Ramblings....
Sep. 19th, 2006 09:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mad_andyQuiet day at the studio today.
Very, very quiet indeed.
Chris had no bookings, there were no walk ins, nobody wanted to be pierced and it's Jon's day off on a tuesday. Chris and Nurse were, therefore, very bored indeed.
I wasn't - never bored with a sketchpad and a pencil.
Anyway. At about 1pm, I could feel the boss' hot little eyes boring into me.
"I'm bored," he said.
(Uh oh)
"Me too," chimed in Nurse.
(Crap)
"No," I said.
"When I'm bored," continued Chris, "and Nurse is bored, someone gets hurt."
"No."
"And you are the apprentice, Andy."
"No."
"Be a sport."
"No."
*Keeps head down, scritching away in sketchbook*
This went on for a full half hour. I didn't look up, didn't make excuses, simply kept saying 'no' a lot - and thus remain unpierced today, which is something of a relief. Considering that the lymph node behind my left ear is swollen, as are a couple in my neck, and two very small ones in my left armpit. In other words, my left ear (damn daith) is making unhappy noises via the immune system on that side of my body.
My skin has flared up - although the tattoos are healing well - and I suspect my system is just playing hell at being subjected (after a nice long rest) to much tattoo and piercing activity. However, whilst I'm not going to let it stop me I'm not totally stupid - hence getting into the habit of saying 'no' a lot.
Oh, and Chris agreed that part of the reason is that I won't fall for most of the stupid shit that younger apprentices would, so I have to jump through other hoops.
To whit, pain.
Testing commitment, y'see.
Well, I can be stubborn too. Let's see how long I can hold out!
Downstairs from our studio is a kebab shop. (Must take some pics!) This is run by a Turkish family and I get on with them OK, although their approach to life is a little... er... Mediterranean for the likes of the boss. He hates them, and wants them to go away - I can see his point, as their storage facilities out of sight of the public are - put it this way, I'll never eat from there again. And keeping the studio squeaky clean when there's contamination-onna-stick downstairs is...well, we manage, but it's harder than it should be.
Anyway.
One of them, a lanky young guy whose name I can't pronounce let alone spell, approached me on sunday while I was leaning on the wall outside having a smoke. Could I get him a discount for a tattoo?
No, I said.
But a discount! He almost wailed. I shrugged. The only way you get a discount is if I do it for you. What do you want?
He blinked at me.
"You?"
"Me."
He thought for a moment.
"OK."
Then he told me what he wanted. Now, I spoke to Chris about it and he said fine, the guy wants a discount and he's prepared to let you work on him? You'll do a better job than he deserves. Go for it.
So the design is drawn and, of course, he hasn't come back. Git. I shall speak to him about it when I see him again - so hold thumbs for me kids, I could be doing my first one on someone I don't actually know. He'll get apprentice rate, which is to say it'll cost him 50% of full price - I don't get anything, the money goes to the studio. Although in this case I'll probably charge him apprentice rate plus twenty quid for doing the artwork from scratch.
Anyhoo, watch this space.
I also drew a few new pumpkins. I've managed to get the hang of copying the 'classic' Helloween ones to the point where I can create new ones myself; today's were:
Fuck You pumpkin (one finger pointing, the other hand raising the middle digit)
Metal Pumpkin (throwing the horns)
Drunk As A Pumpkin (dazed looking vegetable falling over backwards with a bottle)
Flying Pumpkin (with wings, had to be done)
If my scanner was working I'd show you, but as it is... I'll get round to it. Tomorrow I fancy doing a couple more - perhaps Hardcore Pumpkin (throwing the horns but with hands crossed over chest and a meeeeeeeeeeeeeen look) and perhaps a Punk. Or something. (Emo Pumpkin! *Snort*) I'll have a think. Whatever, the next time Markus asks me "More pumpkins?" I'll be able to whip out a shedload!
Oh yes, and Mrs H (Mrs Boss at the vets, co-Practice Principal and don't you ever forget it) rang me when I got home. Had I been working hard at my new... job?
Yes thanks, been at the studio all day. Can I help you with anything? (Subtext: Get to the fucking point.)
She'd heard I had some more *pregnant pause* physical graffiti.
I smothered the laugh before it could escape and airily agreed that yes, and on friday they could all admire the new work on my lower arms. Hanging out with bored tattoo artists was painful but colourful, if she got my drift....
Polite laughter.
Anyway, all she wanted was Slay to fix her horrible daughter's computer, and I duly said of course, he'll come over and pick it up tonight.
Thank you and goodbye.
Silly bitch.
But I came away from the conversation feeling rather lighter. There had been all sorts of subtexts and bullshit, tension and unspoken thoughts in the short conversation; and you know what? It was a timely reminder that I'm not going to miss all that crap one little bit.
Also!
There is a new(ish) journal out there called Blam!Blam! - an erotic bedside journal. Anyway, they got in touch with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rockfic via the Rockfic Press website, telling her that they were accepting new stories for an upcoming Glam themed issue....
So I thought, hmm. What have I got that's het, hot, a little bit different and - above all - short?
So I went for Ulysses Lost, which I have a distinct soft spot for - and as posted on Rockfic it's only 3900 words or so. The lack of submission guidelines from the journal meant I just shrugged and sent it to them.
Too long, although no actual word on what length they actually wanted. Well, remembering my Devil's Work days I pruned it down to a hair under 3000 words and believe me, that hurt. But I did it, submitted it -
Still too long. Half that length would be good, they said.
What?! They'd read the original almost-4000-word-fic and didn't realise that to chop it to 1500 would kill it stone dead and lose what made it special in the first place?!
So I cracked my knuckles and went for a rummage in the archive. Lo, a fic some 922 words long, one Man Of Sorrows, a neat little story featuring Iron Maiden's drummer and an unknown sex worker, gender unidentified.
It's been accepted!
I am well chuffed - for the first time, one of my little scribblings is going to be published off Rockfic; I think it's a step forward for bandfic in general, and me in particular, for all that I think the 'erotic bedside journal' probably has a circulation of well under a hundred. Still, of little acorns grow mighty oaks, yes?
Although they are appallingly disorganised - three times I've asked for submission guidelines, and all three times the request has been ignored. the e-mails are friendly and enthusiastic, just not terribly helpful - and there's been no word of royalties, or publishing rights, or any of the various things thatrockfic is so scrupulous about providing her stable of authors when she publishes them.
So, I'm not impressed with the folk over there, although I shall be awaiting publication with a certain amount of interest....
And now I'm going to beta a bit more forarrys_girlie and go to bed. By the way, if you like bandfic and pirates - or just epic tales of pirates and stuff the bandfic side of it - then visit ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fiendess_fic and get cracking on the High Seas adventures. Bloody marvellous, IMHO.
Goodnight all!
ETA!
Guess who I'm going to see on Saturday?
One Nicko McBrain, drummer for Iron Maiden and all around nice guy. He's compering for the Wembley drum show again, as well as doing a performance/drum clinic. And last year he did a signing, and usually one Bruce Dickinson accompanies him to these shindigs to help him out with a couple of Maiden numbers at the end...
Am I excited about it?
With all my new Maiden ink?
You fucking betcha!
AND we're getting in for nothing. Last year Slay entered a competition with Sabian cymbals, and much to our astonishment actually won one. It's a very nice cymbal. He is very pleased with it.
However, a couple of days ago he got an e-mail from Sabian's UK HQ. They hoped he was enjoying his cymbal, and if he and a guest would be visiting the drum show this year they would like to give him two tickets, which could be sent or picked up at the box office, as he wished. And if he came and used the tickets, they just hoped he would pop down and visit them on the Sabian stand...!
Jammy, eh?
Very, very quiet indeed.
Chris had no bookings, there were no walk ins, nobody wanted to be pierced and it's Jon's day off on a tuesday. Chris and Nurse were, therefore, very bored indeed.
I wasn't - never bored with a sketchpad and a pencil.
Anyway. At about 1pm, I could feel the boss' hot little eyes boring into me.
"I'm bored," he said.
(Uh oh)
"Me too," chimed in Nurse.
(Crap)
"No," I said.
"When I'm bored," continued Chris, "and Nurse is bored, someone gets hurt."
"No."
"And you are the apprentice, Andy."
"No."
"Be a sport."
"No."
*Keeps head down, scritching away in sketchbook*
This went on for a full half hour. I didn't look up, didn't make excuses, simply kept saying 'no' a lot - and thus remain unpierced today, which is something of a relief. Considering that the lymph node behind my left ear is swollen, as are a couple in my neck, and two very small ones in my left armpit. In other words, my left ear (damn daith) is making unhappy noises via the immune system on that side of my body.
My skin has flared up - although the tattoos are healing well - and I suspect my system is just playing hell at being subjected (after a nice long rest) to much tattoo and piercing activity. However, whilst I'm not going to let it stop me I'm not totally stupid - hence getting into the habit of saying 'no' a lot.
Oh, and Chris agreed that part of the reason is that I won't fall for most of the stupid shit that younger apprentices would, so I have to jump through other hoops.
To whit, pain.
Testing commitment, y'see.
Well, I can be stubborn too. Let's see how long I can hold out!
Downstairs from our studio is a kebab shop. (Must take some pics!) This is run by a Turkish family and I get on with them OK, although their approach to life is a little... er... Mediterranean for the likes of the boss. He hates them, and wants them to go away - I can see his point, as their storage facilities out of sight of the public are - put it this way, I'll never eat from there again. And keeping the studio squeaky clean when there's contamination-onna-stick downstairs is...well, we manage, but it's harder than it should be.
Anyway.
One of them, a lanky young guy whose name I can't pronounce let alone spell, approached me on sunday while I was leaning on the wall outside having a smoke. Could I get him a discount for a tattoo?
No, I said.
But a discount! He almost wailed. I shrugged. The only way you get a discount is if I do it for you. What do you want?
He blinked at me.
"You?"
"Me."
He thought for a moment.
"OK."
Then he told me what he wanted. Now, I spoke to Chris about it and he said fine, the guy wants a discount and he's prepared to let you work on him? You'll do a better job than he deserves. Go for it.
So the design is drawn and, of course, he hasn't come back. Git. I shall speak to him about it when I see him again - so hold thumbs for me kids, I could be doing my first one on someone I don't actually know. He'll get apprentice rate, which is to say it'll cost him 50% of full price - I don't get anything, the money goes to the studio. Although in this case I'll probably charge him apprentice rate plus twenty quid for doing the artwork from scratch.
Anyhoo, watch this space.
I also drew a few new pumpkins. I've managed to get the hang of copying the 'classic' Helloween ones to the point where I can create new ones myself; today's were:
Fuck You pumpkin (one finger pointing, the other hand raising the middle digit)
Metal Pumpkin (throwing the horns)
Drunk As A Pumpkin (dazed looking vegetable falling over backwards with a bottle)
Flying Pumpkin (with wings, had to be done)
If my scanner was working I'd show you, but as it is... I'll get round to it. Tomorrow I fancy doing a couple more - perhaps Hardcore Pumpkin (throwing the horns but with hands crossed over chest and a meeeeeeeeeeeeeen look) and perhaps a Punk. Or something. (Emo Pumpkin! *Snort*) I'll have a think. Whatever, the next time Markus asks me "More pumpkins?" I'll be able to whip out a shedload!
Oh yes, and Mrs H (Mrs Boss at the vets, co-Practice Principal and don't you ever forget it) rang me when I got home. Had I been working hard at my new... job?
Yes thanks, been at the studio all day. Can I help you with anything? (Subtext: Get to the fucking point.)
She'd heard I had some more *pregnant pause* physical graffiti.
I smothered the laugh before it could escape and airily agreed that yes, and on friday they could all admire the new work on my lower arms. Hanging out with bored tattoo artists was painful but colourful, if she got my drift....
Polite laughter.
Anyway, all she wanted was Slay to fix her horrible daughter's computer, and I duly said of course, he'll come over and pick it up tonight.
Thank you and goodbye.
Silly bitch.
But I came away from the conversation feeling rather lighter. There had been all sorts of subtexts and bullshit, tension and unspoken thoughts in the short conversation; and you know what? It was a timely reminder that I'm not going to miss all that crap one little bit.
Also!
There is a new(ish) journal out there called Blam!Blam! - an erotic bedside journal. Anyway, they got in touch with
rockfic via the Rockfic Press website, telling her that they were accepting new stories for an upcoming Glam themed issue....So I thought, hmm. What have I got that's het, hot, a little bit different and - above all - short?
So I went for Ulysses Lost, which I have a distinct soft spot for - and as posted on Rockfic it's only 3900 words or so. The lack of submission guidelines from the journal meant I just shrugged and sent it to them.
Too long, although no actual word on what length they actually wanted. Well, remembering my Devil's Work days I pruned it down to a hair under 3000 words and believe me, that hurt. But I did it, submitted it -
Still too long. Half that length would be good, they said.
What?! They'd read the original almost-4000-word-fic and didn't realise that to chop it to 1500 would kill it stone dead and lose what made it special in the first place?!
So I cracked my knuckles and went for a rummage in the archive. Lo, a fic some 922 words long, one Man Of Sorrows, a neat little story featuring Iron Maiden's drummer and an unknown sex worker, gender unidentified.
It's been accepted!
I am well chuffed - for the first time, one of my little scribblings is going to be published off Rockfic; I think it's a step forward for bandfic in general, and me in particular, for all that I think the 'erotic bedside journal' probably has a circulation of well under a hundred. Still, of little acorns grow mighty oaks, yes?
Although they are appallingly disorganised - three times I've asked for submission guidelines, and all three times the request has been ignored. the e-mails are friendly and enthusiastic, just not terribly helpful - and there's been no word of royalties, or publishing rights, or any of the various things that
rockfic is so scrupulous about providing her stable of authors when she publishes them.So, I'm not impressed with the folk over there, although I shall be awaiting publication with a certain amount of interest....
And now I'm going to beta a bit more for
arrys_girlie and go to bed. By the way, if you like bandfic and pirates - or just epic tales of pirates and stuff the bandfic side of it - then visit fiendess_fic and get cracking on the High Seas adventures. Bloody marvellous, IMHO.Goodnight all!
ETA!
Guess who I'm going to see on Saturday?
One Nicko McBrain, drummer for Iron Maiden and all around nice guy. He's compering for the Wembley drum show again, as well as doing a performance/drum clinic. And last year he did a signing, and usually one Bruce Dickinson accompanies him to these shindigs to help him out with a couple of Maiden numbers at the end...
Am I excited about it?
With all my new Maiden ink?
You fucking betcha!
AND we're getting in for nothing. Last year Slay entered a competition with Sabian cymbals, and much to our astonishment actually won one. It's a very nice cymbal. He is very pleased with it.
However, a couple of days ago he got an e-mail from Sabian's UK HQ. They hoped he was enjoying his cymbal, and if he and a guest would be visiting the drum show this year they would like to give him two tickets, which could be sent or picked up at the box office, as he wished. And if he came and used the tickets, they just hoped he would pop down and visit them on the Sabian stand...!
Jammy, eh?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 09:53 pm (UTC)am glad to see stuff is going well... and omghugwesqyeeyay atpublishaage :)
*hugs*
no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 10:20 pm (UTC)It is a step forward, for both! It's awesome. Apparently the printing of their first issue was 5,000 copies, according that article I found via Google. Whether they have 4,900 copies still lying around their kitchen, I couldn't tell you....
no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 10:20 pm (UTC)Have fun with Nicko :)
no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 10:42 pm (UTC)You ever thought of writing a book about your adventures in the tattoo parlor? Fiction or non-fiction, the stories you relate here are very entertaining.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-19 10:50 pm (UTC)And yay again on the Blam! Blam! thing. I'll go back through my blogs and see if I can find the one that had the ad for it. If I remember right it's one of the more well-known ones I read.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-21 06:50 am (UTC)