Ep. 218 "Scholarship" (An exciting announcement)

[00:00:00] Hello and good day diary listeners. I'm actually replaying a recording that I did with Jake Meeks and Derek Youngberg of Derek Youngberg is of tattoo career builders and Jake Meeks as you guys well know is from Fireside Tattoo Network both were

[00:00:23] Wonderful enough to invite me on so I could Join them in shouting out what is to be a really cool thing a scholarship a Scholarship that Derek last year at Paradise Tattoo Gathering and that is what we are we are starting with as of right now is

[00:00:42] Trying to create a scholarship program for the Paradise Tattoo Gathering so that one lucky person or a few lucky people depending on the The package that that they're setting up right now could win an opportunity to to go to Paradise and

[00:01:03] Network and scale so quickly. I can't even tell you But for me the benefit of this is that I did not have to record a podcast this week And and not that that's ever a hardship for me. It's actually a wonderful blessing

[00:01:20] But in the interest of getting the word out and trying to hype this wonderful thing I would I would invite you guys before you even start listening, please on IG Go and search Tattoo career builders make sure to give that page a follow

[00:01:38] Lots is going to be coming out from that. Definitely. Definitely keep an eye out on the Fireside Network there's gonna be much motion and Talk there about this scholarship you can read about it there. I'll make sure in these show notes to Definitely include the

[00:01:58] Direct link to learn more about this scholarship, but in the meantime Please enjoy. This is a wonderful wonderful recording and I'm I'm just so blessed that I get to You know hang out with these really awesome people who have such great care and

[00:02:17] Distedication to tattooing and and to the future of Tattooing so without further ado enjoy listeners Welcome to the apprenticeship diaries where raw meats were fine. Let's be real. We're still working on

[00:02:34] What it took what it takes and the stories that are made join us as we learn from professionals about how their stories begin Paradise right like in general well, I know I'm here because I've been going to the Paradise Tattoo gathering since 2011 and

[00:03:04] At that time I was a well first. I'll introduce myself Amy Nichols from the apprenticeship diaries and I guess the reason why I am here is because I've been going to the Paradise Tattoo gathering events since 2011 and when I was going first I was an apprentice

[00:03:26] so these have been foundational for me since I began in the field of tattooing and They've been evocative and I'm provoking enough in my education Continually to keep going. So that's why I'm here Yeah, that's that's that's a good one. I didn't go that that far back

[00:03:46] I knew of it, you know from I guess probably the very first one I can remember someone from my shop going with another friend to what I believe was the very first one and it sounded Super cool. It just sounded like something that was out of reach

[00:03:58] Which is kind of what we're gonna get to in this talk because it probably was out of reach for me You know at that point in time But just the just the idea as a young tattoo or of like getting on a plane

[00:04:08] They were pitching it being in the middle of nowhere So it wasn't like flying to you know LaGuardia or something and I was like, oh, that's gonna be expensive and it's gonna be difficult But it sounds really cool

[00:04:18] but in the longer run it became kind of a catalyst for what turned into the fireside Podcast and the originally fireside tats and then the fireside tattoo network because it was the first kind of Introduction on that level to like art focused tattooing that I had come across

[00:04:34] Like I knew some artists that tattooed like I knew of guy and I knew of like, you know Some of the realism guys from back in the day of Bob Rinshaw or or bugs Like people in the magazines, but I didn't know any art first tattooers necessarily

[00:04:47] And so as time went on and I was like and I was taking more and more painting workshops and In trying to learn to implement the stuff I was learning in fine art to tattooing and And that eventually kind of started fireside

[00:04:59] But but paradise was the thing that proved to me that like that could be a thing It was like, you know, even though it wasn't a podcast. It was an event There was an art focused event for tattooers, so

[00:05:10] Yeah, what about what about you Derek? Where did you for it? Did you you just came to the your first one was last year Did you know about the event beforehand or oh, yeah for many years?

[00:05:19] I was one of the ghosts the very beginning of course and just Didn't find myself, you know didn't have the time or the money, you know, so I'm Derek. I'm a founder of coalition tattoo supply before

[00:05:34] owning a supply company. I was a tattoo shop owner in Bend, Oregon And that's what I really wanted to be a part of paradise tattoo gathering. I was many years ago

[00:05:45] So last year just out of just pure interest and let's go check it out and see what this is all about I walked away from that experience just forever changed. It was a

[00:05:57] Career-changing experience for me. It was really nice to see for the first time of all the years 30 years Of going to tattoo conventions. This was hands down the best sense of community that I've ever felt when it comes to like artists coming together for the

[00:06:14] betterment of each other and their own careers and I was just absolutely inspired and Just really taken back so Coming back To the Northwest where I live I've told many people about it and trying to get as many people on board coming to paradise in the future

[00:06:34] And some are and So it was relating a lot of this story other people have been to the paradise gathering Especially when it was in summit in Colorado In every single person I talked to you is so that paradise tattoo gathering has completely changed their career

[00:06:50] or Kickstarter to some degree and I just thought that was phenomenal, you know gives us does such a wonderful job Jake Awesome Amy wonderful meeting you just I've just been really Happy to find a kind of land and Feels community so yeah, I'm all about it and

[00:07:11] all about promoting it and all about You know future endeavors with especially with your college scholarship program That paradise tattoo gathering is doing this year And they feel like this is a good time and a good venue for Inspiring new artists that are up and coming

[00:07:30] you know so they can You know down in there and two feet and good good head start You know to make a great career happen. So it's all about Yeah, and that's that's kind of a good

[00:07:46] Transition and one of the things that we wanted to wanted to hit on I kind of wanted to talk a little bit just about like Tattoo education as a whole and how much it's how much it's evolved I guess but it's funny how

[00:07:59] The scholarship the idea for the scholarship came up at the end of last year you guys were both in the room right on the closing day and And we were just getting feedback from some of the artists and one of the artists

[00:08:15] stood up and was an apprentice and said One thing that would be cool is if there was a way to get younger artists more You know involved or give them access in some way because that artist was only able to come because their mentor

[00:08:30] footed the bill and somebody in the crowd I don't know who just yelled out like scholarship And so we started bouncing that idea around just on the main stage really just like crowd took like I had the mic

[00:08:42] And we're just like bouncing ideas back through the through the crowd and then And kind of roughed out or not roughed out an idea Just everyone kind of agreed that that would be cool if we could make find a way to make that work

[00:08:55] And you know and then we talked a little about how to work out the adjust logistics But what was interesting is at the end of that Derek you came up to me after we had kind of broken down You're like hey I'm willing to Go in and match

[00:09:12] Up to ten thousand dollars if you got it Donations to get this scholarship up and go in if you guys are serious about it Which was really what set it off. It's like okay. It went from an idea to a thing We have to do now, you know

[00:09:25] So so what? Is that how they might miss anything that's basically kind of it was kind of a on a whim the whole idea came up. Yeah Yeah, I have to say that um, oh sorry Yeah

[00:09:40] What was that Amy it's all right sir. Go ahead and hear it. Oh, I was Oh, I was just gonna say that It was It was the benefit of my studio

[00:09:54] That had already known about the event and had known about the players because when I first started going Guy was on site and he would show up And so that was the draw was like a really core group of tattoo artists that really drew people in it's always

[00:10:12] Attracted an incredible tattoo artist But in beginning because guy was such an icon in the industry It drew in my studio and because my studio Was already knowledgeable about it

[00:10:25] I was I was able to go but but the only reason why I was able to go is because my studio had already profited a whole condo and it was bigger than what everybody needed and I was able to kind of like

[00:10:38] You know kind of insert myself in there and say hey, I want to go and and it was the first time for me that In tattooing actually and this might spin into the tattoo education kind of the discussion as well

[00:10:55] That I had felt what I felt when I was in art school again Because I really didn't experience that at all in my studio and and really I I know that my studio was really trying to manifest those values but I Was probably the most

[00:11:13] Foundationally set in those values coming into the Paradise gathering and so for me It was like a breath of fresh air because everybody that was there was foundationally art kids first and they were trying to implement those things into

[00:11:30] Tattooing and make that a core principle that we all shared and So but the scholarship is great because as we heard from last year For anybody who really needs this coming into it is really difficult

[00:11:44] But what I will say is is that the the people that go are so wonderful that if you know another person that has interest It's very easy for you to even if you don't get the scholarship to sync up with other interest bodies and formulate a

[00:11:59] Group to go with an experience with I've known many noobs that have come to it and shared, you know hotel accommodations with each other and

[00:12:08] Synced up from across the globe and they haven't even met each other in person, but because it's such an integral event that attracts I think just a passion for art and that kind of

[00:12:21] Education it really I think that you could very easily find somebody that you can check out with and make it a little bit more affordable Yeah, yeah, that's that's a good point a lot of people have to do that

[00:12:33] And and for folks who've never been to Jiminy Peak where this is held and and we'll link to all the details And wherever you're watching this podcast will link to all the details so you can learn more about paradise

[00:12:43] But the cool thing about it is it's not like a traditional hotel. It's a ski resort So they're full-on like condos. We stayed in a four bed three bath last year I think which might be the biggest one

[00:12:52] But it was but they have several three bed two baths and one will to so it's easy to like pile up with your Whole studio hit the grocery store. So you can't you know, that's the kind of interest Yeah, I have full kitchens

[00:13:03] So that's a kind of interesting thing about it is you can kind of outside of the scholarship even you can kind of make it as Affordable or as expensive as you want it to be, you know

[00:13:14] You know, there's they're just the from a standpoint of getting in the door Outside of like travel getting there just getting in the door. It's like 400 bucks for a four-day pass

[00:13:23] It's really no what it's cheaper than getting a booth at any convention really and it's not much more Than just buying a day pass to a lot of conventions, especially on like a Saturday

[00:13:35] There are plenty of conventions I go to where like it's 60 bucks to get in on Saturday You know, you're like man, just a walk around. All right, but So you really, you know, you can make it more affordable

[00:13:46] But if you want to do all of the stuff if you want to get all of the you'll go to all the seminars And do all the things it can get pretty pricey and so that kind of takes us back to the point of this

[00:13:56] scholarship because we want to get younger up-and-coming artists involved as early as As we can to have a positive impact on their careers and I assume I'll throw it back to you Derek that I assume that was kind of

[00:14:10] What made you throw that offer out so quickly and without much thought it just seemed pretty obvious to you Yeah, I mean I already had four days of everybody pulling on my heartstrings And falling in love with an event so in

[00:14:25] hearing, you know, this apprentice, you know talk and you know Throw this feedback out. It just it was a no-brainer. You know, it was a number that I landed on

[00:14:36] Because I have an opportunity to do something like this and you know, we're committed to the industry that's been serving us for so long as suppliers and You know, it's some of our favorite, you know clients You know the ones that are really

[00:14:51] invested into, you know further in their careers and the ones that are Just starting out, you know They come to us all the time in our showrooms just looking for assistance and help and You know, wondering how they should navigate

[00:15:05] You know this career. So we do more than just sell supplies. We You know, we help support and So this was an opportunity that I just I couldn't pass up on In my mind and I was like, well, I'm just gonna land it right now with you Jake

[00:15:18] Um Let's let's make this happen. Let's let's do it. So Uh, you know, you guys are so much about I'm sorry. Let me go ahead No, no, I wanted to spin off of that just for a second because I remember

[00:15:37] Being approached by you there was a question that you asked me when I was on the panel Because in your neck of the woods, uh, they actually have tattoo schools And that was a consideration of yours

[00:15:49] In the realm that which you exist and so that affects very much. So The the the artists that come out of your state and things like that and um, And so I think that that was something that further informed

[00:16:05] Your experience in this and and really wanted you to give to something that you saw a lot of integrity to Yeah, it's it's wonderful to see Education and where tattoo is going right now and how it's raising the standards

[00:16:18] You know across the board. Um, there's so many great individuals, uh, you know podcast and You know reinventing the tattoo jake what you're doing with fireside um, so many platforms out there now that are just about helping

[00:16:30] And contributing and I think that's absolutely that's where all the growth is really occurring right now In that so it's like, you know, the lone artist out there the individual comes out of a school like say for instance at organ

[00:16:44] Where they come out of a school and they're not always It's not always easy just to go land a job Right now. So, you know, a lot of them are kind of lost in their way. They have as a certificate But what do I do with it?

[00:16:54] How do I get into the industry? And so, you know, they're looking for people to You know, they're looking for the mentorship, you know, they're looking for Apprenticeships, you know, they're looking for different avenues to go out there and kind of keep these skills

[00:17:06] Gwelling and you know and defining, you know, as to where they're going to go. So um, it is Wonderful to see so many individuals right now just in the background of tattooing right now

[00:17:15] They're just like really just just pumping it, you know making it something that we never got to see back and I started tattooing in the 90s We didn't have a degree of education and understanding in tattooing and I think the quality of tattoos then versus now

[00:17:33] It shows that difference. So It's just uh, yeah, it's just wonderful to be a part of and uh, yeah, thank you, Amy It was a wonderful meeting you on this and seeing that because I know that your your tours that apprenticeship

[00:17:44] You know mindset and this is exactly what so many of the students outside of these schools Um, and don't get me wrong. There are really good schools now and there's schools not so good

[00:17:55] And it's just like we're experiencing, you know, both right now hoping that the standards will rise for everybody At some point, but you know, Amy, you know, you're You know a great voice for this as well

[00:18:06] I've been able to listen to a few podcasts and I've just been absolutely, you know thrilled with what you have going on So yeah keep that up. Please Thank you. I appreciate that. I intend to

[00:18:18] One thing I do want to also discuss with all this is the networking opportunities here for these newer tattooers It's just phenomenal. Like I know that mentorships are coming out of this paradise tattoo gathering I know that people are connecting and doing guest spots

[00:18:35] And landing in homes that they You know, they never even thought possible before You know in tattooing and it's just like this is what it's about too So that's I think a great part of that the scholarship opportunity is for somebody who can't afford to get there

[00:18:49] It's not just about the education. It's about that networking platform that they're going to have and see Um, and you know find when they get there Yeah, so do it you there 100 because I I know a lot of artists that they're

[00:19:03] They're limited to who they're around locally and who could actually mentor them And if they have the opportunity to go to an event like this where they get to meet artists who

[00:19:13] You know might be seeking a hungry apprentice or somebody that has a significant amount to show for Themselves, but the area to which that they live is very dry as far as their opportunities You know if you can be quick routed

[00:19:28] I mean, yeah, you might have to move to another state or something like that But it it really depends upon your passion For this industry and there's been lots of tattoo artists that have moved cross country in order to pursue this industry

[00:19:41] So it's a it's a great opportunity Something that I um that I try to stress to people who've never been to paradise before is Especially if you're a beginning tattooer or any level of tattooer who looks up to other tattooers Which we all do you know

[00:19:56] And if you go to conventions, whether you're working at a booth or whether you're just going to walk through and And see your favorite artists work at health city They're at a booth working And then especially the bigger artists like if you want to talk to Nico Hortado

[00:20:10] Good luck because he's going to be tattooing like a madman all day And then once he's finished tattooing he's not in the convention center anymore. He's gone It's almost like they ushered him out the back door or something like that

[00:20:20] You're like, man, I just wanted to get a picture with him or ask him this or whatever And the difference in in that in paradise is we're all stuck on the side of a mountain together for four straight days There's one bar, you know

[00:20:31] There's one little country store You know that we all go get peanut butter and jelly and bread and milk and and you walk to all of it So all of your favorite tattooers are at the same breakfast place as you at this You're passing them all day long

[00:20:47] And um even if you're one of these people like which most of us are who can't Who have a hard time working up the nerve to like talk to our favorite artists Um, you you've got four days to work up the nerve

[00:20:57] You know, they're not going anywhere and that's a really big deal when it comes to the networking, you know standpoint is just getting a little bit of like, you know A one-on-one time or small group time with

[00:21:08] With some of your favorite artists and to your point meeting and having the opportunity for uh Maybe an apprenticeship someplace or just a booth made at a tattoo convention

[00:21:17] You know, maybe you're at a shop where you're you're the only one at the shop that wants to travel and do shows And you know, and you can't get booth mates That's a great point jake because with this Derek and that you guys are sponsoring with the scholarship

[00:21:29] I mean Derek, you came by yourself and I will say that for my first time Going to paradise even though I went with a crew I Incellulated they were kind of upset with me because I just put on my headphones and I just painted

[00:21:44] The whole time and I just like I was very determined to just make art and I got really into the event I had no idea who was there. Um people were coming up to me

[00:21:54] Because I was just I was just enjoying the art and everything but like, you know, you Derek you went by yourself And you were able to fully immerse yourself into everything And I think that's what's beautiful about the scholarship opportunity too is that you're going solo

[00:22:11] And there's not going to be a group of people to kind of Regulate what you do how you do it. There's not going to be this side noise that kind of makes you feel inferior you know, you can just go and and

[00:22:24] You know if they're a rock star tattoo artist my boyfriend comes with me every single year and he comes back and he's in his pizzeria Talking to clients who some of them are tattoo artists and he's like, yeah, you know

[00:22:37] I was talking to gunner the last time and they were like what? They're like, how do you know these rock star tattoo artists man? Like I've never met these people and he's like

[00:22:47] Oh, yeah, like we're you know, we're we're hanging out in jiminy peak, massachusetts. I go there all the time like they're cool dudes And he's just talking hunting and everything's they're people, you know, like they're not

[00:22:59] They're not just tattooing, you know, you can come and you can have an exchange with somebody else that has nothing to do with tattooing We met a couple people from montana and we were sharing pictures about what Elker deer that we had hunted

[00:23:14] If there's there's so many ways to Meet the person behind the art And that's what's a beautiful thing about the scholarship too is that you be coming as you are With all this passion towards tattooing

[00:23:27] But what you'd find is is some really good friendship and connections that go far beyond that and and that's what paradise really helps cultivate So it's a good point jake

[00:23:38] Yeah, I love the inclusion the inclusion that you have going on in this event. I mean it's just like You know, usually every event that you go to or majority of the bench you go to there's so many clicks

[00:23:48] You know involved so even like, you know in the off hours, it's like You know, there's there's those people that you're just like I love to talk to them But they're kind of doing their thing and here it was like you had opportunities to talk with everybody

[00:24:01] You know, I don't know if I laughed harder than hanging out with killing moon for an hour or two, you know, like And everybody's just so like just so open, you know gunner

[00:24:13] You know to absolutely just open, you know, I'm sure at most conventions like jake, like you're saying it's hard to even talk to these guys They're busy as shit. We had an opportunity to do this

[00:24:22] So there is so much inclusion right now. Um, there's a lot of diversity everybody was coming from different backgrounds and experience levels It didn't matter if somebody was like an apprentice there to learn or somebody had been in the game for 20 plus years

[00:24:35] Everybody was on the same level and I absolutely love that so Thank you again Yeah Do you Yeah, yeah, do you want to um, you guys want to dive in a little bit since we are kind of uh

[00:24:50] People probably know by now we're we're pitching the the scholarship Pretty hard. So maybe we could go into a few of the details Uh with the few folks in mind like people who think that they would Want to apply for a scholarship

[00:25:03] Folks that would just like to donate to the general scholarship fund which Coalition derrick is going to actually i'm saying coalition but you're actually doing this through your um, uh Through a through a different business your your newer startup. Do you want to talk a little bit about

[00:25:20] I'm kind of coaching it all right now. Yeah, sure. I gotta split that. Um, I am the founder coalition tattoo supply That's run by a wonderful team of just like Really just dedicated individuals. They've been with me something with me since the very beginning

[00:25:34] and um, that's a great experience in the Yeah, so that you know 50 of that is coming from coalition of the 10 000 The other is a new startup company that a few of us are forming right now called tattoo career builders

[00:25:49] We're hoping for a july launch right now and that's just like really Helping in supporting individuals that are having a hard time with business Maybe they're in a step situation with their business

[00:26:00] And I know how hard it is to be a creative and run your own company at the same time is really difficult So we're just kind of helped bridging that gap between the two

[00:26:09] So we're going to be doing that as well. But um, yeah, so I mean, that's why you know, Paris had to be othering I think it's you know, so dear to my heart because

[00:26:17] It's not just about just art and stuff like that too. There are a lot of You know business and finance talks and other things too so you can get Just really a whole holistic picture of what tattooing is all about just going there. So Yeah

[00:26:32] Did I answer your question? Yeah I think I did. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to get I just wanted to give you a chance to Talk about tattoo career builders because we've talked about it

[00:26:42] You're you're pretty involved in the inside fireside tattoo club and we talk about talk about a decent amount on our mindset Monday nights which is tonight by the way and So I wanted to make sure that we that we got that in but back to

[00:26:55] The actual scholarship and how it will work You can donate any dollar amount to the general scholarship fund that will be matched up to $10,000 between coalition and tattoo career builders Or you can nominate an artist to

[00:27:16] To receive a scholarship or to be considered for a scholarship. So whether that's an apprentice in your own shop or or Amy, I know you've been talking about someone that is actually like a 20 plus year veteran

[00:27:26] Like an old school tattooer. They're like they would be perfect for this scholarship because it's not just necessarily apprentices or new tattooers. It's people who just don't have the means or the opportunity necessarily to uh, to get there so um, so to kind of

[00:27:41] To reiterate real quick you can donate you can apply for yourself or you can nominate another artist Okay listeners This is time for me to interrupt and shine some light on some really cool things that you Can be a part of and take advantage of

[00:28:02] Biggest thing is that this show is actually affiliated with reinventing the tattoo and in the show notes always you can find a link labeled TAD 10 which can offer you 10 off any of the Provided services through reinventing the tattoo Reinventing also just to link this to this podcast

[00:28:27] uh does a uh Does does support the paradise tattoo gathering as well as tattoo now fireside And uh, as you're hearing this, uh, the scholarship is going to be put on through tattoo career builders um coalition tattoo supplies is darrod young birds main company

[00:28:48] There's so many forces being brought together here, but Bottom line is is that all of these forces are dedicated to education and It is so awesome as somebody who Uh lived in the days where it was really hard to find tattoo education that these

[00:29:11] factions and groups of people who I have known since my early years tattooing My second apprenticeship started in like early 2010 late 2009 And uh at that time it was so hard to to gather tattoo information So now that you have, you know people like guy atchison

[00:29:33] I know that gay ripley has always been so big behind the tattoo communities boards of uh online professionals that can go and give Qualified critiques really invested critiques Now there's paradise tattoo gathering. It's been going on for a while

[00:29:50] But they're growing and growing and growing and linking together to create something really really cool and From my estimation the most integral that you're probably going to find out there Um, the kind of artists that it attracts is just phenomenal But to loop back around, please be sure

[00:30:10] To check out reinventing the tattoo They offer a lot of things for free to to Look at and stuff. But if you want to up your game Definitely go to the show notes in this podcast

[00:30:24] And scroll down you'll find tad 10 as a link and there you can find yourself 10 off Services offered through reinventing the tattoo All right listeners back to our podcast So um, and we'll have we'll link to to all that it's all in one form. So it's really easy

[00:30:47] You go to one place and decide Any number of those things, you know that you that you want to do and uh, do we want to Go in a little bit to

[00:30:58] How what the considerations are I mean, there's a handful of fairly clear questions on the form but like who If so Derek you're putting money in. Amy you're there educating I'll be there educating like who is the ideal? Who do we want to see there getting the scholarship

[00:31:15] Money like what what is that? What's the avatar of those artists look like? Um, well the passion and I had uh, yeah passionate passionate is definitely it. Um,

[00:31:29] Uh, I I had approached the the guy that I thought about before and he actually um, he said, you know, thank you But no I he's like I I I feel like it should go to somebody else that really can't afford it So he disqualified himself even though

[00:31:46] I I personally I feel like that's unfair because I feel like I mean, I don't want to negate his own feelings but um for anybody out there who um maybe could afford it but is

[00:32:02] Hungry for that next step within your tattoo life and is really feeling like uh, you don't know what's next within your tattoo career Because platote and there's it's just a job for you at this point. I feel like paradise can give you new wings

[00:32:21] For this and it can connect you with people that can Re-invigorate your business model your talent It can just it just scales everything because the dynamics that are talked about within This this space, uh the seminars are they they're

[00:32:43] It's just multifunctional. There's business seminars. There's art seminars. There's photography seminars. There's seminars on skin Uh, you know the the tonalities of skin. There's so many different types of focuses that if you Wanted to scale

[00:33:00] What you think you know which you should never I think as a person who is pursuing a career and anything that's creative Should never I was always taught by my mentor once you think you know everything you're done

[00:33:12] You're ready to die like it's over. You better get ready because You're gonna be taken out. So I feel like if if you're a person who just feels a general stagnation um You put yourself into it and and see because uh

[00:33:29] This no matter who I've brought to this event Has been ignited including like I said my non tattoo artist boyfriend. He He gets so excited just going every year. He's like he looks forward to it It's kind of like our couples vacation even though

[00:33:45] It's completely a work event for me. So Um, that's what I have to offer For this at this point Yeah, but yeah, I I uh, I think I think it can you know with Derek said passion um

[00:34:02] And of course, you know, I I met somebody online through reinventing the tattoo and uh, he comes from a state who They don't have many tattoo shops And so there wasn't very many people that could actually mentor him And he drove like I think 14 hours across

[00:34:22] Oh, I he's in kentucky and he drove all the way there didn't sleep and He was he was just so amazed and he like came up to me. He was able to meet me in person That kicked him off to meet terra

[00:34:38] I'm sorry. I'm blanking on her last name. She does really cool news news school. Yeah. Yeah. I know I can't think of her last name either, but she's awesome. Um, but she's awesome He learned her application of prismic colors And then um, he got

[00:34:53] Jesse smith took christian Perez's painting class and he didn't he couldn't try Travel with his fresh oil painting. So he just gave it away to this budding artist who has like a jesse smith seminar Practice, I mean, it's like such a collector's item

[00:35:10] And um, you know, that's the kind of stuff that you'll witness at paradise is is those kind of things and for him It just scaled him so much and gave him so many ideas about what he could do with his career

[00:35:25] And what possibilities were there were out there for him That it really made the world a lot bigger than kentucky Yeah, um, I think we lost eric for a second. Yeah, he's had a little bit of connectivity issues, but

[00:35:39] Yeah, I mean I I would I would say to the the type of person as as a co-promoter of Paradise now which i'm excited to be I never would have guessed I'd have the chance to do that in 2011 Or whenever it was so that's um, that's really exciting

[00:35:56] But I think about all of the great tattooers today Who went to paradise? as unknowns and I I would love to be a part of if you know, I I'm visualizing paradise 10 or 20 years from now

[00:36:10] And I would love for the name to just continue to get the brand itself. I guess it's a to continue continue to get stronger so I want to

[00:36:18] Be a part of the development of the most promising young talent or inexperienced folks that are out there, you know, so So like you said passion Folks who are just curious like you said that don't think they know everything or don't think they know much of anything

[00:36:33] Uh and and definitely folks that are talented You know, I like I want to I love to get folks who can draw and are trying to solve problems and trying to push the envelope and And you know, uh, why I want I want to help everyone

[00:36:46] I really would love to focus on helping the people that I believe will be the next generation of great tattooers You know in eight or ten years from now. That's amazing how fast that happens You know, my my channel is 11 years old now

[00:36:58] And I run into tattooers who are so much better than me It shows that tell me that they have a terrible apprenticeship and learn to tattoo watching fireside youtube's and they're incredible

[00:37:08] You know, it's just like yeah that good that fast. You're like well, it was not that fast It's been nine years or whatever they have a lot of them in tattooing like, yeah That's it. Yeah time goes by really quickly, you know

[00:37:18] So the first round of scholarship people are going to be awesome tattooers when we you know blink your eyes One as far as nominating people so say you're a mentor and you know that You know that what you're able to offer Your apprentice is very limited

[00:37:34] Um, and you want to diversify this I know when I when I was learning to cut hair My father used to send me off to seminars in other spaces of the country to go to like the aqua's academy and different hair

[00:37:48] Academies so that then I would come back with knowledge and then infuse the whole studio So what you could look at this is is kind of sending a um, you know ambassador for your shop

[00:37:58] And like you know, you're you're set to go and it could be like even one of your Your most it could be something that you nominate them because they're showing excellence in in the studio

[00:38:09] Somebody that is just hustling it man, and you're like, oh, okay. Well, this is what I'm going to do I'm gonna I'm going to nominate you for this and then you go and then you can bring back all this awesome stuff to the studio

[00:38:20] And share it with all of us and then you're cultivating in your studio not only You know somebody who can Look to become a mentor eventually because with that kind of You know exchange of information

[00:38:37] You're you're having them go and absorb from a student level, but then they come back and then they have to actually Recite it. So then it's about what they've actually retained And if you give it that kind of mission too, it might really scale

[00:38:52] The kind of level of artists that you have in your studio as well Yeah, it's a great point. Yeah uh, so there's there's many different ways that this could be applicable to people but um

[00:39:02] I think it's an amazing venture, but if nothing else then I can espouse that the Paradise Tattoo Gathering events have just Every single year no matter where they're held have been Incredible Incredible it's it's so worth

[00:39:19] Even if you don't win the scholarship doing exactly what we're talking about here Even if you had to pay for it In spades Yeah Absolutely. There's no chance that it's not an investment in yourself even if you aren't don't end up getting a scholarship the

[00:39:35] As far as the scholarship goes back to a little bit of the detail of it We won't know exactly how it's split until we know how many scholarship dollars there are

[00:39:44] You know because we're trying to do this in tiers. So we would like for a couple of people to get full rides including flight uh transportation from the Uh from the airport to the

[00:39:55] To the resort which is no small that's like a 45 minute drive. It's a 100 dollar uber ride so The the flight the transportation to the hotel room Inboard the four day pass and uh some level of individual Seminars we're going to build sort of an apprenticeship package of seminars

[00:40:16] That would help a young artist up and come and of course that would be the highest level as in all expenses paid

[00:40:20] And if we could do one or two of those that'd be fantastic if for some reason it we don't end up which I believe we will if somebody's we don't end up with With enough to to do that

[00:40:30] We would rather spread the wealth and and do a lot of partial scholarships So we'll do some level of just four day passes and you have to get yourself there or just four day passes and and hotel

[00:40:41] Uh things like that. So we'll start to divvy that up as we see how many applicants we have and how many dollars we have to disperse You know between those two things but

[00:40:52] And then you know and so for everyone watching the earlier that you kind of donate to it and nominate other other Nominate artists or nominate yourself apply for yourself. Uh, the the earlier we'll get a clear picture of what we're able to do with it

[00:41:05] So, oh, yeah, yeah When I would love to share on my pack ass, I mean I don't have I don't add nearly the following as fireside, but at least You know connecting people with how they can donate You know where they can apply

[00:41:22] You know just if you're a person who has a passion for education, which I would assume that if you're You're listening to either of our shows you would And and hopefully you understand the reciprocity of that that if you have had incredible mentorship in your life that that

[00:41:41] Is a gift that I don't think that I think it's important to know that not many people have like you said I'm kind of overwhelmed by the fact that I went to paradise when you couldn't even and I think

[00:41:56] I'm like, wow, you know like I've been exposed to all this You haven't you know like no And and that's the thing is I've met tattoo artists that are senior to me that have never met guy atchison

[00:42:08] I've never been involved in these events. They're like blown away when I talk about them all the time and it just like It's crazy to me That I have been exposed to all these things

[00:42:19] So that's what the passion is that brings me to sharing information and wanting to educate people within this industry Is because I know that I've been gifted with such Incredible insight into this industry and honestly with

[00:42:32] With no desire to like I wanted to tattoo him because I wanted to do my art for a living That was it. I I really didn't care about tattooing at all if I'm if I'm being for real

[00:42:42] So, you know the idea of a tattoo nerd or anything like that like that was foreign to me um, so I Yeah, and I can't even say that's how you want to go about it

[00:42:55] But no, you know like but I will say it does kind of help you approach People if you don't have this like oh, that's You know, that's Andy Chambers My boyfriend was talking with Andy Chambers about how to pick up women in Home Depot or something like that

[00:43:13] So like, you know like if you if you go into it I think with With a genuine want to just learn and be open. I think that's really uh phenomenal um, but yeah, like I I I can't say enough good things about About the show. It's incredible

[00:43:35] Same here. I'm think we're both we're both lucky to To to be a part of it or so who to have you know to have found it and actually made the effort to To be a part of because so many people like I did

[00:43:45] Originally would hear of things like that and hear about events like paradise and just go like Not that there aren't there aren't many events like paradise but things that are outside of

[00:43:54] Regular tattoo shows where you go to a tattoo show to get a little exposure and hopefully make some money You know cover your expenses at the very least and you come to paradise not for that reason at all You know, it's uh, you'll be paid back

[00:44:06] Uh, you know, uh Spades is how you say it Well, I will say just for showing up for you personally jake. I think that your Seminars at least that I've experienced already are incredible For the new person. Yeah, because um, you do It's a really great seminar

[00:44:28] The one that I experienced was finding your style the one that you're going to have is is basically about simplicity and keeping it simple but you know, I think I think great teachers are people who can take very complex things and cut

[00:44:44] Cut it down to the most essential Things and that's what a lot of people when they're first starting out And anything is that they end up getting paralysis especially nowadays where there's so much information And that's the beautiful thing about going to a mountain site is

[00:45:01] And being with only a certain amount of people. It's not a huge convention or a huge place There's only so much to digest and it's organized in such a way that you're only digesting so many things at a time But within each seminar and especially yours

[00:45:16] Which, you know, that is a huge question that comes up with a lot of people is You know, what should my style be or what should and and This the things that you teach or the way that you teach it I think it's such a great

[00:45:30] Thought space because it's moving usually as you teach things and it's very interactive and um I found it very very cool and I was like, wow, that's such and you bring it back to Uh classical art fundamentals too. So it gets people

[00:45:47] Excited about looking into things that might not have actually been exposed to either Artists and and painting styles and all of that. So it's pretty cool. Yeah, thanks I really appreciate that. Yeah, that that is one of the great things there is you do get to um

[00:46:04] I mean, there are a lot of seminars and mine are included. I mine are not paid seminar So if you have the four day pass, I do mine on the main stage for

[00:46:12] For no extra charge. So if you're coming you can you can watch those and you you did the same Did you do a paid as well or you just did? Yeah, it was a mini one

[00:46:20] Mine was with something that is lesser thought about in the tattoo industry and I haven't solidified it yet this year It's already formulated. So I could very well just do it again

[00:46:31] Um, but uh, I I did mine on the consultation process and that was what I charged for and it was it was very low fee Just simply because I was amazed I was I was amazed at how many people were interested in it. Um

[00:46:46] And including Derek Derek was a part of that and um, and and so was chris low, which was incredible and uh, The things that came out in that space, which we kept it very

[00:46:58] Intimate and it was something where as a presenter people could ask me questions in in real time That made it very easy and I think that that is um A lot more

[00:47:10] Congruent with how our consultation process is actually work with clients too and if you can do that kind of in person kind of uh run through with a presenter And we kind of you know go through that

[00:47:25] It makes a lot easier when you actually have to sit in front of a client We can kind of trial different ideas and explore them in those spaces. So um, but I like

[00:47:34] I taught that because um for me that has made all the difference in in my client relations and my ability to actually Tattoo successfully with people And I think it's very under observed

[00:47:49] Uh in in our world um, because everybody always focuses on the art which of course, you know Of course, but um, the the people relations of it is is I mean honestly, it's where I shine because um

[00:48:06] I grew up in the hair industry and the service industry and my business First and foremost was the people business and connecting with people Immuting their trust knowing how to do that

[00:48:18] And I think that when it comes to uh, well any industry where you have to have a very deep intimate Back and forth about cultivating a vision for somebody especially with tattooing. It's their personal brand

[00:48:31] um, you know very much so uh that that has to be something where you're Very centered around getting their trust and and earning that and um

[00:48:42] That front end worked is the most important. But yeah, that that's what I did and then I did one that was just about um Uh seeking an apprenticeship. That was my freebie. Yep. I saw that one. That was great. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's um

[00:48:55] Um, uh, yeah, I'm with you on that. I've I developed a bedside manner long before I developed a skill set as a tattooer And that's what allowed me to develop a skill set as a tattooer, you know

[00:49:06] I um as far as you know gaining trust keeping people comfortable let it being honest with people letting them know where my skill Set was and still having them let me tattoo them and uh,

[00:49:16] You know, and I think that's what you know for when people are struggling a lot of times with Whether it's developing a style or keeping Clients and chairs or whatever The bedside manner or the consultation process the relationship development solves all of those problems because once you

[00:49:34] Find people that want to be tattooed by you and continually want to be tattooed by you And trust what you do you've got a client for the chair and you've got the freedom to explore your style more and more

[00:49:44] The more comfortable that they get, you know with you and you get with them and so it's really kind of the like The thing that that brings it all together is that is that consultation process that turns into the you know

[00:49:55] The kind of bedside manner and the client relationship So we dive into that a decent amount in the inside fireside club and our mindset Monday's Focus on that a lot because particularly here lately. Uh, this past winter seemed like one where a lot of folks in our club

[00:50:11] Uh had a lot of free time like a lot of cancellations a lot of you know, maybe not you know Maybe not no shows. I don't know but like not kind of slim on bookings and and when people start operating

[00:50:21] In that fear mode, you know, you end up shooting yourself in the foot a lot of times and And uh, you know doing more harm than good to your client relationships when you you know When you go into panic mode because there aren't people in the chairs

[00:50:33] But yeah, yeah different different discussion, but uh, but yeah Oh, totally Yeah, but um, yeah, it's It's exciting. I'm excited to to be a part of you know this again I'm really excited for this to be to be a part of the first

[00:50:47] Scholarship fund for for paradise and I hope it's something that other um Other educational events, especially some of the higher end ones Start to implement. I got to know the folks. Um, jake and jest that run the explorer

[00:51:02] Uh conference and that's uh, and they're just fantastic people and um, I had never really met them before But you know, they put on a really apparently a really great event I never attended an explorer and they've kind of They've held them off for now

[00:51:15] They they stopped them obviously during cove it and haven't picked them back up But that was a high dollar ticket, you know, that's about 900 or $1,000 ticket that is well worth it But a lot of people it would take them months and months to pay off a thousand dollar

[00:51:28] Uh ticket for for a tattoo conference where there's no tattooing and so, you know events like that I'm not calling them out specifically But just my that's the first thing that popped in my head is if this works It might be a great model or when this works

[00:51:41] It might be a great model for some of the others to grab on to so yeah, well, I I hope too that um You know, I think I think the thing That attracts people to tattooing nowadays is um the reconnection with um

[00:51:59] Community and yourself and all of that and I think a lot of the um Uh media around tattooing has been a lot of this rock star kind of thing and And formulating, you know personalities within the tattoo world

[00:52:15] You have ink master and things like that that are competitive shows Um, and I and I feel like when you go to tattoo conventions for the most part That's what it's centered around as well as is more of a competitive vibe

[00:52:28] And they don't leave a lot of room for you just like the shows To network and actually meet people and and find out your the personality is all centered around just the artwork

[00:52:40] Um, my hope is is that the people who are passionate about scaling education will come together universally and maybe This will be something that that that just becomes its own thing. Um, you know either Tattoo schools donate to it

[00:52:58] Explore conference people donate to it and it's just a thing that overall is is like a scholarship fund that that is because You know, there's really not a competition between artists. Um typically we um

[00:53:12] You know, we're unique in ourselves and and the people who come to us are drawn to us because there's something Um, not only about the artwork but about who we are as people and the comfort that they find there

[00:53:24] So there's you know, you you rarely can find that in another person. That's a very intimate connection and I feel like um within that that's that's the thing that people really love about um community and and All of that is that like, you know education is about

[00:53:44] Making sure that we all rise together And I I hope that can be the vision for everybody is that we kind of we kind of put down the whole like how much money Can we make and

[00:53:54] You know, I know that's hard at the end of days. We have bills to pay and then you have to do that but um You know, I was always taught that You know, you give 10 percent at their minimum back to

[00:54:09] Whatever it is that you're passionate about. I mean, you know, if you it's a tithing at church shirts You know, you you you give 10 percent back their minimum

[00:54:19] And if you know, you look at the amount of money that you bring in on a regular basis. I think that It should kind of wash over to you as a professional You know, where am I giving back to this? Is this only about scaling myself?

[00:54:34] What am I doing for my industry my legacy everything if i'm not going to give back To the future generation of this in an integral way and in a way that I feel good about Um, you know, I hope I hope that happens

[00:54:53] All right diary listeners and that's a wrap for this uh, this time from what I've understood a lot more has happened. Uh, Derek has been Uh teaming up with different forces to really expand this as we were talking about at the end of this

[00:55:08] This time on fireside tat nude network my hope was that You know, this this becomes a thing that we do Um across across the uh the country Uh, you know, hopefully over the world that we we you know sponsor

[00:55:26] educations for others that um that we see excellence in and um Derek is very passionate about this. Uh when when I met him at paradise last year He came up to me. He was he was very interested in my take about how to

[00:55:45] really really get a handle on tattoo education and how to Uh, you know encourage it in the best ways And I know that his passion for this is is really integral So definitely make sure to follow Derek. Uh, it's under his name on ig

[00:56:04] Definitely like I said at the top follow tattoo career builders. I believe if I am not mistaken he linked up with angel rose Who is an incredible tattoo artist and uh, she and him I think are really trying to expand this

[00:56:20] This venture as far as they can see it I think a nonprofit is if I'm hearing correctly from from them is is underway They're really trying to make this a big space where everybody can give to and um

[00:56:38] And fuel the future for a like I said a very talented person who's deserving and might find it hard to You know do this on their own So please make sure to follow all of them Definitely keep an eye out

[00:56:55] Uh for fireside and jake mix's podcast and his website fireside network is dedicated to Tattoo education drawing skills cultivating a a great Education overall Jake is also an incredible educator. He uh, really knows how to break down subject matter and deliver a next level

[00:57:19] education to tattoo artists that in my opinion might not have had the exposure to Classic art that that many of him and I's generation Had the benefit of And that's kind of what you know some of us. I am a I am a college dropout, but

[00:57:38] Um my college time really vetted me in art history and in classic art And in foundational art. So that is a lot of I mean all of this is the fusion really Of you know these higher higher schools of education

[00:57:58] Marrying with the tattoo community and really trying to uplift and I do use tattoo community Poignantly I used to use industry, but um, I'm just to communicate a feeling that I'm having. I'm A Riley West Anderson Said this

[00:58:19] In our interview if you get a chance check out his but he's an incredible tattoo artist and He said I really don't like the term industry because I think that's moving away from what people like me and Now I can concur the show is moving towards

[00:58:37] We want a community we want, uh We we want artists to uplift each other and understand that when you cultivate foundational skills and you gift Really really integral things to the next generation That It's not a competition at that point. It's really just trying to invoke Um

[00:59:06] I mean for me it's God For me it's it's giving the gifts that God has given me and bestowing them on the next generation And I get so much joy for watching that flourish, but

[00:59:17] I think that no matter how that's translated or talked about by the people that regularly Meet at Jiminy Peak and in other spaces to Join the Paradise Tattoo Gathering that has always been the kind of person that I have found

[00:59:35] A person of community a person that really wants to invest time in their own education but also wants to give back So without further ado, I I I appreciate all of you to listen If you hadn't caught this on fireside tattoo network I'm happy to have

[00:59:56] Re re-hyped this awesome event And I thank you all for your listening time. God bless you and have a powerful powerful powerful week by listeners Thanks for listening. You can find the apprenticeship diaries on twitter facebook and instagram Our ig is the underscore apprenticeship underscore diaries

[01:00:21] If you would like to offer constructive criticism or an interview drop us an email at the apprenticeship diaries at gmail.com We look forward to hearing from our listeners