Bound By Art: A Tattoo Artist's Survival Guide
If you’re an artist, ready to grow your business, attract the right clients, and learn how to survive this career without losing your damn mind, then you are in the right place! Every week, I’ll be bringing real talk, actionable tips, and hard-earned lessons from my own journey, with a side of good vibes and sarcasm. Whether you’re new to the game, feeling stuck, or just need a kick in the ass to reignite that spark-this is the show for you. Let’s get to work!
Episodes
"If you actually want the dream you say you're after, why wouldn't you take as much of it as you were able to now and find those in-between steps to start living the dream now? What are you waiting for?"
Here's something that's been weighing on my mind lately, and I think it's going to challenge everything you think you know about goal setting. What if we've become so laser-focused on our goals that we've ...
"You're only going to attract the same that you're putting out there. So if you want better options, you have to bring that same energy to the table."
This episode is going to challenge you, and honestly, it might sting a little. But if you're listening to this podcast, it means you're ready to grow and figure out what's not working. I've been where you are - wondering why everyone else seems booked solid ...
"Systems only work to help you if you actually use them." -Missi Blue
Last week reminded me why I built systems in the first place – and what happens when you think you're too experienced to follow them. My booking day at Bluebird Tattoo Studio turned into a complete scramble because I decided to wing it instead of sticking to my proven process. From ignored checklists to computer crashes at the worst po...
"I know it's hard to work for me. And that's on purpose. I'm trying to weed out those ones that aren't on the same path as the rest of us." -Missi Blue
Running a tattoo shop taught me one of the hardest lessons of my career: you can't be everyone's friend and still be an effective leader. For years, I desperately wanted to be the "cool boss" – the one everyone loved, the complete opposite of those shop own...
"Trust is hard earned and easily lost. One dishonest move, lying, ghosting, breaking a promise, stealing - that can shatter years and years of credibility."
When I think about what separates successful tattoo artists from those who struggle, it's rarely about technical skill alone. It's about integrity - that quiet consistency between who you say you are and how you actually show up, especially when no one...
"Why waste your time proving over and over again how great you are when you could be getting better?"
Here's the hard truth that no one wants to talk about: most of us are walking around with a voice in our head that's absolutely brutal. If we heard someone talking to our best friend the way we talk to ourselves, we'd be ready to fight. But somehow, we've normalized this internal beatdown that happens dail...
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"Being busy is not the same as being productive, and I had to learn that the hard way."
As tattoo artists, we wear busyness like a badge of honor, but what if all that hustle is actually holding us back? I've been there – running around, checking boxes, feeling like I'm crushing it because my schedule is packed. But here's the reality check I needed: being...
This episode takes you behind the scenes of what it really takes to build a successful tattoo career beyond just technical skill. Crush Captain gets brutally honest about his transformation from someone who was "tired of being a piece of shit" to an internationally recognized artist who commands stages at major conferences. His story isn't about overnight success or natural talent...
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After 21 years in the industry, I've learned the hard way that an overwhelmed booking system leads to missed clients, double-bookings, and constant interruptions to your personal life. This episode breaks down the exact system I've refined over the years that allows me to handle all my bookings in a single day rather than spreading the stress across weeks or months.
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Today's episode is all about finding your voice and having the courage to use it—even when conventional wisdom tells you to stay quiet. When you start clearly communicating who you are, what you stand for, and what you love creating, something magical happens. The right people find you. The wrong ones politely step away. Your schedule fills with projects that energize rather than drain you. And you create an environmen...
Goal Getter Worksheet - Free download to help you brainstorm and structure your goals
Episode 11 - 8 Reasons You Won't ACHIEVE Your Goals Again This Year with Missi Blue
"I was super busy all the time. But was I being productive? Absolutely not. I was just kind of running in circles, feeling confused and messy." - Missi
Accountability meetings completely transformed how I appro...
In this episode, we're diving deep into one of the most crucial aspects of building a sustainable tattoo career - finding and attracting your ideal clients. After 20 years in the industry and owning Bluebird Tattoo, I've learned that working with the right clients isn't just about making better art - it's about creating a career that energizes rather than drains you. I'm sharing my tried-and-true strategies that helped...
Ready to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress? My productivity masterclass reveals the exact system I used to transform from overwhelm to control in my tattoo business. Get my battle-tested strategies for eliminating time-wasters, conquering your most daunting tasks, and creating a thriving business that actually supports your dream life—straight from someone who's walked the path and learned the ha...
We've all faced those moments where everything falls apart despite our best preparations. Today, I'm sharing my personal experience with a failed management hire that cost me a year of progress, and the lessons that transformed how I handle setbacks in my business. Whether you're dealing with staffing challenges, client issues, or creative blocks, this episode offers practical strategies to help you maintain momentum w...
Consuming knowledge without applying it is something we've all been guilty of. I'm embarrassed to admit I watched the same seminar seven times before I actually implemented what I learned! In today's episode, I'm sharing how I broke that cycle and created a system that helps me transform seminars and courses from passive consumption into real sk...
Today we're getting real about something that's been kicking my butt lately: post-convention recovery. After crashing hard following the Baltimore Convention and then pushing through a charity flash day before I was fully recovered, I finally recognized the pattern that's been draining my energy and affecting my work. In this episode, I'm breaking down what I've learned about planning for recovery time, listening to yo...
The journey to becoming a tattoo artist isn't what most people imagine. After countless messages asking for apprenticeships, I'm pulling back the curtain on what it truly takes to break into this industry. This isn't about gatekeeping—it's about ensuring you're getting in for the right reasons and with the right mindset. An apprenticeship isn't just learning a skill; it's committing to a lifestyle where the lines betwe...
Hiring an assistant transformed my business—and my life—but the process wasn't without its challenges. After experiencing first-hand how the right help can pull you from drowning to breathing again, I'm sharing the exact process I use to find assistants who complement my strengths rather than mirror them. From creating job descriptions that attract organized minds (and scare away the wrong candidates) to conducting int...
Guest spotting can be rewarding but also intimidating if you're unprepared. I'm pulling back the curtain on both sides of the experience - what you need to know as a traveling artist and what shop owners should consider when hosting guests. From essential pre-trip questions to bringing your portfolio (seriously, why don't artists do this?), I share the communication strategies that make or break these opportunities. Af...
In this episode, I explore the all-too-familiar terrain of creative blocks and artistic burnout. As tattoo artists and creators, we've all experienced that moment when inspiration seems to vanish completely—when our artistic well runs dry despite deadlines looming. I share my personal journey through these challenges and offer practical strategies that have helped me reconnect with my creative spirit time and again.
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