Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phoenix Mendoza . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phoenix , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

The tattoo industry has changed tremendously in the eight years I’ve been working. A number of unsustainable new styles and fast fashion attitudes have emerged, leading to a decline in the quality of machines, materials, and art. Furthermore, AI has allowed for art theft and lack of originality when it comes to designs. For those of us who are real artists, it’s been a rough shift. I refuse to keep up with these trends and as a result have doubled down on the authenticity of my work: sticking to tried and true coil machines, drawing on paper with pen using only original designs, and rejecting the new styles and methods that heal improperly and treat tattooing like an ephemeral fashion trend rather than a historical art form. It pays off–my clients know I am the real deal, I’m. not following trends or stealing art, their tattoo will heal well, last, and its one of a kind. The experience of being tattooed by be has become, sadly, a unique one, where security and peace of mind are built into the process.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a blackwork tattooer who has been tattooing for over eight years. I had a very non traditional apprenticeship- I was handed a machine and told “learn to tattoo asap so you can make money for the shop.” Then I was given very little guidance, meaning I am entirely self-taught. This unorthodox apprenticeship taught me how to develop a language for my methods I can teach students, and I’ve had three apprentices go on to be successful tattooers in various stares. To me, the most important part of tattooing is respecting the client as an individual rather than just a canvas for my work. Therefore, I aim to be collaborative and take the story of the tattoo into account–why is this person getting this work immortalized on their body? Is it coming from a grief or trauma space? Is it to reclaim their relationship with their body? Whatever the reason might be, honoring this story and making room for it as I design and complete the piece from them is an integral part of my process. This is why nearly all my clients are repeat clients who bring referrals. Getting tattooed by be is a uniquely personal experience.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2020, I could not tattoo because of Covid. I’ve long been a writer but never taken it seriously, I tended to view it as a hobby. However, left without income, I turned to my writing as a potential second career. I went about this in two ways: one, I developed a course model for other hobby writers and used my teaching skills I’d learned having apprentices to develop and present a hobby writing curriculum. This culminated in 8 month online writing class called BLOOD/INK/BONE that has been a fantastic sucess, with students in numerous countries who have gone on to publish and win writing competitions. Secondly, I finally perused publication for my own work, and in February released my first book, a collection of horror stories called Salvation. It debuted on Barnes and Nobles top 100 Bestseller list at number 31, and topped the Barnes and Noble Horror bestsellers as number 1, which was very surreal for me, and an enormous honor. To see something I’d created for fun and only marketed from a place of ingenuity and desperation during covid was very inspiring.

I now write professionally as well as tattoo, and continue to teach B/I/B. To me, there is a thread that holds both mediums together, beyond the aspect of storytelling, and that is remaining true and honest to my artistic vision, even when it’s. not palatable or popular. My writing is weird (which is why i thought for so many years it was unmarketable!) and I refuse to comply with AI or current tattooing trends. And this sets me apart. Even if I’m not catching the momentum of whatever is fleetingly popular at the moment, I draw my own clientele and readership by remaining honest and unwilling to compromise about the art I create and the stories I tell. I know who I am, artistically, and what I mean to say, and I don’t care if it sells. I’ve found that while this does not generate a flash in the pan popularity, it absolutely draws a small, dedicated, return-client pool and cult readership. And I believe those sorts of artistic relationships are not only more sustainable but more valuable.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referral, always, in both my writing career and my tattoo career. Even when I’ve lost steam for maintaining my tattoo social media or actively marketing myself, the mere act of having an excellent bedside manner, creating a nurturing, client-focused space, and being incredibly good at what I do means my clients come back, and refer me to their friends. Nearly everyone I know has a tattoo horror story–some insensitive artist who steamrolled their ideas, or who blasted horrible music the whole time, or a man who hit on them or touched them inappropriately. It’s honestly far too common in the industry. So, often times when people share these stories with my clients, they can tell them they know of a tattooer who will prioritize their comfort and artistic vision, and that’s me. I have clients who travel from all over the state, out of state, and even from other countries to be tattooed by me because they had such a good experience the first time they don’t trust any other tattooers now. I also have numerous clients who only have work from me and have no interest in going elsewhere. It’s such an honor to be so trusted! And it’s ma perfect example of how there’s no longevity in riding fast fashion waves and capitalizing on the trend of the moment–hard work and commitment to the craft is a far more sustainable way to build a brand and a loyal client base.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phoenixvmendoza.squarespace.com
• Instagram: bloodinkbonewriting for my author career and phoenix.mendoza.tattoo for my tattoos

Image Credits
Phoenix Mendoza