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★ THE GUILD OF ETHICAL TATTOOISTS ★ THE INSTITUTE OF MODERN TATTOOING ★
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BUYER’S GUIDE FOR BODY MODIFICATION PROFESSIONALS
JUNE 2016 #169
ISSUE 169
JUNE
contents
12
Point 2 Point
14
The Institute of
Modern Tattooing
16
Ask Angel
18
SOM
30
Spider Bite
Tattooing &
Body Piercing
Show/Expo
28
One Nation Under
Ink Tattoo &
Piercing
Convention The Guild of
Ethical Tattooists
Product Spotlight
26-27
Sexy Side
Hayley Gray
Tattoo Insider
38
Best Business
Card Contest
Artist Profile
42
William Lloyd
46
advertisersindex
99cent Body Jewelry
43
AAB Style
50
Alla Prima Ink
6
Andrea Afferni Ink
Inside Back Cover
APP 21st Annual Conference & Expo 2016
33
APT 7th Annual Tattoo Trade Show 2016
44
BodyJewelry.com
31
Body Shock
47
Body Vibe / Salesone
5
CHAMPS Trade Show
24
Delta Gloves
32
Desert Palms Emu Ranch
17
Derma Numb
21
DPS Tattoo Supply
11
Dr Piercings Aftercare
22
Eternal Tattoo Supply 52-Inside Back Cover
H2Ocean Natural Aftercare
9, 51
Live Free od Die Tattoo Expo
39
Low Rider Albuquerque Super Show
13
Metal Mafia
IFC-1, 4
Micky Sharpz USA
10
Publisher
Ralph Garza
Editor-In-Chief
R Cantu
Account Executive
Jennifer Orellana
[email protected]
505-332-3003
Editor
Sandy Caputo
[email protected]
Art Director
Bill Wetsel
[email protected]
Contributing Writers
Elayne Angel
Jay Cousins
Austin Ray
Darin Burt
Judi Perkins
Tanya Madden
22
36
Art Gallery
40-41
staff
PAINful Politics:
Zach "Bootymath" Fox
Executive Assistant
Richard DePreist
[email protected]
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contacts
Monster Steel
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NeilMed Aftercare
Nuclear Tattoo Supply
Painful Pleasures
Palmero Health Care
PPIB
PRIDE Aftercare
Rejuvi Labs
Signature Needles / H2Ocean
Tat Soul Cover Sponsor
Tatu • derm / Stencil Prep
Tattoo Goo
Tattoo Shirt Club
Texas Showdown El Paso
That’s The Point
Tobacco Outlet Products
Tommy’s Supplies
Villain Arts Tattoo Conventions
Welker Tattoo Needles
World Famous Tattoo Supplies
PAINMAGAZINE 8
Back Cover
25
48
23
7
37
45
49
31
51
2-3, 49
37
15, 45
20
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20
34
19
29
52
35
Fax
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Editorial
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cover sponsor
TAT Soul
We are a United States based tattoo supply
company with a passion for crafting premium,
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See page 2-3, 49
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Copyright 2016 PAIN Magazine. All rights reserved. Published monthly by Pain, Inc.
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herein. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the writer.
William Lloyd is owner and artist at Nite Owl Tattoo see page 40
F
irst, I have to share a funny joke I found the other day on
Twitter..."A guy asks for a tattoo of a $100 bill on his penis.
Curious, the tattoo artist asks him why he would possibly
want that.
He replies, "Three reasons: I like to play with my money, I like to
watch my money grow, and $100 seems to be the only thing my
wife will blow these days." ~Okay okay, at least it made me
laugh...hope it brought a smile to some of your faces.
Anyways, crazy things happening over here at Pain Magazine
and I can't wait to share some of them with you. We are looking
for the top professionals in the industry. Not only for Pain's artist
profile of the month, but for an end of the year calendar featuring
the best work around! Please email [email protected] for submission guidelines.
Lastly, we are setting our own lineup for next year's best
shows to attend and we need your help! If you have a show, know
of a show, host a show, or attend a show that is off the chain~ bad
ass~ out of control~ wicked ~fresh...you get the idea...then please
send us a shout out! We want to be there!
Stay cool out there while this weather heats up and we shall
see ya'll next month!
PAINMAGAZINE 10
PointtoPoint
Jay Cousins
THE CANADIAN PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
overing an area of nearly 4 million
square miles, Canada is the second
largest country in the world by total
area after Russia and makes up most
of North America. Canada has a
population of 35 million people. To the
south, Canada shares the world’s largest
land border with the United States as well
as the longest coastline.
C
Ontario is Canada’s most populated
province by a large margin with a population
of 13 million. Ontario accounts for nearly
40% of all Canadians. Ontario is home to
the nation’s capital city of Ottawa and the
nation’s most populated city of Toronto.
Ontario is bordered by the province of
Manitoba to the west, Hudson Bay and
James Bay to the north, Quebec to the east
and to the south by the U.S. states of
Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania
and New York.
The government of Ontario, as in all
of Canada, is organized as a parliamentary
democracy. As Canada’s head of state,
Queen Elizabeth II is the official head of
state for the government of Ontario. Her
duties are carried out by the current
Lieutenant Governor. The Queen and
lieutenant governor are figure heads whose
actions are highly restricted by custom and
constitutional convention.
Ontario’s tattoo and piercing industry
is essentially unregulated, but initiated the
BodySafe program in 2013. The purpose
of the BodySafe program is to ensure that
Personal Service Establishment owners and
operators use safe practices when
providing tattoo and body piercing services
as well as micro-pigmentation, electrolysis
and manicure services. The BodySafe
Program also ensures all tattoo and piercing
artists prevent the spread of infections such
as Hepatitis C and human immuno-deficiency
virus (HIV) and other fungal and bacterial
infections to those clients who receive of
offer personal care services.
The Personal Service Establishment
(PSE) guide is an exhaustive 32 page
manual with full color photos and flow charts
defining every aspect of the wide variety of
personal services provided to a customer
in an Ontario tattoo shop. The PSE document
covers tattoo facility design, general and
specific instrument use and sterilization,
sterilizer spore testing, employee hygiene,
sharps handling, disposal and removal,
procedures for blood borne and bodily fluid
exposure, record keeping and biological
monitoring. Although the PSE document is
a great starting point for tattoo operators,
it is strongly recommended by regulators,
not required.
Amy Brewster, co-owner of Ironside
Tattoo and Piercing Company plans to make
recommendations to the province to help
create standardized tattoo and piercing
regulations in Ontario. “I’d really be happy
to work closely with government officials
and help them and make suggestions on
the best practices as far as safety, sterilization
and basic shop procedures,” said Brewster.
She went on to confirm tattoo procedures
are still being done out of unlicensed facilities.
“More and more, as time goes on, people
are coming in with botched piercings, tattoo
infections, improper jewelry size and very
difficult issues,” Brewster said.
“It’s important for people to educate
themselves and to look for certain things
when they’re getting procedures done,” she
said. Brewster recommends customers look
for basic shop cleanliness and to look around
and insist on seeing artist’s portfolios.
The same goes for tattoos, said Jared
Sark, Brewster’s business partner and tattoo
artist. “Ask for proof that they’ve followed
proper sterilization techniques for their
equipment. We have our proof mounted on
the wall at the counter so customers can see
that when they come in and ask about blood
borne pathogen training, we can show it to
them.” Sark went on to say, “When you’re
sitting down to get a tattoo, make sure your
artist washes his or her hands and wears
gloves during the procedure. Also, make sure
they open all the equipment in front of you.”
Most tattoo artists and piercers in Ontario
are impressed with the Personal Service
Establishment document and guidelines as
they relate to tattoos and piercings but agree
that because it’s a voluntary compliance
document, clear rules are needed. “It would
be good to have clear rules in place for
everyone in the industry,” according to Sark.
Brewster and Sark are always willing to meet
with government officials to create a document
that is easily complied with by artists and
fairly inspected by government officials.
At the time of this story, the CBC News
contacted four other tattoo and piercing
shops and they all agreed they would like
to see much tighter regulations on age
restrictions and to only allow tattoos and
piercings to be done at shops inspected
by Ontario public health officials. v
Jay Cousins works for the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. He started working for the city in 1985. In 1994 he started working
for the restaurant, swimming pool, and body art inspection program. He has approximately 600 facilities in his jurisdiction, including body art
establishments. He started doing body art inspections in 1999 and has conducted over 500 body art facility inspections since then.
Jay is also a high school and college baseball umpire and works as a fill-in umpire for the Albuquerque Isotopes.
PAINMAGAZINE 12
Las Vegas tattoo school takes a new approach to teaching the craft
The Institute of Modern Tattooing (IMT) is
planning to change the way people
learn to tattoo.
The traditional path to becoming a professional
tattoo artist has been through an apprenticeship where
an artist passes on his knowledge to the student. One
of the main issues with the old-school teaching method
is that the lessons are focused on one person's approach
to the art and their specific way of running a shop.
The IMT Master Tattooing Program will train
students in a diverse curriculum, ranging from art
theory and history, traditional painting and drawing,
portfolio development, and business practices in the
tattoo industry, to a step-by-step process focusing on
the technical aspects of tattooing and best practices
in the industry. Students will be taught by trained
professionals – not just in the field of tattooing, but in
fine arts, health & safety, and business.
The school is the vision, and as of July 2016, the
reality of Las Vegas tattoo artist Joey Hamilton, owner
of Revolt Tattoo, and winner of Spike TV’s Season 3
Inkmaster series.
“Seeing how people are coming into the industry
now, we felt that there needed to be a better way. . .
we felt that the industry needs to change in a way to
where (training) is a more positive experience,”
Hamilton says.
“We're bringing in multiple artists to teach different
points of view on tattooing; not just where it's a singular
idea of how it's done and that's the only way,” he
adds, “we want to be a broad spectrum school where
students will get hours and hours of extra education.”
Over the course of a year, students will start with
traditional art classes to develop their abilities as artists
first. From there, they will transition into learning how
to apply those skills and knowledge base to the technical
practices and art of tattooing. Finally, students will
learn about business practices and ethical concerns in
the modern tattooing industry.
Once students have familiarized themselves with
fundamental techniques and practices, they will begin fake
skin tattooing, (tattooing on synthetic skin made of rubber
or similar materials). After a minimum of 400 hours of fake
skin tattooing, only then will students be allowed to begin
tattooing on live skin, where a minimum of 150 hours will
be required before they are eligible to graduate from the
program. This is up to four times more training than most
others will receive in an average apprenticeship.
IMT is the first-ever tattoo school in Las Vegas, and
is certified and board approved by the Nevada State
Commission of Postsecondary Education. Each class
will have a maximum of 30 students – 10 students will
participate in the inaugural session. This will help maintain
a good student-teacher ratio, and assure the best quality
of education for the students who are accepted.
continued on page 20
PAINMAGAZINE 14
Ask
Elayne
Angel
Aftercare Revolution for
Piercings & Tattoos
Dear Sra. Angel,
Saludos! I was just talking to a piercer friend who also does tattoos. He was
raving about a new aftercare product he is using for both. He said it is going to
cause an Aftercare Revolution when more body artists know about it.
It is a spray called Briotech (http://www.briotechusa.com). I don’t really
understand the technical details, but I have always looked up to you and trust your
professional opinion so I wanted to know what you think of it. Does it work and is
it safe?
Elayne Angel Author The Piercing Bible—
The Definitive Guide to Safe Body Piercing
Member of Association of Professional Piercerst
Hi C.,
I am familiar with Briotech and it is
different from other aftercare products
that have commonly been used in the body
art industry. For one thing, substantial
evidence-based scientific research backs
up assertions about the active ingredient’s
safety and effectiveness for wound healing.
Briotech’s active ingredient is .02%
hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a broad-spectrum
antimicrobial that is actually produced by the
body as part of the normal response to injury.
Briotech works by replicating and supporting
this natural immune function. HOCl kills
bacteria (including resistant strains), viruses,
and fungi, without harming delicate healing
tissue. A remarkable advantage of hypochlorous
acid (at the proper concentration and pH)
is that it is totally benign, non-irritating,
non-sensitizing, and non-cytoxic, unlike many
other cleaning products.
The inactive ingredients in Briotech are
simply 99.08% electrolyzed water, and
.9% NaCl (sodium chloride—isotonic
saline), making it environmentally friendly,
natural, hypoallergenic, and free of
Gracias,
C.
fragrances, oils, parabens, sulfates, and
other irritants.
According to studies, HOCl helps blood
to clot in wounds, so it can be used right
after procedures. It increases immunity to
microbes and produces powerful local
stimulants of wound healing and germ
killing. It even penetrates biofilm and kills
microorganisms within biofilm. One study
described stabilized hypochlorous acid as
“…an ideal wound care solution with a
powerful and rapid killing effect on different
types of microorganisms” (emphasis added).
Natural HOCl production involves salt
from the body and enzymes within the cells.
Outside the body, by using a controlled
application of electrical energy, the process
can be mimicked. With Electro-Chemical
Activated (ECA) technology, Briotech’s
scientists engineered a means to
mass-produce stable HOCl. Through this
proprietary electrolyzing process, Briotech
can maintain its effectiveness for up to two
years. It is made in an FDA-registered
manufacturing facility using current good
manufacturing practices (cGMP) guidelines.
PAINMAGAZINE 16
This is not a new product, but rather a
different application for one that has been
widely used for pathogen control in food
service, hospitality, janitorial, agricultural,
and medical settings. Hypochlorous acid
is common for disinfection and sanitation
of water, surfaces, tools, and equipment.
Copious quantities of scientific studies
document its safety and effectiveness for
these purposes.
I spoke with my respected colleague,
fellow APP member, Bink Williams, who is
a Registered Nurse. Williams has been a
professional piercer for over twenty years,
and participated in the development of
body art legislation for his home state of
Florida. He has been advocating Briotech
for aftercare over the past year and is
beyond impressed with its effectiveness.
He’s convinced that this product is nothing
shor t of miraculous at minimizing
inflammation, accelerating healing, and
increasing comfort. He also notes that clients
who’ve had multiple failed attempts with
certain piercings have finally been able to
heal successfully with Briotech as the only
altered factor.
Williams finds that piercees have superior
care compliance with Briotech because it is
so simple to use: shake the bottle gently and
spray on the light mist. It requires no rinsing
and leaves no residue. Williams distributes
the manufacturer’s pamphlet, which explains
the science in layman’s terms, and states that
the spray is safe to use "repeatedly throughout
the day.” The brochure details Briotech’s
versatility and testimonials tout excellent results
with “sun care, acne treatment, a wrinkle
remedy, and scar reduction.”
I also spoke with piercer Lola Haller, and
tattoo artist Katie Farlow, of Snohomish Tattoo
in Washington. Haller has been suggesting
Briotech for piercing care over the last five
years and she declared, “There’s not a single
thing about it that I don’t love! It minimizes
crusting and general irritation greatly. The
healing results are pretty astounding, and clients
are more consistent with their aftercare because
it is so easy to use: just spray on a few times a
day and leave it or pat dry.” Haller also said
she has not seen any adverse reactions to the
product, and that she personally experienced
tremendous improvement using it on herself for
cystic acne.
For the past three or four years, Farlow
has been using Briotech while tattooing and
she also suggests it for aftercare. She applies
it at the first sign of inflammation while
working, and after each piece is done. She
says, “Briotech makes healing—especially
solid black or color work—so much faster. It
also seems to cut out scabbing, which means
more vivid coverage and less ink loss. And
because it is all natural and there are no
preservatives, clients are much less likely to
have adverse reactions to it—I’ve have had
none reported to date.”
Tattoo artist Christiaan Pullings, owner of
Stand Fast Tattoo in Longview, Washington
has been tattooing with HOCl for about two
years. He also advocates its use for tattoo
care, and he is encouraging his colleagues to
try it too. He observed that clients find it
soothing during the process, and because
there’s so little skin irritation you can see where
ink has gone in, even with white and other
light colors. Therefore, you don't oversaturate
and traumatize the tissue. He says, “White
ink has a reputation for not staying in, but the
problem is artists can’t see what they’re doing.
But you can when you use Briotech.”
The way HOCl mimics the essence of
human healing makes it different, as does it’s
proven curative record, including successful
use on even chronic wounds. Briotech is
available wholesale from the manufacturer
and is also sold on Amazon.com.
I’ve personally used Briotech for cuts,
scrapes, bur ns, mosquito bites, and
post-depilation irritation. I found it to be very
helpful and soothing. After reviewing the
research, I will not hesitate to use it on my
future piercings and tattoos. I still believe that
emu oil is highly effective for aftercare,
but since going vegan I obviously favor
animal-free products, so I’m delighted to find
this alternative.
I’d love to see all body artists try Briotech
so we can build a bigger knowledge base
regarding its usefulness in our industry. I hope
you will check it out and let me know what
you and your clients think. v
Disclaimer: I’m not a scientist and some of the research
studies are beyond my comprehension, but there is a
Each of the professionals commented that
it is possible to get good photos of fresh work
at the conclusion of a session, since there is
little or no redness or swelling.
PAINMAG.COM
large quantity of published documentation to support the
uses and results described above.
tattooknowledge
T
attoos and piercings have been in existence for
thousands of years. In past cultures body mod has
been a sign of respect and leadership. Tribal leaders
medicine men/woman and warriors were adorned
with tattoos and body piercings to show their status
within their community. As a current generation of body
modifiers we look to bolster and promote ourselves as
community leaders.
The Guild of Ethical Tattooists was formed from a need.
A desire to protect the Body Modification Industry from
overregulation and unprofessional practices. From the vision
of Jespah Torres and strategy of Ben Shaw, the Guild was
founded. Building an in-depth network of like-minded peers,
they formed the Guild.
The Guild was created to educate and bolster the
community’s health and safety through educating state
inspectors, local schools, and body modification
practitioners. We make sure that our peers are well aware
of the rules and regulations required of them. We educate
the regulatory bodies to make sure they are well aware of
up-to-date practices and always evolving equipment we
utilize. Educating the local clientele-customers, as well
as children at local schools, to protect them all from
unprofessional body modification practices.
industry by helping communications between the two.
The Guild has gone out to local middle schools educating
minors about avoiding the body modification process until
adulthood and also the health and safety risks entailed.
In 2015 the Guild created, petitioned, lobbied, and
pushed a bill through New Mexico legislation. The bill was
SB275, the creation of the Board of Body Art Practitioners.
This is a regulatory board consisting of professional body
artists overseeing tattooing, piercing, scarification, and
permanent cosmetics in New Mexico.
As for the community activism, the Guild has held many
events, like our Art Fusion for a Cause events where we
utilize our artistic abilities to generate funds and awareness
for local charitable organizations. We’re working to create
more art based programs, to help the growing deficiency
of art in our public educational systems. In 2015 alone
through Art Fusion the Guild benefited 12 different non
profit charities, and generated over $8,000 in donations.
We’d love partner with all levels and degrees of the
social spectrum. Like more local schools, from middle to
high, charter and alternative schools to educate about the
health and safety aspects of tattooing. As well as give a
viable option as a trade after school.
Our short-term plans are to create a foundation. Build
a solid body of like-minded individuals who truly wish to
bolster the body modification practitioners.
We look to team up with local charities and charitable
organizations that we would be able to benefit. Helping to
get funds acquired for the causes.
Our long-term goals involve continuing education for
practitioners and potential new artists through updated
apprenticeship and leadership programs. Continued
presence at local schools and charter schools to educate
against unprofessional practices.
We need more local artists looking to help stimulate
the arts in our community through Art Fusion, in school
systems and in our society as a whole.
The Guild wants to protect the public health by educating
against unprofessional practices, and continue to add a
viable trade for future artists and help our economy through
our craft. From the actual practice of body modification,
the licensing and regulation of, the education, the tools,
equipment, and manufacturing, tattooing and body
modification can be a very valuable economic benefit.
The Guild has become a recognized associate of the
NM RLD boards and commissions here in New Mexico.
We act as a liaison between the state and the local tattoo
And finally partner with state governing and industrial
leaders. In 2012 the Pew Research Center found in 2012
that the Tattooing and Body Modification Industry grossed
over 1.6 billion dollars! This is a billion dollar industry!
If guided properly we can benefit all those involved.
We can continue to build upon the idea that the body
modification industry can be a blooming economic benefit,
bolstering increased revenue for our city, state, and
education systems. We really wish to push the perception
of the body modification practitioner into a community
leadership light. And pave the way for future generations
to enjoy the arts in all forms available. v
PAINMAGAZINE 18
Institute of Modern Tattooing
continued
Walter Frank -Tattoo Instructor
Students will apply through the IMT website where they will be
required to submit an application, a digital portfolio and an essay
describing why they wish to attend the tattooing program.
The school isn't just for aspiring tattooers, Hamilton says. Those
already working in the industry, but wanting to further their careers,
will benefit as well.
“If you don't have a heavy art background or a lot of the
fundamentals (of tattooing) and you don't feel that you're near the
level where you want to be (as a tattoo artist) then you would get
a lot out of going through the school,” Hamilton says. “One of the
best things about IMT is that students will get a bunch of different
perspectives, and they will be able to draw their own conclusions,
and be a stronger artist.”
IMT graduates will have over 550 hours of supervised tattooing
experience, which is far beyond the industry standard. They will
have developed professional tattoo portfolios to present to potential
employers, and will leave with all of the tools to immediately start
their new career, including FK Irons tattoo machines, a Waterloo
tattoo station, and Eternal ink set.
The goal is for all graduates of IMT to have long lasting careers
in the tattoo industry.
“We believe that the IMT program is so comprehensive, and
fulfills beyond what industry standards dictate, it will give graduates
from the program the added edge to set them above and apart
from their peers when pursuing professional tattooing opportunities,”
Hamilton says. “We want to make this a better, more well-rounded,
informed society of tattoo artists.” v
The Institute of Modern Tattooing
instituteofmoderntattooing.com
PAINMAGAZINE 20
ProductSpotlight
I
Power Supplies &
Accessories
t wasn't too long ago, considering the evolution of modern tattooing,
that power supplies were the size of an old-school VCR. They were
combersome and simplistic in their electronics, but they ran great.
With advancements in technology, power supplies have become
more compact and portable – an aspect that is a tremendous
advantage for tattoo artists working conventions or taking their tools
on the road for guest spots. Power supplies have also become more
efficient – these little boxes are the real workhorse among tattoo tools.
All electronics can go into one of two categories: analog and
digital. The simplest ways to think of the difference is a windup
wristwatch (analog) and an LED alarm clock (digital). Power supplies
are no different. Analog versions have been around since the early
days of tattooing, and as the name says, they feature an analog voltage
meter. A digital power supply, aside from the obvious digital display,
can generally deliver more voltage, and as they are controlled by a
microprocessor chip, they can include modern features such as individual
program settings, memory modes, and even session timer to tell you
how much you should be charging your client (based on the hourly rate
entered by the user).
“The best and most pivotal part about digital is that it will regulate
the power coming from the wall,” points out Micha Wasko, with Rockstar
Ready Tattoo Supplies. “People used to experience a stutter with their
machine when using an analog supply because it was getting too much
or too little power; digital will actually shape the power intentionally to
prevent the issue for a more consistent running machine.”
While there are plenty of well-made analog power supplies, the
ability of the digital version to eliminate power fluctuations can go as
far as to save the life of your favorite tattoo machine. “If you were
running crazy hard, you can burn out capacitors (in an analog) and
even burn out your machine,” Wasko says.
Critical, Eikon, and Talon are among the best selling power supply
brands. As with many products, you get what you pay for, and one of
the misconceptions that uneducated tattoo artists have is that one power
supply is as good as the next.
continued on page 24
PAINMAGAZINE 22
Power Supplies & Accessories continued
“(The off-brand) might get the job done to a point, but eventually, it's
more apt to burn out or break,” says Dan Morin, with Tommy's Supplies.
Critical’s G2 Series of power supplies are an industry standard,
engineered to produce the cleanest, most crisp power available on the
market. With the new 6 amp peak current capacity and true 4 amp
continuous current capacity, the G2 can handle any coil or rotary
tattoo machine with consistent power, no matter how long you tattoo.
With a sleek enclosure, keypad, and low-profile universal mount bracket,
the G2 maintains the “off the work surface and easy to bag” form
factor artists appreciate.
One of the most innovate power supplies on the market is the
Bandit DC Power Supply from Eagle View. This compact digital unit
provides consistent currents throughout the tattoo cycle resulting in ultra
pure DC (direct current) power - comparable to the clean DC voltages
from a car battery. Extreme filtering minimizes machine resonance,
vibration, and increases needle push-pull torque. The result is a smoother,
faster tattoo process along with minimal damage to the skin.
“A good power supply definitely makes a difference,” points out
Morin, adding that's one of the reasons that Tommy's recently added
The Bandit to their catalog.
Now that you've got the power flowing, you'll need a few accessories,
namely, clip cords, rca cords and foot switches, to makes sure things
continue running smoothly. As with the power supply, quality counts.
For instance, clip cords, which connect the power supply to the
tattoo machine, all look about the same. But those made by Bicknee
Tattoo Supply are made to last.
“Our clip cords are a classic design that is very similar to what
people have been using for 30 years – with the exception of the wire;
we use a silicone wire that's made for us here in the U.S., and it's much
more flexible than the typical lamp cord you would have found on a
clip cord twenty years ago,” says Rich T, who is hands-on in every
aspect of his company. “We also use a ¼ inch connector with a copper
core that we sourced from manufacturers who supply to audiophiles
who demand really good connections for their components.”
Bicknee uses the same wire and connectors in the construction of
the Gem foot switch. It's also designed with a heavy-duty housing,
non-slip base, and a 360º pedal to provide access from all angles.
“We take pride in what we do,” says Rich T. He's been in the
tattoo industry for more than twenty years, and to the end-user, that
means that the products are made by a tattooer for tattooers. v
PAINMAGAZINE 24
tattooshow
Photos courtesy of Shannon Jones/Kaptured Moments Photography
K
evin “Reddog” Fink, owner of Reddog Tattoo, in Long
Beach, Washington has been tattooing for twenty years,
and five years ago he and his wife had the idea to put on
a tattoo show. The One Nation Under Ink Tattoo & Piercing
Convention gets its name from being a tattoo show for
EVERYONE.
“It doesn't matter whether you're a young kid with a gleam in
your eye wanting to learn or the guy off of Ink Master. . . whether
you've got pink hair. . . we all have one thing in common and that's
the art,” Reddog says.
Held at the Little Creek Casino Resort, in Shelton, Washington
(west of Seattle) One Nation brings in more than a hundred of the
most talented tattooers and piercers from around the Pacific
Northwest. Some of the local names included Mike Torres, Jason
Snow, Ben Euse, Brian Meier, Kyle Sisk, and Eddie Saraphanh.
Reddog takes pride in the fact that One Nation is a convention
staged by tattooers for tattooers. It's also a place where artists can
hone as well as show off their skills. Damon Conklin, of Seattle's
Super Genius Tattoo, shared his insights on flash drawing with
markers, and Michelle Haley, of Renton's Sacred Soul Tattoo, put
on a class in blending and white-bombing techniques. Attendees
also picked up some history on tattoo craft and culture from Jay
Brown, tattooer and curator of the Northwest Tattoo Museum in
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho .
continued on page 34
PAINMAGAZINE 28
S
pider Bite Tattooing & Body Piercing holds the
distinction of being the first licensed tattoo shop
in Manchester, New Hampshire. The business
started out in 1996 as strictly a body piercing
shop, and then eleven years ago, they added
tattooing when it became legal in the city.
In reality, the business actually began as a tanning
and hair salon, and in the back was a small room
where owner Jon Thomas and a friend did some body
piercing. “Tattooing wasn't legal, and they wouldn't
allow body piercing either, but we used the loophole
that we were a tanning salon, and the business just
exploded,” Thomas says.
Before that time, people wanting tattoos and piercings
would drive to the next city over like Kevin Bacon crossing
the county line in order to dance in Footloose. Manchester
was stuck in the past, with a bunch of “old grumpy men
who didn't want to change the rules.”
“We showed the town and the people that we
spend a lot of money on promotion and doing things
right, and were able to get tattooing legalized. We
told our side of the story (at council meetings) and
let people know that there was a difference between
having (tattoos and piercings) done in a nice, clean,
reputable shop as opposed to somebody's house.”
continued on page 32
PAINMAGAZINE 30
TELL THEM YOU SAW IT IN
Spider Bite Tattooing & Body Piercing
continued
“People were finally able to enjoy somebody in their hometown
being legit.”
After hiring a talented staff of piercers and tattoo artists, Thomas
slowly faded out of the limelight, and moved behind the scenes where
he could concentrate on daily operations, promotions and advertising,
keeping the shop up to par, and creating an environment where his
artists are free and inspired to do what they do best.
Working at Spider Bite are piercers Dana Dunn and Farley, and tattoo
artists Dave McCormick, Matt Tatt, and Jeff Lindh. When it comes to
piercing, clients can get just about any procedure from basic earlobes and
navels to dermal anchors done at Spider Bite – they use very high-quality
jewelry from Anatometal, NeoMetal, and Industrial Strength. The tattooers
have more than 40 years combined experience, and their passions run the
gambit from old school to realism to cover-ups and most any custom request.
Along with sharing their talent for great body art, the crew at Spider
Bite are dedicated to providing outstanding customer service. Thomas
put together a group willing to take in walk-ins as well as longer projects,
and be able to do their thing without rock star attitudes.
Spider Bite is a huge shop at five thousand-square feet. The airy
space is brightly colored with private rooms where each artist can
focus on their work. The workstations (nine total) all feature granite
countertops and Italian style porcelain flooring which is very durable
and easy to clean. The shop also has a kitchen area, drawing area,
and clean/dirty sterilization room.
In twenty years, Spider Bite has always set the local standard for
quality work and professionalism. Thomas has made the effort to dispel
misconceptions that those who are unfamiliar with modern tattooing
have about the art and industry. It's not just something he does at
Spider Bite, but by supporting local charities, and also as the organizer
of the Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo. The event, celebrating its tenth
anniversary, brings in more than 150 tattoo and piercing artists from
all around New England as well as other parts of the country.
“Some people still have their perception of what a tattoo artist is –
they sometimes still look at us like we're dirty bikers,” Thomas says, “. . .
we're FAR from that. . . and we're here to stay.”
Manchester, New Hampshire
www.Spider-Bite.com
PAINMAGAZINE 32
TattooExpo
Along with the usual daily competitions were special categories
for piercings and Star Wars themed tattoos. There were no distractions
from bands and sideshow acts, but there was a Miss One Nation
contest, the judging requirements of which, according to Reddog, were
“Just get up there and look pretty.”
That doesn't mean there weren't some attractions – so to speak.
Tattoo fans had the opportunity to meet the one and only Lyle Tuttle and
have him tattoo his signature permanently into the skin. Other big name
artists were Joe Riley, from Geeksterink Legends Tour & CMT'S Tattoo
Titan, Jacob Hanks, Jeanie Newby, Ink Masters' Al Fliction, Jacci
Gresham, and Madame Vyvyn Lazonga.
Miss Jacci was honored with an Industry Icon Award. Jacci holds
a unique place in body art culture as one of the first African Americans
in tattooing. Her shop, Art Accent Tattoos & Body Piercing, is Louisiana's
oldest continuous tattoo business. The award was presented by Madame
Lazonga who, herself, has been tattooing for more than thirty years at
Seattle's Pike Place Market.
“There's a lot of history,” Reddog says, “and we're trying to keep
it alive.”
One Nation also demonstrates the spirit of the tattoo community.
More than two thousand dollars was raised, in part from a motorcycle
poker run, to help a local disabled veteran.
“My goal is just to present our craft in a realistic way rather than
what they see on reality TV shows,” says Reddog. “People can come
out and actually meet and greet. . .it's not like on TV where an artist
goes into the back and comes out five minutes later with a back piece.
There is so much bad tattooing out there in the world, and by coming
to the convention the people can see the great tattooing that can really
be done.” v
The 5th Annual One Nation Under Ink Tattoo & Piercing Convention
April 8-10, 2016
Little Creek Casino, Shelton, WA
PAINMAGAZINE 34
S
tattoo
insider
By Greg Carl
Professional Program Insurance Brokerage
ome business owners don't have a clue about the importance
of insurance coverage. It's one of those out of sight, out of
mind kind of things. The truth is that insurance protects you
and your business from issues that could arise whether you
see them coming or not. In the more than twenty years that
Professional Program Insurance Brokerage (PPIB) has been insuring
the tattoo industry, we've dealt with more kinds of claims than you
can imagine – here are a few instances where we've successfully
helped our clients with unforeseen claims.
Misspelled Tattoo: Seems pretty clear-cut, right? Well, an artist,
who must have had his mind on other things, did the unimaginable
and misspelled the most basic word in the tattoo industry. What that
artist did do right was to have a consent form signed by the client,
and get the customer's approval on the stencil before ink was ever
applied to skin. . . the client even complimented the artist after seeing
the completed piece. It wasn't until two weeks later that a friend
advised the customer of the misspelling, and the customer proceeded
to sue the shop for $10,000. The claim racked up $3,250 in legal
fees before it was dismissed by the judge. Can you spell unnecessary?
Age of Consent: A piercer fresh off an apprenticeship had a
cute girl walk in to the shop and start asking questions about different
types of piercings. The rookie piercer happily answered the girl's
questions until the point where she settled on what she wants to get
done. As she' was completing the paperwork, the piercer discovered
that she was only 16 (in a state where piercing a minor is illegal
without parental consent). The piercer put his tail between his legs
and informed the customer that he can't perform the piercing. Here's
where the story turns into an after-school special. Later that same
evening, the teenage girl receives a text from the piercer saying he
could do her a favor if she could do him one (if you get the drift). The
girl's parents saw the message, and rightly approached the shop
owner. The shop owner immediately contacted an underwriter agent
at PPIB, and had us draft a release form. The two parties thankfully
agreed that firing the impulsive piercer was the only action needed.
Everyone Else's Fault: A woman walks out of a store next to
a tattoo shop, and proceeds to drive out of the parking lot. Then
the unthinkable happens – she rear ends a car stuck in traffic!
Clearly, someone must be to blame other than herself for this
catastrophe! She found herself a lawyer and continued to sue
every business in the lot (improperly maintained premises),
the landlord (improperly maintained parking lot), the sanitation
department (a dumpster impeded her view), and of course,
the U.S. Government (a mailbox impeded her line of sight).
Avoid the
Shakedown
The difference between a legal fight and a physical fight
is that physically the person who starts the fight has expectations
to win. In a legal battle, often times, just as in the case of the
not-so-negligent driver, the person starting it simply has a lot of
time on their hands with nothing to lose.
And the lawyers have nothing to lose either – in fact, in a lot
of instances, they have the most to gain.
Let's say you own a tattoo/piercing shop and decide to
move forward without insurance, thinking if a claim does happen
you can just handle the legal fees out-of-pocket and find your own
lawyer. If you do track down “Better Call Saul,” the fee for simply
sitting down with him to explain your situation would likely be
$300-$400 per hour. After that, he is going to have to research
your case, hire outside legal assistants, and last but not least,
watch a few episodes of Judge Judy to get ready for court – all of
which are billable hours. Once everything is said and done, your
lawyer would convince you that the settlement you end up having
to pay the claimant (on top of the lawyer fees, of course) is a
“favorable result,” and you should be thanking him.
Unlike the lawyer you blindly find in the phone book, the
trustworthy team at PPIB works on cases against tattoo/piercing
shops every day. We get quicker results, and those “billable
hours” are charged to US - so as long as you keep your insurance
active, those costs are OUR problem, not yours.
PPIB has proven protocols in place for our clients. In the
cases of the misspelled tattoo and piercing of a minor, both
shops followed the protocols correctly, which helped them achieve
satisfactory outcomes. Among the protocols are pre-approved
consent forms for clients to sign prior to tattoo/piercing procedures.
Whether or not you decide to go with PPIB as your insurer,
these forms are readily available and can be downloaded for
free on our website www.ppibcorp.com.
Whether you're a new to the business or a seasoned shop
owner, PPIB can help you avoid getting shaken down by greedy
customers, lawyers, and even sociopathic passers-by who have
never set foot in your shop. v
More information on Tattoo / Body Piercing Shop insurance:
www.ppibcorp.com or [email protected].
Greg Carl has been a part of the Underwriting Team of Professional Program Insurance Brokerage (PPIB) for 3 years. He has attended conventions
related to the industry on behalf of PPIB including The Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth 2015 in Las Vegas. He also has detailed knowledge about the
Body Art/Tattoo Program which includes understanding all policy forms from the point of view of the insured as well as the insurance carrier. Greg is
a graduate of California State University, Chico and is a member of the Petaluma Active 20-30 Club #30. For more information on our Tattoo and Body
Piercing programs: ppibcorp.com, 415.475.4300 or email Greg at: [email protected]
PAINMAGAZINE 36
PAINMAG.COM
To enter your business card in our monthly Best Business Card Contest, simply mail your card to PAIN Magazine, 9901 Acoma Rd. SE, Albuquerque, NM
87123. Cards are selected based on what we think is cool, creative, or otherwise worthy of attention. All cards will be entered into a contest for “Card of
the Year” in 2016. The owner of the card selected by our distinguished panel of judges will win $100. WINNER MUST CALL IN TO CLAIM PRIZE.
PAINMAGAZINE 38
W
illiam Lloyd is owner and artist at Nite Owl Tattoo in Oak Harbor, a small town on Whidbey Island in
Puget Sound north of Seattle. The area is also home to the premier naval aviation installation in the
Pacific Northwest, and having sailors as clients suits Lloyd just fine as his specialty is American
traditional style tattoos.
“These guys are bringing back the traditional art form. . . I still have guys who come in and pick the Sailor Jerry
pieces off the wall,” says Lloyd. “I get a lot of anchors, shellbacks, and sparrows, and they all have meaning – it's
kind of like wearing a permanent badge of what you accomplished in your career as a sailor.”
But there's more to traditional than simply what can be found in the flash rack. Lloyd, 28, points out that with
the right touch pretty much any subject, from battle ships to robots, can be translated into a traditional tattoo.
“In order to come up with a design you have to know how to simplify things, and that can be a challenge,” Lloyd
says. “It takes a lot of dedication to do traditional. . . there are so many rules and elements in traditional, such as
bold, crisp lines, saturation, and a simple color pallet, and once you start figuring them out, that's when you get the
satisfaction of making a tattoo that's traditional.”
“A lot of guys seem to want to skip traditional and go straight to doing some detailed realistic stuff. There are
a lot of guys who can pull that off, and they can do things that I can't even imagine doing,” Lloyd adds, “but I think
it's important to start with traditional. . . that's the foundation of American tattooing.”
Instagram @williamlloydtattoo @niteowltattoo
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F
resh off his first solo exhibit, Atlanta artist and internet troublemaker Zach "Bootymath" Fox rounded up a
couple pals to join an estimated 10,000 other folks at the Georgia World Congress Center back in February.
You see, Bootymath takes his status as an internet troublemaker seriously, and Donald Trump was in town
yelling ridiculous things in a giant venue filled with humans. The situation seemed rife for a little disruption.
So Bootymath took his clothes off. Well, he didn’t just take his clothes off. Clad in a flannel and jeans, he hung
out for a while, blending in with the throng. But then he started yelling. And then he started disrobing. Underneath,
he was wearing a Sailor Moon outfit. Why? Great question—one he only sort of answers below. From there, it took
about a minute for security to escort him from the venue.
But his legend lives on, especially in a Twitter poll where thousands of e-humans said they would vote for him
over any of the presidential candidates. Now that’s change we can believe in. As it turns out, it’s just the beginning.
When we emailed Bootymath about the rally, his told us about his plans for future performance art, and how really,
at the end of the day, we could all forget our differences with a little grab-ass. What a legend.
Where did you get the idea for this stunt? The
idea came up the day prior to the rally. I was in my
friend Ashley's room, spotted a Sailor Moon outfit, and
saw a tweet about Trump coming to Atlanta — light bulb.
Have you done performance stuff like this in
public before? I've always aspired to venture into performance art, and this was a pretty good start, I think. But it's
small potatoes compared to what I really want to achieve.
What are a couple things you'd really like to
achieve? Start a daycare for failed rappers and join
My Chemical Romance.
Has anyone reached out to you because of the
video? Kanye said he wants to collab.
It seems like your escort was very kind. Did
you talk to him at all? We didn't talk. He touched
my ass. That said it all.
What's the best Twitter reply you've gotten?
They've all been so positive and warm I can't possibly
choose. I love everybody.
Do you have plans for more public spectacles
like this one? Yeah, I hope people know there's
always more to come. I'll never stop doing this. Even
after the war.
Tell me more about the grab-ass. It threw me off,
but it made everything that much more hilarious.
I expected violence, but it kinda shows that people can
be much more understanding than that sometimes. Even
the police officers who escorted me out had a chuckle
and wished me luck. Progress.
What did you do after the rally? I assume the
adrenaline rush had to be insane. The line
between that kind of excitement and the mundane is
painfully thin. I didn't do anything cool, just sat around
drinking those tiny Bud Lights.
Are there really "hold my shirt, bitch" shirts?
We'll see.
Trump has some interesting and scary supporters.
Were you worried at all? People are silly, dude. I'll
admit watching it on television doesn't hold a candle to
how frightening these people are. I knew that at any
moment I could be jumped, but I think the spectacle was
so confusing for them.
How did seeing Trump live—albeit, very briefly—
affect your opinion of him? Did shouting in the
same room create a bond between the two of
you? The only bond between Trump and I is that we both
played a cartoon character that day. I wholeheartedly
support Bernie Sanders. v
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