Saturday, May 30, 2009

Imperial Tattoo


Soon I will be getting a new tattoo. I've been working on a design for several months off and on and it's about 99.5% complete. There are several tattoo studios in Columbia. The tattoos I have were done at a place called Dream Catcher, done by a man named Spider. I really like Spider and his work. Unfortunately, at least for my plan, Spider has moved. I think moving was a good thing for him so I'm glad he moved. Now I have to find someone else to do my tattoo. Spider had an apprentice named John a few years ago, and he is a very good artist I plan on finding if he's still around. This decision was finalized yesterday after a visit to Hollywood Rebel Tattoo. I guess Hollywood Rebel is "the" place to go nowadays and several people have recommended it to me. I have been there a couple of times to get estimates on a couple of different designs. The problem is I always get the feeling that this place is too cool and not very welcoming to those who don't seem as cool- like me. When I went there yesterday there were about four guys hanging out in front of the store. As I walked up to the door they just looked at me like "What do you want?" I don't know if they worked there or were just hanging out. So I go to open the door and one guy asked what I needed. Obviously, he worked there so I told him I wanted an estimate. I showed him my work and we began to talk. A moment later, out comes this big guy cussing and throwing a fit talking about how he hates foreigners and how they can't speak English and blah, blah, blah. It was bad enough that the guy I was talking to kind of told that guy to chill out and then asked us to go inside with him where he then apologized for the other guy. I could tell he was a little embarrassed by the situation. We finished talking and we left. I knew at that point I wouldn't be getting any tattoo done at that place. I just can't see going somewhere to have my body permanently altered that has people working there who don't accept others. Language barriers can be frustrating but I felt like asking the big angry guy why he didn't just speak in the foreigners language if English was such a problem. The fact is that a foreigner who can speak English to any standard is doing a better job than an American who can't speak a lick of any other language because he or she thinks that English is the universal language. I love America, but we're not the center of the universe. It's ironic that a place that has rebel in its name actually has people with conformist philosophies. I don't know, maybe it'd be a good place to get a swastika tattooed on my ass.

8 comments:

Beefcakes said...

Thanks for the comments. Glad to know others have had the same experience and it wasn't just me.

kal said...

I will be venturing into the world of tattoos for the first time as I have decided to finally get one for my 40th birthday. Been working on the design for quite some time - now need to find someone that can do it.

Beefcakes said...

Kal, you'll have to send me a picture of it when you get it. My only advice is to not get it too small. I've had both my tattoos blown up before getting them done and I'm happy I did. Don't go dinky.

Prozenberger said...

Thats a bummer about your experience there, man. I have had nothing but good luck with all of those guys, and I plan on going back soon. I know Mikey, he is the manager, and I doubt he would be too stoked to hear of how his employee was acting. Honestly, I have taken Alicia there, and we have had Dillon with us, and they made us feel super welcome and they were mindful of having a kid in the shop. I am not trying to say that G's actions were right, you just don't do that kind of stuff at a place of business, whether its a tattoo shop or a doctors office. But, maybe the patron had miss treated him in some way...

If you are looking to travel a bit, there is always Iron Age in StL.

bocomo1969 said...

Come over to my place. I'll tattoo the initials EF on your buttocks. That way on your off weeks of being my sweet thang, you can cozy up to the grizzly one that spells his name withaK. The tattoo will make sense in either situation. make sense?

kal said...

thanks ... will definitely heed that advice!

Beefcakes said...

Ethan, I have your name tattooed on my heart- you sweet thang.

Judith Kaufman said...

Everyone I know says to try Living Canvas.