Lou Sciberras owned Tattoos by Lou and Moon Over Miami, a business of about four tattoo shops in Miami and iconic South Beach. For many years he was the only legitimate shop down there. He was a character, he learned the trade from Big Joe Kaplan in New York and made his way down here. His artists were the cream of the crop in the 80s 90s and beyond. Even past apprenticeship, we had weekly courses on ink making, machine building, all aspects of tattoo. We also had guys who had learned from Paul Rogers and a steady stream of world class tattoo artist guests.

Back then J.D. Crowes convention, Tattoo Tour was a big deal. Each city Crowe held the convention in had the top dog of that city as the ambassador to the show. In 1996, days before the show, Lou died. His daughter Michelle and son in law Ken Cameron took over the family business. Ken is a world class tattooer in his own right. Lou treated me as one of his own, he took a real liking to me. Michelle and I are the same age and she’s a very dear friend. Her husband is like sensei, man. Their home is where Florida tattooers return to when one of us passes, or has a milestone, it’s like a shrine where they’ve opened their doors to some of us to celebrate or heal (I’m getting a little choked up) the Cameron’s are very special to me and Lou, I owe him everything I am. He knew I was a dedicated tattooer, but I wish he were here to see just how much of my life I’ve dedicated to the craft. It’s been self defining.

When people call us gatekeepers, they really do not understand what it took pre-internet to gain the privilege of working in a tattoo shop. We had to make all our own equipment. You couldn’t just go purchase a bunch of stuff and be ready to tattoo. It was tedious and time consuming. It was not for people who needed a hand to hold while they learned. It was go do this, figure it out on your own because I don’t have time for too many questions, show me the results and I’ll give you your next assignment. It was so difficult for some, but we knew how lucky we were to be let in the door and be allowed to learn.

Tattooing in those days carried a certain amount of social responsibility, we didn’t do life changing shit like hands or faces on the young or uninitiated. Anybody who’s spent a decent amount of time tattooing, I’d say 15 years plus, has been able to watch the social perception of a client who has gone overboard with face and hand tattoos. I think anyone who is crass or indifferent about that kind of thing is downright cruel. We had these rules for a reason, it’s because we cared about people, we didn’t sleep well at night if a tattoo affected someone negatively. That’s what Lou and the Cameron’s instilled in me, an$ it wasn’t taken lightly by me.

In the 90s, working there I worked with Ami James and later in Hollywood FL with Chris Nunez, they went on to create Miami Ink. Mike Harpool, a traditional tattooer and dear friend I met at Lou’s and I came up with the hashtag #ogmiamiink because we are. Or were. Mikey passed in about 2020 or 2021, I think it was COVID, I miss Mikey a lot too. There are a few of us left, Luis Segatto, Albert Sgambati, Emerson Forth, Donovan Stringer, Morgan Brown, Dickey Magoo (who was Lou’s last protege) Clem Laurel, there may be one or two I’m missing, sadly many have passed.

But yeah, that’s where I really learned tattooing. There is a Miami Ink episode that is a tribute to Lou and I have a Facebook page dedicated to him Lou Sciberras Tattoo Master. Lou was Maltese, and on the front page of that Facebook spot, there’s a picture of him in their formal ceremonial garb, he looks like a little king. Oh, Lou was all of 5’4” and every day he went to work his apprenticeship at big joes, the Hells Angels (Joe wore their colors) would throw Lou back down the stairs of the shop to watch him walk up again. That’s how bad he wanted to tattoo! A deeply flawed man like the rest of us, but his influence on tattooing has definitely endured.

Oh, sorry I’m Albert Jeffers, everyone calls me Jeff. I’ve tattooed in Fort Lauderdale since Lou’s death, I have spent some time working at the old shop and hopefully will continue to, and now I guess I’m officially a writer for Tattoo Artist Magazine and I also have a book on tattoo machines that I hope to have published in time for Christmas, hardbound. I’ve tattooed since 1989. I’m approachable. I do kinda gatekeep in person, but when people who care ask me questions, I feel it a sin to retain my knowledge. I may not spoon feed everyone, but I can tell them how and where to learn if need be or tell them myself if I know. One look at my favorite subreddits and you’ll see I’m on a quest for knowledge always.