tattoo shops worth it?? Don't think so!!

me personaly i think artist need to stop putting down all the so called "scratchers" because in the beginning all of us were "scratchers" even the guys that think that there king shit now, running and working in theis big name shops and chargeing people out the ass for work that most of the time looks like shit in about six to seven years and some places the next weekyou know what i like the small time guys at least they put their heart into their work. i am an artist and i'm what most would call a "scratcher" i work at flea markets and fairs and parties mostly out of a fith wheel that i have customized. i have customers that left their artist to come to me for all their work and most have whent to the same artist for years. so i say to hell with the big shops if you want to be an artist buy a mechine from eturnial in michigan find about a dozen people that will let you "PRATICE" and go from there lets push thies snottie ass shop owners and artist out of the way and show them whats up. for you shop owners and arist that are kind to all artist i appechate the help and thank you kindly

Is this a joke? Alright, I'll bite... I think there is a difference between a scratcher and a beginner. And, for the record, I have not served a formal apprenticeship but I will tell you the difference between myself and a scratcher. Anyone can feel free to disagree. As a beginner, I remain determined to do things in an informed and educated way. I did not touch skin before learning about skin anatomy and getting certified in BBP and cross contamination, first aid and CPR. I care about my own safety as well as the people I tattoo. As a beginner, I would never, EVER tattoo in unsafe or filthy conditions such as a flea market or a party. As a beginner, I was/am not willing to ruin my "friends" skin for the sake of practice. I learned as much as I could about all aspects of tattooing (how the machine works, technique, etc...) that would give me some insight into what I was actually doing. There's no way I would have just bought a machine (or do you prefer the term "gun"?) and just lined up my friends to give them poor tattoos with no clue what I was doing. As a beginner, my desire is to be the best I can, not just wing it. I am determined to be clean and safe at all times and to make good ethical choices (basically the same rules that any reputable shop abides by). I will continue to educate myself and push myself artistically and to be a technically sound tattooist. It sounds like you are making excuses for doing unsanitary and unskilled work. You've made it clear that you don't give a damn about the people you tattoo (their health or the quality of their tattoos). It seems you are selfish and lazy and take no pride in doing something on even a satisfactory level. I take offense that I am put into the same category as you. In this day and age, there is no excuse for approaching the art of tattooing in such a careless way. With all of the health risks involved and with all of the educational material out there today, why would you choose to be irresponsible and ignorant? So, a few more questions for you... You are disrespecting the art form by keeping it "dirty" and diservicing the publc. How can you NOT see why a professional artist would take issue with your approach? Lastly, what is your motive for wanting to tattoo if you don't want to put GOOD QUALITY work on people? Man, I may not have room to talk here but at least I have the best of intentions with the way I am learning.

After I posted, I re-read your message and wanted to add a few things... First, can we see some pics of your stellar work? Second, don't be so flattered that people are willing to let you practice on them or give them bad tattoos for less money. For some reason, when it comes to tattoos, the general public is downright fucking stupid. I had offers all the time before I ever laid my first tattoo, from women no less. They said that as soon as I was ready to let them know. However, I did not jump at the chance to tattoo anyone who would let me. I wanted to wait until I felt I could do a good job and could troubleshoot any problems that may have risen. But they were willing, even though they had no clue what my work looked like. I wouldn't even let a pro tattoo me without looking at his/her portfolio. But my guess is that your clientel consists of homeless, toothless meth heads. Sorry, just a hunch. Next thing I wanted to say is that, no, not everyone starts as a scratcher. If you get an apprenticeship, you learn many, Many things before ever getting to tattoo. And by then, you are somewhat knowledgable and have your mentor looking over your shoulder to help you. That's not quite the same as buying a machine and practicing on your friends. And don't act like tattoo shops aren't legit when you are just bitter because no shop worth a shit would ever hire you.

first i never said i wasnt clean yes i tat at flea markets and tattoo PARTIES (that i set up) but i do all my work from a clean and very well kept area of control. i do not consiter myself a scratcher i do good work i never said i was the best. i didn't learn from any one i studied just like you. yes i admit i did jump into tattooing as soon as i could but i started with a very crapy homemade gun that one of my friends made. (not now of course) i use a j frame mechine and yes i learned as much as i could about my mechine before useing it on people that i would charge my friends that i know that i can go back to and fix their work any time i wanted people that i can try new techniques on and use trial and error and they understand this and know that it will get fixed as my skills increase. every thing that i know i have taught myself in that fashion. And what i ment about every body starts out as a scratcher is simple the guys and gals that apprentices learn from wher scratchers at one point and time and even the apprentices are scratchers at first they may have a knowlage of what to do but they still don't know what they are doing and for the first couple of mounths they put out some pritty bad work (most of the time) and what i was meaning by my last comment was the people that thing their better than every one because they have been doing this for years not some one like you who is starting out. hell im a beginner im just tired of hearing all this bullshit from thies big guys that think their better than every one else. and i say again I AM NOT THE BEST ARTIST IN THE WORLD but i do my best and i make sure the customer leaves happy and in genrial that is all that matters. (make sure the work is good and the customer is happy.

http://www.myspace.com/domish_pain_ink this is my myspace it has SOME of my work on it i have not been able to update in a while because my copm will not let me upload the pics i am working on the problem and hopefuly it will be fixed shortly. this is mostly stuff i did when i first started. and it is no where near all of my work

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=181675527&albumID=0&imageID=6042580 hahahahahahahahahahahaha this is fuckin pathetic. i think you just made www.badtattoos.com congrats!

O.O < ---- the look on my face right now. O Please stop.

holy crap. please stop doing what you are doing.

massacre, savage carnage.

The pic of you tattooing in your livingroom (or whatever) is disgusting. No barrier control. No clip cord cover. Any WHY must scratchers tattoo shirtless? Bottom line is, you're not working in a "controlled environment" like you said. It's filthy. And your work isn't even close to being "good". People go to shops to get good work, in a clean envoronment. You don't provide that. Look, I can't make you take pride in what you're doing or make you see that your work is horrible. People let you tattoo them and make you believe otherwise. But for fuck sake, learn to be clean. And you look like an ass making fun of legitimite shops when everything you are doing is exactly why artists don't like scratchers and why shops are much more appealing to anyone other than your girlfriend at the moment or the dirty schlub at the flea market who's looking for a bargain.

I can't say anything else that hasn't already been said. If this was 30 years ago, your hands would have been smashed with hammers at the very least. Unfortunately, the law protects scum like you and that punishment isn't practiced as often as it used to be. If you honestly had any respect for this trade, and your "clients", you would throw your gear into an incinerator and find a career that you can actually do correctly.

Dude, kill yourself. Why is it I end up having to say this to so may people on this site. It is amazing to me how so many people are ssoooooo uneducated about tattooing.

i predict much damage and coverup in your "clients" futures. whats worse this idiot or the idiots who let him tattoo them?

now I have seen bad tattoos and heard some total bullshit from people about why the pictures are so bad and so on but DAMN IT MAN you are fucking butchering people and not to mention the sterility but your grammar is shit as well . Can you stop before you fuck any more poor people up , please at least learn BBP and Preventing Disease Transmission before you give everyone the HIV or HEP and send tattooing back to the underground where you seem to feel happy. So you use 1 "GUN" or "mechine" well what the fuck is a "mechine"? I think real tattooers use MACHINES not 1 but many to facilitate the many size groupings used in "PROFESSIONAL" tattooing. Uncovered gear in your living room and topless tattooing is what causes the stigma the industry has so stop being a "scratcher" if you don't want to be called one and take some art classes.

You know what, I propose some regulation on who can buy tattoo machines or these "kits". Like you would have to have BBP certification, etc. before you could purchase, a machine that will not only scar someone for life in inexperienced, and not to mention stupid, hands, but that could possibly kill someone with disease spreading.

Valid idea, Abel, but not one likely to be used by the low life parasites who are usually the ones peddling equipment to enable these types- after all, they're making money off it and obviously care more about their profits than they do the art or profession. Doc

W......T.......F......... Why in God's good name would you come on here, start a friggin' thread with the arrogant title you gave it and try to discredit everything we in the industry have worked towards. Furthermore, I understand what you're saying about how everybody started somewhere... However, what separates people like you and these other big name's or talents is that those guys who may have started out of their house... They got smart and learned the correct way to do things. They didn't take pride in it. Do you know how many scary BBP you probably have stuck to your walls and carpet (because I'm almost positive you tattoo on a carpet)? The same area where your family hangs out and probably eats in. Did you know Hepatitis can live on a surface for 8 days... or better yet that boiling shit doesn't sterilize it... Don't be a cocky scratcher asshole if you don't have the work to back it up.

I hope this guy gets AIDS and dies a slow painful death. We'd all be better off if he was a stain on a hotel bed spread or lunch to the bitch that spawned him.

Some times I wonder if these posts are just a joke from some attention seeker. I feel sorry for your wife and daughter knowing that their dad/husband is such a ignorant moron. Later or sooner you'll pay the consequences of your carnage (I can't find a better word to describe what I've seen on that myspace page)

I think of that poor little girl playing and eating in that room and on that carpet. Ick, I'm so skeeved out.

...um.....yah, I agree with everyone here.....PLEASE STOP!!! That or please, PLEASE take an apprenticeship somewhere....PLEASE!!! And please don't tattoo anyone above the neck or below the wrist!!! What you're doing is unethical and just poor judgement on your part. Please listen to all of use who have gone through a rigorous apprenticeship and done our time and worked our asses off to earn the title TATTOO ARTIST!!

fine examples of your work! any particular reason why you go by the name butch?

The Horror...............................

he puts down plastic while tattooing. so carpet is covered.

I would hope that in todays tattoo scene, with all the coverage, all the press, tv shows, magazines, etc. Whether you love or hate these things, I would hope that this would at least BEGIN to educate people as to what a good tattoo is and where and when a tattoo should be executed. The idea that there are still people being tattooed in kitchens and living rooms is absolutely barbaric. I don't even feel bad for the idiot that let the idiot that started this thread tattoo his face. I can't believe that this stuff is still so prevalent. Just like racism and homophobia, it always amazes me that people are still under the impression that these things are ok. Un-fucking-believable.

been thinking about tattooing my face, i just found my artist.

he gonna do it bros, boats and hos

where is this guy now??

hey op..... kill yourself

git tated in a dumpster.