The journey to becoming a skilled tattoo artist is often long and challenging, characterized by years of self-teaching and perseverance, especially in the past when resources and mentorship were scarce.

In a recent podcast episode, Bit Schoenenberger (Sailor Bit) shares his personal experience of starting his tattooing career 36 years ago. He recalls being inspired at a young age by a tattoo magazine brought back from the United States by a friend of his father. This early exposure ignited his passion for tattooing, but the path to becoming a proficient artist was fraught with difficulties.

Host Aaron De La Vedova sits down with Bit in Frankfurt, Germany, at Gods of Ink. With an impressive reputation in the tattoo industry, Bit shares insights from his extensive career, including owning Ethno Tattoo in Lucerne for 22 years before joining forces with Fillip Leu, where he has been working for the past decade. The conversation delves into Bit's journey in tattooing, reflecting on the evolution of the art form and the importance of collaboration and mentorship in the industry. Tune in for an engaging discussion filled with history, passion, simplicity, life away from tattooing, and the intricacies of an ever evollving tattoo culture.

Chat Breakdown:

00:01:29 - Bit's Tattoo Journey 00:03:27 - Challenges in Early Tattooing 00:04:38 - Learning from Filip Leu 00:05:05 - Self-Taught Tattooing 00:06:30 - Huck Spalding Book and Early Techniques 00:07:28 - Making Ink and Needles 00:10:00 - Coil Machines vs. Modern Pens 00:15:17 - Changes in Tattoo Shop Culture 00:18:50 - Longevity in Tattooing 00:21:23 - Learning Full Body Tattooing 00:27:33 - Color Realism and Japanese Style Tattoos 00:30:34 - Sailing as a Second Passion 00:35:21 - European Approach to Work-Life Balance 00:38:39 - Advice for Aspiring Tattoo Artists 00:43:01 - Marketing and Business in Modern Tattooing 00:46:51 - Old School Tattooing Values

Quotes:

"You entered the dragon's mouth when you pushed that door and you hear this noise and you smell the hash."

"I did my time, so I'm happy with what I did."

 "I call it, we had the full ride, meaning we got in when it was still the old ways, making inks, making needles."

"Leave your ego at the door when you work with this guy."

"For me, it's more scary to be in a big city than in the middle of the ocean."

"You have to be conscious that you can choose your life, right? You don't have to complain. You choose it."

"I was living like a fucking homeless guy, right? I suffered a lot until I can live from tattooing."

"There is like a split between this tattoo world. Now you have that. The old school guys and this new generation."

"The experience to share something with your customer, that will always stay there."

"That influence of Filip and you and all the people attached to him is... so influential and important to what tattooing is today."

Stay Connected:

Chats & Tatts:

Website: http://www.chatsandtatts.com⁠

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chatsandtatts 

IG: http://www.instagram.com/chatsandtatts

Chats & Tatts YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/chatsandtatts

Connect with Aaron:⁠  

Aaron IG:⁠ http://www.instagram.com/aarondellavedova⁠

Guru Tattoo: http://www.Gurutattoo.com

Connect with Sailor:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/sailorbit