At the same time that I was planning on what to get, I was also planning on where to get it. My grandmother found an article in our newspaper about a local guy that ran a Christian tattoo parlor and he was trying to break the world record for longest tattoo session. So I went by and checked out the portfolios. The owner, Bobby, (the guy that broke the record) was a black and gray artist, and I wanted all bold color. But I chose another artist there that did some really bad ass color work. So I talked to him about his inks and methods and what I wanted and price, and I was totally satisfied with everything so I made an appointment for my birthday at 4pm and he gave me his card.

So that day, I called him ‘cause I had a question and he had no idea who I was and said he hadn’t made any appointment for that day, and that he wasn’t even there the day I went in to speak to him. Which took a moment to straighten out, but it was irritating. And then when I got there, in time for my appointment, he was in the middle of this huge tattoo and wouldn’t stop. So they were like “OK, we’ll just give you to this guy” And I was in a hurry because I had dinner reservations with my family. But I trusted the shop’s judgment. So this other guy did me, and it came out beautifully. I was very happy with it.

I thought at the time, he wasn’t very clear about care instructions so I had to come back two weeks later in dire need of a touch up, and I talked to my artist about my next piece. And a few days later I came back with a sketch for him and he said he’d do it and I scheduled something for about a week later. And when I got there, Bobby said he didn’t like it, so he modified it and there was that epiphany again! It was originally a long stemmed rose going down the back of my arm, and he made it into a rose vine that wrapped around my arm. I got half of it done that day, and came back two weeks later to get it finished.

But yet again, two weeks later, I wasn’t happy with the finished product so I had to come in for a touch up. I told him I was planning my next piece and we talked about it and pricing and whatever else, and he informed me that he was leaving to pursue another career, and he thought I would be in good hands with Bobby. He told me that Bobby was great with black and gray, but he had been learning how to do color work, and I would be fine with him doing it. Bobby also stopped by to talk to me while I was getting my touch up and said that he might want me to work for him as an apprentice. Which made me ecstatic! (I think my mom dropped a word in for me)

When I went back in the day we had talked about doing my next piece, my artist wasn’t there; he had quit early. So I talked to Bobby about my piece and he said he’d do it, but not for the price my old artist would. So I didn’t have enough cash, and decided to get a smaller piece- an anarchy symbol on one side of my neck, and communism symbol on the other. And then Bobby disappeared and left me with another guy that worked there. And he did not listen to what I wanted, and was more concerned with anything else than what I was saying. I actually had him not do the other half of it (the communism symbol) because I didn’t feel comfortable with him at all. And I ended up getting something that not only wasn’t what I went in to get, it wasn’t even exactly what I wanted for that piece either, though I still adore it. It’s one of my favorites. And I talked to Bobby again about the job.

I stopped by the shop a few times to talk to him about it, and the piece I wanted but didn’t get during my last session. But Bobby was never there, and the only person that was the guy that did my last piece. And I did not like him, and did not want him doing this piece because of the way he treated me the first time. And one day I went in and he was there, and the other guy wasn’t. So he told me I could start that Saturday, and we talked about my next piece and touching up my rose again.

Working there was a lot of fun, but it made me realize a lot of things. First was that the guy that did my first two tattoos was an overflow artist and almost never did really, really good work. Hence all the touch-ups. Second was that tattoo artists are hateful and judgmental to young people. They think that we all want the same things and we are getting work just to get it. And a lot of the people that came in were like that. But I wasn’t, and I had been totally shafted with the work I had paid for. Luckily, I got six free tattoos in the month I was apprenticed there. And that made up for it. But then I got laid off and that shop closed down because Bobby isn’t a good businessman. And I, regrettably, am kind of glad. Third, the guy I originally made an appointment with didn’t write it down or acknowledge me at all because he didn’t expect me to be back. (Again more judgmental assumptions)

But you know what? My rose still needs work. I am going to be much more careful about choosing my next artist. And much more vocal about my needs. They are the artists, and you have to trust their judgment in that sense. But you don’t have to get something you don’t want just because they like it better that way. Be assertive! Don’t get screwed over for being young!!

You can find pictures of my tattoos on my personal website here, here, and here.