Want a tattoo? Are you sure?

I have been tattooing for many years now, and I have spoken with many different kinds of people from all over the world.  The conversation are all generally the same catagories of  Q&A.  One thing that I can say is that I have noticed a couple of trends in the last 7 or  8 years.

One, there are alot more virgins taking the plunge.  Kids coming in (by kids I mean 18 to 25ish) that have no ties to the tattoo world at all and wanting tattoos.  Well, you might say that it is great for business, but with this great influx of youngsters diving into tattoos, there has been a big increase of them wishing that they had not got them 3 years down the road.

Of course, I always have a few things that I have to "preach" about when clients come in asking for certain tattoos.  I guess it is just the "Mom" in me.  These kiddos don't look like they belong in  tattoo shops at all.

For example, a couple of cute girls came in one day.  They were both 19, but looked more like 13.  They looked like they had never been anywhere with any dirt, or had ever done any work at all.  They had just got out of high school and were heading to college.  One of the girls wanted me to put blue stars on her face around her eye, I am guessing the Kat Von D effect, and the other one was wanting me to put her boyfriends name in huge script tattoo across her neck.  I guess, as a tattoo artist, I should just take the money and do the tattoos.  I mean, really, what business is it of mine if I think that they are appropriate or not?  But, I can't help it.  Getting tattooed on your face, neck, and hands is a huge commitment.  These are tattoos that you cannot hide from the world, unless you are wearing a burka or something.  So, to sum it up,  after a short conversation, the thought of college, career, divorce rate, yada yada, there was no tattooing for them that day.

The popularity fad of tattoos has sucked alot of people in over the last few years.  I am sure alot of it is due to the media, and the shows making "rock stars" out of tattoo artist.  But tattooing is not a simple fad that you can throw out or donate to Goodwill.  It is a part of you for life.  Even tattoo laser removal leaves scars, and does not return you to your pre-tattooed state.

So, when you are out with your friends or just got a new boyfriend/girlfriend and thinking about getting inked, just try to think down the road a few years.  Where are you going?  What are you going to do in life?  How well is your relationship insured to last?  A lifetime?  Because that tattoo will almost certainly outlast you.

Rock n Roll Birthday

Here are some videos we took at a friends birthday party at Bond's 007 Rock Bar.  All friends brought their bands and rocked out.  At the end we raffled off a tattoo.  It was lots of fun!

If you are interested in getting a tattoo by Rebel, you can find her at South Presa Ink Tattoo Shop in San Antonio Texas.  www.southpresatattoos.com

Tattoo Etiquette

As a tattoo artist, I deal with a wide range of people on a day to day basis. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world, in all different trades, religions, ethnic groups, and stages of life and spirituality. I feel that it is society's college, so to speak. I have learned so much from my great group of customers, but I feel that there is a percentage of them out there that could use some knowledge on tattoo shop etiquette. So, for all of those out there, you may want to see if you fall into any of the catagories listed below.
1. Flea market bargain shoppers. Should be pretty explainatory. These are the customers that come in wanting either a huge tattoo, like half their back or a full sleeve, and are unemployed and dont have a dime in their pocket to put down for a deposit, or they want a script name on their neck with two colors and stars, but they only have $5. The most irritating is when someone comes in with a reasonable tattoo, talks one of the artists down 20 or 40 bucks and then says they dont have the money they negotiated for. If you know u cannot afford a tattoo, dont haggle a price, that is just retarded. Your wasting everyone's time and you are getting on the artist's bad side, so if you ever do come back in, they may not be so willing to be nice to you.
2. I'm just looking shoppers. Ok guys, I am not stupid. We are in Texas, it is hot, and I am aware there is a bus stop on the corner. Yes, my tattoo shop is nice and cool, but guess what, it is not a social hang out. Once again, you are disrupting and wasting my time. I have other people's designs to work on. You know who you are. You come in and want to go thru every piece of flash in the place, dont know what you are looking for, dont want any help, constantly watching the time on your cell phone, and then dash out to catch your bus. So, because of people like this, it has changed the way tattoo shops do business to an extent. Now, when you walk in my shop, you will see no flash, no design books laid out on the coffee table for you to look thru. Instead, you will be greeted by an artist or manager, asking how they can help you. If your response is "Just wanting to look at some designs." You will be asked what kind of tattoo you are thinking of getting. If you respond with a "not sure" or "dont know, just wanting to look at designs", then you will be told, that maybe you need to get some ideas of what you want and then come back so we can help you. I know this seems harsh, but unfortunatley, the amount of stragglers that have wasted hours of our time have made it this way.
3. Wanting a friend deal shoppers. Ok guys, I do like to get to know my clients. I am a friendly person. I love conversation, and that helps me know what my clients like and how to make the tattoos perfect for them. Talking helps most people get thru a tattoo easier, and in the process, especially after a few tattoos, we do develop a friendship. But, business is business. Please dont come to me wanting a crazy low price, or credit. I do not give credit - even to relatives - it just breeds ill feelings. Dont prey on me for a "special friend deal" or how many people you are gonna bring to me. You came to me because you wanted my work first, becoming friends came second. Dont ask me to short change my shop because you want more than you can afford, calling me your good friend, when the only time I actually see you or hear from you is for tattoos. Real friends are more than that.
4. Got a quote 2 years ago. Ready for that tat now? Ok, and what was the tattoo. I am sure you were quoted a price 2 years ago, possibly from another artist, manager, and maybe from me, I cant remember a random quote from that long ago. What I can do, is talk to you about the tattoo right now and give you a quote, please keep in mind that it will not be good for 2 years either.
5. Indecisiveness. Ok, we have decided on your tattoo, you have done paper work, and paid, and I am making the stencil, but guess what? You have changed your mind. You dont want that one anymore, you want the other one we were looking at.. WHAT?!???? Ok, if you cannot pick something and stay with it long enough to get it actually tattooed on you, YOU DONT NEED A TATTOO!
6. I love children, but..... it does not say daycare center on the front of my shop! Children are welcome in the waiting area of the shop, as long as they are supervised. And what I mean by supervised is, dont let them be tearing up magazines, tattoo portfolios, wiping their nasty hands, mouth and face all over my glass displays, grabbing things off the receptionist desk, or taking a crap and smearing it on the walls. If you cannot control them, dont bring them. If they are screaming out of control, take them outside. Be respectful to the artist, they are creating permanent art on someone and do not need to listen to you yelling at your kids or your kids screaming, or smelling dirty diapers.
7. Complainers... It is a tattoo... IT HURTS! That is just the way it is. If you are a wassa, dont get one. We dont want to hear about it, we have tattoos, we know what it feels like. If you cannot carry a conversation, or talk about something else, then shut up.
8. Movers.... If you move, how are we supposed to do a quality job on your tattoo? Ha Ha, right? You think it is all fun and games now, but guess what, we dont. Be still. Dont answer your phone while we are tattooing on you, and dont think that you know how we want you positioned and instinctively move where you think it is better for us. Guess what, we will move you or tell you to move when we need you to. Stay put where we have you, and quit asking if we want you to change positions.
9. Fighting Couples. About a month ago, I had a couple of clients that were married. I did a restore on the husband one day, while his wife also had a friend with her. Everything was fine. End of the week, the wife and husband came back for her to get her tattoo. She started off ok, then started complaining, then moving, then they started fighting, she just keep on about stupid crap with him, like picking a fight. On and on. I had to get him to leave so that I could finish the tattoo. They were just one of those couples that love to jack with each other in public, with no respect for anyone around them. Remember folks, a tattoo is an artistic thing. Tattoos come out better if your artist is in a good place, not annoyed to hell, so keep the social displays of retarded out of the tattoo shop.
10.Not tipping. I guess that most people out there, unless they are long time tattoo veterans, are not aware of how tattoo artists earn their money. Well, out of the money you pay to the shop, the artist gets a small percentage, and they do incurr costs they pay out of their own pockets, like for machines that can cost $350 to $750 each, ink sets that can add up to thousands, and various other things. You tip a tattoo artist or piercer just like you tip your bartender, especially if you have an outstanding tattoo, and you had a good time getting it.
Well, that is my top 10 things that we see in the shop most of the time. If you have any questions or would like to add to this list, leave me a comment!

Worst Tattoos Ever

Over the years, being a tattoo artist,  I have had some really bad tattoos walk through the door. Some are just really bad judgement, and others are really poor quality. What gets me, is that most of the time people dont see how bad their tattoos are until you start pointing it out. I dont know if it is just lack of observation, lack of knowledge or they are just plain oblivious. Enjoy!

So what's your career of choice?  Hmmm, I see!  I guess this goes in the bad judgement catagory.  Wonder how her dentist will address this issue? Other than the obvious, it is a nice tattoo, not busted out, and nice font.  Looks pretty much centered on the lip.  What else could you ask for?...

I love japanese tattoos.  I hate to see them screwed up!  First, it looks like a big tape worm crawled out of his bum, and is daring anyone to cross the line.  Second, the scales are not uniform.  Guess what?  Scales take a loooong time because of the detail.  This looks like he was playing tic-tac-toe and got bored.  And finally, the line work itself is disgusting. I'm pretty sure this was never trained.  My 13 year old daughter can run a better line than this. 

Check out these abs!  Hey, he's got a six-pack!  LOL...   You know, I do believe in everyone having on little stupid tattoo, just for giggles, but generally its like a little devil on your butt cheek...  Seriously, though, it looks like the artwork aint so bad...  
Them cans are gonna look like you are on acid in 20 years..... but to each his own..




 Now, bad judgement of the actual tattoo is one thing, but I am seeing more and more bad judgement when choosing who is to do the tattoo.  The city is full of scratcher artist that prey upon people that are low on cash, or just plain dont know any better.  Remember, a tattoo is there for a lifetime.

A memorial tattoo to remember a lost wife.  Clearly the artist was in way over his head, and probably didnt care.  Most likely working out of his house so there is no one to complain to.

Eeeee Heeee!  Home alone with a tattoo machine!  So, what is this tattoo saying exactly?  

               Yo Mamma!
You need to quit playing with tattoo machines on your buddies skin!  I can see this turning into a front yard brawl.....








Nothing really suprises me anymore.  I think I have pretty much seen it all. ...  oh, wait a minute....

 OMG!  Hide the cat!  Oh, nevermind.  Well then....  that's good to know, but noticing the teardrops under your eye.... ummm,  are the two connected?  Or is murder and sex two separate activities for you?

Go on, laugh, its funny!  Not for him maybe, but for us... yeah!

Can anyone say "MRSA"?

MRSA - "what is it" you might be asking yourself. Well it stands for
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - which basically means that it is a form of staph germ that the usual antibiotics dont affect. When most people think of staph infections in tattoos they think of dirty needles. I talk to people all the time of the dangers of getting tattoos from "scratchers" (people that do tattoos out of their house). I get the same response from most of them. "Yeah, but they use new needles, they open them right in front of me, so I don't have to worry about getting anything." New needles - sounds good in theory. But lets explore this nasty little bug known as MRSA a little further.

Ok, so we know what it is called. We know it is a form of staph that is resistant to antibiotics, but where do you get it from? Well, it is actually a common bacteria that lives on your skin and sometimes in your nasal passages, even if you are a normal, healthy person!!! WHAT??? ON ME?? Yup. The nasty little bug is on you, your tattoo artist, your mom, your dad, your kids.... you get the picture. So, how does the new needles keep you from getting a MRSA infection? I am still trying to put the pieces of that one together.

What if the "artist" does not clean your skin properly when applying the tattoo? Wouldnt the MRSA that is naturally occuring on your skin be able to get in the tattoo? YES

What if the "artist" answers his phone, and then continues to tattoo on you with out changing his gloves? Wouldn't the MRSA that is most likley on his phone from him using it previously transfer to the gloves he is wearing and then to your new tattoo? YES

This is just a couple of scenerios of how your tattoo can be infected with MRSA; from your own skin, and from the "artist's" germs. There are many others, but you are a smart person, and get the picture.

So, how safe are feeling about them new needles opened right in front of you?

Ok so what happens if you get MRSA? Well, you'll get a nasty puss infested sore that needs to be drained, some serious antibotics, and if you are lucky, you will be able to clear it up with minor scarring. In serious cases of MRSA, there have been amputations, kidney failure, and DEATH.

There is alot more information on MRSA out there. Do a little research of your own. I recommend youtube - search for MRSA tattoo or MRSA infection OR MRSA milking. There are some yummy vids out there!

And as always, I hope you learned a little somethin, and if you have any questions please feel free to find me at South Presa Ink Tattoo Shop in San Antonio, TX. I will try to answer them, or help point you in the right direction!