well; something that 20 years ago was almost
taboo.
What challenges would you say professionals
with visible tattoos face in the workplace
today?
Personally I think with this day and age, the
employee is hired more on substance and
ability rather than physical appearance, which
is a much better situation than in past years.
I wouldn’t say that some employers aren’t
going to lock down a stellar candidate that is
clean cut and “un-inked” as opposed to a free
spirited, fully sleeved candidate with multiple
piercings, but the gap is closing rapidly. I have
also seen employees go as far as “toning down”
their appearance for the 3 month trial period
of employment, and then fully unleash their
flamboyant side on day 91! Trust me, I’ve seen
this tactic in action, but as a employer with over
100 tattoos, it doesn’t faze me one bit.
When you were starting your business
did you face any challenges due to having
tattoos? Any of those challenges still persist?
I have never been met with any animosity as a
tattooed employee; but with that being said, it
wasn’t until I was firmly set in my career path
that I ventured past my upper elbows and went
ahead with full sleeves.
Does it impact the interview process
(positively/negatively) when someone with
tattoos applies to work for an employer with
tattoos?
I’ve conducted hundreds of interviews and
I often find a free spirited type with tattoos,
dreads, and piercings can be a safer choice to
hire when pitted head-to-head with a more
confirmed to the norm type of person. I say
this because you can tell they aren’t being fake
or putting on a show to get the job so you get
the impression they really need the job and are
going to take it more seriously; of course this is
entirely just an opinion. I used to sympathize
with a candidate during an interview if they
were loaded up with ink. I often wondered if
they were getting the runaround from more
traditional employers who might still be
living in the 50’s with their thought processes;
someone without the ability to wrap their head
around the fact that this is a person genuinely
looking for a job who could be a true asset to
their establishment.
We understand that you have grown up
around some very talented and well known
tattoo artists. Can you tell us some stories?
I was introduced to the tattoo scene in Victoria
at a young age by my former brother-in-law,
Bob the Barber; he had some ink and knew I
was interested in joining the fraternity! It was
in a shop in Odeon Alley when I was 16 years
old that I was introduced to 2, rather large and
intimidating, former ass-kicking, army ranger
type of guys. This was my first experience with
the original Urge Tattoo owners, and now
long time friends, Johnny Faulds and Graham
McQuade. Back in the day, if you wanted a
tattoo in Victoria you went to the big three:
Urge, Universal, and Pair O Dice. If you went
to any of these three shops you were going to
leave satisfied and a customer for life. A tattoo
is the start of an addiction; at age 16 I got my
first, two hours later and at the cost of an order
of sushi for Johnny and Graham, and under
the eyes of a young artist apprentice named
E-Dawg (now known as Erik Von Cobra), I
got a second tattoo, and thus the cycle begins!
After the first experience I was hooked and
this led to a life-long relationship with Garry
Peak who at the time owned Pair O Dice. The
shop always had a great vibe and Garry became
like an uncle to me and to this day still tattoos
me weekly! Most of the time now I just let
him go with whatever he wants to do and I’m
never disappointed. Garry has had some of
Victoria’s current popular artists such as Jeff
Martin of Urge, Leroy Valentine of Union, Ory
of Empire, Wade Woods of Let it Bleed and
young up and comers, Anthony Ashman and
the super talented Olivia Larouche of Twisted
Metal Tattoos, all grace the Pair O Dice Studio.
BUT... never has there been an artist leave more
of an impression as the man they call Dickie
Pederson (Dustin Schwam now of 477 tattoos)!
The “old man and loud nonstop foul mouthed
punk kid show” was a mainstay for many years,
with epic comedic banter and sarcasm. This,
in my opinion, is what you expect to see in a
tattoo shop; not a quiet office-like environment
with jazz music playing in the background! The
shop vibe is all part of the experience and every
shop in Vic city is unique.
I have seen legends such as Zain