I'm beyond excited to bring you this conversation with my tattoo shop bestie and incredible black and gray artist, Gabe Burgos. What started as a guest spot at Bluebird Tattoo turned into an amazing friendship built on our shared sobriety, brutal honesty about shop ownership, and drive to constantly push ourselves outside our comfort zones.
Gabe went from working in factories to running his own successful shop, Burgos Inc., in just seven years. But this episode isn't just about his journey - it's about having the courage to bet on yourself, even when it feels terrifying. We dive deep into what it really takes to level up in this industry, from surrounding yourself with artists who are better than you to making the tough decisions that protect your shop's culture.
What you'll learn in this episode:
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How Gabe left his full-time factory job to pursue tattooing while supporting three kids and a stay-at-home wife
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Why being the "weakest link" at his black and gray shop helped him level up his skills dramatically
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The importance of guest spots and getting outside your shop to avoid plateauing
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How to maintain shop culture by turning "maybe" hires into hard "no's" if they're not a "fuck yeah"
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Why having your "back against the wall" can be the motivation you need to succeed
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The reality of opening a shop with minimal savings and making it work anyway
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How to balance being the "cool boss" with maintaining clear expectations and boundaries
Links:
instagram.com/tattoosbymissiblue
instagram.com/boundbyartproject
instagram.com/bluebirdtattoostudio
Music: Unknown Road - The Harp Project
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