gougetheeyes

Wow, I hope that's true. I started a thread here with a draft of the letter. Please feel free to give any info/input.

Yeah, that was also on my mind. Originally, it started as strictly a business-related thing but Witera said after getting in touch with the city council he was directed to the NYS dept. of health. Also, if the consensus is to not send it, I am completely fine with not sending it.

(I'll also probably end up deleting the second to last pp starting, "Regardless of..." as it's kind of unnecessary.)

Would probably help if I included the letter... Dear _______, As you may be aware, the TLC television network is airing a series called Tattoo School that features a business called the Tattoo Learning Center, which operates facilities in San Diego, California and Schenectady, New York. Amidst all the recent publicity that it has garnered, I am urging you to please oppose this business. The trade of tattooing is one of the few occupations left in which a master trains an apprentice. This working relationship lasts years in order for the apprentice to acquire the mechanical, artistic and interpersonal skills necessary to complete a tattoo that is done correctly and is in line with strict guidelines established by the Department of Health. Tattooing is a licensed practice and a lack of knowledge regarding infection control and training related to blood-borne pathogens can create severe health risks. For a fee, the Tattoo Learning Center purports to teach years of training in a mere two weeks time. As a member of the tattoo community, I am appalled that such organizations are gaining legitimacy. I am disgusted by the flagrant disregard for the industry as a whole, and I shudder to imagine the health code violations which are bound to happen when so-called students are unleashed on the general public with only a modicum of training. Although these tattoo schools have always existed, they did so on the very fringe of the tattoo industry and had never been given much legitimacy simply because any tattooer –– or any tradesman, for that matter –– worth his or her own salt knows that paying a fee (usually ranging from $2,000 to $6,000) and spending a couple weeks in a classroom cannot begin to prepare anyone for real-world experience. However, because the TLC network has chosen to glorify this shortcut to tattooing, I am compelled to do everything within my power to oppose the Tattooing Learning Center and other businesses like it. Regardless of your opinion of tattoos or the tattoo industry, it is one of the richest and most sacred trades in our country and throughout the world. Centuries-old traditions are passed from master to apprentice, secrets are fiercely guarded and you would be hard-pressed to find the kind of support, loyalty and friendship between peers and coworkers in any industry. A doctor only becomes a doctor after years of schooling and multiple certifications. A master luthier can only be called a master after undergoing rigorous training. A sommelier is not simply a wine enthusiast because it has taken a lifetime to understand the complexities of wine. And any competent tattooer has spent years making tattooing his or her life work. Please oppose the Tattoo Learning Center in Schenectady and others like it. Sincerely...

Hey all, Scott recently posted to his blog here a letter from a friend regarding some positive action we could take regarding the glorification of tattoo schools. If you haven't read it, read it. Since letting my own indignation die down a bit, and especially since watching the first episode of Marcus Kuhn's Gypsy Gentleman and VBS' Tattoo Age, I have felt that the best responses are the indirect ones, that through creativity and a passion for tattoos, we needn't start protesting in the streets or bombarding TLC's hotlines, but instead simply continue to create / receive great tattoos, supporting the industry through legitimate projects like the ones just mentioned and being living, breathing examples of quality tattooers and educated customers. But Scott's post is related to the tattoo schools themselves, not to TLC (part of a billion-dollar corporation) and it brings up a good point that we, as a community, should instead be looking to the tattoo school businesses. As you know, I am not a tattooer, but I feel very strongly about so-called tattooers taking shortcuts, these businesses reaping the benefits and basically everyone just straight up losing on all sides. I've drafted a rough letter that can be sent to council members in Schenectady where one of the schools is located. I would love to get some feedback and hopefully we can make this a great one. I don't know enough about the health code aspects of it, so any more info. there would be great. LST member Witera33it has some new information from the NYS Dept. of Health regarding where to send the letters, so as we get the specifics worked out, take a look at the letter and please give some input. I guess it takes the mass media to create this groundswell, but hopefully contacting council members or the Dept. of Health will help in either stifling or shutting down these parasitic companies, or making new ones think twice before they open and start spreading their kitchen table scratcher gospel to millions of teenagers and 20-somethings who never thought about tattoos once in their lives but are now viewing it as a quick and easy alternative to becoming a banker. Thanks, hope this is helpful and constructive.

Holy shit dude -- are you anywhere near this??

Scott, I'm happy to draft a letter and get some input. I'll post on here before sending out to the council members and urge others to do the same. Keep you posted.

I am happy to write a letter to City Council members. I also think it's good that we've all now had some distance to get our thoughts in order. If I have time to put one together today at work, I will. As you know, I'm not a tattooer but hope I can help in some way.

A few years ago I thought, "Hm, I can't believe I don't have any skull tattoos, that's crazy." Then I went out and got some skull tattoos. I now have 5 skull tattoos or ones that incorporate a skull. And I also have a bunch of animal tattoos, too, but it all works out in the end!

McCabe's New York City Tattoo is great for New York during the 30s - 60s. Underway is the Only Way is a good contemporary type of history, the interviews in there are packed full of good stuff. Horitaka's Tattooing from Japan to the West is also interviews, pretty short but give you a good idea, lots of tattoers in there. That Dietzel book that just came out, These Old Blue Arms, is kind of a combination history+designs, just a really great one all around. These were just the few I could think of right off the top of my head. Check out bookmistress.com / tattooarchive.com.

Now we have the internet to teach us. The Art of Manliness | Men’s Interests and Lifestyle

Iwar has death metal kitty. This thread rules, I'm just gonna go ahead and like each post. My lady and I haven't been able to have pets due to the apartment we're in, and we actually had a really terrible experience when we adopted a cat a couple years ago, which was really just a huge all-out bummer, but that's not really relevant. Can't wait to move to a place where we can have pets! Ideally, dogs. And you know cats always show up sooner or later. Alanna, awesome stories, great cross-stitching! MsRad, henry tattoo is rad. (Named after Rollins>?) Ursula, nice one! I recognize that rose from Eli, too! Jade..crazy cat people! Perez actually did a great dog tattoo on our buddy Pete, hope he shares it. And pictures of his awesome gatos.

Great, great wording. Wanna see the rest of that eagle, too!

American equivalent to charvers?

Awesome. Also, "This is a repeat trait that I am beginning to realize in many professions, often times the most successful are the nicest, respectful and professional." Yes.

Just write: Nice!!!!!!

HAHAHA welcome back, Petri! I actually know the thing you're talking about, I think it might've been in the Tattoo Time #2, Tattoo Magic, though I also cannot remember..

True enough, but death doesn't always have to mean grizzly, gory stuff. The idea of "memento mori" is inherent in a lot of tattoo designs that don't need to be especially graphic. I have plenty of skulls but none scream death, really, even though some have daggers through them. I guess it's all perception.. what were we talking about?

It was never a decision, really. Started with the chest, crept down the arms and sides, now my legs have been taken over. But I'd say a combination of Flores'/Petri's/Ursula's post. Only now that I have substantial coverage (compared to your average citizen) have I really made an attempt to both plan my remaining space and attempt to answer that question of how I am portraying myself. I think I said somewhere else, "I keep waking up with new ones," which is a joke but pretty true.

I liked this in the other thread and I will continue to like it.

D, if I had to get one album by this fellow, which would you recommend?

I try to stay away from smoking, but I'll have a see-gar on occasion, maybe couple times a year. Don't really know enough about em though. Do Backwoods count?

Slayer, I could probably spend about 5, wouldn't be for every day, and I'd prefer it to be lightweight. Gonna get worn this summer and gonna be a godfather in it, among other things. Mario, funny, was looking at the Ludlow styles yesterday, either in charcoal or that light gray. Stopped in the men's shop the other weekend to see about tuxes, too, ha.

I think that sums it up pretty well. ...Man, people gettin EMOTIONAL.

HAHA man, how is gregory and/or laughing neck?!