As I spend more and more time in downtown Sacramento, it seems that I see more and more tattoos. This realization led me to wonder: does the economy affect tattoo parlors? Do less people get tattoos? Do different people get tattoos? According to Royal Peacock tattoo artist Jan Hill, not much has changed. "I haven't noticed a decrease in business from the economy at this time," he says. There is a noticeable economic trend influenced by the weather. Less people are liable to get tattoos during the winter than during the summer. "Wintertime slows business down for tattooing," says Hill. "When it's harsher weather, people don't come out." Business also tends to decrease specifically around

In my previous article about Sacramento tattoo parlors, which you can access by clicking on the "storyline" tab on the right, I wrote about the business aspects of a tattoo parlor: how to get a license, laws about sterilization, etc.. To get a more rounded perspective on the typical tattoo parlor, I spoke with a couple of artists from different parlors around town. The foundation of a successful tattoo parlor is its artists. So what sets an individual artist apart from all others? "What sets them apart would be style, the way they draw, and the way they lay out the tattoos," says American Graffiti tattoo artist Ryan Tanton. Artists can also distinguish themselves by learning multiple sty

Whenever I spend time in downtown Sacramento, I can't help but notice the vast amount of tattoos and tattooed people. They're everywhere: the barista making your coffee, the waitress serving your food or that guy riding his bike across the street. Tattoos have become an inherent part of the Sacramento culture. No wonder — there are over twenty licensed tattoo parlors scattered throughout the midtown and downtown areas. Each one is unique and based entirely on the individuality of its tattoo artists. Parlor registry is regulated by the State of California. According to AB 186, to get a parlor license both the artists and the parlor must register with their county health department, pay th