I prioritize tattoo artist over shop because if the artist has the specific style of tattooing I'm looking for that's all that matters.

I’ve literally watched every single video on this channel. I’m never not entertained 😀

I get so thrown off when you cuss cuz of  how great your vocabulary is and how professional you sound 😂

In my personal experience,the worst tattoo artists I have encountered have been ones with the gift of gab and they’re generally the ones waiting for someone to walk in and when you go to look at the portfolio’s they stop you and come up and hit you with “man I’ve been tattooing for over 20 years,I’ve owned my own shop before,I do it all man,blah blah blah” basically trying to persuade you to get tattooed by them instead of letting their portfolio start the conversation.

Dude, you're awesome! Super articulate and obviously knowledgeable, yet still relatable and funny when throwing in your f bombs. Loved the video.

Man, nobody's putting needle to skin until I've seriously seen a comprehensive portfolio and talked to them to see if we mesh. I can't imagine picking a shop over an artist.

The honesty, “that’s pretty dangerous- nobody’s gonna save you.” 💀

The only channel I truly care about, gonna be fun to see your brand grow and your art and content develop

This dope, I’m a tattoo enthusiast... that doesn’t have any tattoos and your video on darker skin opened my eyes to more points about what I should look into when I’m looking for my artist this month!
I would like to see a video where you explain the space an artist has on a skinny person versus a bigger person when getting a sleeve and if gaining weight/muscle (healthy) or losing it affects the piece greatly.

Always glad to see a new video from you! Could you do a video on tattooing over stretch marks, and looser areas of skin (like inner arm, inner thigh)? Thanks xx

A lot of shops do organizing and booking for their artists.

There is a huge shop with multiple locations in my city. So I've seen a couple artists I like there but every time I've had a bad experience. After the consult I paid a deposit and then the artist didn't get back to me with a draft until a couple days before the tattoo. I said it was nothing like what I wanted and then they bounced me to 2 more artists before I got my deposit back.

It was just so disorganized and I have the feeling the artist is letting herself be overworked. 4 months between consult and rough draft means you forget what the consult was.

Contrast that to a shop I love. We do consult. Then a week later I come in and they show a very rough draft to ensure we understand each other, pay the deposit. Then a week before the tattoo another consult is booked to sign off on the finished art and make any changes if needed.

It's just so much better to have this stuff scheduled in advance and for everyone to understand each other.

When people ask me "where do you get tattooed" I'm like "idk, wherever the tattoo artist I like works/guests at"

While I have a commendable amount of time in the chair and this video absolutely did not apply to me, I appreciate the easily-approachable information you put out to the youngins that are hesitant about their first tattoos. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to dispel misinformation or give a little advice about first getting tattooed.

Great series boss, keep it up.

I got my first tattoo a couple days ago and I've been binging your videos non stop in both the before and after stages of the tattoo. Great content dude, it really is super helpful and informative!

Very good information. I've only got my simple hearts and looking to get a more detailed piece as my 2nd tattoo. I'm struggling with finding the right artist/shop. The place I went to for my simple hearts was my sister's choice (she got a tattoo at the same time) and I wasn't picky. They turned it fine. For my first detailed tattoo I want to do it right. It's tough finding the right person.

Hey James,
I just wanted to thank you...all of ur videos have been super helpful for me. I'm a virgin when it comes to tattoos but my bestie and I want to break that in June. Your videos have been super helpful to me to over come my fear and many questions. Thank you thank you thank you

Hey i want a tatto right now who's available

The new apprentice!!!!!!!!
That started yesterday

I wish I would have found you before I left the Phoenix area 😅

My well priced and super skilled artist moved after I got linework finished. The only other good blackworker in my town is far more pricey, and super into the whole social media game of tattooing. As much as I'd rather have somebody else at my fav shop give it a shot, I also want the best quality to finish the piece

I've only been to a grand total of 3 shops in the 4 years I've been getting tattoos. My first shop was in my home town, but I was lucky that everyone there were killer artists.