Each and every day I see a few individuals who need help with a tattoo cover up or at least a total repair of a poorly executed tattoo. In most cases, the person will tell me that a friend of a friend had a "tattoo gun" (we call it a tattoo machine) and did this tattoo in the kitchen at his apartment. They usually are embarrassed and ashamed of this so called artwork and desperately need help from a professional tattoo artist to cover or fix it up. In the same breath, they will
tell me they got a good deal on it! How is this a good deal?
Getting a tattoo at someone's house or in a motel room or anywhere other
than a professional environment is a dangerous thing to do. HIV and Hepatitis C are both serious incurable diseases that can be transmitted through improper sterilization of equipment. Most of us would like to enjoy a healthy existence and
I would hate to think that these irresponsible, so called tattoo artists might get in the
way of this. Consider this before making a bad decision.
Most urban areas have good, responsible tattoo artists working in clean,
safe environments. Do a little research before deciding where to get your work done. Your local health authority probably cannot recommend a shop because
of obvious ethical reasons, but it may not hurt to give them a call to see if the shop
you are considering has a good track record.
Whether you are looking for a tribal arm band or a traditional japanese back piece, make sure you do your homework first. Many artists specialize in one style of tattoo art. Maybe what you are considering does not require a specialist. Usually a small kanji (chinese or japanese symbols) is something that any qualified tattoo artist can render for a reasonable fee.
Some people choose to copy their favorite celebrity tattoo. Ouch! Who
knows what some of these people were thinking when they made their choices.
Rock star tattoos often tend to be really bad! Maybe they made their choices under the influence of something that obscured their vision. Anyway, it's best
to try to loosen up, use your imagination and let your favorite professional
prepare a custom designed tattoo that you will enjoy for years to come. Hopefully,
your research and careful consideration will produce a fine art piece that is yours
alone that will make you the envy of everyone you meet!
So now, you've done your research, found a shop you feel comfortable with and decided on subject matter. Get in there and talk to your artist. Make sure he or she is interested in your tattoo! If the artist doesn't seem to be interested in helping you enjoy your tattoo experience, drop it like it's hot! It's time to find someone who is actually interested in working with you. The last thing you want is someone doing your tattoo that just wants to treat you like cattle. Here's your brand, now get the fuck out of here. No kidding, this happens all the time.
I really like doing tattoos! So do all of the artists in my studio. It's what we do and we take pride in the quality of our work. We also all try to make our clients feel
as comfortable as possible while having their work done. Hopefully this information will help you in finding the right place and have fun getting your tattoo.
Get out there and enjoy life! Some really great ink can add a whole lot of fun to your short time on this planet. Good Luck!
Charlie Spencer
Owner/Artist
Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada
