Windy city workforce

This department spotlights a relatively recent addition to the workforce, focusing on the person’s educational or working background, daily responsibilities, challenges, passions, frustrations and outlook for his or her future in the field.

Name: Nick Colella
Age: 31
Company: The Chicago Tattooing and Piercing Company
Location:
1017 W. Belmont
(773) 528-6969
www.chicagotattoo.com

How you ended up here:
Fate.

How long you’ve been at it:
I have been tattooing for 13 years, all of them at the Chicago Tattoo Co.

Hours your boss expects you to be at work:
As long as I can possibly take it.

Job reputation:
I have the opportunity to work in the oldest and most respected shop in the city, so I try to uphold the values that have made this shop the best. I offer clean, solid tattooing at an affordable price. I take my time to make sure my customers are happy with the tattoo they receive, and hopefully they will recommend me to other people.

What types of people do you usually do tattoos for?
I do tattoos on people from all walks of life, from doctors and lawyers to city workers, firemen, policemen and anyone in between. Tattoos reach every social and economic scale these days.

Where do you draw the line when someone who has had a few too many drinks and wants a tattoo?
In an ideal world, I would not want the customer to have any alcohol before they come in for a tattoo, but that is not always the case. I will not work on anyone who is obviously drunk or acting like they are on any other controlled substance. Alcohol thins the blood, making the tattooing process much harder to perform, and it lessens the possibility for a good, solid, clean tattoo.

Do people have an idea of what they want, or do they typically find a design in the store?
I think with the popularity of tattooing and what people see can be done, they tend to come in with either their own drawings or ideas. But we are a traditional flash shop, so we also cater to those who want to choose from a design we already have or modify one of the designs to make it more of their own.

Best perk:
Free tattoos.

Do people ever want to back out before you start or halfway through?
Pretty much once a person decides what they want, signs in and comes back to sit in the chair, they are ready to get the tattoo. I have only had one person back out halfway through, and she came back two weeks later to finish the tattoo.

Why should tattooing be considered art?
I don’t see what else it could be considered. If it’s not considered art, I think there are a whole lot of tattooers out there fooling the public.

How is tattooing different now than it was 10 years ago?
Tattooing now is very widespread compared to 10 years ago. Not many people were tattooing then. There were considerably fewer shops in the city, and tattooing, while it was gaining popularity, was still somewhat underground. As tattooing has gained popularity and all kinds of people are trying to get into the tattoo business any way they can, I believe that tattooing as a craft has suffered. The average customer really needs to do their research about what a good tattoo should look like and who is doing their tattoos.

What safety precautions do you have to take?
At the Chicago Tattoo Co., all the artists, whether it be tattooers or piercers, take and maintain courses in CPR, cross contamination and bloodborne pathogens.

What are your favorite tattoo styles?
Traditional American tattoos and West Coast lettering styles.

How did you train for this?
I was taught by a few different people: Dale Grande, who owns Chicago Tattoo Co.; Dave McNair, who has worked at the shop for 18 years; and a good friend of mine, Wayne Borucki, who has since passed. I did a whole lot of watching and listening, and not thinking I knew everything.

I have trouble dealing with:
People who come into the tattoo shop and think it’s the GAP. Remember, you are getting a tattoo, not trying on the newest styles. It takes time and patience.

Any celebrity sightings?
I have tattooed a few athletes, including Eddie Curry, David Terrell, Gabe Kapler, Mike Timlin and Kyle Farnsworth.

What might you change if given the chance:
The way tattoos and tattooing are perceived by the public.

Why you have a smile when you come to work:
I have a great wife who I get to work with two nights a week, I have a wonderful family who is very supportive, I have a very close group of friends and I work with a very talented bunch of guys in a tattoo shop that has an amazing history.

Advice for joining the field:
Don’t.

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