LOL @ all u guys

lol u guys are all jokes, here you sit, preaching, screaming, and dissing any of these kids coming here for advice. How can i tell youre all fake as fuk? you live by a code that hasnt existed for a long time, in fact none of you are probably even old enough to know. its 2008, to all you guys that are oming here for answers and wanna tattoo time now. Good for you, the system has been corrupt for a long time which is why apprentices are few and fr between and artists dont seek them now but wish they had them, having no idea the things they would actuallly learn. For all you ebay kitters, dont let anyone tell you theyre junk. those mahnes are far from professional grade but the main thng that is wrong with them is the fact theyre made with steel, they cant handle a big workload, but u wont give them a big workload lerning anyway, so theyre fine. all these guys are idiots who havent tattooed professionally a day in there lives. stay strong, keep practicing and seek other advice boards. keep it real Tom Haskin Tattoo the World

half of me agrees with what youre saying but its the way you say it - with an attitude. theres enough of that on here with nostrildamus and his big mouth. yes it can be a bummer for new people to learn and I personally think there could be means and ways however ebay "kits", I really would say for the most part are shite. I can tell by your prose that youre not a tattooer and are fairly young and/or immature.

actually its probably more about having to answer the same questions over and over and getting sick of that.... the wealth of knowledge is out there, you just need to do the research and find it... if someone is too lazy to even do that and expects straight up answers about even the most basic of things i don't blame them for getting an earfull from the more experienced guys... the lazy attitude of that is probably why none of them has an apprenticeship to begin with, its not so much that none are available it's that they don't feel that they should have to work and strive for something... and coming on this board bitching about how no one will give them the chance, this industry will hand you nothing you have to push for it... why most of the people on here still don't get that is beyond me... and ebay kits do suck... bent sheetmetal frames are horrible for any tattooing unless you never plan on making out of your basement or kitchen

oh and about the "code" you mentioned... it still exists and it will always exist. It is not about keeping tattooing a secret from the world it's about protecting the industry from everyone who feels they can tattoo...

20 years ago you would have youre hand broke and burned out of your house for such a statement. code you know noithing about the code other wise you would know to keep your mouth shut.its not about tattooing its about SAFETY mrsa,hiv,hep,hvp,and a hord of others.its not about e bay either. simply put its about safety and art. pay your dues starting with RESPECT! you will have none here or anywhere . you are a scratcher and we lothe scratchers so good luck on getting ANY RESPECT FROM ANY OF US REGULAR PROS HERE!!!!.mountains of info to be learned and not to be taught overnite.grow up let your balls drop your voice change get some hair on your chest have a few real artist slap the ever loving dog shit out of you and you might learn something. best to keep mouth shut and have people think you are a fool rather than open it and remove all doubt!

that to me erlich???

It's directed to the first poster I think.

1 st poster mate.

just checking....

What it bothers me the most is not the people seeking for advise with respect, instead, these type of jerks that look for some shelter under their senseless speech. Trying to justify at all cost that their savage way of learning is a right one. Sure you can tattoo with a needle in hand if you want, but what sucks the most is that these people "practicing" on humans buy their kits on ebay (because they are low in budget) omitting main tool in tattooing which is a steam autoclave. There is nothing wrong with a machine from ebay if you really have the expertise to execute a tattoo in a safe and professional environment. I've seen great artists tattoo with the shittiest machines just for the sake of showing off a bit. People that ask some questions with class don't bother me at all. Punks that demand the training over the net, phone or mail like this prick just make me sick in the stomach. The problem arises when a lot of the people with questions have the attitude of this thread starter.

A code I know nothing about, and you are professionals? Lol once I stopped laughing a few minutes I decided I would respond, against my better judgement, since the first posters obvious wisdom has me figured out as a child lol. And calling me a scratcher and telling me about 20 years ago, not youre brightest move lol. First off, you dont know a damn thing about 20 years ago, and youre far from a professional anything. I agree, in my first post I may have come of harsh, to the first few posters this doesnt go to you as obviously you guys have both been around a while from the way you sepak. Second, the rest of you, quit talking like youve been in this game since the 60s, back in the day is not 5 or ten years ago for most of us ok lol. Dont preach to me about still trying to hide the art, lol are you kidding? Little kids needs to goto bed now, because obviously youre brand fucking new, nothing has been hidden for quite some time. Heres the deal, anyone has a right to tattoo, you guys are concerned about answering there questions and talking to me about airborne and blood diseases, lol stop, now please. Look someones gonna tattoo, theyre going to be good, or bad, the bad ones wont make it long, so quit fretting them like theyre a permanent threat to a world of quality art. Try and be helpful once, not so high and mighty. Tom Haskins Tattoo The World

Personally, while everyone has the right to tattoo, people dissing scratchers and hacks is natures way of getting the talentless out. For the most part, people looking for tricks on this forum suck ass at art and shouldnt be tattooing. I dont lose sleep over it, but certianly dont want to encourage bad tattoos like you seem to. I dont care how long youve been in the game, encouraging people to learn off the internet is a bad idea. In any event, to be clear, this forum is not the right place to ask for tips or tricks or talk techie, its an open anonymous forum, and when people learn crappy techniques from this board it is my responsibility. So, hacks and scratchers, feel free to email tom personally, leave the technical advice giving off this forum please. If you really want to learn, save your pennies and get tattooed by someone good, we have a lot of amazing artists on this website you should get tattooed by...

hey Tom, can we see a link to some of your tattoos? that way we have a frame of reference for where your advice is coming from... A google search came up with nothing...

i've only been around for about 2 years, but thanks i have a lot of respect for the industry

tom where can we see your work please? Or if it's easier post it here.

This thread reminds me of a few things: First, yeah, a lot of tattooists make themselves sound extremely old when 10 or 15 years ago, artists looked at them the same way. But it didn't stop them from trying to get into the business and persue their dreams Many artists today (meaning, artists of the last 20 years) have not had it as hard as the people before them All this talk of "code" and "respect" and "dues" are mostly complete bullshit. I don't mean any of this disrespecfuly but the politics and hypocracy in this industry and the uptightness of most so-called "artists" is beyond lame. There are responsible and irresponsible tattooists. The responsible tattooists, combined with talent will rise to the top. I think the established tattooists should worry about themselves and stop trying to police an industry where the clientel directly relates to the tattooists skill level. The basment scratcher is relegated to tattooing homeless meth heads who pay for their tattos in the form of beer. Even though that directly effects tattooing's reputation, everyone today is aware that there are different "classes" when it comes to the art. It's up to the client to seek out the class that suits them. Anyway, I'm not suggesting that established artists should give advice to these basment dwellers who they feel are acting dangerously and irresponsibly. But maybe they should spend less time harping on a situation that isn't going to change. Even me, a real newbie without a formal apprenticeship, has to pick and choose who I feel comfortable sharing information with. And even knowing my situation, I've recieved some great advice by artists whos work I truly admire. I think a lot of it has to do with attitude and approach. If you talk to an established artist with a sense of entitlement and disregard to the most important parts of tattooing, don't be surprised if they aren't willing to share with you.

Inksane as usual total sense and completely true.

All i have to say is... it does matter if the kids become good or bad or learns from a bad source or a good one, you know why.... BECAUSE 1 PERSON WITH A DISEASE IS BAD ENOUGH... EVEN IF ITS ONLY ONE ITS STILL BAD AND WE SHOULD USE ANY SOURCES WE HAVE TO NARROW THE GOOD ARTISTS FROM THE BAD, so no one gets hurt. A good friend of mine went to a tattoo artist down in florida and 2 months later was diagnosed with Hep B, now im nt just saying this because it happened to him im saying it for all of the other people who it has happened to in the world. Yes everyone should have a chance to be an artist but it shouldnt be some freebee to anyone out there, it should be a secluded matter. Mike

And learning from the internet turned out to be where the guy who tattooed my friend learned to tattoo... i think that if anyones going to tattoo the last place to look should be the internet, because you have no personal teaching and no 100% description on what to do. Mike

Inksane, I agree with a lot of your post. To clarify a few things, the professionals I know dont make it hard because they got into this business the "old school" tough way (though, I know people who are learning that way *now*), but because they only want professional artists (and people) tattooing. Insane says "I don't mean any of this disrespecfuly but the politics and hypocracy in this industry and the uptightness of most so-called "artists" is beyond lame." I guess "most" to you and others might be different than most to me, but in my experience with 200 or so artists, most are professionals and behave that way at least 60-70% of the time, ha. Joe Cap has been a great inspiration to me (and many others), and he is professional 100% of the time. Now, most hack artists or beginners may be hypritical and uptight, but most artists I know are very welcoming (to good people) and not that uptight at all. We collected 60 of them for the convention, and not one is a dick. With few exceptions the artists who come to off the map are solid professionals on the good side of nature... Inksane says "I think the established tattooists should worry about themselves and stop trying to police an industry where the clientel directly relates to the tattooists skill level." Thats what established artists do. I mean people, this is an open forum where anyone can post. Just because they do does not mean they are an "established" artist. From my perspective, its a straw man argument, pointing fingers to hacks bashing other hacks on an open forum. Nearly all the established artists I know spend very very very little time thinking and bashing hacks. They focus that energy on their own art and in part thats how they got established. It almost all comes down to attitude and talent. If you are a bad ass artist who is honestly trying to learn in a responsible way, doors open. If you have mediocre talent and get pissed that people wont let you in even though you are not getting good tattoos or furthering your art, expect door slamming. A lot of people will say "as long as its a safe tattoo thats really all that counts". I completely disagree. I think safety is the starting point, but given that tattoos are art that will be on someone forever, I believe the art is the most important part (and the safety is a given). Sure, not everyone is Joe C or Nick B, but if your not striving for that kinda personal growth Id say go paint more. Its also early, I might think a tad differently after my morning tea.

Gabe says" "Inksane, I agree with a lot of your post. To clarify a few things, the professionals I know dont make it hard because they got into this business the "old school" tough way (though, I know people who are learning that way *now*), but because they only want professional artists (and people) tattooing." Well, we're pretty much speaking of different artists. I'm talking about the hypcrites - this is a little off topic but it reminds me. I know tattooists who insist on being fully custom and look down at flash and flash artists. They REFUSE to do flash. Yet, they can't draw to save their lives and their work translates really poorly onto skin. But their mentality is that because it's custom, it's automatically better. As a beginner, I'd rather start off (trying to be) a really good flash artist than a terrible custom one. Insane says "I don't mean any of this disrespecfuly but the politics and hypocracy in this industry and the uptightness of most so-called "artists" is beyond lame." Ok, I'm quoting myself here. lol But I say so-called artists because to me, with the kind of tattooists I'm speaking of, the words "tattoo artist" are a complete oxy-moron. Many tattooists are uptight and closeminded. That doesn't quite describe the attitude (in my opinion) of a true artists. Gabe says: "I guess "most" to you and others might be different than most to me, but in my experience with 200 or so artists, most are professionals and behave that way at least 60-70% of the time, ha. Joe Cap has been a great inspiration to me (and many others), and he is professional 100% of the time. Now, most hack artists or beginners may be hypritical and uptight, but most artists I know are very welcoming (to good people) and not that uptight at all. We collected 60 of them for the convention, and not one is a dick. With few exceptions the artists who come to off the map are solid professionals on the good side of nature..." Well, I always say that the best of the best artists (the ones you're speaking of) seem to be much more humble and quiet. As well as really grasping the artistic part of tattooing. They seem more open minded and want to push the art to the next level. You've been very lucky (maybe that's the wrong word, you've worked hard to surround yourself with high caliber artists)..anyway, you have a very unique place in this industry and, yeah, probably have a very different perspective on the industry and the artists. Just going by the internet (which, I know, isn't a smart thing to do..but for the sake of example...) you would think that everyone is a custom artist who spends all of their free time drawing, painting, etc.. Where are these artists in MY immediate area? You know, the "average" shop? I can honestly say that the shops right in my town or the immediate surrounding towns have no more than below average to average FLASH work that they're doing. I've been looking at some of their portfolios lately and the work is just sorely dissapointing to say the least. Gabe says: "It almost all comes down to attitude and talent. If you are a bad ass artist who is honestly trying to learn in a responsible way, doors open. If you have mediocre talent and get pissed that people wont let you in even though you are not getting good tattoos or furthering your art, expect door slamming." I agree on one hand. On the other, some of the work being put out around here makes me think that I would have no problem getting a job at a local shop. I know that I will never be a *insert insanely talented artist here* but I also don't know if I would even want to work in some of the local shops, given the work being done. Gabe says: "A lot of people will say "as long as its a safe tattoo thats really all that counts". I completely disagree. I think safety is the starting point, but given that tattoos are art that will be on someone forever, I believe the art is the most important part (and the safety is a given). Sure, not everyone is Joe C or Nick B, but if your not striving for that kinda personal growth Id say go paint more. Its also early, I might think a tad differently after my morning tea." Again, part of me agrees and part of me disagrees. Read what I said in my last paragraph. I think there is still a demand for good flash artists. Uh, yeah, I'd love to be the next Nick Baxter but, let's be realistic. I know my limitations. But I don't believe that discounts me from having a place in the industry. As I've been looking locally at the poor flashwork being done (meaning poor from a technical standpoint) I think I could carve my own little niche' here by being good at flash. The so-called "artwork" coming out of the local shops..let's just say that I don't think they've earned the right to call themselves "pros". I think with some time and practice, I can easily do better than some of the work coming out of these places. Then again, maybe I'm delusional. lol

Gabe and Inksane, after reading both your posts I think that you are both right. Gabe is in the lucky position of being able to say he owns one of the great shops out there and employs some of the great artists and I'm sure the people who come and work there are very nice and down to earth. What Gabe says is very true - from his point of view. By the same token Inksane also makes very good sense from their standpoint, and, for the most part, talks from a more general point of view that most people will be able to relate to. Without wanting to come across as an asshole, Gabe apart from money and contacts what, artistically, do you offer the tattoo world? By your own admission you dont tattoo and neither do you draw, so why should you be involved in the tattoo world over somebody else? And honestly I dont mean that in an arrogant way, but seriously, what makes you as a non artistic person qualify as an authority in the tattoo world? As you would say "Lets see your work".

Inksane, I know were talking about different types of artists. What Im saying is none of the "greats" I know (or very very few) spend any time thinking about the hacks, or the practicing artists that might as well be hacks. the good ones, who will be great, learn not to bother wasting energy on that crap either, and instead use it to better themselves. I dont know anyone who thinks that simply because a tattoo is custom its automatically better. I would not waste anymore time thinking about those idiots! I dunno, I cant see spending so much time thinking about so so or so called artists... Where are they in your area? Transcend and Hope are not too far away. I know a few other above average studios in CT. Of course "great" artists are hard to find, great ones who tattoo even harder, but you live in a state that is one of the "tattoo meccas"... Of course anywhere bad tattoo artists far outweigh the good ones, but the future isnt with them. Artists dont have to be the next Nick Baxter, obviously (theres only one!), but they should always strive to find their own artistic voice, and cut their tattooing chops on the easy walk in tattoos. If someone is striving to be the best flash artist they will probably always have a job, and can better their clients skin, but the "real" art of tattooing (as I see it) is in custom tattoos. Unique tattoos for clients who are smart enough to get quality tattoos.... As the public gets educated the need for flash will go away.. at least I hope to god it will! But there will always be customers for everyone I imagine... Inksane, Im sure with the head on your shoulders you can do anything you want. I would suggest you dont settle for flash artist, though, and always work on your original art. Putting someone else's art in people skin is one thing, putting your own is where its at. Ok, RC, here are the answers to your questions. I can assure you that I take very little offense to what people say to me. If something might offend me, I often find that those questions say more about the asker than me... So, first up, apart from money???? HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH man, that is the best one Ive heard in a loooooooooooong time. Its really hard taking the rest of your questions seriously given that these are your assumptions... Wow, the impression people must have. Without digging into my financial life too much, I can assure you that pretty much every tattoo artist I know makes more money than I do. Im the leach trying to mooch part of your economy , remember??? And contacts, yes, I guess I have contacts that good artists can and do tap into, but thats more how the artists play together and less about me, though, my network of artists does consist of like minded artists so I guess I might be some sorta network filter or something... I am very honored that so many artists find my work worthwhile and support it. I do my best to make sure they get there money and energies worth. I wasnt born into this network, I attended and set up booths at nearly a hundred tattoo conventions in the past 12 or so years and have collected tattoos by many amazing tattoo artists. Nothings stopping anyone else from doing the same. Now about what I do... I guess your best bet in getting an unbiased answer might be to ask the artists I work with on TattooNOW, Off the Map Tattoo, and Tattoo Gathering, otherwise its gonna sound like Im tooting my own horn. Anyways, at the risk of sounding like a crazed egomaniac (which I assure you is mostly false, or at least a little false hah), why should I be involved with the tattoo world over someone else who tattoos? First, everyone else is welcome, im not here at anyone else's expense, anybody can play whether Im here or not. but I'll ask you, why not? I mean, Im doing something right... I'll put the tattoos that come out of my studio and upcoming convention against any in the world, and if you (or whomever you think should have a "place" in this industry besides me) could do better then I welcome the "competition". In short, if someone is out of this industry because of my place, I advise them to kick their art up a bit cause I dont draw and if they can compete with a keyboard typer then they need serious help. I think its pretty obvious that my contributions add (maybe just a little) to the tattoo geek world, I dont think Ive taken anything away... What do I offer artistically to the tattoo world? Hmm, dunno. You mention I have no artistic vision because I dont draw, but I dare say the visions in my head are pretty intense even though I dont have the proper time to devote to drawing. I hope once I am financially stable I will be able to learn from the amazing artists who travel here, indeed this opportunity to learn from 40 some odd artists a year is one that is almost a sin to waste! And if you want an idea about the visions that please me most, check out the themes of the artists I work with. they are all distinct and unique, but mostly fall into a general movement I reckon. Of course what my clients and co-workers can give to the tattoo world artistically obviously far outweighs what I can add, but what I can do is offer a sane relaxing environment that caters to custom tattoo artists and their clients. then I can offer a load of promotion and eyeballs to attract the right clients for these artists. In short, what I offer is the facilitation of artists spreading their unique vision on the canvas of the world. What makes me an authority? ummmmm nothing... I simply offer my opinion and people can take it or leave it, and it makes little difference to me. I get the fancy color in my posts cause I lose a lot of sleep for this project... I dont think I ever claimed to be an authority, and if I did I was wicked drunk or something! That said I do have a lot of experience in this industry, and have learned the lessons many talented artists have taught me over the past decade, have proven what I can do with my energy and the energy of others, and I simply dont get why anyone thinks some hack who can tattoo a piece of flash adequately should have a place in this industry over me. But, I welcome the challenge, as I said before I only type on a keyboard and any artist should be able to accomplish more than me unless they arent too talented or lazy. Lastly, I have no qualms about "showing m work". I am primarily a computer programmer, check out TattooNOW.com and TattooNOW.com/tattoo-websites.html for examples of my work product. I am also responsible for tattooing the public everyday via the artists who work at my studio, and then again at the event I am hosting (with a ton of great help). OfftheMapTattoo.com and TattooGathering.com will give you an idea of the types of tattoos that I do my part to put on the public. Sure sure, folks may jump and say "you dont do those tattoos so you cant take any credit) but strait up if I owned a hack shop with crappy artists you better believe I'd take the blame... So there you go, in short, if any tattoo artist can do better, good for them! In the meantime Im going to work my ass off (with the other non-tattooer help I have at TattooNOW) so that eventually we will make the money everyone seems to think we do!