts to a tumblr of the same name. (these can all be controlled from wordpress so you only need to make one blog entry there each time you post.)

What makes a blog that people read and enjoy?

Interesting content that they can't find anywhere else. ...or tits, but tits are easy to find on the internet so I suggest interesting and original content.

But you'll probably be better off ignoring my words and grabbing photos from Instagram and blogs. Then you can make t-shirts and stickers and maybe you can make a living on the periphery of tattooing by posting other people's photos of their work. You'll probably get laid a lot too. (Im talking about a specific site but it don't want to link to it from Last Sparrow)

Good luck.

note: I don't seem to be able to get the 'mention' function working in a post with hyperlinks Sorry to the people I mentioned but didn't get 'mentioned'

Thanks everyone, [MENTION=2059]Dr Benway[/MENTION], If you mean the tattoos Jordan wears on his chest and neck, they were done by me, Steve Byrne and Chad Koeplinger. Frank Carter tattooed his stomach too.

[MENTION=2048]Mason Wanamaker[/MENTION], any good convention should have great tattooers working there and sometimes guesting at shops in the area. Some of the tattooers were fully booked within minutes of them confirming their visit, others took walk-ins and some only did one tattoo.

@Tim Hendricks, sincere thanks. As ever, it was pretty special and certainly an honour to have you (and everyone else) with us.

For me the difference with the interviews here at LST are that they seem to be by tattooers, for tattooers. They are not for onlookers with a casual interest in tattooing. Not to mention the intimate and respectful relationship between the interviewer and subject has allowed the interviews to touch on areas normally untapped in tattooer interviews.

I think these things make the interviews unique and hugely more interesting than most interviews. If an hour is too long for some of the very interesting subjects and views in the videos here, that says more about your attention span than the quality of the interview.

30-60 minutes with some of the most insightful, inspirational and respected figures in tattooing? yes please.

10 tabloid questions with a distracted feel and minimal research into the subject? good luck.

There's always someone tattooing shirtless in your videos. Cliff Raven style.

That's why all the shot are waist-up ;)

But really, it's one hot-ass basement without real A/C.

Another great interview with some insightful ideas.

I love the format of these interviews, with no editing or agenda it's a joy to watch. They're testament to Scott's respect for the subjects and his skill as an interviewer.

i'm looking forward to the next one.

Now the party starts!

A woman who's name I can't remember at Ruby Arts in York, UK

Norman Tattersley

Steve Byrne - around 60-90 hours, maybe more

Ian Flower - around 40 hours

Valerie Vargas - a bunch of smaller stuff

Gerry Carnelly

Chad Koeplinger - x4

Steve Boltz - x2

Bert Krak

Eli Quinters

Thomas Hooper

Mike Wilson

Alex Reinke

Dante DiMassa

Naomi Reed

Craig Burton

Jordan Teear

Soap

Antony Dickinson

Electric Rich

Tim Hendricks x 2

Jeff Rassier

Oliver Peck

Nikki Balls

There's a few more people I plan to get tattooed by in the next couple of years as well as some more from the folks on this list.

Thanks for visiting us Mario. It was great to have you here.

Video looks cool too, nice feel of London and our shop.

See you in San Francisco.

Hi,

When I do backs, particularly in a Japanese style, I don't consider ending higher than the ass, especially if there is background.`

But the question I ask everyone who is not sure if they want to include the thighs too is "If it ends on your ass, what will you do on your thighs?" Personally I love the look of the full back and thighs, which is what I have myself.

For easy-to-find reference, check out Taki's book 'Bushido' if you haven't already. There's some cool diagrams at the back that outline the shape of Japanese bodysuits. There are other, more comprehensive illustrations in harder to find, Japanese language books, but Bushido is great.

Good luck getting your ass tattooed though!

Awesome interview.

I'm glad that Tim said some of the things he did here. I have learned fantastic things about applying tattoos from watching Tim work and getting tattooed, but I've learned a hell of a lot more watching him interact with his customers/clients with humility, dignity and most of all grace.

Thanks to Scott for helping that come across in this interview.

Looking forward to the next one!

Another awesome interview.

It's great when two people talk sense in an eloquent and well thought out way.

Thanks guys!