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Where do you tattoo and how long have you been in the business?

Lil Moon Goddess I own my own business in Watertown, NY, called Dragon's Blood, Ink. Its a special kind of business, because I don't have a shop...I bring my equipment to you and ink you in the comfort and privacy of your own home. Many, about 85% of my clientelle are women who don't feel comfortable in the "traditional" tattoo shop setting. My business allows them discreet, quality tattooing that they desire.

Mr. Taboo Taboo Tattoos
242 Broad St.
Keyport N.J. 07735 USA

John 2 Dope USA Lancaster CA, Dermagrafict tattoo, and only about 2 years if that... I'm a baby... Or as like my co-workers like to tell me sometimes, "I'm just a kid, and I don't know Shit!".

Johnny Jinx I’ve been training out of Majestik Tattoo in Tucson for 5 months.

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How did you first get into tattooing?

Lil Moon Goddess  I pretty much fell into it. I was running the college newspaper, and a guy came up to me who had just started his own tat business. He wanted to run an ad in my paper, and if I ran it for free, he'd give me a free piercing. Whadda hook, I tell ya. So, after I got my belly button pierced, he hired me on as a shop girl… I started drawing some of the flash designs on the wall freehand, and then started doing commissions. From there, it was apprenticeship and then a chair of my own.

Mr. Taboo Friends would tell me "Dude you should do tattoos" I wasn't really interested at first, most of the tattoos I had seen up till then were things my father and his friends had gotten in the service…  I was into motorcycles and had picked up a bike mag that had an article on a tattoo show/contest and saw work from people like Jack Rudy , Gill Montie , Kari Barba and others. That's what got me interested.

John 2 Dope  [By] wanting a really expensive tattoo, and not wanting to pay for it.  So, I bought the stuff and stabbed up my own leg. After that, my buddies saw it and wanted me to work on them. [I] found someone willing to apprentice me (Ron Rams) and was shop bitch for about 6 months until he let me loose. Since then, it's just always trying to improve what you will never master, ya’ know?

Johnny Jinx  I’ve always wanted a career in art.  I noticed most of the people I like making art for aren’t willing to drop $70 for one of my paintings but are more than happy to save a couple hundred for a tattoo – so the change was logical.  I’m also a night owl.
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How did you learn?

Mr. TabooWell to give a little background I started off my family very early so I had to work a day job and was lookin’ for apprenticeship but the shops around me weren't lookin’ for anyone or you had to know someone to get in. So, like most geniuses I figured tattooing has got to be like drawing so I sent for a kit , shortly afterwards came the harsh slap of reality. I started off self taught which is a path I recommend for no one it takes forever to make any progress what a apprentice learns in a year or so it takes twice as long or longer because it is basically trial and error doing stuff then tracking down the person afterwards to see how it healed and is holding up then add to that mix that the person may not have taken care of it while it was healing. Well after doing this for awfully long time till I got layed off from my day job , but got some back pay and a "buy out". So with the money I got plus unemployment I was able to keep things paid for a bit so I went looking for a shop to apprentice at this time I went a little further out of my area and found a guy named George who was willing to take me under his wing. I had figured out some things on my own but there were gaps in some cases large gaps in my knowledge that needed to be filled in. When George took me in the first thing he told me was no more tattooing till he gave me the go ahead. So I started my apprenticeship which meant learning , takin’ out the trash , askin’ questions , moppin’ the floor , runnin’ the sterilizer , walkin’ the shop dog , ect.

Lil Moon Goddess  I learned how every tattoo artist SHOULD learn, on my own skin first. That's the ONLY way you can figure out how deep to go and how hard to press. (fake skin and grapefruit, and hog shanks can't yell to tell how much it hurts, and don't heal like the real thing, which tells you a lot). After that, I hooked my friends for practice (free tattoos that I would fix after I got good.  They leaped.).

John 2 Dope  My own legs, a lot of trustful homies, and watching people do tattoos for hours on hours of lil’ swirly actions that "looked" easy...

Johnny Jinx I’m still learning.  My first victims included a couple homeless people and this one guy who made the mistake of getting wasted and passing out in my chair.
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How long did your training last?

Lil Moon Goddess  My apprenticeship lasted technically for a year, although I was tattooing clients after only 4 months in my own chair. I started off doing mostly tribals...they're pretty hard to screw up, but they teach patience, because you have to really make sure you get solid coloring.

Mr. TabooAfter about 8 months or so a woman that George knew stopped in to ask if he knew of anyone to work her place ( She didn't tattoo but acquired the shop thru her divorce…) George recommended me and I was on my way.

John 2 Dope  Should have been a year... if i was good I would of stayed if I sucked, I would of been kicked to the curb.  Ron let me start with simple enough stuff after 6 months and just he told me to keep a level head and know what I could do ... and not attempt anything too hard.

Johnny Jinx After five months I’m very fortunate to be allowed to work on walk-ins.
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What was it like? Would you have rather learned another way?

Lil Moon Goddess  I learned from Todd Jenne, now owner of Phoenix Rising tattoo Philly, NY. He taught me to run off the tip of the needle instead of the tip of the tube. You get finer control that way, and don't need as much force. Every new machine that I use and every new ink I use now, I test on myself first (even though my husband argues for the position). I think it’s the best way to learn. There were only three artists in the shop, so I was spared a small amount of hazing...but I was the only female, so therefore, got a lot of the shit jobs the other two guys didn't want (like Tasmanian devils drinking beer and tribals, tribals, tribals).

Mr. Taboo Ideally I would have liked to have gotten a apprenticeship at the age of 18 instead of getting one in my late twenties. Also learning from someone else I would have learned quicker and not had to unlearn the the things I was doing wrong.

John 2 DopeI was learning the other way, it was boring as shit. I kept thinking well crap this guy did the same thing I did, in half the time, and looked twice as good. I thought it was bullshit, but I knew if I kept at it, maybe I wouldn’t hate it too much... Unless it’s Celtic knot-work or tribals of course, I will always hate those... they make me cross-eyed.
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What was the hardest part about beginning?

Lil Moon Goddess  The hardest part about beginning was getting over my own nerves about pain. I only had one other tattoo before, which hurt F*ING bad (my boss was TRYING to make me cry...part of the hazing ritual), so I was freaking. But then I started in on my leg (my inner ankle) and taught myself to give the right amount of pressure and to go to the right depth. The second hardest part was figuring how deep to go...too deep and you get blowout and scarring, and too shallow and it'll heal out or fade and look shitty.

Mr. TabooGetting someone to take you in and there are a number of reasons why tattooist are reluctant to take people in.  (Now, I'm not talkin’ 'bout the places that take someone in for large amounts of cash give out equipment and claim to " Teach you all you need to know " in 2 months ) The first reason being they're a little jaded because there are a lot of people who think they are artist and come in lookin’ to get in but aren't as talented as they or there family think they are. Second if you teach someone you have to be aware that they may go work for someone near you or may decide to open a shop up the road from you so they can do it their way.

John 2 Dope  No one at all respects you, you get treated like shit sometimes and you spend 8 hours or more a day someplace with nothing to take home pocket wise. There are worse, old school apprenticeships out there but mine wasn’t too bad, but bad enough to still suck, ya’ know? Especially when you first start to get better, nobody will trust you because you were the "apprentice" and they knew you before you were good.

Johnny Jinx  The apprentice fees and working two jobs.  Essentially I’m working two jobs for free.  This makes having a social life and a fridge full of food rather difficult.  That’s alright though.  Chics dig skinny tattooed guys.
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Do you have any advice or warnings for those considering a career in tattooing?

Lil Moon Goddess  My advice would be to learn from an established artist, someone who knows how the hell to draw instead of just trace. Don't be a scratcher (although some greats have started that way) and don't be dirty, reusing is fucking disgusting and wrong. (sorry, long story, and one of the reasons I don't work for that shop anymore). Know how to draw, that's really, really important. If you lose your transfer, you better know how the hell to use a marker and draw it back on.  Lastly, keep photos of your own work and own your own machines if you can. Some shop owners will fuck you three ways from Sunday if they can, and its best to know you've got your own work and talent to fall back on.

Mr. Taboo  Be aware that with the popularity of tattooing there are a lot of places cashing in , the 2 month type places I mentioned above. A apprenticeship will usually take about a year give or take depending on how much time and effort you can put into it.
The following is a small list of real mistakes made by people that have come into my shop looking to learn:

1.  Don't come in stoned or drunk.

2.  Be clean and dressed in clean clothes, you don't have to wear a suit or a dress depending on your gender, but you shouldn't look like you just crawled out from under your car and you shouldn't smell like you just got back from the gym.

3.  Bring a portfolio!  It's amazing how many people come in with no portfolio for a job that requires you have some artistic talent.

4.  Show variety in your portfolio. I get a lot of people that when they do have a portfolio with them it's all the same thing pages and pages of tribal (many times designs that are un-tattooable ) or graffiti letters or fairies.  There is nothing wrong with drawing what you like and granted the lion's share of your portfolio can be what you’re into but show you can do the basics. Do some hearts , names , cartoons, tribal , animals , skulls , roses , mix it up show your versatile cause if you think your going to start tattooing by doin’ only the things you like in the style you prefer you're in for a shock.

After you've established yourself in an area and have regulars who are willing to trust you and like the same things as you then you'll get to do the things you like and get paid, too. By doin’ the other stuff you may not be into [will] help keep the wolf from the door.

5.You won't get rich so if your lookin’ to tattoo cause you think money will fall like rain forget it, you should be able to make a living and if you’re lucky and are super talented and get in a good location you may make a very good living… but it won't be easy.

6.  Keep in mind that most of the world’s party nights are the nights you'll be working. (Fri. & Sat.)

7.  As a tattooist there are no paid days off, no sick days, personal days, or paid vacations either.

John 2 Dope  Practice art first, its tiresome to see more and more pattern-artists enter the bizz. It's always good to see someone who can draw as well as tattoo, it helps the business breathe a lot more. Also, remember that the Job is forever, once the neck or hands are done you’re stuck with the occupation for life, so think first before you see the rock stars on tv with ink, because it doesn't fade quick enough to get back any family that's going to want or disown you or not understand you for a while... otherwise fuck-it, its great, people actually treat you with respect if you give it back.

Johnny Jinx Choose your mentor wisely!