Not the \’rush\’, I am of course referring to the tattoo studio.

You see, my lovely friend Ania always keeps me (and countless others) updated on all the going\’s on in the modification world.  In several different languages no less!  Although her last two postings as of late have included opinions from that dreaded tattoo studio!  Every time someone (by someone I mean media related) wants a damn opinion on tattooing/related body modifications they mention those fucking tools on Sherbrooke street!  There are SO. Many. Other. Places. To. Call.

Why the hate?  Well perhaps it\’s because I\’m biased (I am) and I happen to have an enormous amount of respect for my tattoo artists.  They both do quite well without the pomp and circumstance that Adrenaline has.  It\’s simple, down to earth and to me…

It\’s home.

I feel comfortable enough to run around in my socks and underwear at both the Exotic skin shop (located at 398 King East Kitchener, ON, N2G 2L5) all the information and directions can be found here owned and operated by Tim Karn in the same location for over 20 years no less!  Also Jolly Roger\’s here in Montreal.

Yes in case you are wondering I have run around in my socks and underwear at both places!

Now, I personally know scores and scores of other amazing tattoo artists across the globe that I have a ton of respect for too.  Gil & Tim though?  Those boys are my kind of people.  You walk into their shops and there is no mistaking what your walking into.  It\’s the epitome of your a-typical old school tattoo shop.  The kind of place that you can hang out, swear and chill in your panties and ain\’t no one going to give a shit.  Honesty is forthcoming, no bullshit and almost down to the minute quotes!  Gil especially has a knack for this and Tim well I walk in there and say this is what I would like, I have this much money.  Make me look pretty!  Please 🙂  He does!  Neither of them disappoint (at least not yet and Tim and I have been \’married\’ for 10+ years and Gil and I have had an affair for a few years running now).  I always get what I want out of the pieces I choose, they\’re always honest with me if they think that the location or the colors won\’t work and when I go see Tim and book and appointment, he pretty much closes down the shop for ME.

Now that\’s love.

Then you have Adrenaline…  Take a look at their virtual tour, don\’t know about you but looks to me like I just stepped into a fucking mall or an A&F store!  Caters to the \’yuppie Euro trash\’ that Montreal is filled with.  I went in there once, back when I was still married and was co-owner of my own tattoo studio.  It was appalling to me to see the EXACT same pieces that wholesale for maybe $10.00 a piece jacked up to $100.00+ dollars.  HELLO INFLATION!  Sadly, we have been conditioned that if it costs more, then it\’s better right?  I beg to differ.  I\’m ALL about quality over quantity, which is why I totally heart Anatometal these guys are full of win!  Yes a little more costly then say the made in China by a five year old in a sweat shop but they quality will blow your mind!  It\’s like the Rolls Royce of body Jewelry.  One Tribe Organics is another class of people who WIN!  Nope, I have no direct affiliation with them, I just love them so damn much, they deserve kudos!  When I go shopping for clothes, i\’ll go to the Eaton center, when I want a tattoo I sure as hell won\’t get tattooed in a place that has this ridiculous retail rock-a-billy-wannabe punk, Ed Hardy gear vomited all over my studio space.  That\’s one reason why I hate them

Anyway back to the hate rant.  I had a friend who went in for your typical Kanji tattoo.  Nothing wrong with that, something simple, just her name.  She wanted it done in purple, her artist said NO.  Excuse me?  Said it had to be done in black.  Said it was too small to fill in with purple.

WTF?!?

I\’m sorry come again?

After being tattooed for almost a 100 hours at this point in my life, immersing myself in the tattoo \’sub-culture\’, knowing some very talented people and so forth I can NOT stress to people enough to EDUCATE YOURSELF.  Or at least pick up the phone and call me!  You know, your over the top tattooed friend?  She admits she wished she called me first. Everyone I know that has tattoos/is an artist all said WTF that shit ain\’t right.  I couldn\’t agree more!  Who says that your tattoo has to be outlined, let alone filled in with black?  Aside from that one douchebag tattoo artist that is.

Please, enlighten me on this.

I\’m dying to know!

Hell I have tattoos that have no outline at all!

Then there\’s the \’certification certificates\’ from the US.  OK nothing wrong with that, except that this is CANADA.  Way to go smarty pants, seems to me that someone is trying to give themselves far too much credibility here.  Those courses don\’t mean shit to most people, because we all know that a sucker is born every minute and most people don\’t have one iota of a clue what blood born pathogens are, let alone how to contend with them.  Furthermore, there\’s all kinds of \’courses\’ now available on DVD!  Hey nothing like some DIY scarification/tattoo courses now is there!

Anyway the bottom line for me is this: I\’m old school when it comes to tattoos.  I like my tiny hole in the wall shops, which some might consider \’white trash\’ because I refuse to go to a place that\’s so ridiculously over the fucking top when it comes to making money, not to mention can\’t cater to the simplest request.  Likely because they felt that that particular tattoo wasn\’t worth their time.  I get that (small pieces are a bit of hassle), however my money is just as good as anyone else\’s and that place makes my skin crawl.  I know there\’s some good artists that work there, however in this case for me the whole outfit, not to mention Mr. Douchebag tattoo artist pretty much spoiled it for me.  Because YES one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch!  Don\’t you know that mold spreads and pretty much contaminates everything in its immediate radius?

Defend them all you want until your blue in the face, I could care less.  I will however not give one red cent to any of their locations.  I\’d rather chill with my boys in my undies where it\’s comfortable and I feel like a member of the family, not a pay cheque thanks.  I personally like being treated like a person.

Because I am.