We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaylee Mcgilbery . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaylee below.

Kaylee, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

The best thing I’ve invested in and would advise others to is yourself. I, as most artists, have been told no a million times. My business name is ‘Sabotagedsiren’. The sabotaged part comes from people in the tattoo industry, including myself, saying one thing that wasn’t the right way or talking down to me about my potential and me believing every word, because why would you not listen to mentors that you’re supposed to be learning from/looking up to. So I decided one day that I was going to leave because I realized that everyone around me didn’t care for or support me. From that point I knew this was the start of my new journey, when I said enough was enough and left those shops and situations. I then got the word ‘sabotage’ tattooed on my chest because that part of my life was always gonna be with me and I wanted it as a reminder every day I get to look at it and tell people when they ask about my experiences starting out and how when I chose to invest in myself and my dreams that that’s when I truly felt on top of the world!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am a female tattoo artist who started when I was 18. I moved around and worked in shops all over as an apprentice. Then I was determined to open up my own business and create a brand for people that I tattoo. My brand stands for all the people who have been treated badly or felt uncomfortable in other shops that when they come to me they know they are getting a genuine and relatable experience. I don’t believe in making people feel as if they are less then me when they come to get a tattoo. I want my clients to truly feel like they are supported and comfortable through the whole process, because it’s a very intimate and trusting experience for people. I’m truly honored when I get to do what I love every day and have a following of people who choose me to make their visions/ideas come to life forever.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Kinda going back to being told no a lot. I definitely worked multiple jobs after leaving other shops. The industry can be very toxic to a point where it quite literally breaks you physically and mentally. The long shifts, the hazing, the days where Id wake up and not know if I could afford to pay rent or buy groceries. And I thought when I left everytime that ‘Maybe Im not cut out for this’ or ‘Am I good enough to be successful here in this industry’. I worked in retail stores and animal shelters and truly almost gave up.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Definitely getting through all of those past struggles and everyones opinions of me and my work was and still is a mind blowing thing to me. I still get so excited when I can do a tattoo for someone and they get emotional after. Being able to share this space with people and having the opportunity to work on and hear so many backgrounds and stories from my clients is really the best part of my job. I think being an artist is difficult but it’s the most challenging and rewarding thing for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @sabotagedsiren

Image Credits
Kevin Diaz