Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Bristow.
Taylor, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
From a young age, I was interested in skateboarding and punk rock. It’s hard to find a skateboarder or punk musician who doesn’t have tattoos. So the lifestyle I had took a natural progression to the tattoo world. My older brother and I are close and he had always been the one to introduce me to new things like that. He had started getting tattooed and tattooing and I was instantly intrigued. I knew I wanted to be a part of that world. Everything about tattooing was different and exciting. You weren’t stuck at a desk or working set hours; there was a freedom to it that lit a fire in me. I saw an opportunity to make a living in a way that felt more comfortable for who I am. Tattooing is just rad to me. I started apprenticing when I was 19.
Eventually, my brother moved on to other jobs and his career but tattooing consumed me. I never gave a thought to what I wanted to be “when I grew up” all I knew was I wanted to tattoo and draw as badly as I wanted anything. There’s no set moment from when you go from apprenticing to full-on tattoo artist but there’s definitely the realization after. One day you just sit back and think “Wow, my job is so cool. I get to do something I love and make people happy and here I am just fucking doing it!” Around October of 2013, I was presented pretty suddenly with an opportunity to own a shop. I had only worked at two shops in my career so far even though I was seven years deep. I was so nervous. I had a wife and kids at this point and that just seemed like more responsibility.
But after a lot of discussion, we decided it was the best move for our family and we opened Chariot Tattoo. We kept Chariot at that location as a private parlor for five years. When our lease was up we moved to our current location and started advertising for more walk-ins as well as appointments. I have another guy that works for me and we have a lot of fun. It’s hard to call what I do work because I’m just as stoked about tattooing as I was 13 years ago when I held a tattoo machine for the first time. My wife and I talk about a future and if I would ever retire. To be honest, I think I’ll tattoo until I literally can’t. I love tattooing and that I’m lucky enough to have this career.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Haha, it’s definitely had its ups and downs! The guys that taught me, Jimmy and Big Dustin, have always had my back and still remain good friends of mine. I have a lot of friends in the tattoo world and have met a lot of cool people. But I’ve also met a lot of assholes. Unfortunately in tattooing sometimes you deal with bad situations and I’ve had my share of those, too. I worked for a guy that ended up being kind of a scumbag, but it’s how I became a shop owner. So I try to take everything for what it is. Like I said, I’ve also had a lot of people help me along the way and I’ve got to work with a lot of genuinely good dudes. There’s also been other struggles like the stress of moving a shop and learning to be a boss which isn’t my favorite part of tattooing. But there’s been so many good moments that it makes it all worth it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m an American Traditional and Japanese tattooer. Our shop is mostly traditional but we do other tattoos as well. It’s hard for me to say what we’re known for because I feel like our clients could answer better but I like to think we’re the best in town. And we’re proud of that. We work really hard and try to only put out the best of the best so I hope our work shows that. I’m proud of how far I’ve come as a tattooer and how loyal Chariot clients are. Loyalty is super important to me and I’m lucky to have another guy working for me as well as some great regulars. What I think sets us apart is that we’re just nice dudes that love to tattoo. There’s nothing we’re trying to sell you on other than a badass design that we worked really hard on. And I think our clients know that and it’s what keeps them coming back.
What were you like growing up?
I was usually pretty quiet and not really into school. I just wanted the bell to ring so I could go skateboard. Hanging out with my friends was my main hobby. We did a little bit of everything- skating, surfing, going to shows, etc. I was also always in my head daydreaming. I think that’s what helps me now as a tattooer – I always have a million ideas.
Pricing:
- Shop Minimum: $80
- Hourly rate for larger work: $150
Contact Info:
- Address: Chariot Tattoo
16948 Hwy 3
Webster TX 77598 - Website: instagram.com/chariot_tattoo
- Phone: 281-286-4828
- Email: chariottattoo@yahoo.com
- Instagram: taylor_bristow_tattoo
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