BLOG ENTRY:
GIVE YOURSELF THE POWER! By DG Wilson © 2/28/2009
I just had a customer leave without a tattoo. Yes, another one.
He wanted a cross with lightening around it as if struck with the words "Live Life, LOVE Music!" Which was to be written across the design diagonally. Sounds fine, BUT he wanted it on his neck!
That limits the size, detail and response from the people that view it. You can't have anything too big or abstract there because noone will understand it! We began to talk about the design and how it had to be fitted for the area, which limited the details. I hinted two more times that he should get it another place besides his neck. Finally the customer picked up on it.
"Why shouldn't I get it on my neck?"
Guess he hasn't read my book Funny Stories from the Tattoo Chair because I say right in it, "The more tattoos on your neck...the LESS respect you get!" That is how I feel because I study the way people think and see images. Which is important so I can design the perfect tattoo for specific people.
He tried to explain that the tattoo was a symbol of individual power. "It MEANS, live life, don't judge it. That is the whole point of the tattoo DG. It is telling people to love music and not judge the people."
Now here we come down to it.
"Look man, that isn't going to work." I said. "People judge you by the way you look. They don't listen to what you have to say, don't ask about your education they judge you by the way you look. THEN they might listen if they like the way you look.
"SOME people with tattoos on their necks have done some bad things. Not my customers, but some, have done bad! Remember those that have tattoos on their necks in the majority are NOT doctors or teachers. They are young people that want to shock society."
I told him, "You are trying to battle this conception of the public with your tattoo in a place that will not let them see you or your message because they will judge you before you even speak!"
But he wanted it hidden below the collar he tried to explain again. So he could hide it when he was out with judgemental people. There was a major flaw in his message and how he was trying to tell it.
"So you want a tattoo that will tell people not to judge you because of your tat BUT you want to get it in a place that people judge badly. They won't read it and understand your message. They will judge you for having a tattoo on your neck. There is a whole level of respect that you need to get first before you tackle that misconception. Let me ask you this, have you or your friends called each other the "N" word today?"
"Yeah..." He said with a casual shrug, like he was saying ‘Of Course!'
"How can you tell people not to judge you badly when you judge YOURSELF badly? You can't demand respect and then throw it away every time you and your friends open your mouth.
"You have so much more work to do socially that does not involve your tattoo. You have to change the conception: That people are good, have worth and should be respected no matter where or what was tattooed on them. To do that you first have to change yourself and your friends. To DEMAND respect from others so you can get a tattoo where ever you desire and NOT suffer socially you need to change the way you and your friends think. You can't degrade yourselves with that name AND demand respect from others.
"As a young Afro American you should understand people judge you by the way you look which is really based on their racism and how previous people that look like you acted in the past. If you demand respect for yourself then you will get it, if you act together.
"Think Jewish. As a group of people working for respect in unison you can demand it much faster together than one at a time. The Jewish do just that. If any person anywhere says anything bad about a Jewish descendant or even a part of their culture...ALL the Jewish culture comes crashing down on that person! They are crushed by social pressure, political and economic pressure instantly!
"That is how your culture should react if ANYONE anywhere referred to you or anyone in your culture disrespectfully! I mean are you "Black?" I adopted a bit of Malcom.
"Are you Black or are you a color? As an artist I deal with color. You look like the color of wood or Earth. To me you are Sienna. Some are Teak or Mahogany. Imagine if you started to demand that you were called a noble color if someone HAD to refer to you by only your skin? Imagine if you said, ‘I am TEAK fucker! Or UMBER damn it.' Hear how strong that sounds? ‘I am Teak. I am Mahogany.' That is much better than simply ‘black,' right?!
"And if someone continued to call you black or Nigg... all of you could band together and tell all of your friends and families NOT to go to that store! D not to spend your money there. Guess what, they will not be able to make the rent and will have to move. THAT is power. That is within your grasp.
"That could be done by the end of the year.
"You will know that you have won if you can demand that people refer to you, all people, and yes even your friends, as a man not a negative color. People would see you as a person of strength, integrity and pride that is in connection to a massive number of equally dynamic people.
"If you and your friends can make even that small change...stop calling yourselves the "N" word if you did that then you could get a tattoo on your neck without fear. In fact get it when you have won that battle... as a sign of victory."
He thanked me and said he would think it over. He left without a tattoo.
But I didn't even get a tip for my time. How do you like that?
I guess I still need to work on the best way to show respect to an artist!
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