Hey Jim, Please tell me first, what is not sufficient with the current regs. and why they need to be changed.

Just because jared says we he is seeing an infection rate out of control does not mean it is so. He will need to prove his position in the health department meetings. Does he actually have that evidence? if so, Why have we not seen it before?

Improvements for no reason are not necessary improvements. According to the Constitution “The law” of the land cannot be more stringent than necessary. And cannot be made more stringent unless a just and obvious need is present. That is why a Impact Study must be done before any changes are actually made any way. All this crying is premature. Any way
My comments will be heard in the public meetings The Health Authority is required to hold. Jared won’t be able to hide from my comments there.

Improvements are not worthless, but sometime as in this case are not needed. The only improvement to the current regs I can see would be to require disposable tubes and tips, and health permit every tattooer like food service workers are.
But, having a regulation that would indorse my Plastic K Model Tubes, would go against what Jared is teaching Darrell and Christina, he says My professional quality (plastic-single use) Tattools are for Scratchers. He does not know what current professional quality tattools really are.
Jared talks out of both sides of his mouth and is a pathetic hypocrite.

I am trying to organize locally, so local professionals that have the best interest in the Profession are, in fact, in control of our local Profession. One person, like Jared Preslar cannot decide for the entire local profession, what our needs actually are. And he cannot be allowed to over run the locals, unchecked. All I am doing is checking his mud.

Because tattooing involves a free speech issue that does not apply to hair, massage, and many other personal services. It is a little more complicated than just that, but that is why the Board of Cosmetology does not want the responsibility of regulation the tattoo profession.

My 30 years experience should qualify for some credit. Until you see something I say or do that would discredit me, Believe me. Just ask more questions

Neither do I. I can articulate my entire tattoo profession philosophy with any intelligent person.The big problem with dealing with tattooers is. 95% of all professional tattooers cannot read very well or understand what they are reading. Tattooers are usually uneducated, unemployed, drop-outs when they get into the tattoo Profession, and it doesn’t get any better after that.
Ignorance and Disrespect is the most difficult thing I have to deal with getting my message out to the literate professionals that care. Finding tattooers that read and care, now that is a difficult circumstance to find.

Jared is trying to be the Leader of the people that cannot form a question, and is afraid of those that can.
Where I am trying to get the support of the intellectual Tattooers that can read and understand the danger of being over run by corporate greed. The real danger from Jared Preslar (and Cj Starkey, Flaco Productions) is the Gypsies they brings into the area.

Here is a question for every one. If health regulations are adopted to include a health permit for every professional tattooer working in Davis County, will Jared ask for a travelers exemption, that will give the green light to keep his gypsies working under the Table without a health permit or business license? That is my main point.
Understand that problem and you understand the entire problem.

After 20 con-ventions within 2 miles of one of my studios or my other. I can tell everyone with my absolute first hand experience, that Gypsies and Con-ventions generally ruin both the financial market the locals have worked hard to established. And the traveling Gypsies destroy the word of mouth advertising that normally follows the local market.

Support your local Tattoo Artist – Buy Professional – Buy local

Boycott all Tattoo Con-ventions and Job Fairs in Utah 2012

We find the situation the Tattoo Profession and Local Markets are in, demands the attention of the local Enthusiasts and Clients because the Gypsies and Con-man-ventions (Job fairs) are destroying local markets, and they need to be stopped.
And we can’t stop the Gypsies or the Con-men without the help of our Clients and local Enthusiasts.

On the surface it doesn’t look like much problem.
But these gypsies are working under the table, over charging our local Clients, or not charging them at all. Ether extreme causes unbalanced markets, and destroys word of mouth advertising for the local tattooers.

There are two types of Conventions.
The proper Convention brings into an area experienced Tattooers and their Clients to show off their accomplishments of completed work to the local Enthusiasts and Collectors, and other Professional Colleagues.
This Event is approximately 80% local Tattooers and 20% traveling Tattooers working the floor.
This event puts more emphasis in generating interest in the completed work that is there to show off, and the local tattooers working the floor, rather than the emphasis on making money for the Traveling tattooers.
This type of event also generates more local interest in famous Tattooers. This event generates money for all participating Tattooers working the floor not just the gypsies. And stimulates public interest in good tattooing for the local area long after the Convention is gone.

This type of event does not harm the local market by taking revenue, and word of mouth advertising, out of the local area.

The Wrong type of event, that quickly turns into a Con-vention is when the opposite happens. When more than 20% traveling Tattooer are allowed to occupy the con-vention floor, local tattoo markets start losing revenue and Advertisement opportunities.
When traveling tattooers are the majority, the quality and size of tattooing declines, while the cost of those tattoos done at the event is quit often three times the local rate one would normally pay.
This drains the profit from the local area for the near future.
And destroys the word of mouth advertising that generally follows the local Client, the word of mouth advertising no longer exists.
Any word of mouth advertising that does exist, goes to the out of town tattooer, even they don’t really benefit much.
This loss of advertising the local professionals, greatly harms the local markets.

Right now, the Gypsies are traveling all around the country following the con-man-vention Circuit, this is destroying local tattooers reputations and advertising markets everywhere.

Traveling Tattooers really are destroying the local tattoo markets where (job fairs) – the wrong type of con-ventions, are held.

Right here in Utah, the Salt Lake City International Tattoo con-vention is a perfect example of the wrong type of convention. This con-vention is set up to benefit and support the traveling tattooer, it is a job fair for Gypsies.

The Salt Lake City International Tattoo Job Fair Does not support or represent the Local Tattoo Art Market.

Here are some things Our Clients and local Enthusiasts need to know;
There is very little actual benefit to being tattooed by the traveling Tattooers that travel the tattoo convention circuit.
Sure, you can get a nice single sitting design at a job fair-Convention, but most high quality tattooing requires that you go back to the Artist for the finishing touch. This doesn’t happen when the gypsy that did the work is gone.

Standard fees for a traveling gypsy working a con-vention are usually 2-3 times higher than local rates.
These exaggerated rates are bad enough, but when the gypsies are gone, the word of mouth advertisements goes with them.

This loss of word of mouth advertisements to local market is detrimental to the survival of local professional Tattooers, detrimental to the local markets, and detrimental to Professional tattooing every where.

At the best Professional Conventions, You can hear talk about skills and techniques and see the local talent preform and show their work. The out of town Traveling Tattooers come to show off their already completed works. The Competition is fierce but everyone benefits, no one loses.

Our professional Creed should be – “Mark everyone, Harm no one”.

Professional Conventions Do not highlight the skills of traveling gypsies as a reason for the event. To do so is as disrespectful to the local Tattoo Profession as a Promoter can be.

Respectful Traveling Tattooers do not disrespect local Tattoo Colleagues by supporting Con-man-ventions or Tattoo Hostels.

Until things change, the only thing we can do is to help the Profession, and support the Local Professionals the Best we can.

Boycott Con-man-ventions, Don’t support Tattoo Hostels.

Support the Art of Tattooing – Buy Local – Buy Professional

Con-man-vention Event;
Any event organized solely for profit by any private Person or Business.
Any event organized primarily for the financial gain of the traveling Tattooers.
Any Event that uses unauthorized Photographs to promote the event.
Any Event that allows more than 20% of the total number of participating tattooers from out of town.
Any Event that allows Tattooers to work under the table and not pay their fair share of local business expense.
Any Event that has a size limit on the work being shown.
Any Event that allows a biased Judge, or any Judgement of participants own work.
Any Event designed to be a fish in a barrel situation for Trade magazine Photographers to “SHOOT” the tattoo work, but does not require a consent Form be signed by the artists for the art work being photographed.
Any Event that sponsors, or gives traveling tattooers free endorsements and/or free access to local enthusiasts.

Professional Tattooer; Experienced, works in a Licensed Studio. Advertises their Service. Understands Blood born Pathogens and how to prevent contamination and cross contamination. Works with modern equipment and tattools.
Protects the Profession and adheres to professional and commercial standards and ethics.
Respects Professional Colleagues. Does not intentionally invade or support any event that intentionally invades any other market for the (profit) financial gain of the event organizer or the traveling tattooers.

Gypsy Tattooer; Gypsies – also known as; Professional Scratchers.
Professional Experience. May own their own studio, but generally works the floor at Con-man-ventions, or from a hotel room, or as a “Guest” in a professional Tattoo Hostel. Gypsies travel town to town working through the Tattoo Hostels and the Convention Circuit. Gypsies generally work under the table and broadcast (advertise) their Travel Schedule and Professional Service like they are local upstanding Professionals.
Works with modern equipment and tattools but does not Protect the Profession. Has many standards. May not have a local Health Permit. May or may not Understand Blood born Pathogens, or how to prevent contamination and cross contamination. Generally ignores professional, legal, and commercial standards and ethics.
Any Professional Tattooer that does not respect local markets, and uses Tattoo Hostels to go from town to town, Con-man-vention to Con-man-vention taking advantage of the healthy local markets.

Amateur Tattooer;
Unprofessional, Self taught Tattooer working from a house or unlicensed location for artistic or commercial gain. May work with primitive, inferior tools in unsanitary conditions. Any tattooer that does not adhere to Professional Standards. Does not have a local Health Permit, work from word of mouth. Does not advertise their service.

Scratcher Tattooer;
Unprofessional, generally a self taught Tattooer working from a house or unlicensed location for artistic and commercial gain. May work with primitive, inferior tools in unsanitary conditions. Any tattooer that does not adhere to Professional Standards. Does not have a local Health Permit but still advertises their service like they are profession.

Tattoo Hostel;
Any Tattoo Studio that allows or encourages out of town Tattooer(s) to come to their establishment and work while they are awaiting the next Con-man-vention to take place.
Any Studio that undercuts the local market by not charging a fair fee to the traveling tattooers for the work they do.
Any Studio that undercuts the local market by not making the traveling tattooer(s) pay their fair share of local business expense.
Any Studio that undercuts the local market by supporting the growing Chain of Tattoo Hostels

Mike Martin VP, from the “Alliance of Professional Tattooists” has published an official APT statement in the Nov, 2011 #114 issue of Pain Magazine.
First off, Unless Mr Martin is talking about those Tattooers working off their kitchen table, or their Convention Tables. Mr. Martin’s innuendo that Tattooing is a high risk environment, is an exaggeration, is misleading and harmful to the Profession of Tattooing.

If Professional Tattooing is High Risk, then how do you classify home style tattooing and the risk associated with traveling Gypsies? The Compliance of Health Department Regulations reduces the actual risk to Minor Level. That is why it is so important to comply with reasonable regulations. Compliance reduces the risk to a low risk/manageable level.

Professional Tattooing is low risk. Professional Piercing is high risk that is not related to professional tattooing in any way. For Mr. Martin to discuss professional tattooing as though it is high risk, is dangerous to the tattoo profession, and irresponsible as a Professional Tattoo Association Leader.
This is carless rhetoric.
If Education is APT’s main objective, they need to state the facts, not innuendos.

The regulations he mentions about professional Piercers now being required by the Missouri Health regulations, to be a Member of a Private Association aka- the APP, that was put on the regulations more than ten years ago, but is just now being enforced, is indeed, regulation trickery.

If public enforcement of the regulations have not been needed thus far, and have not been enforced until now, the regulations are most likely unconstitutional. And will be reexamined, you can bet your tattoo machine on it.

Mr Martin seems to imply, that because the Missouri Piercers overlooked the installation of those Regulations, those regulations are now deserved, and somehow, ten years after the fact, become valid.

This is a very good example of why the writing of GOOD public regulations do not include mandates from Private corporations and Private Associations like the APP or the APT.

I have witnessed this my self. The APT regulations are designed to take away your right(s) to self regulation. Mr Martin is absolutely right when he says if we don’t watch our local Health Dept. regulations a little closer, you can bet on the APT being involved in the regulation rewrite the next time your local regulations are updated.
With Mr Martin’s notice being given, We better watch our Professional Associations involvement in our local Health Departments.
I am referring to the statement published in Pain Magazine were Mr Martin says the APT is working with Missouri and several other States on writing regulations that are going to require that Professional Tattooers become Members of the Alliance of Professional Tattooing in order to stay recognized as a Professional.

Did you catch that. Mr. Martin said the APT is a good thing for most of us, but not all of us.

My words; Some of us are not “JOINERS” for a very good reason.

He said it is fine for us none “joiners”, not to be involved. But his real message is; If you don’t like what were are doing, to bad, because, if you don’t protect yourself and your Profession and if you don’t get involved and stop us from influencing your Health Dept., We (the APT) are going to take over the rewrite of those regulations and make you become a APT Member if you want to remain a Professional.

He said If you don’t like surprises, or political trickery, get involved. In other words if you don’t join us voluntarily, you’ll join us through our coercion of your local Health Dept. regulations.

I have pointed out this agenda of the APT many times. Several years ago when I had a Studio in Reno, and a Health permit in Washoe County , Nv. The APT had a Representative, that was not a local Tattooer, come to a Health Department meeting and try to influence the Washoe Co. HD to require our participation/membership in the APT Association, and to require local tattooers to abide by the APT Regulations.
It was good that we already had a good working relationship with our local Health Dept. Authorities at the Washoe Co. Health Department, It was also good that the Washoe Co. HD Authorities were smart enough to see through the APT smoke screen, and not listen to that APT Representative. They sent him packing after we reveled the APT’s real objectives.

I have pointed out this mounting problem to the Tattoo Profession several times. Unfortunately, the Editors of the trade magazines won’t publish this information. As a matter of fact, these Editors are actually enabling the leaders of The APT, and giving them the ability to over whelms the Tattoo Profession by not publishing contradictory opinions.

These Editors seem to be Traitors to the Tattoo Profession. Ask Pain Editor, R. Cantu why he won’t publish this (my) letter(s).
I have sent R. Cantu a copy of this letter. Pain Magazine Management knows what I am saying. They just won’t let me talk. Neither will Tattoo Magazine, International Tattoo Magazine, Prick Magazine, Skin and Ink. They are all afraid to publish counter opinions.

Here is what Professional Tattooers need to know.

The APT association, under this type of leadership, is a man made cancer in The Tattoo Profession. True to the profession Professionals should not support the APT organization as it is currently being managed.

They are not doing what you think, they are not trying to inspire the art of tattooing.
They are trying to Control the profession and Promote the Elite.
Their entire agenda seems to be to defeat the independent tattooer, using the Local and State Health Department regulations to do it.

This is a dangerous situation for the entire Tattoo Profession. If we allow our local Health Departments to be used as Pawns, and we (professionals) allow the local Health Departments to adopt regulations that will allow a Private Association (the APT) the right to regulate the public activity of tattooing and free speech, we are in for a serious change in how professional tattooing is regulated. The cost to be a professional will greatly increase.

This is not the best or most right method of getting rid of the competition. There are other, more effective methods. It starts with better Association Leadership.

If we allow the APT to instigate the rewrite of our local regulations, a serious uptick in underground Tattooers and underground studios will continue to take place. We already have a serious up tick in traveling Gypsy following the Con-man-vention circuit. See smarttattoo.com/blog/ read Tattoo Hostels and see for your self the details that are starting to come out.

This “Controlling Disease” has been growing in the APT for several years. If we (Professionals) allow for these enhanced regulations to be implemented locally, as suggested by the Leaders of APT, the Tattoo Profession is in risk to suffer irreparable harm.

Limiting the competition through the Health Department Regulations is very unprofessional.
This type of rhetoric from the Leaders of the APT is no different from, and is actually the same as one Studio owner calling the local Health Department on the Shop down the street in an attempt to regulate them out of business.
This is very dangerous. Some areas/cities will regress back to a time where public/professional tattooing will be banned. Not just banned to the industrial area of town, but banned entirely from city limits.

The manipulations of local H-Departments by the APTis absolutely unprofessional behavior by a a poorly managed Professional Association. The entire Tattoo Profession needs to take this leadership of the APT seriously. If the APT regulations are adopted anywhere in the USA, we will all suffer serious repercussions.

If you are a Professional, Stand up for self regulation of the Tattoo Profession. PROFESSIONAL TATTOOING IS NOT DANGEROUS. We do not need more regulations than is in place currently.

We do not need an APT Nanny.

If you are a Professional, talk to your Local Health Department Agent and help them understand the difference between the Real and the imagined risks of the Tattoo Profession.

Do not support this attempt by the Leadership of the Alliance of Professional Tattoo Association, at regulating Your (professional) Future.
APT does not need to be involved in the actual operation of, or writing of reasonable regulations.

This is a serious situation for the Tattoo Profession. We need to get together and discuss these types of facts and details. The real Truth needs to be told and commonsense needs to be understood by the Leaders of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, and the rest of the Profession.

If there is any real value of the APT sponsoring a Convention, It would be to address the Problems plaguing the Profession. A Sit Down Round Table Discussion would do the Tattoo Profession tremendous good.
If you are a Member of the APT, or a NTA Member tell your Association Representative the Profession wants a round table discussion, open to all professionals, to address these profession wide Problems.

Here is the opportunity to help the Tattoo Profession both the the APT and the NTA has been looking for.

Provide the Education without the Domination.

If the event is geared for the promotion of the tattooers that are tattooing at the convention, the convention is not for the promotion of the art, it is a job Fair for gypsies.
It is a job fair that promotes the art of money making. ( being able to work on 6-8 hr tattoos and make 3 times their normal fee is pure corporate greed)
This type of event harms, not only the local market, but the entire profession. But in different ways.

If the event promotes already completed tattoo work and the Artist that did it, then the event promotes the ART of tattooing and all the ARTISTS will benefit as much as the event organizer will, with out harming the local tattooers or their market.
The local Tattooers are not harmed when local events promote already completed work, rather than the tattooing skills of traveling gypsies.

When a Convention comes to your area and promotes the Local Artists and THEIR work. And only -Allows- out the area Tattooers to SHOW their work, rather than come in and take over the local clients, the entire Profession will grow.

But the way it currently is, only the Con-man-vention Organizers and the Gypsies that support those events, benefit. And they are setting low standards that are going to have a very negative effect on Professional Tattooing for a long time if things don’t change soon.

When the traveling Tattooers are promoted, only the Gypsies work. And the art becomes simple, unimpressive and the promotes beginners.

This opens the door to the unethical Con-vention organizers and the traveling Gypsies to be able to work under the table through organizing and supporting these events.

When the ART is promoted and protected, everyone works, everyone wins. Even the gypsies can work when it is fair, and the pursuit of money is not the driving force.

When the gypsies and Con-men control the profession we all lose. When artist control the Profession the Artists and Craftsmen win.

I recently read a blog from Big Gus, http://tattooartistmagazineblog.com/2011/10/11/big-gus-off-the-map-at-the-paradise-tattoo-gathering-tattoo-artist-magazine-blog/#more-6433
he was proud to have been invited to attend a seminar at Paradise Tattoo Gathering.

Gus said “I headed down to do the opening discussion panel with some great guys, Bob Tyrrell, Jeff Gougé, Shawn Barber, Chris Dingwell and Durb. It was based on ‘What It Takes’ to be an artist at our level. Hmmm… Our level? I just love to draw all the time! But the panel turned out great.”

My words; I don’t want to be the party pooper, but I am already Hated Worldwide (ask Henky Panky about that), but I am tired of the “Best Tattooers in the World” being so arrogant and out right disrespectful to the other Professional Colleagues.

I am going to set You Guys straight right here and now.
You guys are not the best at anything you are doing, good, but not the best. Look at your work, some of it is over black or over deatailed and incomplete.
There are plenty of other Tattoo Artists out there doing just as good, sometimes better work than you, they just don’t brag so much, and they stay home working on their local Clients rather than going town to town working at Gypsy Rates on poor people that can’t afford to come to you. For you guys to start a piece to big to finish, and then walk away bragging about it, is not only totally disrepectfull to your Client, but also to Professional Standards.

Let me tell you what you gypsies are really doing. You are setting a very poor example for the want-a-bee tattooers, you make it very easy for the scratchers, street shop tattooers and other Gypsies to follow your talent and skills by going from place to place doing 6-8 hour portraits and 20 hour chest pieces.
20 hours on a Chest piece is a good start, but not a good finish. If you can start and finish a chest piece in twenty hours, your artistic stands need to be raised. A 20 hour chest piece that is done on a guy that lives 3000 miles away from the tattooers shop is despicable, and should not be done on such a casual basis. Know your limits and what is good for everyone, not just yourself.

This type of example of your work skills is not a good example of high end skills of the highly skilled Tattooers. It is an example of mid level skills of good tattooers, designed to impress the lower skilled craftsmen. More and more (gypsy) Tattooers like your self, are able to do 20 hour tattoos. The standards of a well done tattoo is not very high, and dropping more every year.

You guys are the Leaders of low skilled tattooers, scratchers and traveling Gypsies. Thanks to you guys, nowadays, everyone setting at the kitchen table can do a good 6-8 hour portrait Tattoo. You have taught them well.
Now go home and do some truly impressive tattooing, then support a convention by showing your already completed work, not you tattooing skills. We already know you’re good.

The challenge I am making you Guys, is to see if you can stay home, or, in one place long enough to do a large Tattoo, working on it until it is actually finished to your -real- skill level. Then bring the piece to the Best Convention designed to promote tattoos, (not tattooing), and show off your already completed piece.

Support Professional Tattooing – Buy Professional – Buy Local