Just got an email from a guy with no tattoos who does not tattoo, we'll call him Old Man River, saying "Hey, opening a tattoo shop/art gallery with some friends and business partners," asking me if I knew anyone who wanted to work there. Without typing a laundry list of everything wrong with this picture (which I just did and then deleted after I thought better of it), what's the general feeling here?
My response to him was short but polite. I'm not a tattooer myself but I really wanted to fly off the handle a bit... and its not even my place to. I know there are a few non-tattooers who have done this very successfully but it's rare.
I wouldn't decide to go open a shoe store or a tire factory -- how could I justify it when I know nothing about those industries -- so why do people think they can open a shop/GALLERY and somehow become respected and successful in the tattoo community?