Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mel Lockett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Mel thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
Trying to make art a full time career is a risk in itself. As a freelance artist or an independent contractor your income is solely driven by your ability to market yourself as well as deliver in a timely manner to keep the revenue flowing. When I started tattooing, women were not very present in my community. Black women were almost non-existent. I was mentored and worked under nothing but men and had to find my own way. There were certain aspects to the tattoo community that no one would be able to teach me because they had no experience with the changing technology and social media was becoming a huge necessity in staying relevant. I took the risk to show off my artwork via social media and online advertising. I was able to grow successfully and organically online, which led to my transition into a larger, more successful tattoo shop in Nashville. Staying consistent in taking chances and risks opened up financial opportunities that most tattoo artists aren’t able to achieve.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I got into tattooing on a whim. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go career wise and I have a “work hard” mentality so when I was met with comments about how hard it would be to actually do it, I took on the challenge. The problems most people face when thinking of getting a tattoo is normally the lack of knowing what it will look like or how to design it. That’s where I come in. I take ideas and plans and lay them out to be a cohesive and beautiful design. I’m most proud of my ability to make designs looks authentic to my creative style but still fit someone’s personal aesthetic. I think people like my work because it’s clean and detailed while still being simple and getting the point across. I hope people see the love I have for my craft and the time and effort I put into each design to be different for each person.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020 I was hit by a car and had to shift my mindset on how I worked due to an injury. I was worried that the injury would require surgery or risk my ability to do my job properly. I’ve always brought my work home and designed for hours before going to bed. I changed my entire work life balance to enjoy my downtime so I could exercise, stretch and relax instead of worrying about the next days work. I allow longer times per appointment to chat with my client, design and set up. I also tattoo a little less during the day to keep my body from aching. My clients have been absolutely wonderful during this time. It has been super beneficial to my mental and physical health to take time to heal and not push myself too hard.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I slowly started to gain online traction and followers by being present. I post often, see who’s following me and show their page some love. I comment back and reply to messages as soon as I can. I follow simple trends like taking better photos, making videos of me working and doing easy to understand tips and recommendation videos. I’m transparent when I’m having a bad day or need time off and people respect the truth. There is no rush to online success. My online presence keeps me booked and there’s no pressure to fit any typical form factor.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.melklockett.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mkltattoos
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mkltattoos
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mkltattoos