We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tony Montana a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Tony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

Speakeasy Tattoo Company

Well, it’s very funny, I was adopted under the birth name of Tony Montana Scarface Taylor, in which, during the adoption process, Scarface, in the last name Taylor were removed.

So I naturally loved gangster, movies…. And anything prohibition era. And with that love, I ended up learning that John Dillinger and I share the same birthday!

When it came time to open up my very own tattoo studio, I decided to go with Speakeasy Tattoo Company.

I even try to make it interesting by providing each client with their own individualized invitation, that they show to get access during their appointment day!

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

I am primarily a black grey tattoo artist, in which I operate a private studio for my clients to enjoy their sessions. And provide what many people consider a unique experience. In which their session times are dedicated to them.

And I just love collaborating with my clients to make a piece of art that is unique and especially special to them! And the response has been amazing!

Well, it all started when I bought a permanent makeup machine off of eBay with my dad’s credit card….. SMH

LET’S JUST SAY I WAS NOT READY AT THIS TIME!

Through trial and error of teenage life, I eventually ended up incarcerated. This is where my passion for Art and Tattooing started to grow!

I was doing the typical, holiday and birthday cards. Everybody kept on commenting on my art, and expressing how I should tattoo!

That’s when I was taught how to build a Tattoo Machine from a transparent Sony cd player. (utilizing the pancake “CD” and Jolly Rancher “laser” motors within.) and also Ink in which we made candles and collected the soot.

I learned that the more that I tattooed, the less trouble I got into while being incarcerated! So I spent the majority of my free time, trying to educate myself about tattooing and the history of! I was surprised at how much stuff I was able to have sent to the prison to learn!

After being released I knew that tattooing was what I wanted to do! So, I decided that I would try and pursue tattooing. In which today I still surround myself by tattooing, and educating myself continuously to try and become a better artist!

This is open the door for me to do many things like travel and guest appearances and conventions!

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

Well, I grew up adopted into sexually/mentally abusive household where I did not feel comfortable ever. My only option for escape was art. -And of course, the use of drugs and alcohol.

There ended up not being a happy balance, I could not control my use of drugs or alcohol. Which led me to being incarcerated at a very young age, instead of simply asking questions, or trying to figure out why. Incarceration was their answer!

So naturally, I rebelled…
For the next 10 years, I would spend my life in an out of juvenile facilities, treatment centers, jails, and prisons…

The turning point in my life was waking up in a county jail with no regulation, with no recollection of why…. Only to find out that I was not going to be leaving anytime soon as I was facing second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience….

This word is really important, I truly believe the resilience is needed in every day life or you will surely fail…

I would say my resilience would be making it Through my childhood and young adult years. And continuously, pushing to get where I am today!

And now I am a small business Owner, with 10 years of sobriety and counting! And most importantly, a phenomenal father! I am happy that I was able to make these changes in my life before it had any impact on my children.

Contact Info:

• Website: speakeasytattoocompany.org
• Instagram: Instagram.com/tattoosbytonymontana
• Facebook: facebook.com/TattoosByTonyMontana