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my favorite tattooer. i got this bull head from him a few months back, based on a design my grandpa got in WWII hell of a nice guy, too. Copper Beehive – Tattooing by Bailey Hunter Robinson

When I got into tattooing all my friends were either punk/hardcore/skinhead scene (non racist scene) and a few of my most influential friends got tattooed at this local biker tattoo shop. The artist did awesome tattoos, very new school style so of course I went to him for my first one. I've never been afraid to speak my mind or tell people how I feel or what I feel and that is one of the main reasons why me and the artist hit it off so well. I wasn't afraid to talk shit to him when he'd dish it out first. So after me getting a few tattoos I told him how I was going to art school (originally american academy of art in chicago) and expresed how i wanted to be an art teacher in inner city schools. Needless to say he talked me out of it and asked if I'd pursue a career in tattooing. The rest is history. It's been ups and downs, depression, happiness, loneliness, joy, every emotion possible. Tattooing chose me. I learned the hard way, the extremely hard way. To this day I still have repercussions as to who I worked for, why I worked for him, and what I'm still doing running his shop but overall I don't give a fuck. Tattooing chooses you and not the other way around. I'll never respect someone who paid 5 grand to learn how to tattoo. Fuck that, paying for an apprenticeship is easy, but EARNING one that's a different story.

Tattoos: From Maori to America | On Point I found this on a random google search, its a few years old but I thought it was a pretty interesting listen. Sorry if it has been posted before.

this an opinion apparently shared by many. what makes people think you have to be jealous to think that these shows are absolute drivel? what makes people think everyone wants to be on tv? in fact, just about all of the artists that influenced me and shaped my outlook on Our Thing are humble, hard working folks that don't feel the need for the spotlight, and feel no need to get an ego boost or gain any 'fame' beyond what their hard-earned reputation in our community has brought them. there are plenty of tattooers that intentionally fly under the radar, many of them quite talented and well known in our community, that also agree with my opinion that not only is this is just crap yes, indeed, there are most likely plenty of envious people that would like to be in that spotlight. but don't be so quick to assume that if everyone is so desperate to be noticed.

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This is on Daredevil Tattoo blog about the NY Ink Show..I couldn't have said it better. That's right I said it. People keep asking what we think of the new show and I'd say that about sums it up. I only saw the first episode. We've been expecting the worst and it's the worst. Chris Torres is the only artist in fact from New York and he was cast as TLC's tattooed answer to Jersey Shore. Their space is reminiscent of the set of Friends. Ami's shop, or I should say TLC's new tattoo parlour on Wooster Street is the unrealistic equivalent of Monica's huge apartment that only a character on TV could afford. All the "I hope I can pay the bills" is a joke. Real life tattoo shops do not have ads on the sides of buses. They're casting the same sorry customers. Dead babies, cancer, tragic endings are needed for inspirational subject matter. (nothing against memorial tattoos except TLC thinks that's the only compelling reason to get tattooed) I'm surprised at how many people actually think there's any reality involved. The scenarios are scripted it's become an hour of bad acting and cheesy scripts. As interesting as a tattoo shop can be and as much fun as it is to get glimpses into our customers lives and their motivations for getting tattooed the reality is that these shows are orchesrated by people who have no actual interest in our industry. There is no understanding or appreciation for the truly fascinating stories and backgrounds of the people who come through our doors (not just the sob stories). It's a caricature written by squares who think they know what a tattoo shop is about. It takes a lot of talent to really portray people's reality in a way that is respectful and truly compelling. I'm a huge fan of documentaries. I love learning about other people's realities. But it takes thought and vision to capture that spark that can be so interesting. Something that doesn't easily fit into the drive by format of a TV series I guess. It's too bad that there is no respect for our industry involved in the creation of these shows. Tattooing is such a rich subject matter it's dissapointing to see it dumbed down for the masses but I guess we shouldn't expect anything else. By the way shame on TLC for knocking off our friend Mark Mahoney's shop name SHAMROCK SOCIAL CLUB. Devil City Press

Speaking of- Im considering booking some time with Deno on his DC stop... gonna call the shop tomorrow to see if he has time open. Can anyone shed some light on pronunciation? Deno like Dino Deno like Den-o I dont want to look like a bigger ass than normal when I call...

Again , any criticism is often percieved as envy or jealousy. That being said this list and lists like these are bullshit- in my opinion. There will always be those that use these lists to gauge the ability or competence of one person against another. "Oh, your not on the list- well you must not be as good as whoever is!" And no offense to so many on that list but what some of them do and who some of them are have had absolutely no influence on my life, tattooing or otherwise.

Glad that fucker died

Paroled sex offender......from a sentence for aggravated sexual assault and indecency with a child. I'm certain the child is living a life sentance with invisable bars and the powers that be couldn't parol a lesser criminal to make room for the pos rapist.

He didn't suffer enough.

Take a drink every time they hire someone who refuses to sweep the floor, take out the trash, has no shop experience or work ethic...

I haven't seen the show yet as it hasn't been aired in the uk yet. I was hoping there would less of the sob stories and drama. Mind you NY ink is from the same production company that gave us Jodie Marsh-Tattoo apprentice biggest load of anal discharge ever.

I didn't even realize you had written this when I recommended it. Great minds think a like! My friends and I would just sit and watch him scare people. It never gets old!

Anything a person says about somebody with celebrity status, is often perceived as envy or jealousy. But unfortunately for the person who seeks fame---- like those discussed on a different thread( Jonathan Shaw, Gil, Roy Boy, Crazy Ace, Kat etc -- open discussion, judgement and criticism comes with the territory.

Witness is my personal favorite. That album just hits a nerve. Fuck it. All their albums are amazing.

Seriously, just take the year to save up, come to New York, Bailey, done.

I did google it, and I kind of did expect to get a match. Kind of like when you're a kid and you know Santa isn't real, but you stay up most of the night looking out the window, just in case.

More people are influenced to get tattooed by tv and people are just as influenced by tv to start tattooing. We've had a five fold increase of tattooers in our area since Miami Ink. We have not had a five fold increase in Business. I will be tattooing either way as well. However, I'm starting to dislike these shows and the perceptions of tattooing they create. I will ride it out as the less dedicated fall. Look at the custom bike world if you would like a glimpse of tattooing in a few years. A grip load of people running to a profession that can't support them. Except with tattooing, the start up potential is so much more accessible than bike building. Get an eight line in there, copy a simple trad tattoo, grow a beard and bam! you be one.

we call them the GCQ kids ( get cool quick )