Inking the Deal

6 steps for selling yourself and your tattoo services

One of the rewards of being a tattoo artist is being able to do what you love. But here’s the hard truth: all the talent and skill in the world won’t bring you success if you can’t close the sale. Given the growing acceptance and popularity of body art, means more competition, and more choices for potential clients. Selling tattoos can be just as hard if not harder than creating them, so here are a few tips to get you master the art of (pardon the pun) inking the deal.

Know your client

Along with knowing your art form comes knowing your client. Is this their first tattoo or do they have their entire body covered with ink? Why have they come to you for their tattoo? You should know their what motivates their choice and understand how you and your shop fit into the decision. When you know the “buying habits” of your client, you can use that info to develop a more comprehensive plan—that means repeat business. Put yourself in the best position to get a “yes” by focusing on what most concerns your prospective client.

Believe in yourself

It’s an age-old sales maxim that believing in your product or service is essential. It’s the same whether you’re selling toasters or tattoos. You will never be effective selling something you do not believe in — and that includes yourself. When you exude passion and confidence — without being an a-hole rockstar — you break down the wall of doubt and earn the trust of your client. It is your ultimate goal to have a client believe in you, trust you, and see that you’re coming from some place much deeper than just making money. Once you achieve this, you will absolutely, positively be more successful.

Sell the relationship

It’s especially true in the tattoo community that relationships are more valuable to both you and your client than a one-time session. For the artist, relationships bring repeat business, the ability to explore a wider variety of projects, increased referrals, and the ability to charge a premium because of the higher perceived value of your work. For the uncertain client, relationships help build trust and let them know they will not be abandoned after the tattoo is finished. Tattoos are for life, and ultimately, the client is buying a unique relationship with you and your studio, not something they can get from every other shop in town.

Stick to your price

There is no perfect formula for pricing your work, but one rule to remember is don’t cheat yourself. Charge what you feel comfortable charging, but err on the high side. Low pricing often signifies to clients that the artist doesn’t have confidence in their work. Prices can go up, but they should never go down.

Offer options

No too clients are alike in regard to what they want and what they can afford. Keep your prices consistent, but offer options that fit their budget with sacrificing quality. Maybe a different size, style or less detailed design. Instead of giving your clients a choice between you and a competitor, you’re allowing them to choose between you and YOU. People are going to price shop; it’s unavoidable. You want to ensure they’re price shopping in your shop only.

Don’t seem desperate!

Everybody has their slow days, but do yourself a favor and never appear as though you’ll do ANYTHING for a buck. Smart customers avoid used car salesmen willing to say or do whatever it takes make a sale. So, don’t make a deal just to fill the chair or offer some cheesy tattoo at a next to nothing price simply to stay busy. Remember that you’re giving your client something special that will make their lives better, and your attitude ought to reflect that. Make your client feel like you’re helping them — not that they’re helping you!

PAINful Beer Recommendations: November 2018

It’s about that time again. And by “that time,” I mean we’re deep in the throes of fall. The temperature is cooling down, the leaves are floating around, most of the food on your plate is brown, and your humble narrator is once again, finally, wearing a hoodie. Life is good! But you know what would make life better? Some beer. I’d like to suggest a few for you from my home state of Georgia. Five of them, in fact. Those beers are down below this paragraph, where I’ve written even more paragraphs. Please come visit me and drink them, or trade for them on the internet, or acquire them however you like. Because they’re tasty and you deserve it.

Second Self Beer’s Mole Porter
This Westside Atlanta brewery’s first seasonal is perfect for autumn weather. Mole Porter is brewer with a spice blend of cocoa nibs, cinnamon, clove, and three types of dried chilies. Inspired by Second Self co-founder Jason Santamaria’s family mole recipe, the beer quickly went from a draft-only release to widespread can coverage throughout Georgia. Pairs perfectly with sitting quietly on the porch and watching the leaves change.

Orpheus Brewing’s Sykophantes Fig Sour
One of this brewery’s many rotating sours, Sykophantes is a fall seaonsal made with dark candy syrup and hundreds of pounds of dried, organic Black Mission figs. When Orpheus first opened several years ago, Georgia hadn’t seen many sour, wild, and funky beers yet. Now that the Peach State scene as progressed, so to has Orpheus. A more recent feature of their impressive taproom is the “barrel bar,” where they highlight some of the complex, rare, and delicious barrel-aged beers. As a bonus, you can literally watch fall happen from their porch, which overlooks Piedmont Park.

Eventide Brewing’s Red Headed Haley Red Ale
Named after this Atlanta brewery’s Brand Manager Haley Cowan, the Grant Park establishment Red Ale boasts a slightly sweet maltiness with toffee and pecan notes. Eventide suggests pairing it with nuts, creamy cheeses, and pumpkin pie. There aren’t a lot of Red Ales being made these days, so points to Eventide for individuality. And if you make it to their brick and mortar space, depending on the day, you may get to enjoy a farmers market and tons of dogs. These are things that go well with the changing seasons, in our humble opinion.

Creature Comforts Brewing Co.’s Reclaimed Rye
Reader, I’ll be honest with you. I wasn’t blown away the first time I had this beer. It was nice, but I wasn’t ready. It took a little time for me to appreciate what the brewery’s website describes as “a uniquely complex and flavorful amber ale” that’s buoyed by “french oak and rye malt that lend to a well-rounded body with delicate undertones of toasted bread, spice, and subtle vanilla.” Now, it’s one of those things I have to drink while I’m watching the sun go down on a glorious November day. I think you’ll appreciate it as well.

Body Art Solutions: PurSan

In over 25 years of experience running my piercing studio, Piercology, I have found using saline alone has not proven to be effective in warding off irritation in a fresh piercing. You also need to cleanse the area free of dried sebum, dirt and other irritants. Most Piercers agree that soaps containing alcohols, fragrances, parabens, and especially Triclosan, should not be used directly for piercings. What should you cleanse your piercing with instead of these harsh options?

PurSan is formulated and tested specifically for the Body Modification Industry, which requires a unique skin cleansing product. Using PurSan in combination with sea salt soaks makes for a perfect combination for your clients’ aftercare regimen.

Why Use Pursan?

PurSan is a mild, vegan-friendly aftercare cleanser that safely and effectively cleans and moisturizes even the most sensitive skin during the healing of piercings and tattoos.

Free from alcohol, parabens, fragrance, or dye, PurSan contains unique ingredients including Hydroxypropl Methylcellulose; Chloroxylenol (PCMX), a proven broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative, effective against bacteria and viruses without irritation; Panthenol combined with Allatoin, helps reduce redness and supports healing. PurSan is easy to use and can be kept in the shower for initial aftercare.

Skin typically has a pH level of 4.5 to6.5, a team of chemists and biologists have formulated PurSan with this in mind. Having a pH range of 5.0 to5.5, PurSan matches the very fine skin surface barrier called the “acid mantle”. This “acid mantle” acts as a barrier to bacteria, viruses, and other potential contaminates. Standard soaps typically contain a pH level of 7, or higher, which can disrupt this sensitive layer of cells, and lead to dryness. PurSan is manufactured in Canada in a fully licensed facility, which comply with Health Canada and FDA regulations, work under aseptic cGMP guidelines, and strict quality-assurance standards.

It Makes Economic Sense.

Two aftercare obstacles we have noticed are cost, and time commitment. Committing to saline spray for aftercare can cost up to $50 each month, whereas a single 4oz. bottle of concentrated PurSan cleanser costs only $8 in most studios. Needing only a small dime-sized amount once a day to cleanse your piercing, PurSan is not only a more cost-effective option, but is also less time consuming! In our experience, we have found most clients using saline spray, are only willing to buy between one and two cans. When using Pursan you only need to commit three extra minutes of aftercare, while you are already showering. Proving PurSan to be much more convenient than other spray options.

Tried and Tested: Proven Effective.

Piercing and tattoo studios across the world have been using PurSan for nearly a decade. PurSan for piercing aftercare is safe, effective, and economical for clients and studios, and is a perfect combination with sea salt soaks. Whatever you recommend to your clients for aftercare, I am confident PurSan will be a convenient, inexpensive, and effective addition to their aftercare routine!

You can order PurSan at www.Body-Art-Solutions.com or Bodyartsolutions Facebook page.

Patrick McCarthy, Owner Piercology, Inc.
Past President of APP Association of Professional Piercer Member

H2Ocean – First in First Aid

Imagine planet Earth without its oceans. You would be imagining a planet without life. Scientists believe that because of the oceans, the evolution of cells formed the living planet Earth.

In 2001 H2Ocean was born from the innovative mind of Eddie Kolos. He wanted to create a first aid product line using the healing powers of the ocean. A patent was granted for this novel concept to reconstitute the most vibrant living sea on earth, the Red Sea, by mixing the perfect combination of unrefined organic Red Sea Salt, H2O, and the finest natural ingredients to heal your skin fast with minimal scarring.

H2Ocean was the first aftercare specifically formulated for body piercings and continues to be the most recommended on the market today. The Piercing Aftercare Spray was H2Ocean’s original product with an antibacterial enzyme that is found in your body’s saline system. Lysozyme is a very important enzyme that helps to prevent harmful bacteria from entering our body, thus preventing illnesses and infections.

H2Ocean has since launched the Sea Salt Body Piercing Wound Wash Spray in our 6oz sterile bag in can and the easy to mix concentrated Sea Salt Soak which is perfectly measured for a one gallon solution. Both of these products are isotonic .09% saline.

Oral care has sea salt written all over it! What dentist doesn’t recommend a warm salt rinse after a procedure when healing the inside of your mouth. H2Ocean has the perfectly balanced ingredients to heal your pierced tongue or lip. With natural flavors of Lemon Ice or Arctic mint you will experience a very clean refreshed healthy mouth. It is even safe to swallow as the salt, enzyme and xylitol are naturally found in your body.

Clinical studies have found H2Ocean’s mouth rinses are a very effective natural antibacterial solution that has proven to reduce dental cavities, tooth decay and gingivitis. We are happy to say many cancer and diabetic patients have a safer natural alternative to use for their oral conditions that works better than the harsh chemical mouth rinses.

H2Ocean has you covered when it comes to tattoo aftercare with the first ever kits on the market. Ultimate Tattoo Care and Extreme Tattoo Care both contain the highest quality products that are easy to use. Both kits have the Blue Green Foam Soap that makes cleaning your tattoo very effective on the go. The antibacterial FDA approved soap washes the oozing plasma, blood and excess ink off your skin without harsh, stinging chemicals. The Ultimate Tattoo Care Kit contains the water based unscented Ocean Care Cream and barrier Ocean Foam to heal your tattoo in 5 to 7 days. The Extreme Tattoo Care Kit contains the ointment based Aquatat and the unscented Ocean Care Cream to heal the areas that are extremely hard to heal. It keeps the area more moist to prevent drying and cracking. It really keeps all of the minerals and vitamins in your skin to help it heal fast and prevent scabbing.

H2Ocean’s glides, soaps and numbing products are the #1 choice for top tattoo professionals. The tattooing process is when the healing, cleaning, and soothing of the derma cells is the most important for a greatly healed tattoo.

H2Ocean has thought of it all as the leader in innovative natural technological products. Our team listens to the artists express what they want and we make it happen. Check out our new website and look out for the newest H2Ocean CBD pain relieving glide and aftercare.

Wildwood Tattoo Beach Bash

August 10-12, 2018
Wildwoods Convention Center – Wildwood, NJ

Tattoo artists and promotor Mike Siderio always wanted to bring a tattoo convention to his hometown. With encouragement from good friend Tony Olivas, Mike decided to pursue that dream. But it wouldn’t be not just any tattoo show. Now in its tenth year, the Wildwood Tattoo Beach Bash is a full blown tattoo convention drawing tattooers and tattoo fans for a weekend full of incredible artistry and fun events.

Being that the show is n such a unique venue — at the Wildwoods Convention Center, located on the beach and boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey, a lot of artists brought their families and stretched their convention weekend into weeklong vacation. Allisin Riot, from Ink Masters, arrived a day early just to go hangout on the beach.

“The convention provides a very relaxing atmosphere for the artists; it’s very laid back and family friendly show,” said emcee Dr. Carl Blasphemy. “Typically we’re trapped in a convention hall the entire time —- it was great to be able to take a couple minutes in the middle of the day to walk down the beach, take a dip in the water and then go back to work.”

When the doors were opened at noon on the first day, a long line of people waiting to get into the convention. More than 400 artists were there to greet them. It was a who’s-who of celebrity artists including Jessy Knuckles, Halo, Kyle Dunbar, Kasey Gonzales, Mike Diaz, Alli Baker, Caroline Evans, Al Fliction, Cleen Roc, Cris Element, Emily Elegado, Sal Pipitone, Fame Montalvo and Jay Blondel.

New tattoos typically don’t mix well with sand and seawater. For those that had just gotten tattooed and wanted to hit the beach, Saniderm provided free aftercare protective wraps.

No boardwalk would be complete without sideshows. The Beach Bash entertained crowds with the likes Alakazam the Human Knot, Suspension Showgirl and Impalement Artist, Marlo Marquise, and the Lucky Daredevil Thrillshow, featuring husband-and-wife duo Tyler Fyre and Thrill Kill Jill and their three kids in a fast-paced and funny death-defying daredevil stunt spectacular.

Want to just hang — meaning, do a suspension? Those brave enough were allowed to do it right on the spot. Two people who’d never done anything like it in their lives stepped up and experienced a real-life suspension!

“We make sure there’s always something happening,” Carl said. “Between acts on the stage, everybody comes down to check out the artists and vendors. As far as people getting tattooed, artists were just bagging them out all day. It was a great weekend for tattooing — so much great ink was on display that we had to set up two judging tables for the daily contests!”

Wildwood Tattoo Beach Bash

Pain Favorite: The Tattoo Shoppe

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thetattooshoppepa

  1. I started my career in Wellsboro, PA in 2011. After a brief apprenticeship, I branched out on my own and I’ve been a full-time artist and shop owner for 7 years.
  2. I specialize in are color work, watercolor and cover ups.
  3. It’s fascinating to me that after seven years in the industry I still absolutely love going to work every day. I love that I get to express myself in my art for a living, and have the opportunity to constantly learn and progress in my craft. That feeling when you give someone a piece of art that they cherish, that has meaning to them… That is the feeling what makes this career so special to me.
  4. I believe that as artists we should remain humble and appreciative that we get to do what we love for a living. Most people are not lucky enough to have that.

 

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me get to where I am today. Tattooing saved me in more ways than I can explain, and I am forever grateful. – Mike

No Ragrets (Not One Single Letter!)

The Experts Weigh in on Tattoo Remorse

“You’re going to regret that when you’re older.” It’s catechism number one of the tattoo industry’s detractors. But is it true? If you sit in at an afternoon bridge club or hang out in the stands of a high school soccer game, you’ll likely hear enough anecdotal evidence to solidify the statement as gospel. But anecdotes are why people try to cure cancer with castor oil. What does the actual data say? Is there any on the subject? As it turns out, there’s plenty. Academia is watching.

To cut through the speculation, we sifted through 15—yes, 15—peer-reviewed, academic articles, plus a public poll on tattoos, covering their evolving social status and their psychological effects on those who obtain them. The process was illuminating, but mind-numbingly tedious. Academia has a real knack for sucking the life out of otherwise interesting subject matter.

So, how much merit is there in the fearful mutterings of child-rearing suburbanites? Statistically, not much.

First, we have the numbers from a national poll conducted by Harris Insights and Analytics in late 2015. Of those surveyed who had tattoos, only 23% expressed regret over their choice. Of that 23%, the most common regrets were what you would expect. They got it too young, their personality has changed, it’s an ex-lover’s name, it’s poorly executed, it lacks meaning; basically, all the textbook faux pas actively avoided by self-respecting artists.

It should be noted, however, that tattoo regrets have risen by 9% since 2003. But considering the rapid growth of the industry during that period, it should be expected. In 2003, the percentage of the populace with one or more tattoos was at 16%. By 2015, that number had jumped up to nearly one in three. Among the youngest demographic (18-24) the rise took an even steeper climb, from 13% in 2003 to 35% in 2015. No, we’re not mixing up proportions with raw numbers. We are merely suggesting that the intense spike in the numbers, especially among the young, suggests a hastiness in the populace, perhaps recklessly so, which again, leads to the reasons for regret cited by the survey.

Equally compelling is a 2011 academic study conducted by Viren Swami of the University of Westminster in London. Swami recruited 82 clients from a London tattoo parlor and conducted three surveys, one preceding the tattoo, one immediately following, and one three weeks later. The surveys focused on the overall confidence of the subjects, self-esteem, body image, etc. The results extensively erode the authority of the conventional wisdom on the subject, if not directly contradicting it.

“Indeed,” he wrote, “the present study found that obtaining a tattoo resulted in a significant improvement in self-esteem over a three-week period among both men and women. This finding is notable because it highlights the positive impact of obtaining a tattoo on an individual’s overall sense of self.”

Tattoos and the Self, a 2012 study that focused specifically on women with tattoos, further illustrates a low recipient-to-regret ratio. Of the women surveyed, 87% stated that they were happy with their choices and planned to get more tattoos in the future. Those that did express regret gave reasons largely analogous to those previously cited, which as already noted, can be largely avoided through the current existing practices of quality parlors.

But not even academia is completely capable of pure objectivity. There was more than one study in which the authors seemed to rely heavily on residual cultural bias. One article from South Korea, for example, viewed the growing comfort with tattoos as cause for alarm, based purely on previous unsavory associations the trade has now largely shed.

“Continuous attention to, and interest in, the increased incidence of tattooing and piercing are necessary, especially in terms of public interventions for health education and health promotion, as these forms of self-adornment are associated with behaviours that pose a risk to health,” they concluded. Somewhere within the thought process was an arguable confusion of correlation and causation, as well as use of outdated metrics.

Overall, however, even the most biased of studies failed to prove any significant negativity associated with getting a tattoo regarding the internal state of the recipient. There is still more ground to cover on the external perceptions—meaning other people’s view of a tattooed person—but even there, the numbers are moving in a positive direction. For example, according to the Harris Poll, 58% of Americans now say they are comfortable with having someone with tattoos in the Oval Office.

Given the topic of the discussion, these trends will be difficult to reverse. Tattoos, by their nature, aren’t a fad that can just fade away like a style of jeans or a brand of shoes. So long as quality artists continue to wrest control of the industry from the scratchers, honing their craft and exercising cautious responsibility, we will likely see an end to the remaining stigmas on tattoos in our lifetime.

Years ago, your parents were right. But now they’re wrong.

Pain Favorite: Yvette Green of Billet Tattoo

I started (what I’d think to be ) the first day time studio in Texas…10am hits and my doors are open until 8 pm. I tried to beat the theory that a tattoo shop must be a nightlife thing, and I’m sure glad I did. It’s been 3 years and Billet Tattoo just keeps growing. Come to find out people actually like getting tattooed as early as I can wake up. Plus, it’s always nice being able to go home and do homework and make dinner with my kids. Call me old school, but I absolutely love eating at the table with my kids at night. I have finally achieved a perfect balance between work and family. I am truly blessed. Before tattooing, I spent a good part of my life in the Army. I was a combat Engineer for 6 years and continued my education in a few different areas that overall led me to become the business owner that I am today. A little bit of business law, taxes, and phlebotomy. I actually graduated top of my class. I ran back to tattooing though. The flexability to be the mother I wanted to be was just there with tattooing.  Sometimes I feel like I’m the opposite of the tattoo stigma. I wear boots and a hat to work, and I love my glitter belt buckle…The bigger the better, and I jam out to country music while I tattoo.  What better place for a country girl to have the cutest little shop but in Texas. I just claim to be that little lone star on the flag, can’t miss us. The shop name Billet, comes from the old days in the military, where men would tattoo themselves to escape time in the Billets after hours. I love that I can bring a little bit of our past to our future.

Yvette Green – Owner of Billet Tattoo Studio
6199 39th – Groves, Texas 77619
409-433-0418

Nate Laird

Nate Laird: Opportunities for Progress

Shop: Divine Moments Tattoo

Location: Portland, OR.

Specialty: Black work.

Years Tattooing: 12 years.

What led you to pursue a career as an artist?

I started doing visual arts in high school when I took an art class seriously for the first time. It was then I fell in love with art. I started tattooing right out of high school in Salem, Oregon. It’s a great job if you have a natural love of fine art.

How did you develop your unique style?

I learned over the years that I think mostly about black work tattoos and, more specifically, ornamental pieces. So, I have pushed my tattoos in this direction, but remain versatile and open to change.

Biggest influences?

I still find myself sifting through Sailor Jerry flash as well as other original flash artists for inspiration. As for locally, Chase Tofaya, Nick Pulzone, James Kern,and Bacon– to name a few. I’ve been visiting the Portland Art Museum frequently for painting inspiration.

Favorite aspect of tattooing?

The relationships I build and the stories I hear. Also, being able to do something for someone that is special to them.

Least favorite part?

Creating an awesome piece of art on someone and having to watch it walk away from me at the end of the day, not knowing if I’ll ever see it again.

Rotary or coil and why?

I spent the first 8 years of tattooing with a coil. I always recommend learning on a coil machine, but I love the rotary machines I use now, especially the cartridges that have been coming out lately.

What advice would Nate Laird of today give to Nate Laird of 12 years ago?

I’d tell myself to slow down, not only on tattoos but with life. To take every single day and piece of art as an opportunity for progress.

www.divinemomentstattoo.com – (503) 477-4615 – IG: @artislife

Hidden Los Angeles


Art and Attitude:
Hidden Los Angeles’ Not-So-Hidden Secret

Brett Herman is no stranger to the pages of this publication. First showing up as a featured artist a year ago, his name has since regularly appeared as a co-author for a variety of columns whipped up by our editorial staff for your educational pleasure. The aspiring seven-string guitarist-turned-black and gray wizard has only been working the needle for a decade. But within that time-span, he’s accumulated a formidable wealth of insight.

But this article isn’t about Brett. It’s about Hidden Los Angeles, the explosively popular SoCal ink destination he cofounded with his colleagues and fellow artists, Richard Carniglia and Chris Velasquez. Brett is just the mouthpiece.

Only six years in existence, Hidden Los Angeles Tattoo and Fine Art has carved an impressive niche for itself. When it started in 2012, it was basically a parachute for three talented artists at a struggling shop about to go belly-up. Now, it’s one of LA’s most celebrated tattoo parlors, listed in the city’s top ten in a variety of surveys and publications. If Yelp is any indication of success, they’re maintaining a consistent five-star rating with 97 reviews and counting.

There’s a myriad of factors that greased the track to success, but Brett chalks it up to the basics: the time-tested combination of art and attitude.

It starts with the art, which they have on lockdown. Their six-artist roster boasts a level of quality and notoriety that would keep any shop alive, and that statement doesn’t even touch the diversity. Whether you’re looking for black and gray portrait work, color realism, traditional/neo-traditional, dark art/sci-fi, or something completely different, there’s someone on the list who can make your idea a reality.

“Yeah,” Brett acknowledges, “Our crew had done a bunch of cool shit. Jamie’s on Ink Master now and Marc started a style called ‘Game Frame’ tattooing—all of us have definitely created a niche for ourselves.” But for Brett, this aspect is basically a given. It’s not arrogance that guides this; the work just speaks for itself. He quickly shifts the conversation to the second element.

“What sustains all of that is just keeping up that attitude.” This is the thrust of what is on his mind. Los Angeles is a verifiable breeding ground for ego-centric class consciousness. It’s all about who you are and who you know. But while they’ve inked the skin of so-called celebrities—everyone from Christopher ‘McLovin’ Mintz-Plasse to Britney Spears (ask Brett to tell you that story; it’s hilarious)—they make it a point to treat every client like they’re the most important chunk of flesh they’ve been privileged to mark thus far.

“Famous or not, they are all super cool,” Brett says, a tone of gratitude warming his words. “We have awesome clients who have made us what we are.”

“Just being in LA,” he goes on, “you see random people. It’s like, ‘Oh, that’s that famous dude right there,’ but really, they’re just people. They’ve gotten some fame for something they did and good for them, but they’re still just normal people.”

But as much as he’s inclined to focus on these basic, but enviable aspects of their business, it would be a disservice to the reader not to discuss the space itself. From the beginning, Brett and company wanted to build something special. When they acquired their storefront, it was the standard series of retail shoeboxes with restrictive walls and suburban-style ceiling styles. Not for long.

“We took all the ceiling tiles out and exposed everything,” Brett recalls. “We really opened it up and gave it a rustic industrial look and put in this super-cool hardwood floor.” The renovations didn’t stop there. In fact, over the six years the operation has been in business, they’ve averaged a renovation a year. No matter the stage in their evolution, the space has maintained a consistently unrivaled wow factor with an open feel and walls covered in canvases that are equally mind-blowing and unique.

Originally, the space doubled as an art gallery, with shows hosted at least once a quarter.

“It really wasn’t a big money maker,” Brett acknowledges. “It was more just an excuse to throw parties.” Refreshingly honest though his words may be, the statement belies the deeper strategy of community outreach through art awareness.

“The stuff we were doing definitely helped us to become the talk of the town,” he qualifies. “The wild parties (we once went through a keg in 45 minutes) the networking . . . we were getting people from other shops to show their art too. We’ve always tried to embrace everybody. That definitely helped.”

Still, though, for Brett and his crew, it always comes back to the basics.

“We’re just trying to make good art. It doesn’t matter how cool we look to everybody. We just want to do good stuff and be happy with what we’re doing, which is hard enough as an artist, because you’re always your own biggest critic.”

HIDDEN LOS ANGELES – 747.888.3539
www.hidden-la.com
facebook.com/HiddenLATattoo
IG: @hiddenlosangeles