Me too. I'm Gabe from TattooNOW, pleased to meet you.
Helping tattooers leave the longest lasting positive impact possible keeps me up late. SInce the 90's I've done this by helping artists, studio owners, managers, and other professionals to visualize, maximize, and fufill their potential. This means helping with tech, business, and professional development.
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This also means connecting collectors with world-class tattooers.
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[55:57] “I feel like so much of this evolution has been necessary, but oftentimes it’s done by people who don’t have fancy, million dollar machine shops. It’s people who are just doing the best with what they have, so there’s a lot of awkward steps.”
— Cooper
The current market trend seems to lean towards sleeker, lighter, and faster equipment. However, one must question whether that is truly what the art of tattooing needs. Throughout the article, a recurring theme emerges: limited communication between manufacturers and tattoo practitioners over the past 15-20 years. Instead of focusing on genuine innovation and addressing crucial aspects, manufacturers often prioritize producing what sells.
The article has already touched upon the fact that artists often become accustomed to what they're working with for various reasons. However, it's important to acknowledge that there may be unknown factors hindering artists from achieving more consistent results, such as the shape of their machine or the distribution of weight.
This issue appears to be subjective, considering different hand sizes and preferences among artists, among other things. Nonetheless, the concept of stabilization holds merit. What truly contributes to consistency in tattooing? Is it the skill level and technique of the artist, a well-optimized setup, a reliable machine, or the weight of the equipment? It could be a combination of these factors, but what is the definitive determining factor?
It is crucial for manufacturers and tattoo practitioners to engage in meaningful communication and collaboration. By fostering a stronger dialogue, they can explore innovative solutions that truly matter to the art and craft of tattooing. This proactive approach will lead to advancements that benefit both artists and the industry as a whole.
[44:24] “Clearly there’s a line in anything where you’re just making trouble for yourself, it’s not worth agonizing over this or that. But, really until you test you don’t know whether you’ve found something really useful that you should pay attention to.”
— Cooper
Testing is really important to figure out what works for your setup, but it takes time and money. Instead, many people just go with what others recommend or what's popular, without really understanding why it works. They don't stop to think about personal preferences or the fact that they might just be used to a certain choice. Unfortunately, this means they miss out on the chance to discover what truly works best for them.
Your own experience and situation are super important in figuring out what's effective. Just following recommendations or going with what's popular might not give you the results you want. Testing, like trying out different products or comparing them side by side, gives you real-life knowledge and helps you make choices based on what suits you best. By putting in the time and effort to test things out, you can make informed decisions and set up something that really works for you.
submitted on 03.08.24