Tattoo Me On You…

So, last year I saw a couple random episodes of Miami Ink. I heard some raves about it. But I was not drawn in at all. I was annoyed by the overly aggressive drama and fighting. The participants did not come off as at all likable. I have no tattoos, and have never had an image I wanted branded into my skin (I have no moral opposition to it, though). I have had numerous people tell me I produce artowrk that would make for great tattoos though.  Anyways, back to the show, I just did not get into it.

So, when TLC announce L.A. Ink, as you can imagine, I was not rushing to the TV. I had heard some about the drama that surrounded Kat Von D. Apparently, she had a big falling out with one of the Miami Ink guys and decided it was time to head back home. She has started her own tattoo shop (High Voltage), which has been chronicled on L.A. Ink. Like I said, I was in no rush for yet another show about a tattoo shop and remained oblivious beyond the facts I just gave.

A few weeks back, while packing late into the night, I had TLC on…and L.A. Ink came up. Now, I was focused on packing, so I figured I did not care enough to switch around the channels to find something “more interesting.” I mean, this was background noise, nothing more.

Yet, as the hour progressed, I did not find myself annoyed by drama. Actually, the crew seems to keep things pretty light. And I was finding them to be interesting people. Nice people, even. I can understand why TLC would center a show on Kat Von D. She is cute, slightly goofy, and full of personality. And her entire team is like that.

There is Hannah Aitchison, who really seems to enjoy connecting with the people she does work on. Corey Miller comes across as a gentle guy, even though he looks like he could easily deliver a beat down. Both have families which, for some reason makes them all the more likable to me. Kim Saigh comes across as big hearted. Then we have the manager of the shop, Pixie, who is…well, a spitfire.

I mentioned one of the turn offs of Miami Ink was the aggressive nature of all involved. Here, the team seems more laid back. Sure, they get stressed out, but I have not seen any massive breakdowns. These folks are pros. It’s a plus that the show interviews the customers, hearing directly from the customer as to why they want to get a tattoo. Some of the stories are incredibly touching (one woman recently got a tattoo in memory of her husband, mother and father-all of home had died of cancer). The artists are extremely talented. I am blown away by the work I see.

Another aspect of the show I like is just seeing L.A. again. While I am content to be here in Minnesota, I do at times miss my short time in L.A. I liked it there and would, under the right circumstances, go back out there. So it is fun seeing sights I recognize and streets I have walked down(that is part of what I enjoy with Entourage).

So, to my surprise, I am enjoying this show. Still no plans to get a tattoo though.

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