This is a sneak peak of what you can find in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club. We’ve curated this particular conversation because we think it exemplifies one of the pillars of what the group is trying to achieve as a whole. Creating conversations and provoking discussions that help tattooers get out of their own head and into their careers to make progress. Groups like ours have started to appear more regularly as tattooing has grown year after year. It’s clear that support, community, and education is much needed in order to keep tattooing moving forwards and evolving into a proper industry. We really hope that you enjoy this conversation and get as much out of it as the members who were a part of it. And if you’re interested in learning more check out the links below. We hope that you come join us in trying to make tattooing better than we found it! You can Find the Deep Dive for this video here: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/urgent-vs-important-the-tattooers-struggle-inside-fireside-ep-278~29243 Timestamps: [00:00] Opening Salvo [02:04] The Cost of Discounting YOURSELF [11:33] The Purpose of The Decision Determines The Effect [17:37] Your Creativity Is Not Just Art, It's the Whole Package [22:52] You Can Do Anything, But You Can't Do Everything [27:01] The Power of Thinking in Timelines [33:22] The Magic of Thinking Big [36:56] Tattoo Industry Education Needs an Upgrade [42:14] Theory Of Constraints & Setting Expectations [45:08] Finding Ways to Give Back to The Industry [48:09] Having Multiple Voices In Education Is Necessary [56:00] Having A Support Group Is Crucial, And The Idea of Letting Go [1:00:42] Projects Vs Pieces, and The 80/20 Principle [1:05:21] Catering To A Higher End Client Without Losing Creative Control [1:08:11] Everyone Feels That Way All the Time In Tattooing… It Sucks, Let’s GO! [1:12:03] If You Have "Priorities" Then You Have No "Priority" [1:14:41] Creating A Small Team To Support Your Weaknesses [1:19:34] Interested in Inside Fireside? Come Check us Out Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/FiresideTattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Join Tattoo Tips Tuesday for FREE! https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/tattoo-tips-tuesday~29102 Tattoo Apprentice's Toolkit https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Tattooers Toolkit https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit The current landscape of tattooing is inundated with a surge of new and untrained tattooers, facilitated by the accessibility of resources like YouTube tutorials, Instagram, and online courses. The once formidable barriers to entry have crumbled, resulting in a heightened demand for mentors. But what does it mean to be a mentor? What does it look like to give someone a good apprenticeship? This brings us to a conversation with one of our esteemed mentors, Kurt Jacobsen, a cherished member of the Fireside Tattoo Network. In this article, we delve into Kurt's perspectives on the significance of apprenticeships, the qualities of a commendable mentor, and the nuanced disparity between knowledge and understanding in the realm of tattooing. Check out the Deep Dive Page at https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/the-mentors-role-for-apprentice-success-kurt-jacobsen-ep-277~29189 Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Check out the Deep Dive Page on Firesidetattoo.com: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/ahoy-wealth-tattoo-pirates-hoisting-the-flag-of-financial-freedom-ryan-roi-ep-276~29185 In the dynamic world of tattooing and artistry, financial literacy is often overlooked. And while being a pirate is all well and good, hoarding your cash in a box under your bed isn’t exactly going to help you with retirement. However, Jake has brought on Ryan Roi to shed light on the transformative power of coaching and sound money management practices. This interview unveils crucial insights into why being financially savvy is a game-changer for tattoo artists and how coaching can be the catalyst for this transformation. Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10 % off Guy Aitchison's Reinventing the Tattoo annual subscription at the link below https://reinventingthetattoo.com/fire... Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Join us in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside Apprenticeships are a hot topic in the tattoo industry, often emphasized for aspiring artists. While many have valuable insights into this process, there's a facet that tends to fly under the radar but holds significant weight – mentorship. Strangely, it's one of the least discussed subjects in the tattoo world, likely because it demands substantial time, effort, and comes with a hefty dose of responsibility. Consequently, many seasoned tattooers are hesitant to take on this vital role. This week, we sit down with Tim O'Connor of Ten Thousand Foxes in Queens, New York to take a deep dive into his apprenticeship process. Along the way, we detour into his affection for coil machines and a handful of other topics that you won't want to miss. Keep up with Tim at the links below: https://www.10kfoxesqueenstattoo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/10kfoxes_queens https://www.instagram.com/toc_tattoo Check out the Deep Dive Page on Firesidetattoo.com: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/what-makes-a-great-tattoo-aprenticeship-tim-oconnor-ep-275~29184 Check out our Tattoo Courses for all skill levels Tattoo Apprentice's Toolkit https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Tattooer's Toolkit https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Check out the full Deep Dive page for this episode at: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/trials-of-a-tattoo-machine-builder-neuma-5-with-carson-hill-ep-274~29180 Carson Hill is a real pioneer in tattoo machine technology. Since he has turned his attention to pen style rotary tattoo machines, and we are all better because of it. In today's episode, we talk about his latest and best iteration, the Neuma 5. Unlike many large tattoo machine manufacturers, Carson works daily with his machines and communicates regularly with the artists who use them. Because of this, he is able to really pin down improvement points and make significant changes quickly. During our conversation, Carson and I talk about the issues that arose in previous versions of the machine and how he and his team went about correcting them. Enjoy! Also, you can get 10% off the Neuma 5 or any other machine with the code "Fireside" Here's the link: https://neumatattoo.com Join us in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club: https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside You can also get discounts on the other supplies you are already buying and support Fireside at the same time at the links below: Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/FiresideTattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Check out the Deep Dive Page on Firesidetattoo.com: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/from-bad-apple-to-tattoo-royalty-king-ruck-ep-274~29179 [09:57] “I would Just grab a marker, and start drawing on someone. Being a graffiti artist and a heavy visual illustrator, it just made it real easy for me to do that” — King Ruck Tattooing on skin demands a unique understanding of values, highlights, dramatic shadows, and other elements that set it apart from traditional art forms. The abstract shapes, structural elements, and compositional techniques of graffiti bring a distinctive flavor to tattoo design. This fusion of two art forms enriches the tattooing process, offering a unique perspective that traditional drawing backgrounds may not provide. The experience of working with diverse layouts, such as tall walls, narrow spaces, and different shapes, in graffiti art, can prove invaluable when designing large-scale tattoos. The compositional skills acquired in the world of graffiti might not seamlessly translate to the art of tattooing, but they can definitely give you an advantage early on. Even if you aren’t a Graffiti writer yourself, taking time to study these designs might be beneficial. Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Can't get enough Fireside? Take it to the next level. Join the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside and Tattoo Tips Tuesday https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/tattoo-tips-tuesday Huge thanks to Tom Strom and Jackee Sandelands for taking the time to share their art brains with us. You can keep up with them at https://www.artoftomstrom.com/ https://sandelandspaintings.com/

Chris Dingwell has been tattooing a long time. Chris Dingwell has been painting a long time. In today's episode, we sit down with Chris to discuss his approach to tattooing and how painting and other fine art mediums have molded him into the tattooer he is today. Enjoy! Join Chris at the Paradise Tattoo Gathering October 12-15, 2023! https://tattoogathering.com/ Join us in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside Or simply sign up for Tattoo Tips Tuesday! It's free! https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/tattoo-tips-tuesday~29102 Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/FiresideTattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Tattooing has obviously been through an incredible period of growth over the last couple of decades. But at what cost? As large corporations and investment groups buy their way into our industry and gain influence, the tattooers, artists and innovators who contributed so much to this craft get swallowed up or drowned out. In today's episode, we sit down with a true innovator from the tattoo community, Carson Hill, to discuss this topic. Enjoy Join the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club! https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/FiresideTattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Jake Meeks' mostly weekly tattoo podcast answering viewer questions, interviewing artists and waxing philosophical to promote better tattooing and more informed collectors. He is often joined by fellow tattooers, artists of other mediums, professionals in other fields and collectors. We hope you enjoy! Also, we offer courses from artists on the show at firesidetattoo.com if you are interested! Thanks for supporting our show!

See You at the Paradise Tattoo Gathering. Sign up below https://tattoogathering.com/ Join us in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside The rotary machine craze came fast. In fact, if you began tattooing in the last 10 years, there is a good chance you have never used a coil machine at all. In today's episode we talk with long-time coil machine builder and co-founder of the super popular "Workhorse Irons", BJ Johnson (Soba). BJ is best known for his Mini-Rusto liners and Pilot shaders which were (and are still) used by thousands of tattooers ( including me!) We discuss the rotary revolution, why and how it took place, pros and cons of both rotaries and coils, and try to answer the question "Is it worth the tradeoff?" Enjoy!

Join us in the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/inside-fireside Join Cooper and Jake at the Paradise Tattoo Gathering this October 12-15th https://tattoogathering.com/ In this episode, Back for round 3, we have Cooper! This time Jake and Coop take a deep dive into the technology side of things. They discuss how tattoo equipment and gear has been changing over time and what the tattoo community could do to make some serious positive change. Cooper also talks more directly about cartridges, tattoo machines and different ideas about potential improvements. A ton of great little nuggets and ideas, this is definitely not one to be missed. Check out the Deep Dive Page on FiresideTattoo.com: https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo... Coop's notes on cartridge configurations by manufacturer: Bishop/DaVinci does not show needle configuration on website but a sales person at their store told me the shaders did not have center needles Kwadron website does not show configurations Prime website does not show configurations Tat Soul/Envy does show configurations in website and can confirm that the medium taper round shaders do in fact have center needles in their configurations and are straight tapered and not tight tapered at the top. This makes sense to me as I have had the best one pass lines with the needles (18rs textured) I have tried from them in particular. Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprov... https://www.instagram.com/firesidetat... Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Today we continue the conversation with Patrick O'Neil. If you haven't listened to part 1 of this interview, make sure to do that first.

Purpose, purposeful, intentional. These seem to be good descriptors for Patrick Paul O'Neil. Patrick is tattooing beautiful, large scale illustrative designs that are carefully thought out and fit the client perfectly. In today's episode, Patrick shares his tattoo experiences and how they helped to form his approach to his own work. This is the first part of a 2 part series so be sure to check back next week for part 2

The traditional tattoo approach of lining, shading and coloring (in that order) never appealed much to James Hall (or Jake for that matter). James has spent the majority of his tattoo career moonlighting as an oil painter and it definitely comes across in his tattoo work. In today’s episode we talk about the value of working in other mediums, James’ annual art show focused on encouraging tattoo artists to pick up a paint brush and how to create a studio environment that attracts the clientele you are looking for. Tons of great nuggets in this episode. Be sure to keep up with James at the links below and check out his latest art show "Pixel" if you are in the Austin area. https://jameshallcreative.com/ https://aura4tattoo.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jameshallcreative/ Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10 % off Guy Aitchison’s Reinventing the Tattoo annual subscription at the link below https://reinventingthetattoo.com/fire... Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

We have all heard about new tattoo regulations coming down the pipeline. It's no longer a matter of if but when these new laws will affect tattooer's day to day lives. With this in mind, it's important to adopt a mindset that views these upcoming changes as opportunities for improvement and potential breakthroughs rather than the more common fear based mindset we tend to default to. In an effort to facilitate that, we sat down with tattooer Ben Shaw who has kept his finger on the pulse of these new laws. Together, we'll break down what tattooers can expect in the coming months and what we can all do to have a greater impact on the lasting results. Keep up with Ben and find tons of useful resources at his discord server https://discord.gg/f32N7CFZ Join the Alliance of Professional Tattooists at https://safe-tattoos.com/about-us Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10 % off Guy Aitchison's Reinventing the Tattoo annual subscription at the link below https://reinventingthetattoo.com/fire... Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Russ Abbott is a true innovator in tattooing. He is always looking for a way to find creative solutions to challenges in our craft. Todays, episode was really not intended to be an episode at all. It was a simple "catch up" call between Russ and Jake that they decided to record. After the call, we immediately knew that the topics discussed and opinions expressed would be useful for you guys. Hope you enjoy. You can find Russ at all the links below. Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10 % off Guy Aitchison's Reinventing the Tattoo annual subscription at the link below https://reinventingthetattoo.com/fire... Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Sharpen your pencils and get ready for this deep dive into tattoo gear and technology with Aaron Williams of Tattcom Keep up with Aaron and Tattcom at www.tattcom.us Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10 % off Guy Aitchison’s Reinventing the Tattoo annual subscription at the link below https://reinventingthetattoo.com/fire... Get $50 discount on TSM Pro automation services at the link below https://tsmpro.co/a/Fireside_Automation Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.patreon.com/Fireside https://www.facebook.com/Tattooimprovement/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Javi Antunez @Javi_TattooedTheory specializes in beautifully rendered illustrative realism in tattooing. He is very well versed in ZBrush and other 3D modeling software and often uses these methods in his tattoo design. In today's episode, we take a deep dive into Javi's tattoo design and thought processes. We discuss tips mixing color accents in black and grey tattoos and even dive into his awesome Bored to Death Club NFT projects. Enjoy! Keep up with Javi at the links below https://www.instagram.com/javi_tattooedtheory/ www.tattooedtheory.com Did you know we have tattoo focused courses, workshops and even a tattoo club? Learn more about them all at the link below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/fireside-tattoo-network-courses

This week we welcome Mattlock Lopes to the show. out of @inkredible_Tattoo_vb We cover a ton of topics in this episode that will surely be of interest to tattooers of all levels.