Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Moore.
Hi Mike, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started off working at another local studio with my business partner. We had a vision on how we wanted the space to flow/run but we felt we were the only ones that wanted to progress and grow so we decided to branch off and do our own thing. Having us as owners with a tattooer and a piercer mindset we felt would be a solid balance and have been fortunate to have so many talented artists come through and work with us. 13 years later we still carry on with creating a comfortable, clean, and safe environment for our crew and most importantly our customers.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There are always obstacles when owning a business and there is always balance between running smoothly and having some speed bumps along the way. That’s how we constantly evolve with trends in body jewelry, appointment structures, and fitting the right talent together under our roof as our previous artists grow and move on to the next evolution of their career.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
On top of being one of the owners, I have been a body piercer for 21 years. I have been very fortunate to cross paths with many amazing and talented people on this side of the industry and always continued to further my education in one facet or another. Whether it was on the technical side of piercing ranging from the best approach to executing a piercing for an individual to being knowledgeable about the human anatomy. From there we have the understanding of materials and jewelry styles, along with understanding how to apply this to what a customer needs/wants. Although the general approach can be similar, everyone is unique and may require something different based on their anatomy. The main goal is always making sure I/we do our best to provide a solid experience for the customer. There isn’t just one way to approach a piercing and it’s my job to never stop learning. Just because we do this everyday we have to keep in mind that the customer doesn’t.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The industry goes in waves from more minimalist aesthetics to the more bold and extreme. Although it seems that the direction has been going into more of a boutique vibe, but hoping it can find a balance to keep the underground edgy alternative energy that made this industry what it is. I think there is room for everyone but there should be respect for those whom paved the way for the newer generation of artists/piercers. I’m only speaking from my experience but the main reason I have made it this far and still have so much love for this industry is because of my relationships and friendships, along with the respect, of other artists, piercers, educators, and jewelry companies that have molded me into who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Ironcladtattoo.com
- Instagram: Ironclad_tattoo_co
