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Ducky15568

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  1. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to sophistre in The seeming decline of "street shop" tattoo parlors   
    It seems to me like there'll probably always be both, now that both types exist. There are people who will always be more comfortable on one side of that fence than the other...people who feel uneasy about upscale interiors and courtesy salon fruit-infused water, and people who are intimidated as hell by tattoo shops full of tough guys, or who've managed to make mental divides for themselves over different kinds of tattoos, who may be interested in getting a tattoo 'but not that kind' of tattoo. For some people, that's probably part of the experience they're shopping for, in both directions -- the salon feeling, or the classic grit.
    This is additional speculation on my part, totally based on my own anecdotal observations, but there also seem to be weird overlaps between people who don't like the idea of getting something from flash and want something 'custom' instead, and people who want the upscale experience (and people who got their tattoo concept off of Pinterest, which is totally ironic).
    I read here all the time about how there's been a huge upswing in the number of tattoo shops out there -- shops that come and go with excess apprentices and artists that don't last long, people trying to reinvent the wheel, this whole glut of shops in any given place -- and I suppose catering to this demographic probably provides them with a whole lot of business. Trends seeking trends, or something. But, if I had to wager a guess, I'd say that the street-shop mentality you guys were talking about -- artists with a style who can still turn out solid walk-in work, who are willing to do that, who are dedicated to the craft/labor of tattooing as well as the art of it -- will probably always be more successful in the long-term. Places like that will endure. And maybe there are lots of high-end salon-style shops that employ this ethic, too; hell if I know. I think it's probably the at the heart of what's most important, beyond interior design.
    ...I listened a lot of lectures growing up about artists who forget that art is not just art, but also a business. Haha.
  2. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to CultExciter in The seeming decline of "street shop" tattoo parlors   
    I like this thought process Ms. Carolyn. It's something that actually affects me. I live in Virginia. For those of you less informed, it is does not qualify as the most "progressive" state in the Union. The tattoo shop I work at is in Salem, Virginia, which is the sister city to Roanoke, Virginia. I would describe this town as behind the times. I can count on two fingers the tattoo shops in the area that look like "tattoo shops." You know, flash wall to wall and on the ceiling too. I'm lucky to be in one of them. It's the type of shop I want to work at. But, like I mentioned, the area is a little behind the times and alot of clients are very enticed by the "studio" "custom-only" "leather couch and plasma TV" look. So, those shops are a little busier in the area, even though, they are still doing the money maker tattoos. In a lot of places, Virginia is not the only place, flash is being replaced by glowing smart phones and Google/Pinterest images. That's the new flash at these types of shops. My coworkers and I have joked that those shops should just mount iPads to the wall.
    But here is the exciting part. Clients who are discovering our shop, where the other three guys have been tattooing a combined 55 years, they walk in and say "Wow! This looks like a tattoo shop. This is so cool."
    I think, at it's root, tattoo shops that look like tattoo shops, will always be the common denominator. You can up the fixtures and the fanciness, but having those archetypical designs on the wall that speak to the human psyche, and the folders of black and white tribal, lettering, and even Tattoo Brand/Cherry Creek stuff will provide the best jumping off point for clients.
    Even Ed Hardy went back to having a "street shop" look after having Realistic. So all the shops who think they are breaking ground with a white-glove stark environment really are not. It comes and goes, as they say.
  3. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Guero in Upcoming Tattoos   
    The first (I believe) annual Pacific Northwest Tattoo Expo is being held at a casino just 30 min. from where I recently moved to, Lincoln City Oregon.  I'm hoping to pick up a little arrow-head or maybe a sugar skull from Linus O'Malley, Henry Rodriguez, BD Feldman, or one of those guys. Should be a good time.
  4. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Devious6 in Post awesome things you have been doing recently   
    Spent a long weekend on a trip down to The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky. About 7 years ago we signed up to be Maker's Mark Ambassadors - costs nothing and they send you a present each year at Christmas. They also put your name on a barrel plate and, when the barrel matures - 6 to 7 years later - you get invited to the distillery for a free tour, tasting and you can buy bottles from your batch. They put a special label on the bottle(s) and you get to hand-dip it in the traditional red wax and seal it with the Ambassador's seal. It was a blast - and we hit several other distilleries and great restaurants along the way. The weather was warm and, since we took the Z3, we enjoyed some top-down days.
    Here are our bottles and Lynn watching while I dipped mine.

     

     
    And Lynn dipping her bottle.

  5. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Mike Panic in NY Times on tattoo removal   
    Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

    The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
    The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

    Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
     
  6. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Charles.M in Professional Reputation in the age of the Internet   
    t
    I wrote this with a heavy heart, and rewrote his many times trying to be short, but, it is complicated and a difficult subject to just throw at people without some introduction. If you think it is tough to read, try living it.
    I am here because the internet came into my professional life, in the real world, and maybe I can find resolve or allies in this here, I have the courage to try.
    Maybe, sharing my story I can help others...
  7. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Dan in Professional Reputation in the age of the Internet   
    this /\  ,,,
    personally I see a post that long and there is no way I will read it,I just pass it by.
     
    @Charles.M maybe a personal blog would be a better place for you and your thoughts.
  8. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Steve in Hello   
    Hi Charles, welcome to LST.
    Could you point us to a website or any online reference that shows your tattoo work other than what you have posted in our gallery? Tattooing for 20 years you should have a lot of work to show us, and we'd love to see it.
  9. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to suburbanxcore in Veteran LST users unite!   
    I treat the internet exactly the same way I try to live my "real life." If I don't have anything nice to say, I really try not to say anything at all. Also like "real life," I do my best to ignore idiots. If I see a thread from a by a poster I don't particularly like or don't know or I see that they're the most recently reply, I skip it (or save it for true boredom). I don't have to read everything on here just because it's there. And I sure as shit don't have to reply to it just to hear my own digital voice. Just because I (think I) have pretty ok tattoos doesn't mean I can talk down to someone who has crappy tattoos. It doesn't mean I'll be high fiving them or whatever someone said, but I'm not here to shit all over clowns online, either.
    It seems there are a few people on here lately who think they're the gatekeepers to either good tattooing or this website, when in reality they're just a joker with a keyboard and some tattoos.
    Back to mostly browsing the lowdown, upcoming, and contest threads almost exclusively.
  10. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to suburbanxcore in Veteran LST users unite!   
    @oboogie Regardless of what you apparently think, you have no bearing on my digital world. I have literally replied to you in one thread prior to this one. In this instance, I was addressing a three page thread and said absolutely nothing about or to any of your comments. I've been here for years and have never made it my style to call people out or anything of the sort. Feel free to check any of my posts.  
    Additionally, It's also hard to not comment on threads you post in - you post in almost every thread. 
  11. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to marley mission in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    Wrong thread / wrong site / good night
  12. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to MoistTowelette in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    Finally finished the collab with Shige and Gogue last night. Did the lower burgundy chrysanthemum and my nipple, along with a few small touch ups.
     
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BMBcOruDBeN/

  13. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Dan in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    my wife and myself got some work from Oliver Peck on Saturday (10/22) at the SFO show.
    my wife got this octopus

    it was put next to this  mermaid Oliver did last February ,she is working on a traditional underwater leg

    and I got this on my right upper thigh,it's about 9"x8"

    .

    .

    .

  14. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to oboogie in Latest tattoo lowdown.....   
    Josh took a photo of my little rescue, Jasper, and tattooed him for me. I'm so in love with it.

  15. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to 9Years in Tattoo of the Month starting November 1st   
    Stoked to see a return to the TOTM!
    I agree that fillers might be ambitious as a 'come-back' topic at the moment.
    We should kick it off proper: PANTHER!
  16. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Iwar in Tattoo of the Month starting November 1st   
    Noted. Lets try to start with a broader category, and see how submissions turn out.
  17. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to suburbanxcore in Tattoo of the Month starting November 1st   
    Hahaha, I thought that exact same thing this morning. With as much as everyone tells everyone else to get a panther, that would be a great start. Or sparrows/swallows, since it is Last Sparrow.
  18. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to bongsau in Upcoming Tattoos   
    the reggae-heads will appreciate dis one haha but stay tuned for a panther head
  19. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to bongsau in Upcoming Tattoos   
    Booked an appointment for my first blastover hehe
  20. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to PinkUnicorn in tattoos could help keep you from getting sick   
    Getting tattoos could help keep you from getting sick
  21. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to sophistre in Full Back Piece Experience Thread   
    Thank you!! We actually just finished an unplanned second day of color. I would've posted something yesterday, but I figured I'd wait for today. Suppose I oughta crosspost it to the Lowdown, but here you go:


    To be honest, the pictures just don't do the actual colors any justice at all...they get yellowed out. The blue with the red/orange is so amazingly vibrant.

    Personally, even though I'm totally wrecked right now, I'm so glad that we powered through it, because the absolute worst spots for me have been the upper back between my shoulderblades, and also just below the nape of my neck. And now they're done! Probably worth the shocky-tattoo-flu feeling I'll have for a few hours tonight. I'll be right as rain again tomorrow, though. :)
  22. Like
    Ducky15568 got a reaction from Rob I in Old tattoo photos   
    Thank you Captain Grammar! 
    Without grammar nazis how would the peons of the internet know they made a simple grammatical error? 
    I fixed it for you, and no you cannot look under the floorboards. 
  23. Like
    Ducky15568 got a reaction from Rob I in Old tattoo photos   
    @Rob I I was just giving you shit in response to you're joke, but my humor can easily come off as snarky.
    I also think its pretty cool the way these tattoos were preserved for the generations(I couldnt do it either, though).
    I believe there is a museum of skin like this in japan. I think would be bitchin' to see one day.
     I love macabre museums.
    here is a link to more pictures of tattooed skin: http://www.cvltnation.com/dead-skin-living-art-the-museum-of-tattooed-skin/
     

  24. Like
    Ducky15568 got a reaction from Devious6 in Fitness!   
    As of late, with my busy schedule I have been doing only bodyweight (prison) exercises.
    I run a 5x5 regiment regularly, but with these exercises and no gym; I needed to modify it.
    I have been doing squats, dips, pushups, lunges, walking (about 6 mi) whenever at work, and some advanced stretching (yoga). I workout 3-4 times a week and for approx. 30min.
    So far its worked very well, and saves money for more tattoos! 
  25. Like
    Ducky15568 reacted to Rob I in Old tattoo photos   
    You shouldn't have changed it. I was just pointing out that those tattoos, and skin for that matter, are no longer his. 
    I used to think it was pretty cool to have tattoos preserved for generations to admire and still think it's kinda cool to be able to see it but it's the one thing you CAN take with you to the grave.  I can't imagine i would ever consent to it. 
    Anyway, not trying to be grammar police. I was just trying to be funny. @Ducky15568
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