From luxury fashion to black & gray realism, George Hristov shares how he tattooed over 1,000 people in just 4 months, built his style from scratch, and why raw hustle, humility, and smart marketing matter more than ever for tattoo artists today.

Your Career, Your Rules: Real Talk from a Tattoo Veteran

In this no-filter conversation, we sit down with a seasoned tattoo artist who’s carved his name into the Bay Area ink scene — from the gritty streets of Vallejo to the artistic haven of Old Crow Tattoo in Berkeley.

We talk real life:

🧠 Navigating burnout, balance, and family

🎯 Why location doesn’t define your success

🎙️ Raw stories from behind the needle

💡 How community and mindset are the real game changers

Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a creative hustler chasing freedom, this episode is packed with truth bombs, laughs, and hard-earned wisdom.

👉 Tap in to hear what it really takes to thrive as an artist on your own terms.

In this episode, Michael Goetz — co-owner of Legacy Tattoo and founder of Force of Focus — breaks down the mindset shift every tattoo artist needs to thrive in 2025. From battling burnout to building systems that support freedom, he reveals how artists can go from chaotic to controlled, from stuck to scaling. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start leading like a tattoo CEO, this one’s for you.

Are you still boosting posts on Facebook or Instagram to promote your tattoo shop? 😬 In this episode of the Tattoo Marketing Podcast, Jesse from Ink-Link breaks down why that strategy is silently draining your ad budget—and what to do instead.

Discover how to tap into Meta’s advanced analytics (that most tattoo shops don’t even know exist) to create laser-targeted ads that consistently bring in high-quality leads.

Whether you’re running ads already or just getting started, this episode reveals how to:

✅ Find your best-performing placements (Reels vs. Feed vs. Stories)

✅ Analyze your leads by gender, age, and platform

✅ Optimize campaigns using data—not guesswork

💡 Stop guessing. Start scaling.

🚀 Links & Resources:

🔗 Free 15-min Consultation: ink-link.com

📲 DM us on Instagram for topic requests or questions

Ever wondered what it’s like to go from secretly getting your first tattoo as a teenager to becoming a master canvas on Ink Master? 🖤🎤 In this episode, Terr Lane—better known as Inked Vanity —shares her wild tattoo journey, from her very first ink (done by a guy named Roach!) to enduring 35 hours of tattooing under the bright lights of reality TV. She opens up about the best and worst tattoo experiences, the lessons learned along the way, and how she built Inked Vanity Clothing into an international brand.

Get ready for tattoo horror stories, behind-the-scenes Ink Master insights, and advice for anyone thinking about their next piece! Don’t miss it. 🔥

Special guest Adam manning is the owner of Nomadica Solutions, a company that helps tattoo shops and artists with their money!

If you're a shop owner or artist, this episode is a must!

🎨 Tattoo shop owners—are you missing out on clients because of missed calls and slow responses? Studies show 81% of calls to tattoo shops go unanswered, and by the time you respond, your potential client has already booked somewhere else.

💡 Meet ClothesBot—the AI-powered assistant that automates client booking, answers FAQs, and follows up instantly, helping tattoo shops book hundreds of consultations on autopilot.

🔹 In this episode, we cover:

✔️ Why tattoo shops lose clients to slow responses (and how to fix it)

✔️ How AI instantly replies to missed calls & texts, increasing bookings

✔️ Real results: Shops using AI book 80% more clients than before

✔️ How to set up AI in your shop with zero tech skills

✔️ The future of AI for tattoo businesses

📅 Ready to book more tattoo clients effortlessly? Find out how AI can transform your shop.

💬 Tattoo artists & shop owners—have you struggled with no-shows & slow bookings? Comment below!

#TattooShopMarketing #TattooBooking #TattooBusinessGrowth #AIforTattooShops #TattooShopAutomation #TattooShopSEO #TattooAppointmentBooking

In this episode, Laura shares her journey through the tattoo world—from her first piece at 19 to finding the right artist who truly connects with her. She dives into the importance of shop atmosphere, building relationships with artists, and even some unexpected (and uncomfortable) experiences along the way. Whether you’re heavily tattooed or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights into what makes a great tattoo experience.