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I am a big fan of the female physique, but the last thing I want to think about when getting tattooed is getting laid. I get tattoos so I can get laid (I'm kidding, kinda...ok, maybe I'm not).

There's no point worrying about what other people think. Most people live in their own little world and wont even notice your butterfly tattoo, and anyone who insults you for it is a judgemental dick whose opinion is worthless. (Plus the idea that "feminine" traits are negative is harmful, blah blah feminist ideology.)

I think the newer female client base that has been brought up on "Ink" shows has a perception now of what a tattoo shop should be like based on television and anything raunchier than playboy would probably turn them off! Would that matter to me.....hell no! But why give any client a reason not to come into your shop?

If I saw a Playboy on a table in the waiting room, I'd just shine it on. If I saw a Hustler, I'd probably split. I mean, it's a business, right? Even the Playboy is pushing it. I'm not a prude, hey, do what you like, but I don't think that stuff has any place out in public.

Little Miss Sunshine said it the best "Do what you love, and fuck the rest." If I got tattoos for other people I would have a shit ton of bad tribal everywhere.

I can only speculate, but I would imagine the last thing he would want to do is be booked out of the year right away. Charging $500 bucks an hour, narrows it down to people who are really serious about it and see what an opportunity it is. Also charging more could allow him to not take as many appointments at first and get back into it at his own pace. I can totally understand a person thinking $500 is too much, but coming up with the extra $200 bucks an hour seems like a simple obstacle considering before this announcement he was done tattooing forever.

HEY! Just saw this...I'm not an old guy, honest, just a coupla young guys stacked together in the same body! Those three pieces in the first post are my first few tattoos.

A bit of a sub-story to the Eastern Promises russian prison tattoos

Here is my Chad Koeplinger Tibetan Skull:

I came damn close to getting a moth from Krak. I opted for wolf instead. Now I feel like I need to see him again for that moth. Fuck what people think, I've never worried about that before.

Look at Smith Street though, the whole bathroom, sans a Mike Wilson original, is all rad pin-up flash. That is totally ok.

I think I'd shy away from a shop with any sort of adult mags because that's just so goddamn corny.

Now if I had a shop then I would just buy a donkey and paint it up like a zebra....then it would make the female clients happy and be safe for kids! Everyone gets a ride!!! And it's an alternate source of income! :) P.s. --- Kids should be exposed to tattoos and the process earlier in life! I personally see no problem with that and think that it may aid in them understanding that it's okay for people to be different from each other! Of course I do understand this is on a shop by shop case......and you shouldn't just show up with a kid to be tattooed without asking the artist AND shop owner!

First contact I had with a Playboy (and tattoos) was at my hometown barbershop. It was run by an old Navy vet that smoked while he cut hair, classic country playing on the radio (or the baseball game)- your stereotypical classic barbershop. He also had the paper, Guns and Ammo, and Field and Stream, but the Playboys were in the bathroom. Their presence verified that the place was a "men's club" and when I see porn at other places- motorcycle/ hot rod shops, it gives the same vibe.

Hunter, get what you want. Find an artist that tattoos with the 'vibe' you like then you pick the subject matter. I've got an octopus tattoo and plenty of flowers and I really don't care what people think of them.

Tom- Tim Hendricks was recently asked to recommend two Irish tattoo shops on Twitter, and I'd probably agree with his responses (if we exclude Belfast shops, at least). In Dublin 'Classic Ink' on Crow St. is probably the best bet for traditional stuff. The guys in there paint a lot of their own flash- worth having a look at. I haven't been tattooed by the guys in there, but Oliver Peck did a guest spot in there recently and I ended up dropping in for that - it was a cool shop. https://www.facebook.com/classicinktattoodublin Outside Dublin if you are prepared to get on the train or drive down to Limerick you've got Ross Nagle in 'Allstar Tattoo'. He has been knocking it out of the park lately, super bright and distinct traditional style stuff. Gets a lot of guest artists, he's had Chad Koeplinger, Tim Pausinger, Grant Cobb etc in the past.

That holds true for most animals.

The price is the price. His work is amazing so if you want it.... go and get it!!!! If it doesn't work in your budget or mind so-be-it.... There are many other fish in this sea.

holy shit wtf fuck that. i dont care who you are thats bullshit.

Likely London lads sporting Filip Leu front pieces.

Well I'm pretty stoked now, to say the least.

left a deposit with matt arriola. doing my entire torso june 1st. woo!

Since Chicago Tattoo has been on the same 2 blocks for almost 40 years we get alot of people who come in with old work from Cliff Raven and Dale Grande so i try to take photos of these tattoos to document them. I often see old timers walking around the neighborhood or in the grocery store and see their tattoos and try to ask about them and photo them, there is just something about talking to old dudes about their tattoos that gets their attention and for the most part gets them into talking about where they got in and when and sometimes they can remember who it was. Im sure we all do this so i wanted to start a little thread and put up pics of old tattoos that we have all documented. The first three tattoos where done at Cliff Raven Studios (Chicago Tattoo) by Cliff Raven in approximately 1970.. since i cant figure out how to make these images larger you can click on them to get a better look. i look forward to the pics Nick

They can get anything a guy can get and it won't look silly. But then they can also get... Hummingbirds. Dammit, I like hummingbirds. I always have a feeder for them every spring and summer. Can't get 'em Butterflies. I have a butterfly garden, too. I also really love to go to the city's butterfly garden on the bike trail. But a big fat greasy Dago with a butterfly tattoo? Bonus points: My favorite butterfly is the Swallowtail. UGGH! Unicorns: I can't really explain this one. I just think they kick ass. I'd like to get an octopus tattoo. I used to have these recurring dreams that humanity had exterminated itself and over the course of nigh countless millenia an Octopoid species became intelligent and dominant on the new Earth and I was their philosopher-king. I think it means they are my "spirit animal" or something. But I don't want my family to be making fun of my "pussy" tattoo and making James Bond Octopussy references against me. Ah fuck it. I'll get an eagle or something. I guess.

I have to admit to a bit of laziness. I read the first post, and scanned a few others, but haven't read the whole thread. I'm just going to answer the initial question. This relates I think to the thread about music in the shop and how loud and what sort might be offensive. I subscribe to the theory that if shit offends you that might just be a sign you're in the wrong place. I know there is some variance regarding the "strength" of the porn in question, and certainly some people have legit business concerns about frightening people off. So, it's just my opinion, but I'm for all things that might send wankers and soccer moms running for the hills :-)

If you own the shop, put what ever the fuck you want out. My barbershop has tons of playboys out in the open and remains classy. If Temple started putting playboys out, I wouldnt necessarily look at it, but it wouldnt stop me from going.

I think Bunny hit the nail on the head for me here. Tattoo magazines are just slutty looking chicks with little to no clothing on and shitty tattoos, so not any different than a 'real' porno mag other than the tattoo mags don't show an actual vagina hole. I mean obviously a porn mag is way further than just a slutty dressed chick as far as what's being shown but as far as a (and I hate to use this word but) feminist point of view, the chick in the tatt mags are worse cause they aren't even getting paid for it. But yeah, as far as this topic goes in relation to porn being in shops, I think it comes down to most shops are all men, men tend not to realize what the middle aged soccer mom they tattoo might be offended by. Personally, I don't understand why anyone would need or want to view pornography in any situation other than while masturbating or with the person you're about to fuck. Why do you need to look at a spread asshole while you wait to get tattooed? Can't you just look at a magazine about music or art or literature or whatever. Fly fishing maybe. Do shops have these laying about just to prove how bad ass they are?

Filip Leu's got a unicorn.

He used to sell porn @ conventions & apparently out of the shop as well.

What about him? And I'm not talking about anything flash, or painted... And even porn playing on TV, or a computer, I mean I was 22 once, I had an office, and a hacked cable box, but behind closed doors is one thing, however out in plain sight; public restroom, or lobby table, or break room area, it's like cat shit in the middle of a nice clean lawn... Just fucks the whole view up.

Eh, sometimes you like the feeling of a magazine in your hand or around, you know? Feels tangible, more "real." I mean, that is just speculation on my part. Um.... Ok.

Porn out in open would make me question the shop a bit but I have been in a shop that has porn plastered all over the artist's bathroom. Hell I've been in a few offices that have porn in thebathroom (usually higher exec private bathrooms). If its not in the open then no big deal.

Talked about the unicorn thing a few weeks ago at Philadelphia Eddie's with someone who put a lot of them on guys back in the 70's.......those and cartoon characters were some of the most popular tattoos! Anything can be made to look less feminine if you have the right artist doing the job and you tell them your concerns! Here is my hummingbird by Eric Gregory....i don't think it is feminine at all to be honest!

I love unicorns too ,heres a couple of the best I've located in my travels .The White one is from Grime . Jamie Ruth Unicorn Tattoo Picture | Last Sparrow Tattoo

Capt. Mike had a hummingbird tattoo over his heart in "Benjamin Button"-pretty lame movie, but that guy was an awesome character: and Il Duce had a bad-ass butterfly on his hand in "Boondock Saints" That being said, I've been planning on a butterfly tattoo for awhile (probably inner forearm). In Mexican culture, butterflies are the spirits of ancestors pointing out important lessons or just giving you a reason to pause.

@dcostello - glad to see that Dubstep at noon is around the same time as cocaine (probably for the best) and I'd be pissed if I missed Shirtless Bro's or Rapper with a Band. These posters are awesome.

Good post. enjoyed that a bunch.

I know the price seems a kinda steep, but I am sure he has his reasons. I bet it is more about keeping pieces relatively small. He has nothing to prove, and I doubt that he wants to be working on great big elaborate pieces. $500 an hour should keep that to a minimum. My understanding is that his health was not that great for the last little bit.

500 an hour is insane...

holy shit

He should hide golden tickets in candy bars like Willy Wonka. I am really excited about this news, for one that his health is doing good and two that I might actually be able to have the experience to be tattooed by Conn. I almost thought I was dreaming last night as I checked my facebook before bed and heard this news.

I guess im lucky in that in the 90s I ordered a bunch of hardymarks books mailorder- I have the ROA book, Pierced Hearts, complete tattootime set, the big red DEH Flash book, Flash from the past, etc....I also managed to get the Sailor Jerry Vol.3 for retail when it came out

Goddamn I'm jealous of that dagger

I would have enjoyed this thread a lot more if you posted the work of someone you thought was doing something really cool than slagging someone not here to defend themselves. There are so many shitty tattooers in every town everywhere now. How about ignoring them and progressing and drawing attention to people doing the same.

..and he returned today knowing all sorts of info about tattoo removal...he has been dismissed from LST......carry on LSTers

Not photos per se but images from a book from 1671 (thats pretty old. My wife is an early modern literature nerd and found these photos on a blog (resobscura.blogspot.co.uk). THey come from an article on Brazilians by some Dutch dude: (Following text and photos nicked from said blog so not mine). "Europeans were also fascinated and fearful of the "monstrous" forms of indigenous Brazilians themselves. Although most accounts remarked upon the good health, longevity and physique of Tupí Indians and other indigenous societies in Brazil (probably a reflection more of the poor health and diet of the European mariners than anything else), others focused on their tendency toward body-modification. The most entertaining and strange European take on piercing and tattooing I have been able to find is John Bulwer's fantastically titled Anthropometamorphosis: Man Transform’d, or the Artificial Changeling. Historically presented, in the mad and cruel Gallantry, foolish Bravery, ridiculous Beauty, filthy Fineness, and loathesome Loveliness of most Nations, fashioning & altering their Bodies from the Mould intended by Nature. With a Vindication of the Regular Beauty and Honesty of Nature, and an Appendix of the Pedigree of the English Gallant. (London: J. Hardesty, 1650). (I wrote about this a bit in an earlier post). Below he describes how "the Brasileans... are pricked within the flesh" with paint." "Bulwer's title page takes this a step further, showing an Amerindian figure sporting some truly remarkable tattoos! The European woman with facial tattoos to the figure's left highlights Bulwer's concern that this "barbarous" custom would become fashionable with his own countrymen (he was right, but it would take another three hundred years or so to really catch on, and the whole "face on a butt" tattoo fad seems to still lie in the future)." Interesting eh?

Mine...still have 2-3 more hrs to compete this. http://thomashooper.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/eisen-flower-thomas-hooper-tattooing-014-july-21-2011.jpg?w=740&h=1110

Ugh! I've seen the LIFE DEATH ambigram so many times. There are lots of online ambigram generators, but they all seem to charge for it. You could use one and factor that into the price.