It's the last day of 2010 and we've had quite a year. Anyone who knows us, or follows our blogs, knows that 2010 was the year that we moved to our new home in Schleppegrellsgade. And although the decision to move to this particular location looked like a terrible idea at first, it actually turned out to be a good one in the end. We love our new home and couldn't imagine being anywhere else. But that doesn't mean that it didn't nearly kill at times. It's been a rough path, getting to where we are now, and not just for us. Without the help and support of our team of carpenters and painters, the shop simply wouldn't have happened. There was only so much we could do ourselves, so if they hadn't decided to go all-in with us, we wouldn't have made it, and the shop wouldn't be the magical place it is today; a place we actually look forward to going to every day. They basically worked two jobs for months and got even less sleep during that period than we did, and trust me, that wasn't much. Some day oil paintings of their handsome faces will grace the walls of Conspiracy Inc. Or we'll write a nice song about them or something, but for now they just get a blog post dedicated to them.
Our friends and family have also been a huge support throughout the year. Whether they helped us paint our new walls, loaned us money when our most valuable equipment broke down, gave us crap to put in our empty new shop, or loaned us their car so we could go to a million flea markets, it would have been hard to get to where we are now without them.
I know this is turning into a lame blog version of the Queens new years speech, and that really wasn't where i was going with this, but i have to give one last thank you. To our clients. In the beginning, around March when we first moved, there was no furniture for them to sit on, no real entrance, and in some rooms, no floor. In the winter time there was (or is) very little heating and some days they'd be lying almost naked in a freezing room for hours and hours, and afterwards they'd give us money. They keep coming up with awesome ideas for the guys to tattoo, and rarely complain when they get something completely different from what they initially asked for. And sometimes they bring us cake too. Thanks guys, i hope you know that we appreciate the crap out of you!
Last tattoo of 2010; Jon's death metal swallow
We hope you all have a super happy new year, wherever your are, and we hope to see you at the shop or around the globe in 2011!
Four weeks. We had out perfect, awesome, beloved kitchen back for four weeks, and now the ceiling is leaking again. I don't know what kind of retard they got to "fix" the leak, but obviously he didn't do a very good job. We got people on it already, and luckily it doesn't seem to be dripping constantly, but holy shit was it depressing getting back to work today. Oh, and Allan had a no-show too. And it's not even Monday!
Bye bye, perfect white ceiling, it was nice knowing you
I'll be back in a few days with a post that's less of a downer. Maybe i'll even post some tattoo pictures, who knows!?
Sunday we had our (first) annual Conspiracy Christmas party. Or Christmas hangout you might call it, since four people in a kitchen does not a party make... but close enough! Nick and me made some pretty amazing food while Allan tattooed Martin. Our friend Suzy came by, with Lucifer's best friend Palma, to sew some doggie clothes and i made Christmas presents. After dinner we listened to jazz and then converted the basement into a shooting range. That's just how we roll.
Our BFF came by to get his Christmas present (a portrait of his mom)
The Conspiracy library is both educational and entertaining
The tards getting ready for dinner
Beuf Veganoff (Get it? We thought it was hilarious!)
Presents for some, post-it's for others (what? I've been busy and i totally am gonna get them stuff, so back off!)
This is what "WTF?!" looks like
Don't worry, it's not real, we ain't THAT crazy*
One of the perks of having a tattoo shop; easy access to script books and stencil paper
Lucifer wasn't a fan, but the rest of us had a great time! The next day, me and the ninja went downstairs again to kill something
Only this time it wasn't innocent plastic bottles, but a terrible beast (possibly from outer space) we had to deal with
We're only gonna be at the shop some days during Christmas, so if you really need to get in touch, don't call or drop by, just send us an email. But if there's any chance it can wait, please wait to contact us until after new years.
Happy holidays, everyone!
*If anyone should be interested in an explanation, and i'm sure that some of you are; Nick decided to get rid of some of his most priced possessions since he's moving to Hong Kong where everything is dirt cheap, and that's why Eckel is now the lucky owner of a bb gun!
Uhm, so, it's been a while, huh (*stares awkwardly at feet*)... anyone still here? Lots have happened since we got back from Japan, but the truth is, i've been too busy to blog about it. Sorry about that. Everyone at the shop is super busy these days, and the upcoming holidays isn't making it any better. But we're good, we're enjoying hanging out again, and returning to Denmark wasn't nearly as bad as i'd feared. I think one of the main reasons we're actually enjoying being back, is the fact that we finally got our kitchen back. Yeah, that's right, the water damage, and the mayhem that followed, has been fixed. And it only took them 7 months too! There are still a ton of things that need fixing, like our heating for example, but there'll always be stuff like that, and for now i am just happy that my favorite room in the shop is back.
We were gonna go to the Swedish embassy today and get a rug to really tie the room together, but Allan is afraid to drive in this weather, so that's gonna have to wait (can't blame him, everything is covered in snow right now)
Present from a Russian client
A pretty bad picture of a pretty great room What this kitchen really needs is more food related art work (hint hint, guys)
Apparently this is called a colander in English? Blogging is constantly teaching me something new!
Eckel put the photos back up on the photo wall while we were away... that could not have been easy!
Allan has been tattooing pretty much non-stop since we came back, but i haven't even really had time to beg him for blog photos. But last night I did manage to snap a few pictures of this black and gray beauty he started last week, and continued on yesterday (that's why the angel is still a little scabby looking).
One more session and some touch up and this should be done As you can see, Rasmus is now the proud (i assume) owner of two rare b&g Uncle Allan tattoos!
I promise (sort of) to post a little more regularly... or at least more than once a month, as soon as things start to slow down. In the meantime, i suggest you go check out this sweet feature Marisa did about our beloved shop over on Needles and Sins. And while you're there, do yourself a favor and browse the archives too, i guarantee you'll love it.
-4 million celsius, 5000 km winds and they predict it to get much worst gradually until the end of time itself!
All we can hope for now, is that the people who predict this unnatural weather are the same that usually have a hard time predicting what the weather will be like tomorrow!
Even though the town's been plunged in the dark like a canary no one wants to hear, from 3 in the afternoon till 10 in the morning, the lights have been on and bright pretty regularly down at the HQ for the last 2 weeks! Eckel and I, freshly back from our very own British adventures and busy as ever (well me more, he hardly does anything actually)! Someone's gotta work around here! Not everyone can take a never ending, nose picking and ceilings staring Japan-acation!!! Shop's got to keep going, ya know!? Work work work! We've had to do lots and lots of overtime lately (directly because of the above described missing staff situation) so I've decided to share the extra hours evenly! Eckel's taking the 1st shift (8 to 5) I'll be taking the second (5 to 8) just so it's fair! No one likes to be the boss but someone's got to do it anyway! I've also decided that until the missing staff are back everyone visiting the shop will have to:
A): Start and/or resume smoking.
B): Love doom stoner metal.
C): Have a minimum of 3 double espressos per visit.
D): Bring us gifts (expensive ones would be best)
E): Be ready to convincingly explain, in detail, their perfect plan of exactly what they would do (step by step) in the tragic case of a zombie invasion!
That will be all for now but please check back regularly for new updated rules and regulations of the Conspiracy inc. in the days to come! -Because without rules ... There is chaos!
Here are the more general free tips of the week...
Spontaneous visits: Go towards the right, towards the light!
Weather report: It's gonna get much worst before it gets better!
Health report: Being vegan does not make you immune to Ebola!
The A+A has arrived in Japan, in case anyone hadn't noticed! Actually, we got here a few days ago, but they have been busy days. Allan has tattooed a bunch already, and it looks like the next couple of weeks are gonna be busy as hell. So, where are the tattoo pictures, you may ask yourself? Well, normally, i'd have to either manipulate Allan into giving me some for the blog, steal them from his card before he has a chance to transfer them, or compromise, like in the last post. But Allan seems to think that since we're in Japan, and not the shop, i have no claim to tattoo pictures here. The nerve of that guy, right? So you'll have to visit his blog for tattoo updates, or my blog for all the other things we get up to (like our own tattoos for example).
I may post here too once in a while, but really, for the next month, our own blogs are where all the action is.
Seeing as i'm not at the shop, wouldn't it be great if maybe someone else who is there, and who is a co-author of this blog, could post updates if anything shop-related should happen? I sure wish i knew someone like that...
So, it would seem that Allan already posted a teaser on his blog yesterday, so i better hurry up and post the whole thing before we leave for Japan tomorrow. That's right, we're out of here, so the next post is likely to be something Inkrat and Tokyo related.
Ok, without further ado, Ole's magnificent wrestler tattoo
And a quick iPhone shot from our farewell dinner last night
After that last post i figured you guys needed something less... wordy. I know i did! So here's a picture of Sanna's finished backpiece, taken right before her final session, which was about 20 minutes worth of touch up. Easiest session she ever had!
Done and done
Even though her back is all done, you probably haven't seen the last of this trooper yet. From what i've heard, she has some killer ideas for her lower arm, so we hope to see her back at the studio as soon as her and Allan's schedules will allow it.
I'm just gonna get the topic of this post out of the way before i start ranting and creating this huge build up, and then when i get to the point everyone is all "really? that's it? i thought something bad happened!" So, in order for that to not happen, here it is: someone took our name. There. That's all i'm pissed about, and i guess the rant could stop right here, before it even becomes a rant, but of course it won't. So if you already know you're gonna find this pointless and tedious, feel free to quit reading right here. The next post will contain pretty pictures and little text, and if that's your thing, i won't hold it against you.
Still here? Then let's continue. I can't even remember how many years we've been Conspiracy Inc. Maybe 5? Maybe 6? Maybe even 7? It was before i was at the shop full time, and while Franz was still at the shop too, but i'm bad with timelines, so let's just say it's been a while. And even if i don't remember when exactly we became Conspiracy Inc., i do remember the time we spent trying to come up with a name everyone could agree to; the notes with scribbles of bad suggestions and the many friends, neighbors and clients who were involved in the process. But finally we found it, and we've stuck with it ever since. That's not to say that i'm always happy about our choice of name. At least a couple of times a week the phone rings and this conversation takes place: Me: "Conspiracy Inc." Person on the other end: "Huh? Uhm, who is this?" Me (thinking): "Who did you call? Yeah? THEN WHO DO YOU THINK IT IS?", (but actually saying): "C-o-n-s-p-i-r-a-c-y-i-n-c, how can i help you" So you see, it's not the smartest name ever, but it's ours and, up until recently, i thought it was at least a pretty unique one for a tattoo shop.
But then one night while i was checking our blog stats, i ended up on a search engine i don't normally use, and i noticed something. "Conspiracy Ink." I've complained about this before, people spell our name wrong all the time, and everyone from friends to magazines have been doing that for years, but this time there was a result for the misspelled Conspiracy. In fact, there were not one, but two. Two shops are now named Conspiracy Ink Tattoo. One since 2008 and one more recently since July this year. One in Australia and one in the States. Both obviously have websites, one of them is even on facebook, flickr and twitter.
Now, i know what you're probably thinking and i have thought that myself: "couldn't it be a coincidence?", and the answer is "sure, of course it could and maybe it is". People come up with the same ideas at the same time all the time, and of course that totally could have happened here too... twice. But do i think that's the case here? Not really. These other shops may be located very far away from us physically, but on the internet we're all neighbors, and if you're somewhat active and visible online, which we are and apparently they are too, it doesn't really matter where you are in the real world. And for years we've been doing conventions, had work in various magazines, participated in art shows, printed stickers and t-shirts, been active on myspace, blogger, twitter, and, for a second there, even facebook. We represent. And the tattooers who work at our shop are not exactly unknown, so i'd say there's a good chance that people in the same industry could have heard of us.
So what's my problem? Well, my problem is that it's rude! And what am i gonna do about it? Besides this, probably not a damn thing.
I guess this discovery just comes at a time when i've been thinking a lot about respect, or lack thereof, i should say. When we first moved to our new shop i was so worried about offending people who had shops in the same zip code, including our former partner. I even worried that our neighbors across the lake felt that waving distance, even if it is across a body of water, was a little too close. But since we're a private studio, more so now than ever before, on a small, kind of anonymous street, we decided that it was probably ok.
But since we moved in March, two studios have opened in our area, one of them literally around the corner from us. When i first discovered the one right around the corner i got a little pissed... ok, i got mad as hell and considered bagging one of Lucifer's little poops and lighting the bag on fire outside their door, but i have since calmed down and accepted its location. Mostly due to the fact that i don't actually believe the guy even knew we had moved to that area in the first place, and even our clients have trouble finding us at times, so who can really blame the guy? But the whole idea of opening up shops really close to other shops, something that was not even a possibility a few years ago, is a reality now, and we didn't get the worst of it.
A new shop opened recently in the center of Copenhagen. No news there, i'm sure it happens all the time, and we're usually too busy with our own shit to pay attention to the local scene, so it's all good. Except in this case, it isn't. This shop opened right next to an established studio. Not down the street, or in the same area, but right next to it, and when i first heard, i couldn't believe it. No one could be that rude, right? Wrong. Apparently we've entered the age of i-don't-give-a-fuck, and that includes not giving a fuck about common professional courtesy and good manners. And for a person like myself who actually does give a fuck, behavior like that can be hard to accept. And this new place is apparently really bad too. Home-parties-and-staph-infections-bad, or so i've heard. I have never used this blog to air personal beefs, or write shit about other shops, and that's why you won't find any links to the shops i'm referring to in this post, or names of the local shops here in Copenhagen. This is because i believe in internet courtesy, and i try not to say and do anything online that i wouldn't be prepared to say to a persons face, and seeing how i hate confrontations, there's a lot i wouldn't say and therefore i don't (that was a ridiculously long sentence, and i'm not even sure if it worked, but i'll just leave it and move on...) But if anyone would like to know the location of this studio, so they don't accidentally take their business there, i'd be happy to inform them via email instead of a public forum.
Anyway. Respect. Borders. As you may have picked up on, i take internet behavior quite seriously, almost as seriously as real life behavior. I believe that if we choose to live out part of our lives online, which most of us do, the same basic manners have to apply here as they do in real life. I choose to let a lot of shit slide, due to the fact that if you get all riled up about every idiot behaving badly on the internet, you'd have a full time job right there. And a stressful one at that. So i try not to get worked up about the little things, and i think i'm getting pretty good at just ignoring dumb stuff. But finding out that someone did what is basically the internet equivalent of opening up a shop right next to ours, and i believe name plagiarism is just that, just pissed me off.
This post is all the attention i'm gonna give this subject. I'm not even sure it deserved a rant like this and to be honest, i'm already looking forward to posting about cake and tattoos and taxidermy again! You're not likely to find any words on this subject on Allan's blog either. He's much better than me at ignoring shit, and when i first told him about the other shops he barely shrugged. You'll probably never hear him bitch about anything as petty as this on his blog, but there's a lot of shit i choose to care about, so he doesn't have to. That's a good partnership and that's a good marriage, so there.
In conclusion... I don't know what this rant was supposed to accomplish exactly. I think i just needed to vent, and blogs are good for that, aren't they? I know for certain that i am not looking for for friends to leave angry comments on my behalf, nor will i approve comments about what a dumb bastard i am for even caring, i'm well aware of that already! More drama is the last thing anyone needs, and i'm already worried about crossing the fine line between a personal rant and a full on internet war on words. I apologize in advance if this has left anyone feeling bored or offended, but getting it out has certainly made me feel better!
Comments are open (with moderation) and anyone who has an opinion one way or the other are welcome to participate.
On a lighter note, here's Maru sliding into a box...
Here's a picture of the shelves i put up yesterday. We found them at a flea market this weekend, and although i paid more than i should have (everyone does at that market) i still think they were good finds. Now we just have a few books out front, and most of them are just there because they're decorative. I'm so glad we moved the IKEA bookcase into the drawing room/library, it never did belong in our lovely front room anyway!
Cozy corner
Mr. Owl
A lamp we also found at the flea market
Some day i'll get someone else to take some real shop pictures for you. But we have to wait until the kitchen is done... soooo, around the time of not-in-a-million-years, would be my guess? Yeah, the optimism is long gone!
I think i'll take a quick break from wasting my time looking at gorgeous apartments that i'll never be able to afford, and post this sneak peak of what Nick has been working on today. You'll most likely be able to see the whole thing in a much fancier format, tomorrow on the plog.
Not just any robot, no, this is in fact a musical robot
I have been doing some redecorating in the front room today, but i just can't seem to get any good pictures of that room. I'll keep working on that. Hey, maybe my new online-apartment-hunting obsession can teach me a thing or two?
Ah, Friday, you're the best. In spite of still very runny noses, and increasingly chilly weather, we had such a nice day today. Me and Allan came in late and studied Japanese while the boys worked in the other room. We got caught up pretty good on Hiragana, and it would have been even more efficient if we hadn't decided to take a detour from our dog walk, to go visit our sweet neighbors at The Sailors Grave. Relaxed days like this one are few and far between, and i appreciate the hell out of them!
Another use for the drawing room
Nick finished the "Four Seasons as told to you by Hot Naked Chicks" sleeve today, but because it's one of those half healed/half fresh situations, you only get a sneak peek
See the finished piece in all its naked glory in about a month on the Electric Plog
There may be a few people out there who thinks that it's all about doom and gloom here at the shop, but i'm here to tell you that it ain't so. Sometimes even Allan gets his kawaii on.
Louise got one final session on her back tattoo the day before moving abroad... bon voyage!
Speaking of kawaii, this cute little devil likes to steal my chair
Today Anne had her second session on what is turning out to be a rather large backpiece (see pictures of the first session here). Anne was not expecting this thing to include neither butt nor ribs, but that kinda just happened anyway! But i think we can all agree, at least the three of us did, that it's staring to look pretty damn awesome.
It's always so nice and chill when friends get tattooed. Lots of time for coffee and cake, and chatting about random shit. And lots of time for Allan to complete his rose-stencil puzzle without feeling stressed!
Bird-lady, or lady-bird?
Butt rose 1
Butt rose 2
Next time, whenever that will be, Allan will add some more lines, and hopefully some black too. I personally can't wait to see this one finished!
Saxe from Germany has a way of sneaking in and getting small monster tattoos when his friend Björn comes to get tattooed by Allan. And since Björn was only getting touch-up on his now finished sleeve today, the tattoo even got a bit bigger than planned.
Something tells me this fella enjoys eating brains...
I was planning on taking an in-progress shot of the huge thigh piece Eckel started today, but before i knew it, the customer had put her pants on and was out the door. Don't you hate it when that happens? Ah well, maybe i'll have better luck tomorrow.
As you may have already seen on Allans blog, three of his paintings will be in a show in San Francisco opening in just a few days. He has been working his ass of to make the deadline, and we just got word a few days ago that his works finally arrived. Phew. Anyway, the show is called "Scream With Me" and the venue is the 111 Minna Gallery. We're pretty bummed that we can't be at the opening on the 7th ourselves, but we hope that it'll be a huge success. If any of you lovely readers are in the general area, please go check it out!
In other news (or what passes as news on a lazy Sunday) i have been working a lot on the blog layout for the past few days, and besides just making the blog look all pretty, i've been trying to make the booking, waiting list and general info easier to find. So to do that i've added a top menu, where you can now find info on how to book with each of the artist that works here, as well as examples of their work. There's also an updated FAQ with links to hotels, directions to the shop, and some newer frequently asked questions, and a Travel tab with our current travel dates.
We are also on Twitter now, so click here, or click the pretty little bird in the right-hand menu, to follow us there. Not much has happened there yet, but i promise to use it regularly to post lost of pictures and random Conspiracy goodness!
