THE INDUSTRY FROM A REPUTABLE SUPPLIER'S PERSPECTIVE

BRETT FISCHER IS THE HEAD FIGURE AT 2 EVOLVE TATTOO SUPPLIES IN CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA. 2 EVOLVE IS THE PREMIER SUPPLIER THERE... FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, THE ONLY SUPPLIER THERE WHO REALLY CARES TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES BY SUPPORTING THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR ART. THIS PERSPECTIVE ON OUR INDUSTRY COMES FROM A SUPPLIER'S POINT OF VIEW. THE REST OF THE OSTRICHES WITH THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND NEED TO REALIZE WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON TODAY.

"Do you want to be a part of the solution? or would you choose to be part of the problem? do you even realize that there is a problem? By not choosing, you are part of the problem." - Godoys

"It’s a pertinent question everyone in the industry needs to ask themselves… If as suppliers we are part of a value chain, what is that value really measured in right now? Is it a brand name, a cheap selection of supplies, service or our affiliations? As suppliers we need to relook our position of value and the sustainability of our businesses in an industry drowning in artists, suppliers, supply options, product advancements and hype.

Recently we were privileged to host Steve and Art Godoy in South Africa at two Machine Seminars. The turnout of artists at the Johannesburg and Cape Town seminars stems not from a lack of ability but rather a desire to progress, to advance tattooing skills and to move forward rather than stagnate or move backwards.

Part 2 of the seminars are hands on - artists will fully understand their machines after this!

Artists who attended are relooking their thinking on machine set up, purchasing and value. Every day we receive requests for Feeler Gauges, 100uF Capacitors and components.. The confident and contagious desire to rebuild, experiment and better understand the tools of the trade has been awesome to watch. Our ability to understand these requirements has led us on a path to a complete rethink on our supply range and future purchasing.

The Godoy Twins have solidified our understanding that it is time to redefine our position as suppliers and our part in future progression or simply be left to continue down the path set by US supply houses advertising in the newspaper classifieds 100 years ago.

As a supplier do your part and host a Godoy Seminar.. Help unify artists who are progressive and help yourself better understand the value we as suppliers can contribute to Tattooing."

- Brett Fischer - CEO of 2 Evolve.

Egos, bullshit and the way forward.. Tamar Thorn

TAMAR THORN IS SOUTH AFRICAN TATTOO ARTIST WE MET AT OUR CAPE TOWN MACHINE SEMINAR. THOUGH SHE MAY HAVE BEEN TATTOOING FOR WHAT SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER A "SHORT TIME" - JUST OVER 3 YEARS, HER WORK IS PROOF THAT ADVANCEMENT COMES FASTER WHEN YOU APPLY YOURSELF.

"I was late falling in love with tattooing.. I started out looking for an apprenticeship when I turned 29 and even though I could draw well, had good business sense and didn't have a "tough girl" attitude I was surprised how few people in the industry in South Africa would give me the time of day. After going through a less than adequate apprenticeship and working in ego-driven street shops trying to figure everything out on my own I opened my own shop http://www.thebodyarchitects.com/studio.html . I still to this day don't know how I had the balls to do it given I'd only been tattooing for just under 3 years but hell, the shop exploded and we thrived our first year.

I always had this underlying feeling however that I wasnt in full control of my work. My machines confounded and frustrated me and I must have gone through ten new machines in that year, throwing each one into the drawer of death when they inevitably disappointed me with inconsistency and never ending problems. Who the hell do you turn to when no one wants to talk? Does everyone go through this and if so WHY?? There are so many of us.. all throwing our toys when our machines fail us, knowing that if we had full control we would be able to pull off such great work.. which is after all the reason we should all be doing this. To create beautiful, lasting tattoos with minimal discomfort and maximum enjoyment for our customers. No inflated ego, tough talk or hardcore image is gonna hide the fact that your tattoos suck ass.

Looking for answers online and asking other artists who also learned by trial and error never helped, until the Godoy's shone a lil light on the subject! The seminar helped me to change my whole attitude towards my machines. They don't control my work anymore and I can do a better job with less stress for me and the person I'm tattooing.

The seminar did something else too.. for one day everyone in that room was equal. We were all tattooers, looking for answers and everyone talked and shared their stories. It's amazing what can happen when egos are left at the door and the passion for the art of tattooing is once again the only thing that matters.

Art and Steve have a "no bullshit" approach in everything they do. They know what they are talking about because they've been through everything already. Listening to them talk was truly inspiring and being at the seminar was possibly one of the highlights of my carreer thus far. I know I can always carry that knowledge with me and where I can, pass it along.

The industry is changing, even since I started I can see how it's grown and shifted. I used to have people stare and scowl at me on the street, pull their kids away.. but now tattooing is on the TV and everyone and their kids are getting tattooed cos they saw it on Miami Ink. There isn't any stopping that. People want drama and tattooing is flavour of the month. The only thing we can do to ensure the bubble doesn't burst is be responsible, be informed and keep our heads out of our own asses. We aren't rockstars, we are artists who put their work on human skin. It's a practice to be respected and it's up to all of us to stay true to that."

SKILLS AND SHIT... Jory Helmes - Bully Boy Tattoo, Duncan, BC

By Jory Helmes

Art Godoy, asked me to write about, and I quote, “skills, and shit... and

moving forward... Advancing…” I’m going to try and avoid taking this TOO literally; the “shit” part anyway.

Tattoo by Jory Helmes

Skills happen when you pay attention and do the time. How many times do I hear, “I can’t even draw a stick man!”… Those assholes are hard as hell to draw, are you kidding me!? Leave the stick men to the traditional tattooers.Try drawing something else! You have to put in the time for anything worthwhile, really.

When I was a kid, my dad told me, “As soon as you think you know everything,youdon’t know anything.” You’ll never be the best. Ever. A lot of people have a real problem with this idea, (myself included). It’s irritating and comforting at the same time.

Tattoo by Steve Godoy

When I first started tattooing, about 8-9 years ago, I remember looking at tattoos in magazines and thinking, “Alright, one day when I can tattoo like THIS guy, I’ll have made it.” I’m sure everyone’s been there at some point. It wasn’t very long before I was there. What the hell? The industry had moved ahead as well; quite quickly in fact. Now there are more magazines and websites showcasing amazing tattooers, rubbing my own artistic inadequacies in my face. Fuckers. What an amazing time to tattoo, and yet so frustrating. It just feels like I can never keep up. It’s all perspective I guess. There’s someone starting out somewhere, right?

Tattoo by Art Godoy

Skills, and shit, and moving forward. Moving forward is all we can do, and the skills happen in their own time. If you can’t move forward and improve, well… you’re that “shit” part. Paying homage to the old way doesn’t help you get better. Understanding how they did it and moving on does. Treating something as an absolute only prevents you from accepting new ideas later on.

Tattoo by Mark Lankin

In conclusion, the future of tattooing is some exciting shit, and the present is where it’s at!

Jory Helmes

2011 - STATE OF THE ART... STATE OF THE INDUSTRY. CHECK YOURSELF

HELLO READERS.

Do you want to be a part of the solution? or would you choose to be part of the problem? do you even realize that there is a problem? By not choosing, you are part of the problem.

What is the problem?

The problem is NOT that the Chinese are making our industry cheap by manufacturing cheap machines.

The problem is NOT the stupid TV shows that paint tattooing in such a lame and inaccurate way.

The problem is not the suppliers selling substandard products - spring gauges that you will never use such as .015 - .016 and .020 and higher... and the blue springs... which are a low grade tempered and stiffer than the gauge that they are labeled...

THE PROBLEM is the ignorant artist who does not realize that even a Chinese machine can be made good - the specs are the same, there is little difference between Chinese 1010 steel and American 1010 steel... 24g copper magnet wire and Chinese 24g copper magnet wire, which is mined in South Africa!! So, country is irrelevant... it's the specs that count, and the hands that that machine are in.

TO BE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL, ONE MUST BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR HIS / HER MACHINE. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR MACHINE, THEN YOU DO NOT TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT GOES ON WHEN THE NEEDLE GOES IN. THIS WILL HAVE AN AFFECT ON THE FINAL RESULT.

There are a lot of artists who are who expect the machine to do it all for them. If you deny it, then look at the facts:

- Pre made needles - made for you, are all the needles in that grouping the same taper? doubtful... in many cases, made in china - some short tapers and some long in the same 9 mag grouping.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU MAKE YOUR OWN NEEDLE GROUPINGS? WE DO, EVERYDAY.

- Pre packaged disposable tubes... made to order...

Most artists are too SCARED TO LEARN that:

- Buying by brand is a JOKE. How many 'reputable' manufacturers actually tattoo?

-By saying a MACHINE IS BAD you are showing you ignorance and inexperience in this TRADE...if a machine has a set of coils mounted on a frame with a capacitor, has a connector post wether it be RCA or clip cord, an upper binding post with a contact screw, a set of springs attached to an armature bar... then how bad is it????

An email from an inexperienced unqualified artist prompted this blog...the poor guy is looking for answers and doesn't even trust himself to learn how to diagnose, tune, rebuild and modify his machines, he rattles off name brands as if they mean anything or as if they will give him some kind of authority... all he can do is blame...

He is blaming because he actually has NO CLUE on machine function: the most important tool of this trade!!! I cant even imagine what his tattoo work looks like!!!

- Godoy seminar Italy - 2004, 140 people!

SO.... in a nutshell...BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION! YOU WONT FIND ANSWERS BY BLAMING, THREATENING OR BEING INCOMPETENT ... UNDERSTAND YOUR MACHINE, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU ARE TATTOOING PEOPLE , UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CLIENT FEELS AND HOW EASY YOUR TATTOO GOES IN WITH PRECISION AND FINESSE WHEN THE MACHINE IS TUNED PERFECTLY, UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TROUBLE SHOOT ISSUES AND THAT HOW MACHINE FUNCTIONS IS UP TO YOU.

BLAMING SHOWS INCOMPETENCE AND INEXPERIENCE...WOULD YOU TAKE A CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO USE A WRENCH???

OK...GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER, STEP OUT OF YOUR EGO DRIVEN TATTOO UNIFORM AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THIS GUY IS A PROFESSIONAL IN HIS OWN WAY- FINDING SOLUTIONS... RESPECTFULLY.

Hello

My name is Chris Toler. I am a tattoo artist at Ancient Art for Time Machines Danny Fowler. I purchased one of the V2 machines during the hellcity convention in Columbus about 2 years ago from Steve. It is an amazing machine and i used the hell out of it over the course of the past few years however over time it has lost a bit of its punch and the throw is different. I'm honestly not that inclined in the mechanics of tattoo machines..and even if I was i would doubt i could mess with the setup of the Godoy machines. So i guess what im getting to is that im wondering how I would go about sending in my machine to have it retuned and get it back to running like when I first got it. I would really appreciate a response whenever you get a chance. Thank you

Chris

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BOUGHT A MACHINE AND BEEN DISAPPOINTED? AND NOT HAD THE WORDS TO DESCRIBE SPECIFICALLY WHY?

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE WANTED TO TAKE THE MACHINE APART WITH THE GOAL OF FINDING THE ANSWER BUT WERE TOO SCARED THAT YOU WOULD RE ASSEMBLE IT AND HAVE IT RUN WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE?

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE WANTED TO RETURN YOUR MACHINE TO THE SUPPLIER BECAUSE YOU FELT THAT IT WAS A PIECE OF SHIT, AND ALL THE Y COULD DO FOR YOU WAS EXCHANGE IT FOR ONE THAT WAS WORSE?

IT IS UP TO YOU TO EDUCATE YOURSELVES. TO LEARN THIS INFORMATION, STOP THE BLAMING & START LEARNING!

WE WILL BE DOING A SEMINAR OCT. 17 AT PAINFUL PLEASURES IN HANOVER MARYLAND. CONTACT THEM TO REGISTER.

THE ONLY WAY TO BEAT THIS WAVE OF IGNORANCE IS TO BE BETTER. BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION.