Some things simply can’t go digital. There’s no app for tattoo artistry. There’s no platform for a fun, family atmosphere. And there’s no robot that can replace a person like Lauren, who helps make Hart & Huntington Orlando’s clients feel comfortable before they walk in the door, so that their tattoo experience is exceptional from start to finish.
The best part of what I do is being part of an industry that can’t be moved to an online service. You can do anything online today. But not this. Tattooing is such an old tradition. It can’t go digital.
Lauren comes from an art background herself. Her mother was a designer. She herself went to school for film photography. And although she doesn’t practice her art today, she loves being surrounded by it.
Art was always a part of my life. I played music, created things, it was always a good outlet for me. It was therapeutic.
Today, she runs H&H’s email correspondence, manages merchandising and buying for the shop. She has a heavy retail background and was recruited while working at a surf shop just under our Orlando location.
I came in to the shop all the time to buy the energy drink, Monster. One day, I was recruited. It was perfect because I wanted to get out of retail and I was always interested in the tattoo culture. At Hart & Huntington, everyone was fun, the music was great and I just knew this was something I wanted to stick with for a long time.
As for her own tattoos, Lauren was just getting started.
I’ve always wanted a sleeve. I had a couple tattoos when I started but nothing major.
That story is a little different today. In fact, she just completed her sleeve and has a few more too. For Lauren, tattooing is therapy. She sits in the chair and meditates while our artists create pieces for her.
Getting tattooed has become an awesome outlet. It’s like having a therapy session. You have someone to talk to. I get tattooed when I’m stressed or going through a big change in my life. Sometimes I just sit there, in my own head, and meditate.
It’s a form of bonding and she sees many clients enjoy the same experience.
Anytime someone wants their first piece, it’s a special experience. I love helping people through anything like that. Helping them feel comfortable. We’re a different caliber shop. It’s cool to be part of a shop where they care about customer’s experiences. Everyone leaves super happy and excited. Oh, and it never hurts as bad as they think it does.
It’s not all sentimental. Sometimes, it’s just really funny.
One time, a guy came in who lost a bet. He had to get the Chipotle restaurant logo on his backside. It was his first tattoo and it was pretty amusing.
Lauren’s favorite style is Neo Traditional, because of the way it endures the test of time. But regardless of style, it’s most important not to go too small. She explains this to clients all the time.
Many clients want tattoos that are too small. We have to help them understand that they don’t hold up over time a lot. Also, many forget that this is still art. It takes time, it’s a process. It’s worth paying a premium to get it done well. If you think about how much people pay to hang art in their homes, you wear this on your body for the rest of your life.
Regardless of what tattoo you’re coming in for, the coolest part is that you’ll have to come in. Lauren loves the shop, the artists in it and the notion that tattooing is one of the very few art forms that simply will stay true to it’s roots.
I really do love everyone who works here. We are a family. And I love being a part of an industry that isn’t going anywhere. It’s such an old tradition and that makes it truly special.
