Shotsie Gorman

hopefully i'll remember this when Augus rolls around!

I'll post it as it draws closer !

shotsie, def. remind us when the show starts...also, you may want to put it on the LST calendar so all can see: Tattooer Guest Spot, Tattoo Convention, Events, and Birthday Calendar

Scott Sprouse: thanks! the seminar was awesome...mind blowing! i saw your lips moving, but your voice was coming from inside my mind. you hit on every topic that haunts me daily. thanks for everything! see you soon!

29 minutes ago · Like ·

Why is that?

For the best prices on the p,lanet for art supplies go to www. Jerrysartarama.com the deals are enormpous once your on their mail list they send out cupons sometimes for up to 90% off products! They also carry aloine of great how to books on watercolor process.

Use real fine art water colors- Dr MArtins are not light fast! Many local towns have water color societies that offer classes. So you paint pretty pictures of kittens but you learn about the material and process which takes I have to say years to master.

Seems to me if he wants to try Japanese tattooing or Traditional tattooing you need to have him design some flash.

He must do a study in Japanese style that is up to your standards and so with the traditional.

Once he gets three maybe four of his best paintings on those styles together put them in his book and let him go at one if a customer chooses him and the design he has created. No orifginal paintngs then his lettering days are stretched out in front of him. It seems unfare to limit him because this is you area of skill. Thats why he wanted to apprentice with you in the first place- no?

Make him work for it. Have him do his first japanese deasin on a friend for free. then teach him along the way. If he's too impatient to learn from his mentor-- then shine him on and get someone else in that chair!

Tattooing is alot like cliff diving practice makes perfect or it kills you!

Shotsie

There are several great books available on Public Relations "Gureilla marketing" is one. and a second one-- I think it's called "my elephant has a pink TuTu"

There are more than likely many new books on the subject. They discuss every level of PR from customer service to putting together conventions.

You can actually hire PR firms for short contracts to place you in NEws papers radio and tv for a fee. There are also companies that can track how many times your comnpany shows up in the Press. They list every time you name is mentioned online as well.

The local universities often have PR classes in the adult schools for small businessmen. One thing for sure is to have a budget in mind thyen a seriously well thought out plan getting all your info together such as printed material like brochures etc. Don't for a minute think tattoo shops don't need such things to make it. Yopu can do the simple things like hire a local celebrity who has a charitable cause they work for and double whammy the money as a fund raiser and bring in people for autographs. Or Sponser a local Emergency squad or other local civic minded stuff never usually associated with tattooing. Always go for the strange bedfellows if you catch my drift.

do a soft opening and get things up and running then plan for a major opening event some months later in the summer when peple are out in the streets and looking for something to do.

Well I hope that helps. I can tell you what not to do DO NOT send out announcements to NEwspapers that you are opening a new tattoo business. No one effin cares...

Shotsie

That's all news to me Dean. this is the first time I am hearing anything like this .

I am not sure what you mean by "if I looked into this show? "

I talked to the guys from your area who are listed to work at the show and other folks who attended last year no one seem to have any gripes other than the usual not well run efficiancy issues.

I am already on the road headed there. Too bad you vetern guys didn't get the word out on your concerns to me and others earlier.

I see Humbolt county guys listed as participating.

Talked with Corey about the show he is Milan.

Well,certainly, it's not my intention to work for the " Casino"

They are promoting the tattoo show --which I was told was created by a local tattooer.

They contacted me nearly six months ago to do my seminar for the professional tattooist attending.

Personally I wouldn't sweat the new artists coming into the neighborhood deal-- conventions are so plentyful that unless a tattoo school opens up like ORegon or suppliers set up shop in town these conventions come and go without causing anything of harm to local guys.

I am totally new to the scene in CA and obviously in Humbolt county.

I understand how it feels when some one starts doing big things in your neck of the woods. MArio BArth open three shops within a mile of my home base shop and started a convention just 7 miles from my town. He was willing to sell out-- I was not --I had to grin and bear it as his shops began to sell pigment and machines and turn out apprectices like hot cakes so I get the angst.

I certainly know the quality of work I see coming from northern CA is astoundly good and in the end that always wins out

escpecially in these financially tough times.

I certainly mean no disrespect to you perspectives but the world of tattoing is changing rapidly.

If you have been following my career then you know I have always tried to do the right thing.

I had plenty of opportunities to produce conventions mugs and socks and sell out etc,and I passed on all of that. If I had been wanting to cash in on being inauthentic I'd be as rich as Mario BArth or have my art on Tee shirts and hoodies selling everywhere in discount stores.

So I have not changed my sense of authenticity --In fact I have been trying to give something back to the younger guys in the tattoo world by doing this seminar for free.

That is my motivation I have no other agenda.

I'll take your advice under consideration, although I am now already committed for this one

and I will weigh out what they are up to once I have the experience myself.

I am sorry we won't meet unless you pop into to the show or perhaps under better circumstances in the future.

Thanks for puting me onto your sense of things.

I look forward to having more connections with the authentic foilks of CA

Shotsie Gorman

Best bring your snow shoes!

I shant do that --you first!

If your gonna ask us to spill the beans then your plate has to be dirty

Shotsie

I have found everyone responds so differently to treat and after care. It is relative to who did the work for sure. Nice even placement of pigment makes for a smooth healing tattoo. I have for the last 10 years suggested to people they use a healing slave called super slave specifically "Calendula." It's a flower suspended in bees wax very little olive oil. It's miraculous large scaled pieces healed in three days!

About the Super Salve Company

Most non tattooers don't pick away at their tattoos nor experimewnt with Cocoa buter or other crap and most customers left to their own methods will screw withe the tattoo until there is a healing issue.

There is so little customer knowledge/consumer knowledge in the tattoo world hence the survival of so many sctratchers in the community.

Some folks are just not up to par on their immune systems and need the addition of some sort of help.

Well that's my Two cents!

Shotsie Gorman

32 years tattooing

Thanks I am glad it grabbed you it is one of my favorites!

I keep coming back to reread one liners that have stuck with me and every time it grows on me as a whole.

At first the flow distracted me' date=' but now I appreciate how simultaneously reflective and real that flow it is.[/quote']

Good stories very diplomatic on the Bob Roberts scowl. Henk and Bob Roberts Juan wanted to get beat up for while. Days like those are dissappearing. I have a great picture of a tattoo by Bob Roberts I wanted to have done on my toe rith here on my Cell phone...

Sorry I meant "1995" as states in the copyright.

I enjoyed it emensly. True hearts in the trade. The real heros of the world are good dads. We set the way for our kids by showing them love and support. The rest is icing on the cake. I love the baby poo pooing the Hardy clothes crap! Great stuff well Done! thanks for the Bay area history being and East Coaster for 30 years of my tattoo career it was helpfull. I am happy to be in the turf!

Great stuff! intimate, unfiltered history and a portrait of af father and friendand artist. This felt good to see...

awesome story, brings back memories of when I started in 1970, Gloves ???? smoked while tattooing, acetate stencils, heard a story one time from "Grandpa Groovy" (bring back memories?) where he took you to visit Joe Farrara in washington dc, not so pleasant as i remember the story from Bob

Grandpa Groovy was a character in his own right. We always sparked together I liked him despite his failings. Glad you like the stpory!

Shotsie