First shop experience

[cfgsteak]

That's right, Oklahoma only lifted the ban a couple years ago right?

I was stationed at Ft Sill in Lawton, OK in the mid 80's...if you wanted a tattoo you drove to Wichita Falls, TX...I just waited til I got to my permanent base in Hawaii.

That was my first shop experience I can remember (Hawaii). I got tattooed in a little shop that probably did 90% military guys right outside of Schofield Barracks in a town called Wahiawa in 1986. I just remember going through the flash with a couple of my friends and we all got something done that night. We were totally sober, but it all seemed like it happened really fast and I dont remember the name of the shop, or who tattooed me. I do remember really enjoying it and I couldnt wait to go back and get another one.

[s33ktruth]

I was about 15 when I first went to this tattoo shop in El Paso, it was called Prick's, and the name suited the people who worked there. My friend wanted a piercing, so I waited and walked around the shop, and spent a good 30 min looking at their flash. Most the guys that worked there were mainly cholos who did black and grey work, and one guy that did grafiti. I was really shy then, and one of the guy's asked if I wanted a tattoo, and I said I wasn't old enough yet. I remember leaving and got really motivated to do more personal style art on my grip-tape or on my books at school, and folders in class. The end. lol

[No name]

I was 20 when I walked into Temple Tattoo in Oakland. It was recommended to me by a friend who had some great tattoos by Chris Conn that were done at Temple. I remember first stopping by the marijuana dispensary across the street to pick up my daily smoke bag (I was a heavy smoker) and smoked some in front of the shop. I had no intention of getting tattooed anytime soon, and especially not that day. Suddenly, when the smoke hit me, I became very inspired and excited, almost antsy and anxious (in a good way). I walked into the shop and heard some heavy doom metal, I believe it was Electric Wizard, though it may have been Sleep. I smiled, and became a little more inspired. I then began looking at the flash on the walls and saw Jason McAfee's flash. I have never seen this sort of flash before, it was colorful and evil at the same time. At that moment Jason I guess saw me checking at this flash exclusively and approached me and asked if I wanted any help. Not knowing he was Jason, I asked to speak with Jason, ha. He introduced himself and asked me what I was thinking about getting. And without any previous thought about what I wanted, from the depths of my unconscious mind I said "A Viking Ship". He then said "Where do you want to put it?" And again with out any previous thought I pulled up my jean leg and showed him the whole left side of my left leg. He then asked "When do you want to do this?" I said whenever you can, thinking maybe next month or possibly next week. He then asked if I wanted to do it today. I was so thrill of thought of leaving with a Viking ship on my leg that day, I jumped on the opportunity. He told me to come back in about a half hour, so I went to smoke some more. When I got back he had the coolest Drakkar drawn up with crashing Japanese style water. I smiled and said lets do it! The whole experience was great. Jason is very personable and "too cool" towards me at all, even though I was a 20 year old kid who looked about 16. We talked about doom metal, and he told me some stories about his doomy trip to London and meeting some doom legends. He even showed me some pictures. Great experience, and I felt very appreciated and respected. Because I liked the guy so much I went back to get a few more from him. And the rest is history.