OG Poise - Mark Mahoney

Many tattoo shops have a very cliquish and standoffish approach, but Shamrock Social Club is a fitting name because everyone here is very inviting and welcoming. So my question is, when you started Shamrock Social Club was that part of the plan or did that just happen with the people you hired?We're not here to engrandize ourselves. We're here to make people feel good about themselves and about their tattoos. Besides, I think you should be nice to the people who are trying to give you money. It's just good sense. The big difference between me and a lot of other tattooists is the simple fact that I like people. Other tattoo artists look at their pieces as their own creation but I tend to look at each piece as a joint effort between me and the client. You see it's whatever you want that is paramount to me. You know I'm here to make you happy, so I try to have that attitude instilled with all the guys. Besides, that is just a part of my philosophy because I can remember when I was just a "green kid" who was hungry for knowledge and I'll never forget going into shops to ask questions and getting the door slammed in my face.

As far as other tattoo artists out there, who do you respect?I would have to say that Jack Rudy and Sapo are on top of my list. Sapo to me is one of the unsung guys in the game. He's actually OG Chuco's (RIP) half-brother and he is one of the first guys who gave me some game on single needle tattoos. He also showed me how to draw women's hair.

How do you feel about the art of black and gray tattoo?It's a beautiful thing and this is a real movement. I would like to think of black and gray tattoos and their artists as going down in history, maybe as an impressionist era or something equally significant in its own right.

Are there any tattoos that you won't do?I guess the only one I really won't do is the 666. I try to do sh*t to improve peoples' lives and I don't see how that tattoo in particular will help anyone. But that's just my take on it.

Do you remember what it was like the first time you stuck a needle into someone's flesh knowing that you were going to give them something permanent?I remember my first time vividly, and to be honest I never thought about it as permanent nor was I afraid or nervous. I was just so sure that tattooing was what I was supposed to be doing and I was excited to have the opportunity to do it.

What advice would you give anyone who feels compelled to be a tattoo artist and wants to pursue it as a career?Don't go into this business thinking that you're going to be rich and famous. If it happens that's great, but you should be doing it because you have a passion for it. I'll tell you what, I have a teenage daughter who's interested in doing it and it's a really tough way to make a living. Here I am world-famous, and 35 years later it's not that much more profitable per night than when I was working in the motorcycle shop clubhouse in 1977. I would also have to say that you have to learn from others. Find a shop you feel comfortable with and go in there--spend money, get tattooed, hang out, and make a nuisance of yourself and then see what you can do.