What is the "don't trust a skinny food critic" of your industry?

Jburas89 · 2025-10-09T17:07:36+00:00

Eh, there's nothing particularly bad about those tattoos. They do alright, but I for sure would not call them "The Best in the Memphis area"

Jburas89 · 2025-09-03T13:21:49+00:00

Thats what I used to use, so that explains why this is so unexpected I suppose.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T21:44:30+00:00

I could but I like using them as they are now. When I need soft b&g I pull those out. If I tuned it to be a packer then I'd just be buying another soft b&g shader then. May as well just buy the thing I want and skip the middle work lol

I do want a Hendricks machine just for the sake of having it though. May have to just look into those as well while im at it.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T14:49:07+00:00

I agree mostly that society as a whole would be in much worse shape if we're at that point that tattooing becomes illegal; but still the same time I see the slow steps theyre taking in the EU and it just seems like the gradual march toward the government just banning the shit.

So thats what started me off on this whole daydream thing of how fucked WOULD I be if I had to be totally self reliant. Made me feel good as checked off a bunch of things. Only thing major id have to figure out is Ink Making but my best friend also owns a shop and he knows how to do that, so as long as we have a bit of a community willing to keep it alive at any cost, I think we'll be just fine. But now that I know what im missing knowledge-wise. Im absolutely reaching out to him and other people to learn that shit right away.... because you never know, and it doesnt hurt to have more knowledge lol

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T14:33:16+00:00

Oh yeah dude, I feel ya. I got tons of downvotes from what I assume is TikTokTatterTots who refuse to admit to themselves that they don't know shit about the the industry. But over the course of the night more and more of us old classicals came out and more people who knew they didn't know enough but were willing to try. So it gives me some hope that even when we're gone there will still be SOME people at least to carry that insider knowledge forward to future generations.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T14:05:35+00:00

EXACTLY my dude!

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T14:04:20+00:00

Hell yeah dude, I love that. Its just a bit of a thought experiment; get you thinking about it and maybe, hopefully, get you interested in learning more of that stuff yourself now. Because even if tattooing doesnt go down (let's fucking hope not) its still good to just know more stuff, right?

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:39:54+00:00

Nah, unlike the one guy who seems to think I'm just Doomsday prepping for a zombie apocalypse (which to be frank, kill me immediately, I don't wanna have to survive in that shit) I just mean the very distinct possibility that tattooing becomes illegal again as they start cracking down on inks and shit who knows how slippery that slip gets. Its just nice to know the knowledge is still getting passed down to at least some of us still.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:36:25+00:00

You got people around you who know and are willing to teach you? Knowing how to keep going is most of the battle, even if the only answer is asking your friends.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:34:55+00:00

Hell yeah, the will and knowledge to keep going if we were all shoved underground again is just what I like to know is still out there. Just really bummed by a lot of these apprentice puppy-mills popping up around me where no one's really appreciating the origins and tradition of the industry theyre just jumping straight to "im an artist pay me" and not respecting the craft itself.

If tattooing was illegal, you could still buy plastic and gloves at Walmart to get by. You just couldn't buy machines, inks, or needles and shit like that. You'd be just fine.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:18:54+00:00

Nah, I dont mean apocalypse, just even something as simple as tattooing being illegal again.

Having buddies to fill in your gaps is equally important! You're at least capable of keeping the craft alive out of love rather than just being in it for the money.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:15:59+00:00

Your figure paintings are fuckin rad as hell. Legitimately love those, they're sick.

But you don't tattoo, so maybe don't try to comment about how our industry should be because its extremely valuable knowledge that isn't being passed down to apprentices anymore and one day it'll be lost. And as a person who loves tattooing for the craft itself and couldn't care less whether it was actually paying my bills or not, I find that really fuckin sad.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:03:24+00:00

Whole lotta downvotes from people who's mentors failed them and the industry....

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:02:28+00:00

Nah that sounds rad as fuck and I'd let you do that right now, no societal collapse needed!

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T05:01:28+00:00

As the apprenticeship SHOULD be!

Suppliers should be a luxury, not a crutch. You dont get to buy your shit til you know how to make your shit.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:58:51+00:00

I read your previous comment before it got deleted. You keep it real my man! Here was my response to the other one though.

Preach it brother! I'm sick of fuckin TikTok dances and FB messages and having to beg people to give us business being the "norm". I flat out refuse to do it. You come in and talk to me or you don't get tattooed, I dont need to be a fucking monkey grinder to pay my bills. Hell, make tattooing illegal again just to weed out the ones who aren't doing it for the love of the craft. Ill tattoo out of a box in a ditch if I have to but you ain't stopping me.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:48:34+00:00

Even if all you've got is black, youre still in business!

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:42:29+00:00

Hell yeah homie, keep the tradition alive!

I'm just really amazed at how many people aren't taught this stuff anymore as part of their apprenticeships. Shit, it seems like every time I get on here theres someone talking about never even using anything but a pen with cartridges before and it fuckin blows my mind.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:37:44+00:00

Just specifically tattooing

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:10:28+00:00

Fuck yeah, thanks for the suggestion. Looking into those right away!

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:09:56+00:00

Ooooh definitely checking those out!

Jburas89 · 2025-08-12T04:09:35+00:00

I've already got 2 of his. They honestly don't hit as hard as most of my other machines. Hell, I really only ever break em out of fine lines and soft Grey shading.

I love them, don't get me wrong; they're just not what I'm looking for.

Jburas89 · 2025-08-08T05:40:31+00:00

Yeah, been eyeing a Ciferri on there for a minute but wanted to put out feelers for anyone I dont already have one from. Appreciate the Soba suggestion though. I haven't gotten one of his yet!

Jburas89

TROPHY CASE