Here's the usual low down for this Friday with all the same rules and suggestions to make everything run smoothly and to get as many of you through the door as possible so everyone gets something fun to take home and show the folks. Keep in mind that it might be very cold out this time around so DRESS WARM! The wait is long but we try to make things as easy as possible for everyone so you're not standing around the whole time.

 

• Daredevil will only be doing Friday the 13th tattoos. FunCity is open for business as usual.
• One tattoo per customer!  We want to tattoo as many people as we can for the day.
• Bring valid state ID (drivers license, passport) You MUST be at least 18 years old. No ID, no tattoo. NO exceptions.
• Do not block any of our neighbors doors or store fronts. Don't sit in the doorways and try not to get in anyones way. We don't want to ever have to stop this tradition so don't give anyone reason to complain about all the nice tattooed people hanging around.
• We start around 12 noon. If the doors open a little late don't freak out, we're just trying to get everything together before we let you in.
• Bring your cell phone. To keep the crowds at a minimum we will take names and phone numbers so there does not have to be a huge line down the street. Keep your cell phone in hand and don't wander too far. Feel free to check in to see where you are on the list. If you miss the call we will move on to the next person. YOU CANNOT PUT YOUR FRIENDS NAME ON THE LIST. One body= One name.
• The tattoo cost $13 + a lucky $7 tip. Bring cash and a few extra bucks. Please shop for refreshments from our neighbors while you are waiting, they appreciate the business.
• We are drawing up a sheet for the day. What you see on the sheet is what you get. No changes, no art directing and NO YOU CANNOT SEE THE SHEET BEFORE FRIDAY. It's not even done yet, relax.
• On Friday the 13th NO HANDS, NECKS, BELLIES, LOWER BACKS, CHEST, SIDES, or FEET. These places take longer to tattoo or are difficult to heal. It's a long day of tattooing for us; we try to keep it as easy on the artists as possible. Don't whine and complain about this rule! We have our reasons, trust me.
• Sometimes we decide we hate a design or are sick of doing the same one all day that people keep picking. That design might not be an option later in the day at some point. So yes we can "sell out" of certain designs. Don't be a cry baby, deal with it. There's lots of other cool tattoos to pick from.
• Expect a couple hours wait to get tattooed.
• Finally, we always appreciate nice reviews online. This day is a huge ordeal and the shop does not make money off of it so any shout outs via Yelp or other sites makes us very happy. Spread the love.

 

This is a very long day for us, when we say we're done, we're done.  We want to have fun and we want everyone getting tattooed to have fun. But at the same time this is the worst possible day to come in to the shop and get tattooed! Especially if you don't like crowds, don't like chaos and are picky.  It's a crazy day, enter and get tattooed at your own risk. We have a big crew working on Firday so we're really going to try and tattoo everyone who shows up.

Needles and Sins posted about the DRAKE tattoo last week and I've been chewing over this for a few days and following some of the dialog online. The artist did an interview with Vice Magazine that's taken a lot of heat. He mentioned "she was on a good one" which he later clarified did not mean she was messed up; it's just an expression he likes (?).

I liked the response from Drake himself; such a well spoken young man. With any luck it will dissuade the next psychopath who thinks this is a good idea. He didn't even want to look at the picture of the tattoo, obviously freaked out by it. WetPaint reports, "the rapper didn't mince words when discussing the tattoo "artist," Kevin Campbell, who did the inking: "The guy who tatted that is a f***ing a**hole, though, I will tell you that," he said. "I don't f**k with that guy. F**k you to that tat artist by the way, 'cause you an a**hole, for real. And you should lose your job and should never do tattoos again and I don't f**k with you. And if I ever see you, I'm a f**k you up."

Kevin wrote a response to Marisa that I've included at the end of this post. Kevin says the only lesson he learned is to keep his mouth shut. I think there is a larger lesson here. Kevin could have avoided all of this attention by using just the least tiny bit of good judgement. This stuff is going to be showing up more and more often for us in the post media tattoo era we are in. The taboos aren't as strong as they used to be and it's up to the artists to draw the line. I know it's hard to let a couple bucks walk out the door especially when you know there's some asshole somewhere that will take the money but is it worth it to be that asshole? There are certain other situations I think of in relation to this story. Doctor Conrad Murray got paid a lot of money to go agaist his better judgement. I hope the doctor that stuck 8 babies inside the Octomom is out of business. If there are no laws against that abberation there should be. With enough of these types of stories in the news who knows what sort of laws will pop up for us; which is probably not a bad thing.

Tattoo artists are professionals and while tattoos don't carry the weight they used to what with lasers and their downright respectability it's still a significant decision in someones life. There are not many lines these days people won't cross but I think the forehead is a good one to adhere to, unless they have no other room left of course.

One last thing. It was mentioned that this girl is the heir to the Downy fortune. What an interesting twist. More food for thought.

Happy New Years all! 

Read more to get Kevin's response to Marisa.

The clock is ticking but there's still time to make it by the shop for that last minute tattoo gift certificate. There's also time for that last minute tattoo to show off to the family, always a big hit at the holidays! OutspokenNYC.com has it right with their wish list.

Shop local, make sure you check out the collection at our friends from FatherPanik.  There's some great new books available from Marisa at NeedlesandSins.com 

I'm avoiding Amazon this year. Their new app that rewards shoppers for stopping in to local stores to price check for them goes way too far as far as I'm concerned. As a small business owner I know I would resent a corprate giant sending their shoppers in to my space that I pay rent, utilities and sales tax on to use as their showcase and price check point.

The Santa sheet is by Timmy Tatts who we hope to see soon at Daredevil this spring. We'll keep you posted.

Stuart sent me a request to remove my post regarding his upcoming convention and asked for an opportunity to present his side. I'm not interested in "his side" I am interested in the convention he has scheduled in London. My feelings about the fact that he is organizing a second tattoo convention in London are as follows.....

Stuart,
I equate your organizing another show in London with opening up a tattoo shop across the street from my tattoo shop. Can my neighborhood absorb another shop? Of course. Are you free to do such a thing? Of course. Do I have to quietly accept such an action that has a direct impact on my business? NO of course not.

Miki's London convention ranks as one of the best shows in the world. There are so many tattoo conventions but so few that are as well put together as his are. You are seeing this show of support not just because you are competing with Miki you are also competing with every vendor in attendance. Also Miki is getting this support because he has earned respect and established so much loyalty based on his rapport with those he does business with.

There are other places you could have picked for your show but you have picked a location that conflicts with another. This conflict will dilute the attendance of Miki's show and your own. Everyone is affected by your choice in this matter. You cannot blame the people involved for  protesting the choice you have made.

I hope it is clear to you that we as artists will not "happily absorb two events". Your decision to host another convention in London affects us directly. I for one have no intention of not speaking out about it.

Sincerely,
Michelle Myles

Daredevil Tattoo, NYC

Most of my fellow tattoo artists have probably already read this letter but I thought some of our non pro tattoo friends might enjoy reading this open letter sent out by Miki Vialetto, organizer of the original London Tattoo Convention in response to the outcry regarding this copycat London show. It's nice to see how people have responded in support of Miki and just shows that fair dealings, hard work and honorable business practices inspire loyalty from those who do business with you. There are posts all over Facebook and Twitter urging people to stand behind Miki and his original London Show.

From Miki Vialetto:

I feel it is my duty to clarify my position regarding certain recent events which seem to have caused confusion. Those of you who know me are aware that I have worked in this sector for more than 18 years and I have always shown impartiality with regards to what was happening around me in the tattoo industry. I refer to editorial projects, TV shows and all those new ventures which involve the industry that I love, of which I am very much a part and which has become my life and my work.

Recently it was announced a new convention is to take place at the end of April in London which will be called The Great British Tattoo Show. Several readers, professionals and insiders in the industry have asked us if this is in any way connected to our long-established The International London Tattoo Convention. Obviously it goes without saying that the two have nothing to do with each other. The Great British Tattoo Show is organised by Stuart Mears, editor of Skin Deep and other magazines, and organiser of other events in Britain such as Tattoo Jam and Tattoo Freeze.

Many of you, however, are not aware of who is involved with what, so I have decided it’s time to make things clear. Nine years ago, I decided to organise a convention in London, since nothing like this had ever been done in this city before (with the exception of a party organised by Lal Hardy nearly 20 years ago). I wanted London to become the virtual centre of the tattoo world. I fully believed in the project and from that moment on, London became the most anticipated venue in the world of tattooing, featuring the world’s best tattooists who were proud to be participating in such an event, and which created a waiting list of at least 700 tattooists every year. The following year, after the first successful edition of The International London Tattoo Convention, Mr Mears decided to organise a convention the Tattoo Jam, which was to take place one month beforehand. So far, no problem here. He subsequently went on to set up Tattoo Freeze, which was scheduled one week before the Brighton Tattoo Convention. The first Tattoo Freeze website announced the presence of 200 tattoo artists from all around the world, unbeknown to the artists themselves . Mr Mears justified this by saying that they had only been invited and not confirmed. Needless to say none of them showed up. Right now, besides moving the Tattoo Jam 2012 date to two weeks after London, he has launched The Great British Tattoo Show. He tried, it would seem unsuccessfully, to have it held at the Old Truman Brewery (the venue for the first 4 years of the International London Tattoo Convention) and finally confirmed London Olympia.

I shall say no more, not least because details of Mr Mears’ astonishing career and other interesting information can be found on this website: www.stuartmears.com. I recommend you check it out.

We are going about our own business in our usual and ethical way.

I have always been supported by and I myself have always supported tattoo artists who believe in this industry for the tattooing itself, and who are not just in it for the money. I decided to write this open letter because I want as many people as possible to be informed about what is going on. I would be grateful if you would share your opinions on Facebook, blogs or with as many people as possible, where you feel appropriate. The important thing is to understand the true facts, and what the reality is out there. Having said this, everyone is free to support whoever they feel best relates to their own way of interpreting our tattoo art.

Miki Vialetto