Why do we do it!?

  That is a great question, "why do we do it?". Tattoo that is, what really do we as Tattoo Artists get out of it?
I won't presume to know what others get out of it, Fame? Money? Maybe even to be "Cool"? Ha ha ha!

  I know that Tracey and I do it because we love it, and I mean truly love it. Sure we both have our days where we don't want to be at work, but it's not because of the tattooing, it's usually because of the weather on a Saturday is so darned nice. Or maybe we just need a break from work. So what do we do.... We take it sometimes, or we just rock it out old school and stay at work and make the best of it.

  I have had so many people tell me "I want to do tattoo's". I always ask why, and I get the usual answers.
"Because it's cool"
"You get to see boobs" (Trust me after a 1000 boobs they all look the same)
"Or the DOOOOOODE, look at all the hot chicks that come in here"
"I bet you make a lot of money" (Yep that is why I'm at work every day)
 
  If you ask me ALL of those reasons are not why I Tattoo at all. If they were I would not have been doing for so long. It's love... Love for the work, the people that come through the door. All the laughter that happens. There have been times that we get so wrapped up in our work and with our customers that it is just a big laugh fest. People we don't even know become our friends, and laugh, and tell great stories of our lives.

  That is why we do it, for the people really, to see a person get emotional about a tattoo that was done to remember a loved one, or to celebrate the joy of a new child in the family. To see a family come in and get matching tattoo's, mother and daughter, or father and son. And we all share a ton of laughs, some times some sorrow too. But in the end it is love for the work, we try and treat every one like they are our friends.... because they are really.

  Some of our customers we see every week, some we only see once a month or even year and we usually pick up right where we left off. And on that rare occasion that we only see them one, we always hope that they left with a smile and a great experience. Because at least we owe it to our customers to have a great time, if only for an hour.

Rob, Artist and Owner at Wonderland Tattoo

WT: So tell every one about yourself?

ROB:  I have been tattooing since about 1986, and have been at Wonderland since the day it opened. So that has been about 20 some years now that I have been tattooing here at Wonderland.

WT: What has been your motivating point in staying at Wonderland?

ROB: Well I own Wonderland now so that it quite motivating, ha ha ha. Seriously When David asked me to work for him 20 some years ago I just could not refuse. The shop had a great vibe and we have always tried to be a bit more upscale. I know that sounds weird but it is true. We have always catered to a more family friendly environment.

WT: How so, it seems odd to hear "family friendly" and Tattoo's together?

ROB: Well for one we really do welcome children in the studio. We Have a TV and if parents have to bring their children they can, and we will ask the child if they want to watch a movie or play a game. It keeps the children occupied so they don't bug their parents all the time. It can get a little boring for children just watching their parents get tattooed you know.

WT: When did you buy Wonderland Tattoo, and why  did you buy it. I'm sure you could have gone and worked some place else?

ROB: Well to be honest I almost was about to go work at a different studio, but... I was offered a good deal and I have a responsibility to all of our customers who supported us through out the years, and to the people that work here too. Sure it would have been easier and cheaper to just go work at a different studio, but I owe it to our loyal customers to keep Wonderland open. Add to the fact that I have been here for so long it would have been sad to see the ole girl go. You could say I'm married to the place really.

WT: So I take it you like coming to work?

ROB: Oh yes, like is not really a word that describes it enough. I enjoy it, I live for it. I have such a great time being here and thinking of all the things that I can do for the customers to make their experience here a great one. And I have developed a great working relationship with our customers as well. I know their families, what they do for work, we talk about their vacations. It's more like we are all family here.

WT: What kinds of tattooing do you like to do the most?

ROB: That is such a hard question to answer. I like to do it all really, well except for portraits. They freak me out a bit really. But luckily I have Tracey here to do those, she is awesome at them, so I Just let her do them.

WT: Where do you see Wonderland in the future?

ROB: Well I hope that we will always be here to take care of our customers needs. I only want to make Wonderland a fun place to get tattooed or pierced for every one who walks through the door. When a customer walks in we like to make them feel at home like we are all family.

WT: Well on that note Rob, thank you for taking the time to let everyone know how you feel.

TRACEY

Tracey Has been with Wonderland Tattoo for 10 years now. She just has what it takes to be a great tattoo artist. Her range of tattoo ability is stunning and has been an asset to Wonderland since she started so long ago.

WT: Why did you want to be a Tattoo Artist?

Tracey: I tried to explore different avenues with my art, but I have always wanted to try tattooing. I really liked having tattoo's so why not apply my desire to create, in a permanent way.

WT: Why did you want to work here at Wonderland?

Tracey: I had friends that had been to Wonderland. I admired their tattoo's for the quality of the work. I got my first tattoo from an apprentice at another studio and well lets just say it was not great. I went to Wonderland to have that first tattoo fixed and to have a second applied. I was surprised by the difference, and decided then that if I wanted to start to tattoo for a living I had to do it here at wonderland.

WT: who did your first tattoo at wonderland?

Tracey: Robert did my first tattoo. He was a little gruff with me but we had fun. I thought he would be a good teacher.

WT: What do you want to accomplish with you tattooing. 

Tracey: Well..hmmm.... I wish to make peoples ideas of tattoos to be positive, I want all of my clients to be happy when they leave with their new art work.

WT: Thank you for taking a few minutes out of you busy day for your customers.

To see Tracey's work... Tattoo's By Tracey