Mobile Tattoo Artist...

I've seen ads for mobile tattoo artist available for parties...ala botox parties. What are your views on this...

Here are my thoughts on cleanliness. I guess mobile studios are ok as long as they are clean and sterile and have talented experianced artists working in them. It seems to me that the mobile artist tends to be less reliable, but Im sure there are exceptions. One major advantage of NOT getting tattooed by someone so mobile is that if they are working at a shop you know where to find them if they give you a disease.... Clean and Sterile. Tattooing is minor surgery. To be safe, you must shop for tattoo artists like a dentist. There are many things that tattoo artists must do to keep their station clean, and practices they must do to stop contamination. There are things you can look for, but your best bet when scouting for a new tattoo artist is to talk with them and ask questions. Your tattoo artist should be way more concerned about being clean and safe than you are, after all, you deal with one tattoo that day and your artist is dealing with many people every day. If the artist blows off questions or gives you vague answers, that’s never a good sign. If they are happy you are asking, answer your questions clearly, and show a genuine concern for safety then you are probably in good hands. No tattoo artist should ever be annoyed that you are asking about your safety, because its also about their safety. With very few exceptions, this means that getting tattooed out of someone’s house or at a tattoo party is not a good idea. Sure, it may seem more “authentic” to get a tattoo from a friend in the clubhouse basement, but its not. Authentic tattoos are done in a professional environment by experienced tattoo artists who have learned from industry leaders. In any event, artists tend to create an environment that works best for them, so they will be on the top of their game at the place of their choice. There are exceptions to every rule, of course, and some tattoo artists who have learned in a professional environment end up working from their homes after crazy tattoo studio owners, well, go crazy. Be very forewarned, unless you really know your shit about tattoo artists and their histories, getting tattooed out of someone’s home is not a very bright idea.

I was at an ABATE get together in the middle of a field. Where I seen for the first time, a mobile tattoo shop. An old school bus to be exact. The name "Alley Tats". At first I was skeptical. I entered the bus, being greeted by the nicest guy. I then met the artist, and just by luck on of his clients. This man had the best fine line detail work I had ever seen. The shop, completely legit. Clean, all sterilization issues covered. On of the nicest "shops" that I had ever been in. After pondering, and watching others get tattooed, I decided I had to do it. I had to be tattooed in a school bus. I got just a small black and grey piece on the back of my neck, two cards A's & 8's. By far one of the most pleasant tattoo experiences ever. Highly recommend Alley Tats. If anyone happens to see the place at a small town event, go in, introduce yourself, and get tattooed. I mean how many people can say they have been tattooed in a school bus. Disclaimer: I do not work for this man or his shop. I just like to promote good artists and good experiences.

Sure, the bus might be clean, but if you hit a bump you're screwed.

the last comment was too funny, good on ya it's nice to see someone with a real sense of humor. Hello cyber mates I am the worlds newest tattoo artist Ben Ellison... working from my apartment *which by the way is cleaner than any of the studios I've ever visited, am currently looking to purchase a used greyhound coach and transform it into Image Nation Kanada's rolling tattoo studio. 100% sterile!!!!!!!! check us out msn spaces

Hey Ben...Nice to meet ya! Now where can we meet some of your work? T

My biggest problem with mobile tattoo operations is the fact that there is no health department in place to oversee their operation, no licensing involved or certifications. Any pro here knows that most customers perceive "clean" much different than the rest of us. Portfolios can be stolen and used by these "Rolling Thunder" type of shops with no way to back them up. I'm not saying all mobile operations are like this, but the few I've seen, very underpar work and I have to ask, where is their dedicated area to clean and sterilize equipment? Rolling around with the rest of the shop?

I Believe Mobile Tattoo Shops are up coming and awesome. My Husband and I have been tattooing 30 years. We believe it can be done professionally. As for watch for the bump. Your parked and set up, no bumps allowed. No different than a Tattoo convention as far as sterilization goes. How many have you been too a convention? Hope we see more Mobile Shops Crusing. Don't condemn what you don't know. Speaking from experience. Thanks. By See Ya On The Road...............Flora's Tattoo & Body Piercing Extreme..........Mobile................

Truth be told.....I think a mobile tattoo situation can be MANY times more sanitary and professional than the BEST convention senario. Just my two cents.

I and my son both have tats from Alley Tats and are more than pleased with Jim's work and detail. Very, very fine detail even on the smallest detail. As for licensing, he is licensed by the same state agency that licenses barber shops and beauty parlors and, speaking from experience, my ex-wife was a beautician who was run thru the mill every year when having her license re-newed. So, I'm very comfortable with Jim and looking forward to my next visit.

well heres a update to your mobile tattoo shop thing,,, check this out http://www.sunsetstrip.com/features/gypsyqueen.html speaks for its self,,,, Sailor Nik

The following are my opinions.I believe that yes you could tattoo out of a bathroom if it was clean enough but after that how you cleaned up the area is what counts.NO i do not tattoo out of a bathroom.When it comes down to it the industry has gotten a bad name from individuals who just do not care and think that needle to skin works magic.Well this is just not true.A mobile trailer could work under the following conditions.Bath room away from work area.Also clean and dirty area away from work area to prevent cross contamination.Tables and floors that are non absorbent preferably stainless steal .Also looking at someones portfolio does not tell you nothing about the persons work they could of printed them off of the internet.You need to see the work in progress or be referred by a friend.The artist should be using barrier bags,plastic covering bottles, machines (not guns-Tattoo gun),work surface .there should also be spore test records on site to prove there autoclave is working properly.I hear oh business license come up all the time well yes we do have one for our studio ,but its just a piece of paper just because you have one doesnt ,mean you should have one.If you think its safe then digg deeper ask questions .DEMAND PROOF

It all falls down to one thing. Artist professionalism. You could have the cleanest shop, great smell and everything shinny, but you grabbed one of your ink bottles without changing gloves and there goes your pimp shop and next client's life. Great conscience is what you should look for. An artist that aside from cranking great tattoos understands and applies the best prevention procedures related blood borne Pathogene, CC, Hiv, Hep, etc is an artist capable to perform safe tattoos even in a bathroom. Butchers at homes are as equal as butchers at shops. One thing for sure is that a shop may be better suited to house gear and the proper room for the practice. I'd get tattoo at Guy's , Mike Devries', Nikko's home any day. People get HIV on the streets but some get it at hospitals. Do your homework, don't settle for nothing but the best.

Hi Guy, just to let you know that theres ta least one of us this side of the pond who has gone to the expense and the authority's in order to license a mobile tattoo studio.You can see me on you tube under mobile tattoo studios.England has become flooded with illegal artists since opening the flood gates to european labour its becoming more diffficult to earn a living whilst the illegal untrained so called tattooists are causing infections through the lack of basic hygine and knowledge of the Art of Tattooing.I Gave up a regular job and salary like many before me to become an apprentice it pisses me off that people can open studios just as easy as candy shops and no one thinks to check there credentials before getting tattooed. Just because they have a high street studio it does not mean they are cleaner than a mobile studio nor better qualified than the artist. How ever i have seen some people tattooing from Tents and the backs of vans pleaseEvent Organizers check there licenses before allowing them to spread a more negative outlook on a buisiness that a majority of artists do care about. Thanks for listning. Rockin Regards Greg. UK

I have no problem with any type of tattooing as long as it is done safe and the artist has the respect for the industry to at least keep a fair level of pricing.Were i am there are many places something small like piercings say were always 50$ people tattooing out of there house for instence dont have overhead so they turn around and charge 10$ now the next guy has to bring there price down to level the playing field.I am speaking in general.In general people that get tattooed i would have to say 8 out of 10 people will walk into a studio not even asked to see the quality of work but just want to no how cheap you can do the tattoo.It all leads back to what i wrote about piercings.My problem has been much of artist that dont have the overhead bringing the value off tattooing down because of there cheap overhead.Of course there is also the entire other side of people and artist that no what they are looking for and want a certain artist work then what i am talking about dont apply to that.I also agree that getting a tattoo from someone that travels can be a problem when it heals wrong or there is a need to extend in the same style.But that can happen in many cases.It all come down to respecting the industry and not being a cut throat because in the end sometimes you can cut your own throat.

Mobile units are regulated if the artist is being honest. We pay anywhere from $100 to $300 each time we set up. A very important part of our success comes from having a home studio for clients to get a hold of us afterwards. The rest is a quality set up , quality work, and good work ethics. http://smoothfx.com/Mobile_unit/mobile.html - Smooth

i know a guy who owns an rv-type trailor he converted into a sweet little three man shop. It's clean, air conditioned, has hot and cold running water, its own sterilizer, everything. So i guess, just like a shop, it depends on whose running it.

Hey, im Keith, i usually just read the comments that people make but today i decided to respond. I am a tattoo artist in Coumbus,ga. I have ran a shop here for several years. iI say shop becuase we also do airbrushing in a seperate department here. I ve been wanting to go mobile for the last two years but cant find any regulations for a moblie tatt in Georgia. I think if you can run a clean building,you can run a clean bus,trailor or what have you. I believe that bad artist are in shops as well as houses and mobile.its good to see people out there persuing there passion. But if anyone know how i can get this information for the state of georgia hit me up.

ive owned and operated a tattoo bus for a few years now fully health dep approved and extremly hygenic.it has been fully decked out and i attend big functions and events it's quite interesting but very draining lifestye.I intend to produce a doco on my travels around australia soon so keep your eye out on utube and discovery.this has been in the planning for some time...see you friends

we have been in business for about 18 years we have a very clean and sterile studio in grantham . but we also have a 42ft coach that has been converted in to a tattoo and piercing studio and it is fully health registered by our local authority. and we tattoo at festivals all over the uk . and were ever we go i contact there local authority and get them to come and inspect and it has never not passed.. its cleaner than any of the other studios in my town . but the trouble with mobile is most idiots that tattoo in the back of there mates hair dressers or from home . just think they can get a caravan or a tent and tattoo at a show or festival . you cant .. or take there gear that they got off ebay and do a tattoo party in some ones kitchen .. you cant . were ever ou tattoo it has to be registared as a tattoo studio .. www.madtattoos.org .uk or look at us on face book . madtattoos newark .

we have been in business for about 18 years we have a very clean and sterile studio in grantham . but we also have a 42ft coach that has been converted in to a tattoo and piercing studio and it is fully health registered by our local authority. and we tattoo at festivals all over the uk . and were ever we go i contact there local authority and get them to come and inspect and it has never not passed.. its cleaner than any of the other studios in my town . but the trouble with mobile is most idiots that tattoo in the back of there mates hair dressers or from home . just think they can get a caravan or a tent and tattoo at a show or festival . you cant .. or take there gear that they got off ebay and do a tattoo party in some ones kitchen .. you cant . were ever ou tattoo it has to be registared as a tattoo studio .. www.madtattoos.org .uk or look at us on face book . madtattoos newark .

Hi everyone :-) really hope to find that way somebody who could help me with a extraordinary question: I'm searching for a mobile tattoo studio in a Mercedes Benz Van / Sprinter- maybe someone have a tipp or even could bring me in contact? Background is that I'm actually preparing a high gloss documentary about different art forms and vans (in behalf of Mercedes Benz). Short Feedback would be great! Thanks a lot and Greetz, Nina Nina Faulhaber| Redakteurin fischerAppelt, tv media GmbH Neckarstraße 155 | 70190 Stuttgart Tel.: | Fax: Mobil: | [email removed] http://www.fischerappelt-tvmedia.com fischerAppelt, tv media gehört zur fischerAppelt AG, Föderation der Ideen Sitz der Gesellschaft: Stuttgart Handelsregister: Amtsgericht Stuttgart, HRB 20321 Geschäftsführer: Mirco Völker, Matthias Wesselmann fischerAppelt tv media sucht: Flashprogrammierer, Webentwickler, Berater mit Schwerpunkt Bewegtbild, Redakteure Bewegtbild, Online Konzeptioner, Online Berater

I usually do not post, but with the ongoing craze of mobile studios jumping open out there and studios seemingly to be opened over night I feel what I have to share may help others... I have been tattooing since 1987. I not only have a studio, I also have a full service health board approved mobile studio (my mobile is a small bus that was used for public transportation, it has a wheel chair lift for my disabled clients, we completly converted it to a full service mobile studio. It has two stations, sinks with hot and cold water, smooth surfaces and a restroom) it was built by the spefications and regulations that health board enforce. When I started there were not many women artist, nor allot of regulations in place, let alone a women artist who owned her own studio. Back then, you paid your dues, it wasn't an easy industry to get into. The state didn't regulate tattooing in the beginning, and their were several artist who didn't want to be regulated by anyone, nor wanted politics being brought into this industry. I know, I encountered several of those artist while I was trying to get regulations in place. Several of these artist had been in this industry for decades, but as time went by the industry changed, and so did they. I pushed for regulations in our county, it took a few years, but finally got it passed, not only for tattoo studios, but eventually for mobile regulations as well. I tattoo at events, rallies and private functions, and yes, tattoo parties as well, with strict stipulations, which my clients respect. I do not tattoo any where but my full service mobile studio when I'm mobile, unless I am doing an event indoors and it's regulated. I am 100% disposable, and all my equipment is covered, and my unit is extremely clean and sterile, just as it is in my studio. Regulations for both are in place. When I travel (which I travel May thru October), on my usual route I am already licensed and health board approved, but if I am entering a county that I never been before, I call ahead of time to see what there regulations are and then we follow those regulations, as well as pay for any fees required of us. If I enter an area and they tell me they do not have any regulations in place, I ask if they are regulated by their state, if the state is not regulated I inform them what my intentions are, and find out if there are any fees, permits or licensing involved for me to work there and most importantly if they have any issues with me working that county. Basically, I do everything I can to make sure I am doing what is right, not only for my clients safety, but out of doing the right thing for my reputation as well. In the 24 years that I have been tattooing, I have never had a complaint, nor have I ever short changed the county, state or my client. I find if you are committed to this industry, the art, the client, then you do everything possible to make sure you do what's right for everyone concerned. I have seen it all in this profession, not all studios (shops) are created equal, nor are mobile studios. I fine that short cuts and money are the first priorities in several studios I have encountered. But, the artist who puts their clients health and art work before the dollar are the ones that are in it for the long haul. My studio is based around my clients, their work scheduals and desired artwork. When I first consult with my client, we discuss sterilization, I show them my work area (in my studio or my mobile, depending where I am working), then we sit and discuss their artwork. Since I only do custom artwork (there is no flash on my walls), drawn especially for my client, once an idea is formed, I draw up the design. Once approved we schedual their appointment. A true professional, who cares for their client, their safty and needs, and puts that and their artwork and what's best for the industry as a whole will go that extra mile, they will not short change or short cut their client nor their reputation for a few bucks. My advice to you, or to anyone who is looking to get a tattoo, check around. Ask questions, see the artwork, you can tell if they care about the safety, industry and their artwork just by how they greet you, answer your questions, how they treat the other artist and how their studio looks. or simply, your guts will tell you. If you are not sure, walk away, it's easier then regretting the decision later.

We have owned & operated a mobile facility 14 yrs, been licensed in 16 states. We jump all kinds of hoops to meet all kinds of different health dept. requirements - another inspection every week, unlike stationary street shops who MIGHT get inspected once a year, we are by far above & beyond any one health dept's requiremts. We make local shops & health depts. raise the bar; some areas where we work have NO requirements/regulations! All the different requirements are ridiculous! If it's really about health & safety, the law should be the same everywhere (& convention tattooing would not be allowed!) The numerous city, county & state officials imposing their fees & personal beliefs on how to do this, are carried away! MN now charges $1100 for a tattoo shop inspection while they inspect restaurants & hair salons for $35. They found a way to fund their broke government! In AZ, it is a felony to tattoo in a mobile studio, but legal to tattoo in a tent w/out water & a dirt floor! We have brought it to the attention of AZ legislators but they don't care! Federal govt. inspections have always been meaningful & reasonable. This should be the industry standard everywhere to make professional art safer & more affordable, and more easily compared by consumers. A couple more VERY important things to change are: enforcing regulations AND to stop the sale of cheap machines over the internet to anyone! There are MANY ppl hurt & scarred by amateurs w/ cheap or homemade machines doing art cheap because they have no overhead. This will eventually put professionals out of business because many ppl simply go for the cheapest. As for enforcing regulations: motels, tents, back of a van, & home scratchers need to be reported to authorities who may need to be informed of what the laws are. Our local sheriffs' dept. thought it was no big deal that a local home scratcher was soliciting minors w/out parents' permission, & tattooing them on his living room sofa!

We have 7 jacks down, including a stabilizer jack under the hitch of our mobile studio. There are no such things as "bumps" or "rocking the boat" when we are set up to work, duh!