question tattooists

to the tattooists out there - just out of curiosity i was wondering 1. what was it that first got you into tattooing? 2. what did you do before you were a tattooist? 3. what would you do if you werent a tattooist? 4. what is your HONEST opinion about new people coming into the business?

#1...I was born a tattoo artist...since I was 3 years old and saw my step dads tattoos by Sailor Jerry I have been drawing in people #2...Before I was a tattoo artist?...Pooped my pants a lot! #3...If I weren't a tattoo artist I would be a very depressed musician! #4...The new people coming into this biz are the ultimate....Just amazing stuff...seeing the new tattoos every day is what makes me want to get out of bed in the morning!...TAz

1. what was it that first got you into tattooing? Train bombing, blackbooks, sketching, tattoos i've seen.. But the main thing that got me into tattooing is somewhat of a strange story... I had a very very fucked up childhood.. Not that many people haven't nor do I want a pity party for it... But I blacked out a good portion of my childhood until recent years and countless therapy sessions. When I was 17 I was going through a box of old schoolwork and report cards pictures ect ect.. and I had a pretty bad breakdown realizing that I didn't remember anythinf from the ages of 5 to about 13. most people don't have the best memory... But I'm talking about I didn't remember where we lived, teachers, friends, pets... It was pretty bad... I a project from first grade that was a "what do you want to be when you grow up?" theme. My response to it was I wanted to be a tattoo artist because I like to draw on myself and i think it's cool and my older brother has a tattoo... I started putting some thought into it and had the artistic ability and drive to accomplish it... Now I'm here... 2. what did you do before you were a tattooist? Before and during I've held various positions at various places. This life can have it's ups and downs... I don't consider this my job.. This is my life.. and I wouldn't have it any other day... 3. what would you do if you werent a tattooist? what would you do if you couldn't have sex? 4. what is your HONEST opinion about new people coming into the business? There is a million people with talent out there... I don't see people coming into the industry a bad thing unless they don't play by the book. You can be a great artist on paper, canvas, walls... anything... But getting down to dropping the needle it gets differant... people look at this shit like it's a job... It pays the bills.. But there is so much more in this.. it becomes your life... I don't think people take it as serious as they should. If every tom dick and harry that could draw became a tattoo artist.. There'd be a lot of shitty tattoos out there. To be a tattooist is hard... to be a good one is even harder.. to be one of the best... is next to impossible.. But the weak ones don't stay in the ring too long... only the strong survive.... 7

thats a cool reply : ) i used to love doing graffiti too. although im not a tattooist myself (im a lorry driver) i work in a studio on weekends that my friend owns, its cool because im involved in the tattoo scene in some way and i get to work conventions and stuff.

1. what was it that first got you into tattooing? like everyone else id come home from school covered in permanent marker. i got really into it after i got a tattoo by The Rorkiteer. Me and him talked alot. and i gotmyself a kit and started working onmyself and a close friend. I got a tattoo from a shop of my own "weird shit" style drawings. And i landed my apprenticeship. 2. what did you do before you were a tattooist? music. and i still do and i will never stop. 3. what would you do if you werent a tattooist? the question doesnt make sense. tattoo artists are tattoo artists because... they are fuckin tattoo artists! they live and die for it. they go to sleep thinking it and wake up for it. if they wherent tattoo artists they would be struggling for an apprenticeship. (i hope) 4. what is your HONEST opinion about new people coming into the business? im down with everyone except Lindsay Lohan. The new crew of people (including myself also being named nick) are the likes of Nick Baxter and Nikko and shit like that. Who hasnt learned something from these young kids?