Once again TBS is honoured to host the extraordinary tattooing talents of Ms. Joe Butler.  Visiting us from Imperial Tattoo, In Toronto she well be decorating the rock from July 25-29.  If your interested in getting tattooed by Joe please get in touch with the studio and to look at some of Joe’s work please follow this link: http://www.fortunefavorsthetattooed.com/

Sorry for the late notice, but Shawn has been gracing the TBS crew with his Nanaimo wit and tattooing skills since May 4 and will be hanging with the crew till May 17.  Most of his time has been spoken for but he does have room for a few small tattoos.  To check out his work please follow this link:

http://www.myspace.com/shawn_ruste_tattoos

Tbs is proud to host Ms. Joe once again from April 26-30.  If your interested in booking time with Ms. Joe please feel free to contact the shop: 709 754 5590 and if you’d like to take a peek at some of Joe’s work please follow this link

http://www.imperialtattoos.com/gallery.php?id=6

Fourth Day In Sydney- Day Two of Tattoo Expo:

Learning the lessons of the day prior I stopped by a Subway and picked up two subs for the day ( you can get avocado on your subs down here).  The day begins with the only tattoo that I had booked in on line which would lead to two more on Sun.  One small set back though….. the adapter that worked oh-so well on Friday started Saturday with a bang.  With a flipping of the switch (power outlets out here seem to have on/off switches on them) and a thunderous pop my adapter was no more.  With that went my smoking power bar and the ability to use the only light I had disappeared.  What ever the number of people through the door was on Fri… it had nothing on Sat.  Walking ten feet was difficult.  With so many people lost in the visuals around them getting from point A-B could prove more then a test of one’s patience. Once again one tattoo blurred into more and before I knew it it was 1/4 to 10 pm.   Slightly dazed and my eyes feeling like they had salt ground into them I began to wander around.  A number of the tattooist were still working and the work was amazing.  The talent collected at this show was unnerving.  Sometimes being on the other side of the world can really spell out how much you miss even with internet access and completely validates the necessity of travel to grow your own skills. For as long as my empty stomach would allow I watched skilled tattooist utilize there craft and it warmed my heart while focusing my brain.

Late that night I was awoken by a phone call from home checking to see if I was safe.  With limited phone use and the cable feed being down at the hotel I had not heard about the earthquake and tsunami that had devastated Japan, for that matter nor had most of the tattooists from japan that were at the convention.  It would not be until the following day that I was able to see any of the footage and I just felt my heart sink.  I have no words for my empathy to all those who have been lost or those that survive that level of devastation….  even now a few days later I can’t tear away from a tv when footage comes on, still hoping that there be some glimmer of hope for those effected.

Fifth Day in Sydney- Last Day of Tattoo Expo:

The day begins on a somber note, the events that have occurred in Japan hang heavy on my mind and there is an erie quite amounts people setting up for the day.  The doors open for the last time and the room snaps back into work mode like a drunk trying to seem sober to a cop.  Compared to the privies days the numbers have reduced a bit but are still very impressive and an empty day has filled very quickly.  The hope was to squeeze some time in to wonder around a get a better feel for things… well that didn’t happen.  Luckily the day prior, I had met a guy, a scientist for that matter named Meow Meow Vida Disco… I kid you not.  I saw three different forms of id… MEOW MEOW VIDA DISCO!  He had offered to track me down a transformer so i could have light once more in the booth in exchange for an impulse tattoo of what turned out to be a Sumerian Sea Goat. Finishing this up was going to be the last tattoo of the convention so I could go about and enjoy the convention… nope.  As I was beginning to pull stuff down another tattoo popped up and back to work I went.  Thankfully Meow Meow popped back up and I was able to send him out to capture some video footage for me.   Otherwise I would literally have had no shots from the convention.

Donning the Florissant vest again I packed up my stuff bidding adu to the people I met over the three days and a big thank you for the fine folks at TATTOO JUNCTION, QLD, AUS (www.junctiontattoo.com) -who saved my ass on supplies that I didn’t bring and just being all round awesome dudes/ets. The fine folks at REILLY TATTOO in Perth (www.reillystattoo.com.au/), 199 TATTOO @ Bondi Junction, Sydney (http://www.oneonenine.com.au/) which seems to be owned by Tim Luke a very dear and old co-worker from Tataramma days, HORITAKA from Osaka (www.myspace.com/horitaka), POLYESTER (www.polyester.com.au) the booth the mighty Meow Meow was working and of course all the incredible organizers and staff of the Sydney Tattoo and Body Art Expo.

Sixth Day in Sydney- Tourist Time

As the morning breaks the urge to see this city that I travelled 32 hours to get to becomes overwhelming, particularly since I have 24 hours left in it.  Once again I’m back on the train heading to Circular Quay and then to the Ferries.  A fair amount of the city is reachable by ferry which if your a tourist is pretty damn nice.  No annoying tour guides and awesome view for a pretty reasonable fare, for ruffly $15 Aus. you can take you back and forth from Circular Quay- Manly Beach, it’s about a 25 min trip.   Most of the trip has been Humid and overcast and unfortunately today is no different.  As I stared out at Manly Beach, the beach I use to play on as a child I still couldn’t bring myself to jump in…the sign about no swimming for 24 hours after rain a rain shower due to pollution was not inspiring me.  A quick poke along the costal trails and kitschy tourist crap-trap stores and it’s back to the ferry.  Once in the city proper I begging to retrace my steps from my first day on foot in the city  looking for food and souvenirs… I am not a good souvenirs guy so this is a failure.  Next stop is Newtown for more good eats, this time some incredible vegan Thai @ Green Palace a quick wander and then it was off to meet Tim Luke over at 199 Tattoo at Bondi Junctions for diner.  Unfortunately, one of his employees broke an ankle and he ended up in the hospital so I made my way back to Newtown for more food at the Green Gourmet. After a long day of marching around it was back to the hotel for the last decent rest before the nightmare flight home.

First day in Sydney:

The flights were what I expected long and painful.  Unlike the fun of Vancouver airport, which involved me be asked what gang I belong to in a public questioning at the boarding gate followed by a secondary questioning surrounded by eight security officers and being told my story didn’t make sense and that people smuggle drugs through this airport soooo…. Australia customs treated me me really well. Stamped visa, smiles and ‘Welcome to the country’.  The airport is about 20-30 min. from Olympic Park and most of the drive was through a tunnel underground, not the most scenic route but I’m sure it beats heavy traffic. The Novotel chain bumped me up to their five star hotel the Pullman, which seems really nice and very well situated.

After a 5 hr nap and amazing enough some really crappy American tv, I deiced to take a walk around to get situated.  Back home it’s 8:30 am here it’s 11:00 at night… let me tell you what’s up at 11 at night at Olympic Park.  NOTHING!  So I wandered for a few hours , the expo is about 2 blocks form the hotel right beside the train station which I’ll use tomorrow to get into the city…the park seems to be out in the suburbs somewhere.  The weather at 1am is about 25 and the park grounds are really quite bizarre with absences of people though not bats.  This my friend is Bat country and they are every where!  I kept trying to snap photo’s with my phone without much success but I will have snapped a decent picture before I head out on the 15.  The other lesson of the day is keep an eye on pop machines out here.  Seems they take $10 bills but have no change slots, this means you just spent $10 on a drink… yep, I am a tourist.

Second Day in Sydney:

Jet lag will slap you around like a grade school bully.  My concept for dealing with has always been push through and for what ever reason going West is always easier for me then going East so save the first day, things have been pretty good.  The day started early with a quick hop on the Sydney Train system which, save a few slightly confusing signs is incredibly easy to use and will drop you any where you really need to get too. This important to know because cabs in Sydney will take your arm off at the wallet. The first stop was the typical tourist shots of the Opera House and quick wonder through China Town and Hay Market, Museum Park and ending at Museum of Contemporary Art.  The next stop was to meet up with an old friend and head off to New Town.  The area has that nice comfortable feel of what I grew up with back in TO, it’s kind of Sydney’s version of Kensington Market.  The point of this journey was to track down some vegan eats for the picky eater at a Buddhist restaurant called the Green Gourmet.  The food was outstanding, if your partial to vegan fair this is worth tracking down, they even have vegan fried ice cream.  The night ended with a trip down to the famous Bondi Beach.  Daunted by mild rain and the fact that that it was pitch black out the beach was still pretty incredible, though I do suggest seeing it during the day.

Third Day in Sydney- Tattoo Expo Begins:

The first day of any convention is chaos.  Set up time is short and there is always the journey of discovery of all the things you may have forgot.  The convention space is massive with over 400 tattooists.  At the base of the space is a custom car, motorcycle and bike and the area for the main stage;  outside there is motorcycle stunts, bouncy castle with Hooter’s girls and another hall for the co-event the VA-Voom Fest – a Rockabilly lifestyle thing (clothes, dance class’s and bands).  Due to some safety issues you have to wear a Florissant safety vest when your wandering around…. it really brought out my eyes, it was nice.  So after a bit of a scramble, things were set up, stuff forgotten was borrowed and Health Inspectors had given me the green light to start tattooing which began immediately…seems they opened the doors an hour early to people who had booked tickets on line and the river of humanity didn’t slow till around 9:30pm.  The day starts with a bang with two old school roses and rolled back to back tattoos from there.  Before I knew it the day day was over;  I hadn’t eaten,  had a chance to look around, peed or even drink any water and 14 hours had passed.  Shell shocked and crazy tired I packed up for the evening bid my ado’s to the peeps at Junction Tattoo who had lent me an never ending roll of plastic wrap and made the five minute walk back to the hotel to crash.

Prior to opening the TBS doors to the public, I phoned Community Health and asked for an inspection of the studio and was met with this answer… ” Sir, we will never step foot in your establishment never mind do a health inspection”.  This statement was followed by a dial tone.

Three years latter at 10:30 in the morning I received a call from the CBC looking for information about piercing for a story about a teenage girl who had died of toxic shock from a nipple piercing.  She had been pierced in a home studio which was latter inspected by the Chief Coroner, who found the work space up to industry standards.  The next few weeks was a media barrage, everyday there was 2-3 interviews and everyone started the same…. “What do you mean there’s no legislation?”
That was March 2006, the Health Minster at the time, Tom Osborne promised legislation would be brought forth and as we approach March 2011 nothing has changed.

There is still no legislation governing Tattooing or Piercing in Newfoundland and Labrador.

So the question must be asked -WHY?

Is it a complicated process?  Is there no overseeing body capable of doing this job?  Does it really matter?

Sadly, this isn’t complicated. Things haven’t changed because there has been no public pressure for the government to act and therefore they act accordingly…. indifferent.  Without public pressure no motions will be brought forward and this will be lost in the sands of government neglect once again. So, what can be done… well the legislation exists in many different formats.  There is the federal level, Canadian Government Guidelines, found quite easily on their website but they are just base guidelines for the provinces.  If one wanted  a more specific basis, one could go to other provinces exsisting  legislation such as Alberta http://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/Standards-Tattooing.pdf or any if the other provinces that have effectively enacted and enforce legislation.

As far as people capable of enforcing, well currently… no.  There are no trained Health Inspectors in the province but it really would not be that complicated to do.  Community Health should  have a mandate to do such inspections but their hands are tied do to outdated ordinances.  Under their charter, the closet thing to our industry is Barbarism, this would have been put into place back when barber shops provide small surgeries and stitches… a tad out of date.  For their charter to change it must be put before government, voted on then ratified.  Are you starting to see a common failure here.

Over the last day I have read some absolutely stupefying statements about my industry all stemming from a minor that received two piercings in some guy’s basement.  The mother of the child has brought forward the idiocies of a un-regulated industry.  While she feels betrayed do to lack of repercussions it all comes down to the basic fact that there is no legislation therefore no repercussions.

This allows minors to get tattooed  or pierced in shops and homes, this allows people with no concept of sterilization or blood borne pathogens to continue to operate, this allows people to set up studios with no knowledge of the industry and open their doors to the public, this allows people to operate without paying any taxes or licensing fees and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it… because THERE IS NO LEGISLATION!
The failure is obvious, what needs to change has even been laid out by every other province that has all ready been down this road.  The reality is we need to create a ground swell to motivate those in office to act.  Not an easy thing to do since they spend most of their time talking their way out of action but this is something we can not let go.  This is a very basic health issue.  If you feel secure about the sixteen year old at restaurant because you know there is someone overseeing their process shouldn’t you feel the same when permanently marking your body. Call your MP and let them know this needs to be an issued acted upon today!

February 11 was a rather incredible day at the studio.  There was a buzz in the studio before the tattoo machines even began to hum.  Traditionally this would be the calm before the storm moment but this was not a storm.   It was just an emotionally charged environment getting read to roll and roll it did.  With a 11 am kick off,  TBS shot into high gear and began a frenetic tattoo pace to raise money for Daffodil Place.  The Day was filled with heart wrenching stories of survival and loss marked by unbelievable support for all those involved client and tattooist alike.  By days end the studio had produced 63 cancer ribbon tattoos and had raised $6725.00 and in all honesty, I don’t think we’ve ever had a more satisfying day.

On behalf of the studio, I’d like to thank  everyone for the the support, time and donations…… THANK YOU!

Somewhere, a long the way things seem to have become a little confused… I’ve tried to keep a focus centred around the act of the fundraiser but things seem to have strayed.  In the midst a simple act, in my eyes, it has started to become a bit of a slightly selfish purge of personal emotions surrounding my brother’s death.  Make no mistake;  on some levels that is true but that wasn’t the purpose.  The idea was bigger then my personal loss…. it was about the notion of every family that has struggled, every patient that has fought for their life.   That is why we as a shop agreed on Daffodil Place.  As a way of directing funds to a hands on operation there to help those at their most needed points in the fight with cancer – TREATMENT.

Yet, I find this idea slipping away.

More and more this becomes about my loss, my struggle and my fight and nothing could be further from the truth. I understand how this happens;  stories are always better when they are personalized but this was never the point of this fundraiser.  My struggle was never even mine,  it was my brother ‘s. I was just part of the support team and it was a team in every formation of the word.  It was that notion of team that drove the entire studio to the decision to run this fundraiser and it will be the same notion that will run it next year and  for years to come.  As TBS we have all lost loved ones and we empathize with this battle on such a deep level that we could never raise one’s loss over an other.

Bottom line is we are doing this to honour all our loved ones and because cancer -SUCKS!

For more information of DAFFODIL PLACE please follow this link:#mce_temp_url#