Dhopper

Here's one: The same name as another tattoo shop, even if it's in another country.
When stuck for a name, call it the name of the street it's on or the name or the nearest major street. Works like a charm.
Although we do still get phone calls at the shop that go:
*ring*ring*
"Hello, Frith Street Tattoo, can I help?"
"...erm, what street are you on?"
"We're on Frith Street"
"Ok, thanks"
*click*

One thing I haven't heard discussed is how cool and important having a good name for a tattoo shop is. Maybe I am kind of a snob,but if a shop has a dumb name, it sets off red flags for me and makes me a little unsure right off the bat. That being said obviously naming a tattoo shop, shouldn't and sometimes doesn't have anything to do with quality of work, but my hunches rarely let me down.
So I don't think there is a set rule for what a good tattoo shop name is or isn't, but I have a few things I look for
1. Is Tattoo in the name. I would rather go to Hello Kitty Tattoo, than insert random city here INK or such and such art studio. Tattoo City, Chicago Tattoo, The Tattoo Emporium, Liberty Tattoo, Electric all kick ass names all have tattoo in them.
2. No more than Four words in the name. I want to be able to remember the name. Freedom Ink, Odds and Ends tattoo, Flying Tiger Tattoo, Hot Stuff Tattoo, Rock of Ages Tattoo, Inksmith and Rodgers Tattoo, gets the point across and sticks with you without writing it down.
3. Alliteration, whether you have tattoo in the name or not, it works for me. Shamrock Social Club, Absolute Art, True Tattoo, Temple Tattoo.
Obviously there are way too many good shop names to list and it's not the deciding factor whether a shop is good or not, but the right amount of creativity goes a long way. I thought up this post when I saw a business card in a public place and the name of the shop is Breaking Ink. My first thought was they were going through stuff on the DVR and Breaking Bad and LA INK were on the list so they just decided to blend them, then of course I looked them up on my iphone and that probably is about right. But It really just reminded me of how many better names there are for shops out there.
Anyone else have any thoughts or insights?

Good luck with your coverups. You'll find that several folks here have had laser and/or coverups and have been very happy with the results.

Mike Wilson = Panther royalty

Gotta have some ethics. It is up to us. I don't support the "fuck it" mentality.

I'm in Austin and will be going to the convention and to San Angelo, also.

I used to think I had to slow down, so I don't run out of space, but now I don't have as much free time or money to get tattooed and all I want to do is get more tattoos. I can't imagine I will stop. I see other friends who are a little ahead of me and they seem to find ways to keep getting tattoos with limited or no skin left. I don't really want face tattoos even though that seems to be the trend right now, I have a feeling it will slightly harder to live with and a little more regretful than all the tribal armbands that came out of the 90's and I would just assume skip it.

I can relate to the awkwardness @Iwar speaks of now. I thought for the longest I'd never go through with getting my chest tattooed and looking downward I'm like holy shit my chest is tattooed. It's more of a fuck yea followed by staring at myself for 10 minutes.
I never felt this way about any tattoos on my legs or arms. I guess it's because it's a big step versus extremities which seem to be just commonplace

I've experienced this before. It's usually a very fleeting feeling, but I think it has to do with getting used to the change. I know I'd be a lot sadder if I woke up and a tattoo was missing.

I can understand the emotions you go through. The before, during, and after of getting a tattoo is very different then anything i have experienced. I know i have stopped and looked at myself and thought "wow! when did i get so many tattoos!" and then think what can i get next!

Clients that follow me around as I'm setting up for their tattoo.
Dude I'm only enlarging your design on the copy machine. BACK IT UP, SON!!

Howdy- I guess I should finally get around to my introduction. My name is Doug Hardy. I tattoo at my father's shop, Tattoo City, in San Francisco. I was apprenticed under Michael 'Rollo' Malone at China Sea Tattoo in Honolulu from 1992-1996, then moved to Minneapolis where I worked at Northside Tattoo, The Ink Lab, Uptown Tattoo and finally The Aloha Monkey. After almost 12 years in the Frozen North, I moved back to my hometown to help run Tattoo City and be my father's right hand man after his retirement. I also help with Hardy Marks Publications and try to stay connected with other artists when I'm not wrangling my goddamned cats.

You've tattooed my friends multiple times, and I'm a big fan of your work. Welcome to LST!

Hello there can I play too?

Here is a Stoned school mascot from the small town in upstate NY where I went to school. Did it during a short guest spot at Beyond Tattoos in Potsdam, NY. Done by myself

Stewart is amazing! He makes me think I will endure the pain to get a big torso tattoo!

Miyazo's work floors me damn near every time. Same for the elusive Chris Brand, who is influenced by him, and Drew Flores at State of Grace, who is influenced (and tattooed) by both Miyazo and Brand.
And I have to add @Stewart Robson to the mix, too. That Fudo Myo-o torso he's doing is one of the best tattoos I've ever seen; I am insanely jealous of it.

I totally agree @Stewart Robson is doing some awesome tattoos. I have seen more than a handfull that made me cuss. Seeing him tattoo chain mail on @Reyeslv was awesome, it looks so good in person. It was sensory overload to see that plus look down and see beautiful tattoing done for me by Valerie.

There are a lot of amazing, creative and innovative tattooers out there right now and I love so much of it.
Its especially great to have so much access to it all through Instagram right now but to answer the thread, no ones tattoos get me excited like Grime's do. I know there are plenty of people that may disagree but in my eyes, that guy can do no wrong. IMO, his work is second to none.
Another that's been continually blowing my mind with pretty much any style, but the Japanese stuff is becoming very creative is our own Stewart Robson. I personally love some of the less traditional Japanese stuff he's been doing lately but the guy can also kill it with the traditional Japanese stuff. I've seen photos of his more traditional stuff but seeing @Reyeslv back in person showed me on a whole other level.

Ya know, I should've taken a better pic-woulda been a trip to win December with a 40 y.o. tattoo!
Again this month withe the sick-ass good work-this just keep sgetting better and better.

Hope ya'll like it!
Chris Conn Askew
Sekretcity Los Angeles

Forrest Cavacco aka Tattoo Forrest at Cobra Custom Tattoo in Plymouth, Ma. TATTOO FORREST

I really want a Forrest tattoo...esp since hes a new england tattooer and Im a typical new england nationalist.

Hope ya'll like it!
Chris Conn Askew
Sekretcity Los Angeles

Hope ya'll like it!
Chris Conn Askew
Sekretcity Los Angeles