247 Ink Magazine (August/September) 2017 Issue#16 | Page 35

and I’ve always been this way. I want everybody to get everything they can out of it. I always keep the door open as wide as I can for everybody to do anything. I’m in their corner 110% because I want to see them grow as artists. I work hard to make sure I maintain a good shop; to make sure they aren’t ever restricted at all. I want them to be available for as much growth as they can. That’s why I was so happy about the girls getting on Ink Master because I want them to be able to experience all of that good stuff. We are going to be moving in a year and opening a new place so that’s going to be fun. A bigger place. I want to make it really special be- cause we all have such a good relationship. I want everybody’s input so I can design this place for everybody. It’s more than a tattoo shop, it’s a family thing with us. Once we’re up and running I want to get into apparel too. I want to keep up the local thing too. Hook up with local artists, doing a whole tee shirt line with everybody local from Maryland. I’ve met some great people in the business. You know, I’ve been saying the same thing. Since starting the magazine we have met such a great bunch of people. No bullshit, real people, down to earth people. I was never a “watch the game” or go drinking with the guys person but I actually have guy friends now and everyone is just so fuckin cool it’s a whole new experience. Right! It is cool. It’s weird too because like I said, in the beginning, I hated what I was feeling but as the industry grew that’s when it all clicked. The people I’m meeting are kinda the people who got in it when I did. I think it was when it stopped being all bikers and the comic book nerds and the graphic artists came in. It brought a whole new group of people and I think the comic book nerds were willing and happy to be friends because they probably didn’t have many in junior high school. (laughs) Yeah and I actually come from that tough guy era. I rode Harleys my whole life and hung out with bikers so it’s such a refreshing wide variety 33