We were lucky to catch up with Michael Rose recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
It really was not too long ago I use to tattoo my friends as a hobby. I never thought I’d be able to succeed or be good enough to actually pursue this as a full time job that pays my bills. I had tried back in the day, and was rejected time and again. I stayed throughout Kansas, visiting shop after shop hoping someone would give me a chance and take me on. With no luck, and going through a divorce, I became nomadic, I traveled awhile going to dream spots. It amazed me how as I got out of theme-intro the shops there were willing to share and learn. I settled in Florida for a bit, and was wanting to make a life there. I was tattooing at different spots, having fun at the beach every night. But I was not advancing, was not becoming a name in the industry, desired or respected. But I had no idea, tattooing was just fun, I didn’t know the potential it had or how advanced it had gotten. This changed fast for me though. I ended up going to a tattoo convention, a gathering of artists from everywhere, tattooing and competing and just soaking up the atmosphere. This is where I learned the names, saw the work, saw the drive. It was like something clicked, it became a new drug for me, one I had to have and had to get better and better. I knew that being in Florida was not going to get me there, that I had worked in too many shops that were just about that party life, the live in the moment life. So I did what I thought was best, I drove my truck, and just drove. I spent two days just driving, stopping where I wanted to, just looking. I made it to St. Louis, where my truck broke down and I was stuck, spent. I pooled it together, got a job welding, and settled again. I was here that I felt stagnant again. I worked in a few shops, but none were for me. The shops I aspired to work in rejected me because of the shops that would hire me. Here I was again, in limbo. I had my first child. As soon as she was born, it hit me hard. How was I to be better? How could I be? I wanted a legacy my daughter could be proud of. So what was I doing wrong. It had never occured to me that if I didn’t fit in, maybe I should just do my own thing in my own way. I started looking into buildings, just to have other tattoo shops tell me they were going to,break out my windows. I met a gentleman who I tattooed, and I instantly loved and made a lifelong friend. He owned a motorcycle shop spanning back to the 1980’s, and him and his business partner offered me a spot in their shop, a small 20’ by 20’ room to tattoo in. This was my home, my place for 5 years. I started trading apprentices, I started making clients. My partners, retired, and I kept on the name. This was mine, this was what I was building. For the next few years, I started competing. I started winning awards, became sponsored by Blasted Tattoo Aftercare, was recognized by needle companies. I compete at conventions a few times a year. Magazines started noticing me, people started noticing me. I am still building what I can be proud of though, everyday is a new struggle. The feeling of never being good enough has never disappeared, but now here I am sitting today with five children, and each one will gladly show you around my shop and my awards, will point to the framed magazine articles and say that’s my daddy. There’s a lot I have learned, a lot I wish I knew sooner. The biggest is knowing that you will struggle, everyday you will struggle, but I’d rather face and overcome the struggle, than to ever wonder what if.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m Michael Rose. A business owner, a tattoo artist, and I hold many awards and a sponsorship through Blasted tattoo care, a very very dear friend of mine. I do most of every tattoo, but I’m known for my high color work, and floral work. I’ve owned my shop for almost a decade now. I am a father of 5, in a very loved blended family. My wife works with me as a model for our shop, and as a very well loved piercer. My clients are very loved, and if you have ever been in my shop all you can talk about is the fun, joyful, and family oriented environment. I provide an atmosphere where no artist in my shop considers themselves a rock star, but we all have the talent of one. Very well down to earth. I attend school career fairs throughout the year, teaching and informing teens about this alternative career. I donate to a few art funds through the local schools, and support Backstoppers and other charities. The one thing I want is for everyone to know that my business is in this community, and as such I give back to make sure the community is taken care of. We are not a typical shop where we just handle our clients, collect your money, and have you leave. We constantly give back, we are very kid friendly, and am a safe place for everyone. My shop is diverse, and we have a lil bit of everything for everyone. As tattoo artists come and go, I am a constant figure here, and my reputation speaks for itself.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I had a better technological understanding. It took me forever to learn and use the resources that are available. From tablets to apps to social media, I’m so far behind that it’s staggering to me. I’m not a fan of digital art, I use pen and paper to be creative. But the ease and accessibility that it has provided, it’s amazing. I wish I had known that my career would focus on technology more these days, and I was more prepared for it.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
For those not in the tattoo field, it’s hard to see and understand the life. This industry is not as it’s seen on TV. Your local artists in your area are not born knowing how to do this. I’ve always joked that it’s taken me 10 years to achieve what I have today. Two years of hard work, and eight years of hating myself and judging myself. No one is a bigger critic than we are. It’s taken years to get the clients I have now that recommend me to their friends, their family. And not just on social media, that is a very small aspect. The clients I have that refer me to their doctors, their family, that random person at the store, those drive you. You want to do better when people want to dedicate their time and themselves to helping you be better. Most my clients have no artistic abilities, but by just dedicating their time and some skin, they help me grow so much in my abilities and elements. Support. Help them grow. You,will talk about an actor and a movie or a reel you saw on Instagram for hours, but won’t take twenty minutes to tell someone how your friend is amazing and thriving.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Blackspidertattoo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackwidowtat
Image Credits
All mine