Lets talk ink

[Great-Kazoo]

My only suggestion is if you have to book time in the future and you like their portfolio they are the way to go. My only shitty tattoos are from places I walked in and got the first available artist. Chris at Phantom 8 is pretty damn good. I think Great-Kazoo trained him if I remember correctly.

Merely one of the apprentices from where i worked. He was already a talented artist 15+ years ago, when he worked for us.. Same for my nephew Nikolas, of landmark tattoo. He has pencil and paper in hand @ 8-9yrs old.

[tmleadr03]

What?
Keep in mind this is my Opinion, mine only. Some will take issue, dispute etc. You're an adult. You figure it out.

1- look at portfolio's. Is the artist proficient in the style of work you'd like to get.

2 - look at their work, on a client that's more than 3-4 yrs old. Are the lines clean, not blown out, big spots of black where the outline met? Is the color solid, meaning it looks like a crisp clean tattoo, 5 years later. Has the artist made good use of black & grays, color blending etc.

3 - look at their shop / studio. Does it look clean to you? If it does look again, HARDER. Not talking about the work stations (yet) But the overall cleanliness of studio. IF it's standing room only, you will not get a realistic view as most clients are less than sanitary.

OK you went back to shop # 3 that was balls to the wall customers. Now look when it's tuesday-thursday , say dinner time, or before. How's the bathrooms look, trash cans over flowing, empty. The artist trash can look like it hasn't been cleaned for some time. THAT'S YOUR CUE TO WALK. I've seen some very talented artist, that couldn't wipe their ass if they were sitting on a bidet. The have a great hip, in crowd following. BUT it dawns on you, the oldest person there's you, and you're about to turn 25!

4 - Has their blood borne pathogen training , been updated in the last 3-5 years? Have they even taken a basic (i mean basic) red cross seminar? Licensed by the city or cty they work in?

5 - Instruments. Are the needles single use? It's ok to reuse PROVIDING the shop has a WORKING autoclave on site. Was spore tested within the last 30 days, and has documentation to back it up. A lot if not all today, do single use, for piece of mind, among other things. The tube it sits in still needs to be AC's. Unless they're full on single use. Are their needles and tubes in autoclaved packaging, dated? Not all date their N&T. Are the needles & tubes opened in front of you, if not why?
Do they wrap / bag their machines (don't even say guns) is the clip cord wrapped. The chair or table you're going to be on? If not why? What kind of surface disinfectant is used whtn they clean up the work station? How long it the contact time before they wipe it down. DID THEY USE GLOVES to break down their station (NOT THE ONES THEY WORE WHILE WORKING ON YOU) Did they wear gloves to clean up their station?
Lets put it like this, does the work station look like your dentist office work station.
Oh yeah. IF they get a call while you're in the chair, do they remove their gloves, is the phone wrapped in plastic. Is the call that important they take it, spend 15 min bs'ing about well bs?

6 - there is a shit load of talent along the front range. Like looking for a competent person to work on your vehicles. Do you click, Do you walk out knowing more, than when you walked in. Can the artist do what you want. Most if not all will make suggestions / tweaks to your idea, finally having something you say Oh Yeah, and they are as happy with.

There is a lot more regarding tattoo's one can discuss. The bottom line BEFORE you get tattooed is. IS THIS SOMETHING I CAN LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I've seen people come in after getting work done else where. The story is the same.
How come my friends tattoo looks so much better than mine? He does good work. The answer's easy. Your friends tattoo, you didn't have to look at 24/7. And he / she wasn't packing their nose full of california sunshine, 20 min. before they did his ink.

Now go on and get that Tasmanian devil you've been wanting. AND YES it's the first one your artist has ever done, today

How did you know I wanted Taz? Damn.

Thank you for the write up. That helps a lot.

[T-Giv]

Danger needs to come back. I would love to get him to finish up my sleeve and keep adding to my collection!

[Great-Kazoo]

Danger needs to come back. I would love to get him to finish up my sleeve and keep adding to my collection!

He is very talented. I know the guys he apprenticed under.