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Had a pretty hilarious "tattoo nightmare" last night. Don't feel obligated to wade through my subconscious insecurities here, but I bet I'm not alone here and I'm sure you tattooers have work nightmares. Anyone wanna share? (C'mon @Perez, you can't tell me those loft murals didn't invade your dreams..) So here's the dream: Went to a reputable shop to get two small tattoos and asked for the line drawing because it was my wife's birthday and the tattooer wrote Happy Birthday on it for whatever reason. He said he wasn't sure I would treat it right and I promised I would frame it and give it to her as a birthday gift. One of the tattoos was on my leg so I simply detached my legs from my torso ("I can't believe I never thought of this sooner!") so I could sit and watch without feeling a thing. Everything seemed cool, and then I went to pay and it was super crowded. The counter guy was talking really quietly and I finally got close enough to hear him say, "Ninety fifty." Huh? "Nine thousand fifty dollars." I tried to explain I just got two smallish tattoos, and only brought about a thousand bucks with me, which I figured would be more than enough. He said the tattooer was concerned because I was disrespectful and had some really "questionable work." The other people behind the counter (there were like a dozen and they were all dudes.. true nightmare..) were all just kind of talking and the one dude said, "Listen, they're all arguing about it now and it's gonna be a few weeks before they decide on a price." Right then, I realized I'd scheduled an appointment with a dude doing a guest spot for that day.. though apparently I decided to just get em done earlier? And then the dude came in the door and I decided I needed to get the fuck outta there. So I booked.
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just another saturday night. my co-worker snapped this candid pic as i was about to start a walk-in. enjoy! (mildly nsfw)
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This year I attended a tattoo convention. It is an annual convention put on by a group that has both tattooists and enthusiasts as it's members. One night during the convention they have a dinner and you are often seated at a table with people that you don't know. This one shop from the Midwest owned by a tattooer with a single name - like Cher -had a huge entourage with him and had two large tables put aside to accommodate the group. He and his senior group sat at one table and all his younger, newer tattooists were seated at the other. As luck would have it , Don and I were also seated at this other table. This other group wasn't particularly pleased to have us at their table. Imagine being a great aunt and uncle at the kid's table at Thanksgiving. Now, between us, Don and I had more time tattooing then all the 8-12 other tattooists sitting at both tables- put together. I say that, not to boast, but illustrating the scene. I'm pretty social and tried to engage the group in conversation but it was a real strain. One girl there, said her forte was lettering. I said how much I admire " so and so's" lettering, and everybody at the table said "who?" I explained that "so and so" does beautiful lettering in the style of " so and so" and they said "who?" I further explained that " so and so" just had an interview in Tattoo Artist Magazine that was really worth reading and they said "what magazine?" I came away from the evening with the realization that the love of tattoos, tattooing and it's history - was no longer enough to bind a group of people together. That I might as well be at a table of brick layers or chiropractors.
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So to all the tattooed people out there....how are your experiences with being tattooed in the workplace? I work in the definition of corporate America and find tattoos to be far and wide (as much as I can see). I have ran into a few people with visible work but usually they "get away with it" due to insane skill at their job. I once met an administrator with a panther smack across his throat! I understand from many conversations I've had with the people I work with that tattoos are considered "bad" or "poor decisions", and I usually defend the nameless tattooed people that are commented on while in such a conversation. This being said, I will not stop my dream of being covered, (to hell what they say!). I can do my job regardless with what my body looks like. I just am waiting for the day when someone makes a comment such as mentioned before and I can just lift a pant leg or roll a sleeve up and say..."so, am I a 'bad person' as well?"
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Yesterday my friend started his epic-ly massive Phoenix (armpit to half-thigh) over at Invisible NYC by GR. I decided to stop by after work since I close by and he could give me a ride home after. I do have to say that, this is one nice shop! Everyone there was very friendly and my friends tattoo is coming out amazing so far. While I was there watching I ended up talking to Eric Machalovic www.myspace.com/ericmichalovic outside. After talking about tattoos for a little bit I signed up to get one by him. (I getting a tradition skull). I do have to say I loved this shop enough that I will try to get work by everyone there. Just thought I'd share my experience! Anyone else have any good experiences?
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Anyone have any fun stick & pokes to share? I couldn't find a thread on this topic, but if there is one, a link would be greatly appreciated.
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Sometimes, a tattoo wouldn't be funny or strange all by itself, but sometimes they don't match the projected or visible appearance of the person who's wearing the tattoo. I'd love to see some more examples. Here's mine, courtesy of Kreayshawn: "
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Not neccessarily the first zap you got, because I am sure I'm not the only one here who couldnt or didnt get one the first time they went in a shop. My friend took me to a Peter Tat2 on Long Island in '90, where she had got a dragon around her thigh and was going back for a consultation for her next one. There were 2 people working when I went in; where my friend introduced me to Eddie & Alex. Eddie was working on the most amazing thing I had seen in my life up to that point; a entire ride/side panel of a crawling tiger that is still to this day indescribably awesome. What I saw there was worlds above the average crap I saw on all my punk & skinhead friends. Alex was the hottest woman I had ever seen. Not just because she was a cool punkish sorta chick with cool tats, but she was really beautiful. We chatted for a while, and by sheer coincidence, they had just moved up to LI from Baltimore, which was where I was headed in less than a month to go to school there. Excellent first time impression. At that time I did not realize that not all tattoo artists were so awesome and talented. Being 17 and broke I wasnt able to get a tattoo, but I was hooked instantly. A year or 2 later I find out through a tattootime book who they actually were and it boggled my mind that I had met 2 serious heavy hitters and had just assumed they were regular tat folk.
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I posted something about this in the intro forum, but I figure it's more appropriate here. I first met Mike Wilson when I was a teenager. I think 16. He was a few years older and not yet tattooing. We became friendly, and as he moved from apprentice to tattooer and I moved from little pieces to big, he started doing the occasion piece on me. My second tattoo from him was a back piece. Outlined and shaded in one bigass session. But years later.... after I moved to Philly.. Mike did my foot. He was guesting at Kadillac tattoo and dropped his business card in my mail slot when he got into town. (Not much of a texter back then, apparently. hah) So I head up to Kadillac and we decide to do a Free Mason monkey with banana pentagram on my foot. He draws it on, Eric closes up the shop and heads home. He's about 3/4 of the way done when he realizes theres no more nitrile gloves left in his box. Or in the shop. It's after midnight, and there's no drug stores open to buy new gloves. And I'm very allergic to latex. Like hospital allergic. So we're racing the clock to finish the tattoo without having to change gloves one last time. We discuss finishing it the next time he visits. We discuss what would happen if he wore a latex glove. Finally... when changing gloves became an absolute necessity... We wrapped the fuck out of his hand with paper towels and prayed to god I hadn't made any bad lifestyle choices in the last few months. 15 years of friendship made us a little more comfortable with the bad idea that we were doing.
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gougetheeyes started a great thread not too long ago about dating and tattoos, and id like to further it abit. I know Ive heard many a story of romances starting in tattoo shops, weather it be between artist and customer, or even between co-workers. In the spirit of the soon celebrated Valentines Day, I was hoping some of you could share such stories, or maybe even offer an opinion of weather such things should be permissible...
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This may be a weird thread but what the hell. I've always been interested in people who are tattooed who are in a relationship with someone who is not tattooed at all. Unlikeyourown's feminism and tattoos thread got me thinking about this. So a.) are you in one and have you been in one? b.) Have you thought about this or noticed a change in preference since you've gotten older..? and c.) do you feel like there would be any kind of disconnect there? It seems like such a personal thing as opposed to say, an interest in old typewriters, I wonder if it would make any difference at all. I'm guessing not, since I know people in these relationships. When I was younger (and only had a few tattoos) I used to not be into girls with tattoos at all. Now I think I'd only be into tattooed ladies.. as evidenced by my tattooed future wife. Does it ever make a difference? Anyone??
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BIRDMAN Or a day in the life of a tattooist in 1978 At 4pm the sun was shinning nearly dead even into the window of the small tattoo shop on Kennedy Boulevard speaking of dead it was located just opposite the car rental that rented the white van to the first unsuccessful bombers of the World Trade Towers. Union City, NJ was not exactly exotic like Bombay nor was it cool like NYC for that matter it didn’t even seem like New Jersey it was more like little Cuba. Run by a soon to be convicted for corruption and extortion Italian wise guy, the not so honorable Mayor Musto. The windows in question, where the sun was about to cook through, were grayish and gritty. Despite the efforts of the proprietor, that’s me by the way, to clean them often. I suspected it was probably from the crematorium just a few blocks up the boulevard. It gave me pause to think of somebody’s grandfather dusted across my window. So I always said “excuse me folks” when I washed it off and wished them a quick trip over the river Styx. Although it could have been the carbon burning traffic on this snake like road, it was constant and as loud as two young Italian wannabe wise guys yakking up stories of hitting and robbing the trains in the transfer station in North Bergin and wanting to trade stolen goods for tattoos. This strip down to Staten Island on the NY side was much later to be the haunted holy grounds of The Sopranos’ Godfather Tony. It’s not what you think, a typical scummy little tattoo shop in a grimy small town in New Jersey. It was a small piece of heaven in 1978 for me. “Clean enough to eat off the floors” I’d say. The shop was only 12 feet across and 25 feet long and it held the universe. From the moment I opened the doors I had so much business I almost couldn’t handle it. I became fast friends with the local Santero, A Santeria Priest for those of you of the white bread persuasion. After that I was gold in the Cuban Community they watched out for me Cooked for me invited me to salsa dances and got tattooed as penance or prayers Santa Barbara, St Lazarus, Cryptic scrawl of Santeria spells all became my tween worlds my bread and butter. I was being taught to speak enough Spanish to ask what color and how much do you want to spend by a young lovely young Cuban woman without dancing legs in a wheel chair who sat with a talking Parakeet on her right shoulder that spoke more Spanish than I could, after four months I quit. Speaking of Spanish speaking birds and other oddities of living in the land of the Mariolettos (Cubans let out of prisons and insane asylums a gift from Castro for the US State Department to give visas too. the Set on rickety boats to America. Those who made the crossing also made their way from Miami FL to Union City NJ. What was I saying? oh yes, I have to pull on your coat about the Birdman. I had a slow day doing a couple of cryptic Santeria tattoos on friends of the local Santero. I was buzzing away on the last one when it started. I had a wall separating the tattoo area from the front and a small security mirror to see who came through the door. I heard this chirping. I was thinking it was a bird found it’s way into my shop. I looked up to the to see him, this guy chirping away. First long chirps with pause then rolling chirps all connected together. He was wearing a cut off yellow windbreaker with out the usual wife beater shirt, and ripped jeans. I called over the wall “I’ll be right with you pal.” He just stuttered out another bird song. Completing the tattoo I was doing, I collected my fee and walked through the door to the front. “So what’s up?” He pivoted, pulling down the jacket zipper turning his naked to the waist and tan lined body to me smelling of High Karate, yelling, he was, “THE BIRDMAN!” To prove it he had it emblazoned across his his back from shoulder to shoulder in eight inch tall Old English letters tattooed, that read, B-I-R-D-N-A-N! I say calmly, “OK Birdman, never acknowledging the eight inch missing M, What can I do for you.” Pointing to a blank spot among the small bird tattoos wallpapering his arm, he said, rattling through his nose. “Well! What do you think? I want a bird tattoo right here.” There were birds the likes of hummingbirds as big as eagles and chickadees larger than crows, no accounting for scale, style, or skill. Although, he was working hard to fill with birds in every open space. Sort of like the driving style of New Jersey drivers if there is a space you fill it. He shows me the picture of a whippoorwill whilst chirping the whippoorwills’ song or so he claimed. I never having seen or heard a whippoorwill took his word for it. During the tattoo he entertained me by singing no less than 50 songs of various birds of North America, all while chewing on sunflower seeds. I didn’t bother putting on the stereo. Someone else came through the door, as I was finishing up the tattoo. Birdman was donning his windbreaker; I strolled to the front to chat up the next client. He passed me singing a sad bird refrain and smiled and whispered passing. “I’m the Birdman…” The new customer and I walk to the work area. I look down to the clients black leather chair and there to my astonishment where Birdman was sitting, was a three inch,golden foil covered, chocolate egg!
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From February 11-13, 2011 the Milano Tattoo convention will be held so..... -Who's going? -Who's going to get tattooed? By who? -Who's going to tattoo? If you are tattooing, how can people make appointments with you? -If you are traveling there to tattoo, will you be guest tattooing anywhere before and/or after? If so, where and how can people make appointments? -Who's going to have a table? -Anyone wish to document it for Last Sparrow Tattoo Forum and write some blogs with pictures? Maybe even some video? -And anything else you wish to share about the upcoming event please feel free to contribute........ Thanks!
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This one's for artists and collectors alike. What's the longest you've ever sat for a tattoo and (for artists) the longest you've ever worked on a client? I've had several 5-hour sessions, which is kinda pushing it, but once, I sat for 9 hours. Without a break. Overnight. File under never again. The worst part is that I didn't really plan for a long session--it just ended up taking forever. I'm sure some of you have some crazy stories, possibly involving Shige, Filip Leu, and/or Chris Trevino. :) For the record, the last 4 tattoos I got took under 3 hours, combined. Much more fun!
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Hi there. Thought I should introduce myself before I go into full on lurking mode... Friend posted a link on Facebook - that's how I got here. Looking forward to checking out the site even more; thanks for having me. I get tattoos I don't give them. ~ Rita
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Hi, I'm a new member here but not new to tattoos or forums so I hope I can contribute a little. I'm a tattoo collector from CT and I look forward to seeing what's happening around this place. When I get a chance I'll create a gallery of my tattoos and then I think a couple of people might recognize them from another forum although under a different name. I actually got curious about this place from someone posting links on another board. Wedge
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OK I am not asking anyone to design a tattoo before I get flamed. I have had a great offer from 4 tattoo artists I work with regarding my sleeve. The plan so far is for the 4 of them to get together with a big old sheet of paper and drawing supplies plus me and my blank arm. What happens next is kind of competative drawing with each artist doing a piece and biding for space. I am hoping that by the end of the night or the end of the booze at least we will have a pile of super cool pictures and a stencil for my arm. Tattooing of the outline is a job for the next day and each artist will then complete there designs over a few months. Firstly does this sound as good an idea to you guys as it does to me? Secondly I must have missed an important pitfall somewhere what is it? Lastly I have a list of must have elements for a hotrod sleve but I would welcome your ideas so I dont forget any classics.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/denise-vivaldo/my-tattoo_b_785159.html As food and traveling seem to be many of our, LSTers, favorite things to do besides getting tattooed here's some food threads on Last Sparrow Tattoo for you to jump in on: Favorite Restaurants Food and Drink List Man Vs. Food Foodies Tattoos and Chefs
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No names need be said to prevent people catching feelings. But most likely any shops or owners mentioned here would not be enlightened enough to know what the words forum or thread are. Having worked in nothing but street shops, I have seen/worked around plenty of gnarly shit. But none takes the cake of the first shop I worked at. In 99 I got my first job in an armpit of a shop, working the counter for tips and shop experience. I was stoked to have my first foot in the door. This was at a place in College Park MD, right near DC. Owned by a biker whom we will call Sonny, who thankfully was never there. With no exaggeration, he was never out of jail for more than 4 days at a time. Seriously, that was the record while I was there. We had a betting pool each time he was out. We had wall-to-wall carpet evrywhere, including the bathroom, which was also where the handwashing sink was also dirty sink/tubescrubbing sink. Basically walking through the lobby & down the hall with dirty tubes everyday. The tattoo area had years of inkspots decorating the carpet. On the rare occasions when Sonny would be out of jail, he would sometimes come in at after we all left to tattoo friends. The aftermath of this would be coming in the next day to find a dirty setup on someone's station (using all that persons equip), and for some reason he would leave used needles in the top drawer of your station instead of a sharps. One of the best/worst examples was coming to find that he had used someone's ink & had apparently lost the cap; so plugged the bottle by sticking a used bar into it, needle & all. On the days when he was out during the daytime, he would usually come in, take ALL the cash out the till (leaving nothing for change) and hopefully leave ASAP. If he was in jail, he would have his gf/exwife's sister come in randomly clear out every dime, even if bills were overdue & utilies about to get shut off. There were occasions where we had to hide paperwork from him to squirrel the money away to pay the bills to keep the shop open and running. Sadly enough, He was actually better off in jail, where he was in a structured enviroment. With no access to alcohol, which was always related to every arrest, he stayed out of trouble for the most part. Him being locked up actually kept the shop in a somewhat more stable enviroment. We all flew the coop eventually and from what I heard, there was a 'mysterious fire' that most likely happened after he made his insurance was paid up.
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Hey, everybody. My name is Nathan and I'm a professional tattooer in Chattanooga, Tn. I've been tattooing for five years, beginning as an apprentice to two very honorable mentors. I've spent the entirety of my career so far at that same shop. I love tattooing pretty much more than anything...ok...definately more than anything period. My goal is to, throughout the entirety of my career (hopefully, my entire life), always improve, always reach for more and maybe even achieve relevance. Basically always just earn my place in the craft. And above all, satisfy my clients and make them feel happy they got with me. Have a great night and Cheers!
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Hi folks. Name's Aahzz. I'm a father, husband, guitarist, and IT guy living in the Cincinnati area. Got my first ink about a month ago, am scheduled for piece number two this coming Friday...and have been enjoying poking 'round the net at a variety of tattoo-related sites :). Looking forward to hanging out here, and will post pics here's number one, 3.5 weeks healed....
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For all the Last Sparrow Tattoo hardcore fans this Friday in Brooklyn filming for the new Madball video "All Or Nothing". Check the attached and go buy the new album!! While we are at it, favorite Madball song? Favorite Madball show memory? Madball tattoos?
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Kat Von D's California home destroyed by fire Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D is mourning the death of her beloved cat and the loss of her life's possessions after her California home was destroyed by a fire on Sunday night. The "L.A. Ink" star, who is dating Sandra Bullock's ex-husband Jesse James, logged on to her Twitter account on Monday to share the devastating news. Posting a photo of the feline, she wrote, "my house burned down last night with my cat inside... R.I.P Valentine, you will be missed." As WENN went to press, Von D had not shed details on what caused the fire or if she had been home during the incident.
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I've been reading through all of the threads and everything that people have been posting and i havent stumbled upon anything that talks about what artists like to see when it comes to good client behavior. i am a new tattoo collector and before actually visiting a shop for the first time all i knew was what i saw on tv from the reality shows like Miami or LA ink. so i like to hear from anyone on what they like to see when it comes to well behaved clients. ( walk ins, consultations, day of the appointment) i did see that "customer from hell" post and even though it was sooo funny, i felt so bad for the dude in the blue flame shirt
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