Joe Shit

You should call the shop to see if you can get a consultation with Chris.I'm pretty sure he's booked up for a few month's.Or just go to the shop,and see if you can talk with him briefly.Matt does real nice work,but his style is more along the lines of realistic color/biomechanical/organic.I wouldn't go to him for japanese work.
Rich Cahill Studio - RichCahill.com is really good with asian work.He did a beautiful koi fish sleeve on a friend of mine a few years ago.Another guy in N.Jersey who is good with his own style of japanese work is Jeremy@ SCREAMIN INK TATTOOS And another Jeremy@ Revolver Tattoo is real good with traditional japanese work.Mike & Tom @ Electric tattoo Tom's style is more asian influenced.

Anyway if anybody has bothered to read this far I guess my real dilemma/question is "When is it acceptable to find a new artist to finish my work?"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
when he said "his teeth hurt and he had to run out and get his medicine
8 hours after your appt!

I think it's acceptable to find a new artist right now.I wouldn't go back to that guy especially after looking at the scales on that dragon.And why would you wait 9 hrs for this dude when your appt.was at 12.And the fact that you say he does a lot of drugs would discourage me from the start.I would find another artist to finish your work.Here's some good artists to check out. E.GREGORY this dude does real nice work. JRanno.com also does nice work.
Tattoo Paradise ::: HAVE FUN BE LUCKY ::: Orange Tattoo Company | Annapolis, Maryland

Jinx Proof Is a good place to get that hit with the laser.

Jinx Proof Is a good place to get that hit with the laser.

You win for the best reply.

I don't think you can put Ami in the same arena as Ed Hardy.As far as i know Ed was one of the first American's to be doing big Japanese work.He was a big influence to a lot of tattooers years before Ami was born.I remember when Ami was tattooing in NY for a little while and wasn't impressed with his work.I don't think many people even heard of Ami until he got on TV.His work wasn't good enough to put him in the spotlight,but being on these shows certainly did.

This is on Daredevil Tattoo blog about the NY Ink Show..I couldn't have said it better.
That's right I said it. People keep asking what we think of the new show and I'd say that about sums it up. I only saw the first episode. We've been expecting the worst and it's the worst. Chris Torres is the only artist in fact from New York and he was cast as TLC's tattooed answer to Jersey Shore. Their space is reminiscent of the set of Friends. Ami's shop, or I should say TLC's new tattoo parlour on Wooster Street is the unrealistic equivalent of Monica's huge apartment that only a character on TV could afford. All the "I hope I can pay the bills" is a joke. Real life tattoo shops do not have ads on the sides of buses. They're casting the same sorry customers. Dead babies, cancer, tragic endings are needed for inspirational subject matter. (nothing against memorial tattoos except TLC thinks that's the only compelling reason to get tattooed)
I'm surprised at how many people actually think there's any reality involved. The scenarios are scripted it's become an hour of bad acting and cheesy scripts. As interesting as a tattoo shop can be and as much fun as it is to get glimpses into our customers lives and their motivations for getting tattooed the reality is that these shows are orchesrated by people who have no actual interest in our industry. There is no understanding or appreciation for the truly fascinating stories and backgrounds of the people who come through our doors (not just the sob stories). It's a caricature written by squares who think they know what a tattoo shop is about. It takes a lot of talent to really portray people's reality in a way that is respectful and truly compelling. I'm a huge fan of documentaries. I love learning about other people's realities. But it takes thought and vision to capture that spark that can be so interesting. Something that doesn't easily fit into the drive by format of a TV series I guess. It's too bad that there is no respect for our industry involved in the creation of these shows. Tattooing is such a rich subject matter it's dissapointing to see it dumbed down for the masses but I guess we shouldn't expect anything else.
By the way shame on TLC for knocking off our friend Mark Mahoney's shop name SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB.
Devil City Press

All of the better shop's are on the lower east side. http://thickerthanwatertattoo.com/ is a street shop on LES. Daredevil Tattoo has plenty of good traditional tattooers.And it's down the street from Kat's deli where you can get a good pastrami sandwich. Kings Avenue has some excellent tattooers.And if you wan't a good banh Mi,this place Banh Mi - Vietnamese Sandwich is close to Kings Ave,and is real good.
Red Rocket Tattoo New York City You probably can do a walk-in at this shop. Invisible NYC - Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio | Tattoo Artists has some excellent tattooers.Smith street as mentioned is a real nice traditional shop.If you go to brooklyn,check out Brooklyn Flea on Saturday in Fort Greene has some real good food. HopStop.com - Transit Directions and Maps for New York City (NYC) is a pretty good site to help navigate around the city.

This is on Daredevil Tattoo blog about the NY Ink Show..I couldn't have said it better.
That's right I said it. People keep asking what we think of the new show and I'd say that about sums it up. I only saw the first episode. We've been expecting the worst and it's the worst. Chris Torres is the only artist in fact from New York and he was cast as TLC's tattooed answer to Jersey Shore. Their space is reminiscent of the set of Friends. Ami's shop, or I should say TLC's new tattoo parlour on Wooster Street is the unrealistic equivalent of Monica's huge apartment that only a character on TV could afford. All the "I hope I can pay the bills" is a joke. Real life tattoo shops do not have ads on the sides of buses. They're casting the same sorry customers. Dead babies, cancer, tragic endings are needed for inspirational subject matter. (nothing against memorial tattoos except TLC thinks that's the only compelling reason to get tattooed)
I'm surprised at how many people actually think there's any reality involved. The scenarios are scripted it's become an hour of bad acting and cheesy scripts. As interesting as a tattoo shop can be and as much fun as it is to get glimpses into our customers lives and their motivations for getting tattooed the reality is that these shows are orchesrated by people who have no actual interest in our industry. There is no understanding or appreciation for the truly fascinating stories and backgrounds of the people who come through our doors (not just the sob stories). It's a caricature written by squares who think they know what a tattoo shop is about. It takes a lot of talent to really portray people's reality in a way that is respectful and truly compelling. I'm a huge fan of documentaries. I love learning about other people's realities. But it takes thought and vision to capture that spark that can be so interesting. Something that doesn't easily fit into the drive by format of a TV series I guess. It's too bad that there is no respect for our industry involved in the creation of these shows. Tattooing is such a rich subject matter it's dissapointing to see it dumbed down for the masses but I guess we shouldn't expect anything else.
By the way shame on TLC for knocking off our friend Mark Mahoney's shop name SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB.
Devil City Press

This is on Daredevil Tattoo blog about the NY Ink Show..I couldn't have said it better.
That's right I said it. People keep asking what we think of the new show and I'd say that about sums it up. I only saw the first episode. We've been expecting the worst and it's the worst. Chris Torres is the only artist in fact from New York and he was cast as TLC's tattooed answer to Jersey Shore. Their space is reminiscent of the set of Friends. Ami's shop, or I should say TLC's new tattoo parlour on Wooster Street is the unrealistic equivalent of Monica's huge apartment that only a character on TV could afford. All the "I hope I can pay the bills" is a joke. Real life tattoo shops do not have ads on the sides of buses. They're casting the same sorry customers. Dead babies, cancer, tragic endings are needed for inspirational subject matter. (nothing against memorial tattoos except TLC thinks that's the only compelling reason to get tattooed)
I'm surprised at how many people actually think there's any reality involved. The scenarios are scripted it's become an hour of bad acting and cheesy scripts. As interesting as a tattoo shop can be and as much fun as it is to get glimpses into our customers lives and their motivations for getting tattooed the reality is that these shows are orchesrated by people who have no actual interest in our industry. There is no understanding or appreciation for the truly fascinating stories and backgrounds of the people who come through our doors (not just the sob stories). It's a caricature written by squares who think they know what a tattoo shop is about. It takes a lot of talent to really portray people's reality in a way that is respectful and truly compelling. I'm a huge fan of documentaries. I love learning about other people's realities. But it takes thought and vision to capture that spark that can be so interesting. Something that doesn't easily fit into the drive by format of a TV series I guess. It's too bad that there is no respect for our industry involved in the creation of these shows. Tattooing is such a rich subject matter it's dissapointing to see it dumbed down for the masses but I guess we shouldn't expect anything else.
By the way shame on TLC for knocking off our friend Mark Mahoney's shop name SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB.
Devil City Press

This is on Daredevil Tattoo blog about the NY Ink Show..I couldn't have said it better.
That's right I said it. People keep asking what we think of the new show and I'd say that about sums it up. I only saw the first episode. We've been expecting the worst and it's the worst. Chris Torres is the only artist in fact from New York and he was cast as TLC's tattooed answer to Jersey Shore. Their space is reminiscent of the set of Friends. Ami's shop, or I should say TLC's new tattoo parlour on Wooster Street is the unrealistic equivalent of Monica's huge apartment that only a character on TV could afford. All the "I hope I can pay the bills" is a joke. Real life tattoo shops do not have ads on the sides of buses. They're casting the same sorry customers. Dead babies, cancer, tragic endings are needed for inspirational subject matter. (nothing against memorial tattoos except TLC thinks that's the only compelling reason to get tattooed)
I'm surprised at how many people actually think there's any reality involved. The scenarios are scripted it's become an hour of bad acting and cheesy scripts. As interesting as a tattoo shop can be and as much fun as it is to get glimpses into our customers lives and their motivations for getting tattooed the reality is that these shows are orchesrated by people who have no actual interest in our industry. There is no understanding or appreciation for the truly fascinating stories and backgrounds of the people who come through our doors (not just the sob stories). It's a caricature written by squares who think they know what a tattoo shop is about. It takes a lot of talent to really portray people's reality in a way that is respectful and truly compelling. I'm a huge fan of documentaries. I love learning about other people's realities. But it takes thought and vision to capture that spark that can be so interesting. Something that doesn't easily fit into the drive by format of a TV series I guess. It's too bad that there is no respect for our industry involved in the creation of these shows. Tattooing is such a rich subject matter it's dissapointing to see it dumbed down for the masses but I guess we shouldn't expect anything else.
By the way shame on TLC for knocking off our friend Mark Mahoney's shop name SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB.
Devil City Press

Joe@ JMDs Body Art - Tattooing, Waterford Style RemisTattoo.com Attila & Woyt @ Wildcat Ink, Tattoo & Piercing
Maybe someone at these shops knows of a good laser place too.

I watch these shows too..I like to see good tattooing done without all the drama.But drama seems to sell.The last few seasons of LA Ink was terrible.So much bullshit drama,it just turns you off.Miami Ink was much better.I was on Ami James website a few days ago reading about the new show for NYC,and he say's they start shooting in March.I wouldn't get tattooed on a show like that.First of all,the price's must be outrageous,and i don't wan't to come up with a story to tell,just to get a tattoo.I was watching a repeat of Miami Ink a few months ago,and a dude was on the show getting a tattoo because he overcame an addiction to porn.
I enjoyed the tattoo wars series..The best shows on tattooing..Not enough drama to sell though.

All of the better shop's are on the lower east side. http://thickerthanwatertattoo.com/ is a street shop on LES. Daredevil Tattoo has plenty of good traditional tattooers.And it's down the street from Kat's deli where you can get a good pastrami sandwich. Kings Avenue has some excellent tattooers.And if you wan't a good banh Mi,this place Banh Mi - Vietnamese Sandwich is close to Kings Ave,and is real good.
Red Rocket Tattoo New York City You probably can do a walk-in at this shop. Invisible NYC - Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio | Tattoo Artists has some excellent tattooers.Smith street as mentioned is a real nice traditional shop.If you go to brooklyn,check out Brooklyn Flea on Saturday in Fort Greene has some real good food. HopStop.com - Transit Directions and Maps for New York City (NYC) is a pretty good site to help navigate around the city.

All of the better shop's are on the lower east side. http://thickerthanwatertattoo.com/ is a street shop on LES. Daredevil Tattoo has plenty of good traditional tattooers.And it's down the street from Kat's deli where you can get a good pastrami sandwich. Kings Avenue has some excellent tattooers.And if you wan't a good banh Mi,this place Banh Mi - Vietnamese Sandwich is close to Kings Ave,and is real good.
Red Rocket Tattoo New York City You probably can do a walk-in at this shop. Invisible NYC - Art Gallery and Tattoo Studio | Tattoo Artists has some excellent tattooers.Smith street as mentioned is a real nice traditional shop.If you go to brooklyn,check out Brooklyn Flea on Saturday in Fort Greene has some real good food. HopStop.com - Transit Directions and Maps for New York City (NYC) is a pretty good site to help navigate around the city.

Wen't to rehab for PCP addiction,and my roommate had all these tattoos on his arm.Got out of rehab and got a heart with mom in it,and was instantly bitten by the tattoo bug.

Wen't to rehab for PCP addiction,and my roommate had all these tattoos on his arm.Got out of rehab and got a heart with mom in it,and was instantly bitten by the tattoo bug.

Mike Rubendall is opening a shop April 1 in NYC.
Needles and Sins Tattoo Blog
Kings Avenue Tattoo | Long Island Tattoo | New York Tattoo | Custom Japanese Tattoo

I think he got a dragon,or a koi fish..I just couldn't believe he actually wen't on a show and admitted that.His fiancee caught him looking at porn on the internet,and she said she wouldn't marry him unless he stopped.He said he called his priest up,and he gave him a number to a therapist that helped him stop.
I like to see the tattoo he get's when she catches him watching porn again and divorces him.