Check Out the Deep Dive On FiresideTattoo.com:

https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/side-hustle-gone-wild-thom-bulman-ep-279~29247

After COVID and the world had shut down Thom, a 17 year tattooer, was struggling to figure out where he was in tattooing. Between making custom shoes and not not knowing when tattooing might freeze up again he felt like he had to make some real decisions. In this interview he shares his journey of transitioning from tatt slanger to full time sneaker smuggler, reflecting a trend of artists exploring new career paths. 

From hobby to business, Thom navigates challenges in scaling up, including outsourcing production to China and tackling legal issues like licensing and cease and desist orders. 

He also emphasizes the importance of delegating and hiring the right team to support business growth, envisioning a recognized brand in the custom shoe market. Thom also discusses the creative process, challenges faced by major brands like Nike, and his vision for the future of his company

We hope you enjoy this exceptionally wide ranging conversation.

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/