DOES IT HURT?
#1 QUESTION, WITHOUT A DOUBT! THAT'S KINDA HARD TO ANSWER. I'VE HEARD COUNTLESS COMPARISONS FROM
MY CUSTOMERS BUT ALL AGREE THAT IT IS A VERY UNIQUE KIND OF FEELING. I DESCRIBE IT AS FEELING KINDA "SHARP". SOMETIMES IT
HURTS LIKE HELL AND OTHER TIMES I HARDLY KNOW I'M BEING TATTOOED. I EVEN FELL ASLEEP ONCE! I'VE ONLY SEEN THAT HAPPEN A FEW
TIMES SO FAR. IT ALL DEPENDS ON A PERSON'S PAIN TOLERANCE & LOCATION OF THE TATTOO (GENERALLY, BONEY AREAS STING A LITTLE
MORE). THERE IS NO RULE OF THUMB, PAIN IS A SUBJECTIVE KINDA THING SO WHAT MIGHT HURT FOR ONE PERSON MIGHT NOT FOR ANOTHER.
I MAINTAIN THAT ANYBODY CAN GET TATTOOED. IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD. IF YOU WORK YOURSELF UP ABOUT IT AND GET ALL IN KNOTS THEN,
YEAH, IT'LL PROBABLY HURT MORE! MY ADVICE FOR THE 1st TIMER IS: EAT BEFORE YOU GET TATTOOED, YOUR BODY NEEDS ENERGY TO DRAW
OFF OF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TRY AND RELAX!!! MOST PEOPLE SAY IT HURTS LESS THAN THEY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. GENERALLY SPEAKING,
THE OUTLINE HURTS MORE THAN THE COLOR SHADING. REASON BEING THAT WHEN YOU'RE DOING THE OUTLINE EVERY SINGLE POKE OF THE NEEDLE
IS BREAKING A NEW AREA OF SKIN RESULTING IN PAIN. WHEN YOU ARE COLORING YOU ARE GOING OVER THE SKIN REPEATEDLY CAUSING YOUR
BODIES ENDORPHINS TO BE RELEASED. THE ENDORPHINS ARE YOUR BODIES' NATURAL PAIN RELIEVERS. GOING OVER THE AREA ALOT CAUSES
MORE ENDORPHINS TO FLOOD THE SPOT RESULTING IN LESS PAIN. YOU CAN ONLY TAKE THIS SO FAR HOWEVER. IF YOU WORK AN AREA TOO MUCH
YOU CAN END UP USING UP YOUR SUPPLY OF ENDORPHINS RESULTING IN PAIN AGAIN. OF COURSE THERE IS NO SET RULE ON THIS. SOME PEOPLE
FEEL THAT THE OUTLINE HURTS MORE THAN THE COLORING AND VICE VERSA.
HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO GET TATTOOED?
ACCORDING TO WISCONSIN STATE LAW, YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO RECEIVE A TATTOO. DO NOT CALL
ME TRYING TO ARGUE ABOUT IT, I DIDN'T MAKE THE RULES. ANOTHER THING, WHEN YOU CALL ASKING WHAT THE AGE REQUIREMENT IS AND
I TELL YOU IT’S 18, DON’T IN TURN SAY TO ME “WHAT IF MY MOM SIGNS FOR ME?” DO YOU SERIOUSLY THINK
THAT MIGHT BE THE CASE AND I SIMPLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT FACT?!!! LIKE, OH YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. YOU CAN BE UNDERAGE AND
RECEIVE A TATTOO, GOOD THING YOU REMINDED ME OF THAT FACT. WHAT WAS I THINKING, SAYING YOU HAD TO BE 18? THE AGE REQUIREMENT
IS 18 AND NOT A DAY UNDER.
CAN I BRING IN MY OWN DESIGN?
ABSOLUTELY! WHETHER IT'S A DRAWING, ON A T-SHIRT, IN A BOOK OR WHATEVER, I CAN WORK WITH YOU TO GIVE
YOU THE TATTOO THAT YOU WANT. HOWEVER, DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT BRING IN A DESIGN THAT IS TOTALLY DETAILED THAT'S THE SIZE
OF A QUARTER. YOU NEED TO BRING IN A GOOD SIZED COPY OF THE DESIGN. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DESIGN TO BRING IN THE SHOP HAS THOUSANDS
OF DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM OR I CAN CUSTOM DRAW ONE FOR YOU. DO NOT BRING ME A TATTOO DESIGN YOU RIPPED OFF THE INTERNET AND
EXPECT ME TO COPY IT. I'LL MAKE A SIMILIAR VERSION OF IT BUT I WILL NOT DUPLICATE SOMEBODY ELSE'S CUSTOM TATTOO DESIGN ON
YOU. YOU WOULDN'T WANT A PIECE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECE DESIGNED FOR YOU TO BE COPIED BY OTHERS NOW WOULD
YOU?
CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL BEFORE I GET A TATTOO?
NO! FIRST, YOU WILL BLEED MORE BECAUSE OF THE ALCOHOL IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM. SECOND, YOU DON'T WANT
TO MAKE A MISTAKE IN JUDGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SOMETHING SO PERMANENT. UNLIKE PAST GENERATIONS, THIS ONE WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO OFFER UP THE LAME EXCUSE THAT THEY WERE DRUNK WHEN THEY GOT TATTOOED, THEREBY EXCUSING THEMSELVES FOR BEING TATTOOED.
CAN I BRING MY KIDS INTO THE SHOP?
NO. A TATTOO SHOP IS AN ADULT ENVIRONMENT. FIND A BABY SITTER AND COME ON IN.
CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME NOVOCAINE/ANESTHETIC?
YOU HAVE TO BE A DOCTOR TO ADMINISTER THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND A TATTOO SIMPLY DOESN'T WARRANT THAT
TYPE OF TREATMENT ANYWAYS. YOUR BODY WILL PRODUCE ENDORPHINS TO HELP YOU WITH THE PAIN. ENDORPHINS ARE YOUR BODIES NATURAL
PAIN KILLERS AND THEY FLOOD THE AREA OF THE TATTOO SO THAT THE EDGE IS TAKEN OFF. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT BAD THAT YOU NEED TO
BE FEELING ALL WAVY GRAVY. ANYBODY CAN HANDLE GETTING TATTOOED. ALSO, DON'T TAKE ANY TYPE OF PILLS THAT YOU THINK WILL HELP
WITH THE PAIN. MORE LIKELY THAN NOT YOU'LL BLEED MORE.
WHEN CAN I SHOWER / SWIM / HOT-TUB?
YOU CAN SHOWER AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN THE BANDAGE IS READY TO COME OFF. JUST DON'T SOAK THE
TATTOO WITH HOT WATER FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AS FOR SWIMMING OR HOT-TUBBING, YOU CAN DO EITHER WHEN THE TATTOO IS ALL
HEALED, USUALLY ABOUT 2 WEEKS. AS SOON AS THE SCABBING/DRY SKIN IS GONE THEN IT IS OK, NOT BEFORE!
HOW ABOUT TANNING?
NOT UNTIL THE TATTOO IS HEALED. THAT MEANS ALL SCABS OR DRY SKIN IS GONE. THEN YOU SHOULD USE SUN
BLOCK LOTION. ALWAYS. IF YA DON'T, *SHRUG*, YOU WERE WARNED. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT FADES EVERYTHING AND YOUR TATTOO IS NO EXCEPTION.
SO TAKE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS TO PROTECT THE TATTOO. IF YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GONNA JUST DIE IF YOU CAN'T TAN WHILE IT'S HEALING,
THEN COVER THE TATTOO UP WITH SOMETHING (THEREBY RISKING AWKWARD TAN LINES!).
WHAT IF MY TATTOO NEEDS TO BE TOUCHED UP?
THERE IS A MINIMAL TOUCH UP FEE INVOLVED WITH TOUCHUPS NO MATTER WHAT THE CAUSE DUE TO THE COST OF
SETTING UP AND THE BOOKING OF TIME. THERE IS SIMPLY NO WAY THAT I CAN CONTROL THE WAY THAT YOUR BODY WILL REACT TO A TATTOO.
CAN I COME IN AND ASK ANOTHER ARTIST FOR A PRICE QUOTE AND THEN PRETEND I NEVER
GOT ONE AND ASK YOU FOR A QUOTE?
NO. TO COME IN AND ACT LIKE YOU NEVER HEARD A PRICE IS SCANDALOUS. IF YOU WERE QUOTED $100 AND YOU
ASK ME FOR A PRICE AND I TELL YOU $120 YOU'LL BE LIKE, SO AND SO TOLD ME $100. IF I TELL YOU $80 YOU WON'T BOTHER TO OPEN
YOUR MOUTH ABOUT THE FACT THAT I GAVE YOU A LOWER PRICE. FUNNY, HUH? TO PULL THAT TYPE OF B.S. INFURIATES ME AND INSURES YOU
WON'T BE GETTING TATTOOED BY ME. DO NOT COME IN AND ASK PRICES FROM ARTIST TO ARTIST ATTEMPTING TO GET THE BEST PRICE. IT'S
AS LOW AS LOW CAN GET. ALSO, DO NOT PRETEND TO FORGET THE PRICE QUOTE WHEN THE TIME COMES TO PAY. HOW MUCH DID I TELL YOU?
UM, DUH, I DON'T KNOW. OK, THEN IT'LL BE $120. HOLD ON!!! YOU TOLD ME $100. AHA!!! BUSTED!!! FUNNY HOW PEOPLE WILL CONVENIENTLY
"FORGET" THE PRICE UNTIL YOU QUOTE THEM A HIGHER PRICE.
WHY DO YOU SHAVE MY SKIN AND WILL THE HAIR GROW BACK?
DON'T WORRY, IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE THE MISSING LINK!!! EVEN THE SMOOTHEST FEELING SKIN USUALLY
HAS PEACH FUZZ THAT NEEDS TO BE SHAVED. IF IT WASN'T SHAVED IT WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE NEEDLES BEING ABLE TO PUT THE INK
IN PROPERLY, AND YES, THE HAIR WILL GROW BACK. NO, IT WILL NOT GROW BACK THICKER!!!
ANYBODY EVER PASS-OUT GETTING A TATTOO?
YES, BUT RARELY. I CAN USUALLY TELL IF A PERSON IS LOOKING A LITTLE WOOZY AND I'LL STOP AND GIVE
'EM A CHANCE TO RELAX FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE PRESSING ON. I'VE NEVER HAD A PERSON TELL ME THAT THEY WANTED TO STOP
GETTING TATTOOED AFTER SUCH AN EXPERIENCE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON GETS ALL WORKED UP THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK IT'S
GONNA FEEL LIKE. IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TATTOOED THERE'S JUST NO WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT A TATTOO FEELS LIKE. THERE'S NOT AN
ACCURATE COMPARISON THAT PEOPLE CAN AGREE ON. IF YOUR BUDDIES ARE TELLING YOU THAT IT'S GONNA JUST KILL, THEN YEAH, YOU'RE
GONNA BE STRESSING. AND WHEN PEOPLE STRESS, SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE! CALM THINKING IS THE KEY.
IS IT TRUE THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE AN EPIDERAL IF YOU HAVE A TATTOO OVER YOUR SPINE?
NOT TRUE. HOW AND WHY THAT RUMOR EVER GOT STARTED IS BEYOND ME. THAT'S A YOUNG WIVES TALE. THE MOST
RECENT INFO I READ SAYS THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
ANYBODY EVER HAVE YOU STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A TATTOO?
NO, BUT I HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN A FEW TIMES SO FAR WITH OTHER ARTISTS. IT'S INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO ME
HOW A PERSON COULD HAVE THE ARTIST JUST STOP WITH ONLY A FEW LINES ON THEM. IT DOESN'T HURT THAT BAD! IMAGINE THE EMBARRASSMENT
OF HANGING OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS WHEN TATTOO SHOW-N-TELL TIME ROLLS AROUND!!!
IF I GAIN OR LOSE WEIGHT WILL MY TATTOO LOOK THE SAME?
GENERALLY SPEAKING, YES. YOU'D HAVE TO REALLY GAIN ALOT OF WEIGHT AND DEVELOP STRETCH MARKS THROUGH
THE TATTOO TO RUIN IT. ON THE OTHER END OF THE ISSUE YOU'D HAVE TO LOSE ALOT OF WEIGHT TO HAVE ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOUR TATTOO.
CAN I GET A TATTOO IF I’M PREGNANT?
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NOT DO. LET’S ASSUME THAT DURING THE HEALING PHASE OF YOUR TATTOO
YOU DEVELOP A MINOR INFECTION. NORMALLY THIS IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS A GROWING BABY TO THINK OF. WHY
TAKE THE RISK OF SOMETHING MINOR TURNING INTO SOMETHING MAJOR SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU WANT A TATTOO?
IF I GET PREGNANT WILL MY STOMACH TATTOO BE OK?
TRICKY QUESTION. I TELL WOMEN TO LIBERALLY LOTION THE SKIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY TO AVOID STRETCH
MARKS. IF YOU GET A STRETCH MARK THROUGH THE TATTOO YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO FIX IT AFTER YOU’VE GIVEN BIRTH. A PREGNANT
STOMACH IS LIKE A BALLOON. WHEN YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT THE DESIGN IS NORMAL AND COLORFUL. WHEN YOU ARE PREGNANT THE TATTOO WILL
STRETCH AND APPEAR NOT SO VIBRANT BUT SHOULD RETURN TO NORMAL ONCE THE BABY IS BORN ASSUMING THAT YOUR STOMACH RETURNS TO
IT'S NORMAL STATE.
WHO GETS TATTOOED?
WE TATTOO EVERYBODY THESE DAYS. EVERY SINGLE SEGMENT OF SOCIETY COMES TO GET TATTOOED THESE DAYS.
AND AGE ISN'T A BARRIER EITHER. I HAVE TATTOOED ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF PERSON IMAGINABLE. TATTOOS AREN'T JUST FOR DRUNKEN SAILORS
OR BIKERS ANYMORE. I TATTOO EQUAL AMOUNTS OF MEN AND WOMEN. TATTOOING IS FINALLY STARTING TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE AWESOME
ARTFORM THAT IT IS. TO ME IT'S THE ABSOLUTE BEST ARTFORM BECAUSE IT'S ALIVE AND GOES WITH THE PERSON EVERYWHERE THEY GO.
HOW DID YOU LEARN TO TATTOO?
IN MY CASE, I BEGAN MY APPRENTICESHIP ON NEW YEARS DAY 1992 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF MY STEP-DAD,
BILL HANSON, OWNER OF BLACK DRAGON TATTOO. I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A PART OF THE TATTOO WORLD.
THE TRADITIONAL METHOD FOR LEARNING TO TATTOO IS THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP. THE LENGTH OF THE APPRENTICESHIP VARIES FROM SITUATION
TO SITUATION. THE MASTER TATTOO ARTIST SUPERVISES EVERY STEP TAKEN DURING THE TRAINING TO INSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE TATTOOS
DONE BY THE APPRENTICE. APPRENTICESHIPS VARY IN TIME LENGTH DUE TO MANY FACTORS. EVERYBODY LEARNS AT THEIR OWN PACE SO LENGTH
OF TIME TATTOOING ISN'T WHAT DETERMINES HOW GOOD OF A TATTOOIST ONE IS, BUT RATHER THE QUALITY OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW THAT
COUNTS!
WHAT ARE TATTOO MAGAZINES ALL ABOUT?
THERE ARE MANY TATTOO MAGAZINES AVAILABLE THESE DAYS FOR A PERSON TO SELECT FROM. THEY ARE A GREAT
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR ME AS AN ARTIST AS WELL AS FOR A PERSON POTENTIALLY GETTING A TATTOO. I MUST STRESS THAT MOST OF
THE TATTOOS FOUND IN THE MAGAZINES ARE ORIGINAL PIECES AND SHOULD NOT BE COPIED. IT'S OK TO USE A DESIGN AS A REFERENCE BUT
THE CONSCIENTIOUS ARTIST WILL NOT COPY A DESIGN LINE FOR LINE.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE LICENSED TO TATTOO?
YES. AS OF JULY 1998, THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ESTABLISHED THE LICENSING OF TATTOO ARTISTS & BODY
PIERCERS BY THE STATE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ROUTINELY INSPECTS ALL TATTOO SHOPS IN THE STATE.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A TATTOO ARTIST AND/OR SHOP?
FIRST OFF, THE TATTOO SHOP SHOULD BE CLEAN. THE STAFF SHOULD BE HELPFUL AND ATTENTIVE TO YOUR NEEDS.
EACH ARTIST SHOULD HAVE A PORTFOLIO OF THEIR TATTOO ARTWORK AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST. BE SURE THAT THE ARTIST IS ABLE TO
DO THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU WANT. NOT EVERY ARTIST CAN DO EVERY STYLE OF WORK, SO IT PAYS TO LOOK FIRST. SPEND A LITTLE TIME
INVESTIGATING THE SITUATION CUZ IT IS A LIFETIME DECISION. MAKE SURE THAT THE SHOP HAS AN OPERATING AUTOCLAVE STERILIZER.
EVERYBODY SAYS THAT TATTOOS ARE ADDICTIVE, IS THIS TRUE?
THAT’S A LITTLE EXTREME BUT I THINK YOU’LL FIND THAT ONCE YOU GET ONE, CHANCES ARE YOU'LL
BE BACK FOR ANOTHER. JUST LIKE POTATO CHIPS, YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST ONE! WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT IT WASN'T SO BAD GETTING TATTOOED
THEY START THINKING ABOUT THEIR NEXT ONE! I NEVER INTENDED TO GET AS MANY TATTOOS AS I HAVE BUT HERE I AM, MANY TATTOOS
LATER! ALMOST NOBODY EVER GOES INTO THEIR LOCAL TATTOO SHOP FOR THE FIRST TIME AND SAYS "I'M GONNA GET MY ARM SLEEVED" OR
"I WOULD LIKE A FULL BACKPIECE TODAY". NO, YOU GO IN AND YA GET A LITTLE SOMETHING AND AFTER AWHILE YOU DECIDE THAT YOU
WANT ANOTHER AND SO IT GOES. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY TO PREDICT WHO WILL BECOME HEAVILY TATTOOED AND WHO WON'T. YOU'D BE
SURPRISED.
HOW LONG HAVE PEOPLE BEEN GETTING TATTOOED?
THE OLDEST HUMAN BODIES EVER DISCOVERED HAD TATTOOS, SO AS FAR BACK AS WE CAN GO WE FIND THAT PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN GETTING TATTOOED. MY GUESS IS THAT SOME CAVEMAN ACCIDENTALLY GOT POKED AROUND THE FIRE BY A CHARRED STICK AND NOTICED
THAT A MARK REMAINED AND THATS HOW TATTOOING GOT STARTED. EVER WONDER WHAT THE CAVE PAINTINGS WERE? THAT WAS THE WORLD'S FIRST
TATTOO STUDIO COMPLETE WITH "FLASH" ON THE WALLS TO PICK DESIGNS FROM! ALMOST EVERY CULTURE ON EARTH HAS PRACTICED TATTOOING
AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER. IT IS AN INTRICAL PART OF OUR HUMAN MAKEUP. IT'S NOT EVEN NECESSARILY HOW GOOD A TATTOO IS OR HOW
BIG IT IS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SOME PEOPLE. JUST HAVING THE MARK, THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR SOME PEOPLE. AS LONG AS THERE
ARE PEOPLE, THERE'LL BE TATTOOS!
MY BUDDY JUST WENT TO WALLY-MART AND BOUGHT THE "ELECTRO-COIL 5000 TATTOO GUN"
AND SAYS THAT HE CAN DO TWICE AS GOOD A JOB AS THE PROS BUT FOR HALF THE PRICE! WHAT DO YOU THINK?
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BE SOMEBODY'S GUINEA PIG AND WILLING TO RISK INFECTION BY GETTING IT OUT OF
YOUR KITCHEN WHO CAN STOP YOU? IF YOU ACCEPT THE FACT RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO THAT YOU WILL BE COMING TO SEE ME EVENTUALLY TO
GET YOUR HOMEMADE SCRATCHINGS FIXED OR COVERED UP, THEN GO AHEAD! THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SHOP EXPERIENCE. TO BE A TATTOO
ARTIST REQUIRES A FULL-ON APPROACH, YOU CAN'T CASUALLY APPROACH THE CRAFT AND EXPECT TO EVER EXCEL AT IT. IT'S JUST LIKE ANYTHING
IN LIFE, YOU NEED TO PUT THE TIME IN. WHEN YOU'RE SCRATCHING OUTTA YOUR KITCHEN, THERE'S ONLY SO MANY OF YOUR BUDDIES THAT'LL
LET YOU HACK AT 'EM UNTIL YOU RUN OUT OF PEOPLE TO DO. 99% OF HOMEMADE TATTOOS LOOK LIKE HOMEMADE TATTOOS, WE SEE 'EM EVERY
SINGLE DAY AND THEY AIN'T PRETTY! YOU WOULDN'T LET YOUR BUDDY PULL YOUR TOOTH OR PERFORM SURGERY ON YOU JUST BECAUSE HE BOUGHT
SOME TOOLS SOMEWHERE NOW WOULD YOU?! LET THE PROS HANDLE THE WORK. REMEMBER: THINK BEFORE YOU INK, CHEAP TATTOOS AREN'T GOOD
AND GOOD TATTOOS AREN'T CHEAP! YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR IN THIS WORLD. IT COSTS MORE IN THE LONG RUN, TRUST ME.
CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE TATTOO MACHINE?
NO.
CAN I COME INTO THE SHOP AND HAVE YOU SELL ME SOME TATTOO EQUIPMENT?
EMPHATICALLY, NO!!
