Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriel Massey.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been tattooing full time right at 12 years now. I was introduced to the profession by my mentor, Dan Martin of the renowned Scorpion Studios. He was dabbling in writing horror movies and I have a degree in Film Production. We worked out a quid pro quo where I would give him pointers on screenwriting and he would show me the ropes in tattooing. At that point, I had no real grasp of the degree of commitment that would be required to excel in this line of work. I really just thought tattooing would be a creative day job while I tried to work on my own film career.
After a while, I started actually doing tattoos at the shop and they were total garbage! It was a very challenging time for me and I attribute a good amount of that difficulty to my own ambivalence toward this career – I was still holding onto the idea of working in film. I had a real crossroads moment around that time where I realized that you just cannot be a dilettante in tattooing – and I made the commitment to the craft at that time. That conscious decision made all the difference as I began collecting and studying reference, repainting old flash, and traveling to get tattooed. My tattoos improved considerably and I was fortunate to work in a largely custom shop where a good portion of the walk-in traffic came my way. Many of these became long term clients over time.
A few years later, I decided to start working towards the goal of opening my own shop in our neighborhood. The East End was becoming a desirable destination for home buyers priced out of Montrose and the Heights, and I was a little weary of tattooing late nights on Westheimer. I had an idea to create a slightly more contemporary space for tattooing that still honored the tenets and history of the craft. It took much longer and was exponentially more challenging than I could have anticipated, but we opened our doors in March 2018 and I couldn’t be more pleased with our success thus far.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the very nature of tattooing makes it a challenging road. The amount of time and effort that is required in preparation to do good work can be staggering. My biggest challenge continues to be finding the balance between my career and family, and I constantly feel like I’m robbing Peter to pay Paul. I’m very fortunate to have a wife who is very supportive and understanding, otherwise, this probably wouldn’t work. There’s no shortage of divorced tattooers!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Battle Royale Tattoo – what should we know?
I’ll address this in two parts – the shop as a whole, and my own personal tattooing.
At Battle Royale, we provide excellent customer service and meticulous craftsmanship in a clean, modern, and welcoming environment. Our team of artists can accommodate and execute any genre of tattooing with the highest degree of skill and expertise. The space itself is bright and open and we are consistently well reviewed by clients for their overall experience.
I specialize in two distinct styles of tattooing. The majority of my work of late consists of very detailed geometric work that is often accented with floral or mandala motifs executed in blackwork/dotwork. However, I still enjoy tattooing in the American Traditional style which is characterized by bold imagery and bright colors.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think that in any endeavor, there is a certain amount of reciprocity in the amount of effort put forth and care taken, and whatever one might consider “success.” To the degree that I have been able to be attentive to my clients’ wishes and provided them with work that exceeds their expectations, then I would deem that my own personal degree of success.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1318 Telephone Road
Space 4 Upstairs
Houston, TX 77023 - Phone: 3464063162
- Email: gmasseytattooer@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielmasseytattooer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gabrielmasseytattooer/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/battle-royale-tattoo-houston
Image Credit:
Photo of Gabriel Massey by Jack Thompson
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