Sunday, December 19, 2010

Who is honoring whom?

In the last coulple of weeks, I have noticed a trend of sorts that has me scratching my head in wonderment. People are coming into the shop dressed to the nines, and we are getting many phone calls from people asking questions that seem to suggest they're sort of "pre-qualifying" for us. While I had heard rumors that some studios here only cater to the inordinately attractive, the wealthy, the powerful, and the famous, it struck me as an impossible farce. I mean, I know there are people out there who think that their tattooing is so fabulous you must earn the right to wear it, but come on now.

As a professional tattooist who has tattooed wealthy, famous, powerful, and sizzling hot clients, the truth of the matter is that it is not them who should feel honored to sit in my chair. When a person comes and sits in my chair, *I* am the one who is honored, regardless of who they are, or from what walk of life they hail. As I have said before, Pablo Picasso didn't have people lining up to wear his art for all the world to see.

These people are putting their trust in me, and allowing me to permamently mark their skin with tattoos that other people will see for all the years to come. Their children and grandchildren will one day ask them about their ink, and when I imagine some of those conversations in my head, they don't start off with "Well the artist who did this was famous..." they begin with "Well, I really liked this design, and so I got it inked on me...". It should be *your* story you're telling them, not mine. After all, it is your skin that bears the mark, and it was you who came to me looking to have it tattooed. If anything is said about me during this conversation, I would hope that it is something to the nature of "...The whole experience was fantastic! I love the artwork, the artist made me very comfortable,  and we became friends."

People from all walks of life, in all shapes and sizes, from every race, in every social class are curious about tattoos and may want to get inked, but big egos on artists who expect clients to prove their merits before taking their appointments dissuade many from ever investigating the possibilities. Every one of us knows at least one person who may not be very attractive, who may come from humble origins, may work as a street sweeper, may have a disability, etc, who is an absolutely wonderful person, and a joy to know. Given the choice, would you see this wonderful human being deprived of the ability to get a quality tattoo simply because they didn't drive the latest BMW, or wear a thong bikini as an extra on the set of Baywatch?

I come from humble origins. I don't drive the latest BMW. You've got a better chance of being struck by lightning *twice* on the same day than ever seeing me on Baywatch. My artistic "talent" is the result of training and repeated practice, and people seem to love the work I do. The truth is we're all good at one thing or another; usually something that intrigues or interests us. I am simply lucky enough to have found a way to use what I love so much as a way to pay my bills and buy the things I want. Things like plane tickets to Malaysia so my wife can be closer to her family and friends, whom she loves so much. Things like shop fixtures and equipment to open a new shop here. Things like equipment and inks that allow me to continue to learn and grow as a tattooist, and see even more smiles when people take their first look at their new tattoo.

I don't name those I have tattooed because I don't feel that having tattooed movie stars, or rock stars, or whoever somehow magically improves my work. Even the people we discuss here in the blog who we have tattooed have been asked if they would mind us telling others about the experiences we had while inking them. If I am not able to give 110% to my art on any particular day, I cancel *all* of my appointments, and reschedule with each person, personally if at all possible. I don't just cancel the "noteworthy" people, and let the "average" folks settle for whatever I am capable of doing that day.

I have been blessed by the living that my work affords me, and do not need anyone's money badly enough to risk someone living the rest of their life wearing anything I am not entirely proud to have done. And, young miss Ling, as mentioned in "The Stonework Butterfly" let me just say it here publically in reference to your comment - The honor here was all mine. I appreciate your comment, and I know it's from the heart. So long as you enjoy wearing the tattoo as much as I enjoyed doing it, and seeing your reaction to it, we both win! Few things in life work out that way. I am honored that you allowed me to include myself in one of them.

Randy.

PS For those of you who have an interest in tattoos and want to check out what is probably the single coolest tattoo blog I have ever found, check out this link. Very informative, community oriented, and kepy up to date with worldwide information about the world of tattooing by a great crew!

 http://www.tattooblog.com/

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