Mel Noir

By the way, s33k, I strongly advise you take a look at your local studios' blogs and Facebook pages if you haven't already. There'll be loads of news on those as to what's going on. I update a local studio's blog twice a week, and we always make sure to write a fair amount on guest spots, and many others are pretty much the same.

Hey NavyDavy, thanks for that, it's much appreciated! Really feel like I'm getting a good grasp of what more of the international magazines are about. I'm actually sort of surprised that there aren't many great magazines in America, with it being such a huge place. What a shame, eh? Thanks though, Total Tattoo is now a definite, and I must email Sally this week to see what her thoughts are. I agree with you about those Urban Ink magazines though, Mr. Frog. Really horrible magazine, that sounds like. The worst thing is the fact that people will read that, and then trust it because it's in print.

I think you're just being smart too, and I wish more people were! :) Philadelphia Eddie's is a damn fine studio though, don't worry too much! :)

Oh, and by the way- it's really awesome to be talking to people who are really impartial and don't really know me too well yet about this. Half of the time when I talk to people I know I sort of get smoke blown up my arse and people telling me, "you rock of course you can do X, Y and Z!". My friends always mean well, but it's really kind of refreshing to hear some solid advice from you guys, so thank you very much. :)

Hey guys I'm back- hopefully I won't leave anyone out in this reply, let me know if I've been rude (I'm a sucker for politeness, haha). Alanna, I've seen Urban Ink on one of those rubbish iPod apps too- I didn't realise it was a real magazine. This actually disappoints me! And there are more of those? That kind of sucks. Glad you saw the funny side of my embarrassment though- I can really put my foot in it at times! Hustler sounds pretty bad, as does all of these other Ink magazines- who is it who keeps buying these magazines? I don't understand it sometimes. I think Deb hit the nail on the head- pouty girls and Jersey Shore boys! Picture quality is another thing which can really irritate me- I think it can be understandable once in a while (I know myself from doing a convention with no photographer available and having to take pictures myself- hopefully they turned out okay!), but when it's constant, you sort of wonder where your money's going when you buy it, do you guys think? Honestly, even if those magazines were good, I wouldn't fit in- I'm just a quiet girl from Newcastle who likes writing and tattoos, I don't care about all that suicide girls crap they put in some magazines. I can also see why Stewart didn't mention Tattoo Artist Magazine- I know it's a great magazine, but I feel like I'd have no right doing anything for them since I don't tattoo. I've only ever written for one trade only magazine before, and it was on Japanese art so I just managed to get away with it! Patrick, your advice really rocks, thank you for that :) I'm already starting to see what you mean about how hard it can be, though what you said about this being a good time was right- since I've only just left university, I'm still living at home, so it'll be a lot easier right now. My best friend is also freelancing in film, so we probably have a fair way to go until we move out, too, haha. A part time job is something I've been really thinking about- it should be easier to get one soon, now that all the students are moving home! Thank you for the kind words and advice, I'll take all of it on board. You're a real gem, mate! I'll have a read of your PM now, too. Thanks everyone, it's always appreciated.

Valerie, you're right- I am pretty embarrassed right now. Stewart, I apologise! And in a thread I made about writing? Not exactly looking too professional right now, am I? Sorry about that, Stewart!

To be honest, I kind of like the idea of earning the tattoos on your hands and neck. I don't just mean already being tattooed (though, I totally agree that you should already have a more than decent amount of tattoos before getting really visible ones), but I also mean knowing you can get away with them, in a way. Any idiot with money can get a load of tattoos and then go for the jugular. When I get my hands and neck done, I'll get them done when I'm doing so well with my career that I know it won't have any effect on me. That's how I see earning your visible tattoos, and I like that. Plus, I really want those areas tattooed so it makes me work really hard. I think your hands and neck are also the ones where you really want to go to the best tattooer you can physically get to, because they're so visible and kind of special. Even if that means waiting for ages on a waiting list, it shouldn't matter. Now, if only my neck was ridiculously long, then I won't have to have such a huge decision on my hands (literally! Wheeeey!) when the time comes, haha.

Stewart, you fucking rock. Thanks for such a detailed reply, I really appreciate it a lot! :) I couldn't agree more with you about Total Tattoo, and I have one or two ideas for them which I think I'll work out a draft for to see if Sally likes it. I've spoken to her a few times and she seems really lovely, and the magazine rocks. In all honesty, I think Total Tattoo is one of the only UK magazines I'd like to write for, because they have no beef with anyone. Unfortunately there are one or two other magazines I can't say the same for and it's not all something I really want anything to do with- I just want to write! I think you and I are really on the same page as far as quality goes- I was actually nodding my head as I read that, haha. I get pretty tired of reading about the "wacky" photoshopped tattoos on whatever smutty model is on the cover, or what's the "new big thing" and stuff like that. I agree they're too common- hey, if you ever stop tattooing for any weird reason, you should become an editor- you sound better than a lot already ;) Contrary to what you said, it does actually help me, so thanks! I like knowing what tattooers like in magazines- it's your industry we're writing about, after all. If you guys think we're getting it wrong, then we're definitely getting it wrong. I'll admit I've heard a few things about Skin and Ink as well, so I don't think I really want to approach their editor. I downloaded one of their magazines from their iPod app too, there were a hell of a lot of boobs in there, haha. It won't hurt to see what Tattoo Savage and International Tattoo Art are like now, but thanks for the heads up about them- I'm now not expecting much, so if they're good now at least it'll be a nice surprise, haha! Thanks for the tips you stuck in at the end, too, they're always appreciated :) I think one of the main reasons why I've been looking into a range of magazines is because, like you said, writing is a freelance job, mostly. I don't want to go jumping from one magazine to another without really knowing at least a little about them. I know some other writers who keep hearing the whole "cheque's in the mail" stuff, or putting loads of work into something which ends up being edited to look shit, so it's something you want to avoid if you can. Thankfully, tattoo artists have been pretty cool with me so far on the interview front, so hopefully that means I'm likeable, haha :) I think I'm starting to see just how different it is to blogging, though- I'm currently on my second day of doing a feature for a magazine about the Swastika symbol- I'm so used to writing things in no time for the internet! Anyway, thank you very much for that reply, Stuart- like I said, it's much appreciated! I think this reply will look a little like an essay, but I didn't want to reply to everything you said in just a paragraph and look rude, haha. Thanks again! :)

Ah yes! How could I forget those magazines?! I love Tattoo Life, I'll definitely try a lend of their editor's ear :) Thank you, Joe!

Hey guys, Following on a little from Patrick's thread (here), I've been doing some thinking myself about writing full time for tattoo magazines. I've finally left university and now I can manage it properly instead of going in blind with no time for it, haha. Anyway, when it comes to approaching some more editors I'm at a bit of a loss. I know about the magazines near me (in the UK), but I've been thinking about speaking to some editors from other countries- since I don't live in those other countries, I don't really have that much knowledge about them other than the few I can get in the newsagents. Do you guys have any really good (or bad) experiences with magazines outside of the UK? I'd really love to hear about them before diving right in there. I've been approached and let down by way too many editors now to just jump straight in, haha. Oh, if it helps, magazine-wise I'm already mainly writing for Tattooist Art, though I've done odd bits and pieces in a few places. Anything's appreciated! Thanks in advance :)

Schwiing, I like being right. ;)

Finally, something to make writing on a Monday tolerable. Thanks for sharing!

I'm going to take a guess at it being like "den-o"- if it was like "dino", it'd be spelled either "dino", "deano" or maybe "deeno". Then again, my friend Johnny used to spell his name to sound like "jone-y", so you might just want to see if you have the balls to get away with saying "D", haha!

Hello there everyone :) So, I already have a personal blog and I'm way too lazy to start another one properly, but I do like this site so I guess a couple of posts here and there wouldn't go amiss. If you like tattoos (duh), photography, angry rants and pictures of dinosaurs, you can always click here to see my site, I guess. Booked in another tattoo today, though- very excited. Also, I am very grateful, since I had some money saved at the studio for a deposit and could therefore book in without even leaving my bed- I am unwell this week, so that added bonus was delightful :) Anyway, I'm telling you this because I think anyone who lives oop north should know that Thomas Morgan and Shon Lindauer are coming to Newcastle Upon Tyne at the end of the month! They may even bring a special guest with them, which is very exciting. The guys still have a couple of spaces left between the 30th and the 14th of July, and I'd advise anyone around to book in while you can. If you want to book in, you can either speak with Thomas or Shon on Facebook (you can just search for their names, they'll come up) or get in touch with Ian at Inkslingers tattoo studio- go to Inkslingers Tattoo Studio, Newcastle Upon Tyne for contact details. Oh, and if you do book in- let me know! I'm a nosy cow, haha. I'll post some stuff up once I've had my appointment if anyone is interested- actually, I probably will even if you aren't- writing bollocks comes with the job ;) Hopefully this doesn't come across as me trying to advertise or anything like that, I do genuinely think this is awesome and people should know, haha. Last time Thomas was here he was a real delight, and did some wonderful work.

Customer here: I think I'm just an obsessive collector at heart. That's the only reason I've ever managed to come up with, anyway. You could maybe also say that because my mam, aunties and cousins all have tattoos (and the fact I went with them for a couple) made it "one of those things", where you just sort of do it without thinking that much. Mind, I'm a lot more covered than anyone else in the family (see: obsessive collector).

The first time I went to a studio was a pretty uneventful experience compared to some, though I do think it's funny how it was actually my mam who walked out with the souvenir of our day on her shoulder, since I was about 14.

Haha, as if I just said, "trouble is" in that post above, as if that was the only thing wrong with him tattooing his knuckles. :P

Worst I know of is my ridiculously thick ex boyfriend. He actually had some really good linework on his arm for a sleeve until we broke up and he decided he didn't want to go back to my friend's studio (or pay him the money he owed him), but that's another story... The idiot, of course, is stupid enough to own a tattoo "kit", and decided to get the word "HOPELESS" on his knuckles. Trouble is, he got mixed up when he was doing it and ended up with "LESS HOPE". I really do know how to pick 'em.

Hi! :) I'm fairly new too, welcome to LST!

This is why I'd never make a "Top 100 ____" list- you'd always be wrong, haha.

Same thing keeps happening to me- if it helps at all, I'm also using Google Chrome.

Y'know what? I think I like your opinion more than my own, haha. Good points!

This is another reason why people should have IQ tests before getting a tattoo, in my opinion.

I only used a medical condition as an example, sorry if that wasn't clear. In every other aspect, I'm agreeing with you! :)

He didn't suffer enough.