The down low So, December has finally come and the holidays are upon us. We’ve tried to stay away from the typical December magazine layout where every picture is framed in tinsel and there’s a fat dude in red pajamas peeking out behind headings. We did include a few Christmas-ish pics in our gig guide, but I think you’ll like these ones. With the Kirstenbosch Concerts, Cape Town Bike Festival and the other gigs taking place at your local pub, I’m sure you’re not going to struggle to find something to do over the festive season. This is the part where I tell you not to drive drunk, not take drinks from strangers and not have sex with randoms, but let’s face it - it really is the season to be jolly and people want to have fun and relax after a hard and fast year of studies and work. So, I’m going to say rather sleep over than drive home at 05:00, don’t take drinks from strangers with an eye patch or more than two teeth missing and make sure you remember to take all your clothes with when you sneak out of their house the next morning. This month Niva rockers My Flawless Ending go on their first cross-country tour, so tell your Jo’burg cousins to keep an eye out and support our Cape Town boys when they’re there. Also, if you’re heading to Plett rage, go say hi to My Friend’s Bread and The Mysticcs or support Joint State on their Garden Route tour. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and see you all at Rock The River! Ciska
Contact us on gigguide@nivarecords.com for any suggestions or enquiries and join the Niva Rock&Roll Gig Guide group on Facebook. The NRRGG is available online at www.nivarecords.com.
One day they’ll have a techno band, but until then, all Lonehill Estate wants to do is make you Daans! These four Gauteng guys have only one goal: get as many people dancing and singing and smiling as they possibly can. And, if you ask me, they’re doing a hell of a job so far. I got to check out Lonehill Estate for the first time at Tiger Tiger in Claremont on the 25th of November and I’m happy to say that they are just as good live as they are on the radio. Though the club was on the quiet side, it was Synergy weekend after all, by the middle of their set Lonehill Estate had filled up the dance floor and everyone was singing along word for word. They started out with their latest single Daans! and followed with some covers and old favourites. The set list included Blink 182, Black Eyed Peas and Outkast. Techno Band ended off the night and left everyone in the mood for a party.
their friends and not be embarrassed about. These guys are all about having a good time while making some new friends and having a few drinks. In my opinion, this is EXACTLY what I’ll be needing over December holiday. What can we expect from Lonehill Estate in the future? Well, in the next few months they’ll be releasing another dance floor track as well as a ballad and later in 2012 we can look forward to their third album. Yes, that’s right - third. When I asked the band what happened to the first two albums, they start off with “Oh, well, uhm…”, smile awkwardly and then silence follows. So, until the new album comes, keep a lookout for them at a venue near you. And the golden words that they left me with as I headed home? “None of us are gay by the way.”
I met the band backstage for a quick chat, and was very surprised at what I found there. What does backstage at a Lonehill Estate show look like, you ask? Well, it’s not exactly the drunken sex-orgy that that many of these places are. What I found was plates and plates of jelly tots, jelly babies, Diet Coke, Red Bull and an Asian girl who seemed to be having a small seizure repeatedly saying “I love you guys. I love your band. Oh my God. I love you guys. I loved your show. I love your band.” Their music videos have them singing in a fruit market, in a township and wearing star wars outfits, but what are these guys really like? Well, it sounds cliché, but the best word to describe these guys is...nice. Really, really nice. Talking to Lonehill Estate is like talking to the neighbour who’s lived next door to you for the past ten years. The guys have no problem poking fun at themselves and each other and it is clear that the type of music they make is a true reflection of the people they are. The foursome do not pretend that they are here to revolutionise the music industry, they really just want to make fun music that they can listen to with
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Jax Panik has been responsible for some of our favourite hits this year and even though some of the songs are months old, we still turn up the volume every time we hear them play on the radio. What started out as a side project has become one of the biggest musical acts of the year. Their music videos, just like their music, is full of fun and randomness and shows that this is one guy who does not take himself - or us - too seriously. Jax Panik was the first act to play at this year’s Old Mutual Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, held every Sunday afternoon from November to April each year. They were on the bill with Locnville (who I personally c an’t stand) and we sort of expected to just chill, talk kak and eat all our picnic food while they opened for Jax Panik. Much to our surprise Jax Panik was the first band up. Whether this means that they were the opening act for Locnville or that someone finally decided to put the good acts on first, I don’t know. I like to think that someone at Kirstenbosch decided to not make the fans sit through a bunch of crap before enjoying the good music. Thank you for that stranger, thank you very much.
Having never seen them play live before, I was disappointed that they did not have a live band. That lasted for about 15 seconds, After that I was singing along at the top of my lungs and throwing chips at people blocking my view of the stage. About half way into the first song the everyone in the audience under the age of 17 ran to the front of the stage, jumping, hopping, singing, scream ing and generally acting like they were at a Justin Bieber show. Song after song Jax Panik kept the crowd singing, moving and laughing. Although at one point I did think that there was a bit too much crotchgrabbing for a family show. But hey, kids these days probably see a lot more than that on the Disney Channel, so who am I to complain? Despite the rain, their were smiles all around and when they announced that they were about to play their last song, there were more than just a few moans. Jax Panik left us wanting more, though that feeling quickly ended when we heard the first notes of Locnville taking the stage. Luckily for me by then we were well on our way to the car. Have a look on the next page for a quick interview with Jax Panik.
Q: So, we see the mask and we hear the songs, but who exactly is Jax Panik? A: Jax Panik is a producer that collaborates with a host of artists and performers. Q: We love how much you interact with your fans on social networks and your website. What keeps you logging in and sharing with them day after day, when so many other artist only post a status or a picture once a week, thinking that’s enough to keep their fans happy? A: Social media has been extremely important as it was the only way to get our music heard before we started playing live. We have a very loyal following that make us want to engage with them. It’s really cool being able to hang out with people that appreciate what you’re doing. It sometimes quite tough when you’re busy both on the road and in studio but we try our best to remain active on Facebook, Twitter and jaxpanik.com! Q: Anyone who sees the mask is sure to remember it for a long time. Where did the inspiration for the design come from? A: Whilst brainstorming logo ideas and album art for I AM JAX PANIK we stumbled upon the mask design. It wasn’t intended to be a mask at first but it was begging to become one. Q: Your music videos, especially for Get Up, are some of the most entertaining ones we’ve seen lately. How does Jax Panik go about creating a music video? A: We make use of pills. Hah! We just try and have fun with our videos. And obviously try and make it look as cool as possible J Q: We went to see your show at Kirstenbosch on the 20 th of November and it seemed like a scene out of a movie when all those girls ran to the front and started screaming at you (in a good way!). Do you still get nervous performing in front of large crowds? A: Sometimes you play to 5000 people and feel perfectly at home and other times you play to 100 and feel like a nervous wreck. It’s a chemical thing, you either feel it or you don’t. I don’t believe there’s a formula to it but we always do our best! Q: What do you say to people who criticise Jax Panik for not having a full band onstage? A: Jax Panik isn’t a band. Hating on Jax Panik for not being a band is like hating on your dog for not being a cat. Q; How come we only see Jax Panik perform every few months? What happens in between shows? A: We play almost every weekend! Stay up to date on http://www.jaxpanik.com/shows : Q: What music does Jax Panik listen to when he’s not busy making girls roar? A: The range of music I listen to is really diverse but I've been listening to allot of dance music lately. Knife Party, Wolfgang Gartner, Porter Robinson, Madeon, David Guetta and Calvin Harris have been on high rotation. Q: What does 2012 have in store for us? A: I have plans to start playing abroad and I wish to collaborate with accomplished artists on upcoming releases. Apart from that, my shows are speedily progressing into an experience that's equally at home in the club as it has proven to be at festivals across South Africa. With all of that in the pipeline I can only hope that I'll be playing high profile gigs in the hottest clubs and arenas around the world as well as producing killer radio hits! Q: Where can we see you perform in December and January? A: 03 DEC Salt Rock Matric Rage, Durban 08 DEC Martic Rage, Plett 09 DEC Cool Runnings Fourways, Johannesburg 15 DEC Fez, Cape Town 31 DEC Tukes FM, Pretoria 01 JAN Rezonance, Cape Town Q: And finally, the most important question of all. Can you really play me like a guitar? A: Baby, I can make you roar.
We spent 10 minutes with Francois van Coke from Van Coke Kartel a few days before their album launch show at Kirstenbosch Gardens on the 27th of November. Q: What can fans expect from your upcoming album launch tour? A: It is a rock album about the end of the world and about South Africans living in fear. Our world, country, partying, government and all the corruption. On the music side there is a lot of variety. You will find our balls to the wall rock on the album, but with the addition of Jedd & Jason our options are so much bigger. They are great musicians. We also tried to write songs with different tempos and in different keys, so we wrote a great ballad. I believe it is going to be a great listening experience. Q: What do you want fans to know about/take away from the new album “Wie’s Bang”? A: This is our take on what is happening in the world around us at the moment. It is honest album. Q: We’d expect a band like VCK to launch their album at the usual places – Mercury, Assembly, Klein Libertas. Why Kirstenbosch? A: We love Kirstenbosch and it is always a great venue and show to play. The opportunity for a show arose and it was around the time we wanted to launch the album. Now all our friends are joining us on the bill and it is gonna be great. Q: How did you decide that this is the right time to record and release a new album? Do you just go ahead as soon as you have enough material or do you wait for a specific time? A: This album has been in the works for more than a year. We basically wrote every day we weren't on the road. There was more than enough material to sift through and we took the best tracks to the studio and the best went on the album. Q: The last thing someone watching your show for the first time expects is a cover, let alone something like Maniac. What made you decide to include that one in your set list? A: While we were recording our previous album I fell in love with the song and we eventually covered it on the album. Now we play it live, it is just a fun tune. Q: How has the SA music industry changed since you released your first album? Has it changed at all? A: It has changed drastically since we released our first Fokofpolisiekar album in 2003. No one was touring at the time, there was no MK and there was no big bands at the time. Now there is great bands in every genre you can imagine and people actually make music full time. Q: This month our magazine also features Lonehill Estate and Jax Panik. What SA bands are you listening to at the moment? A: Shadowclub Q: You guys have played overseas quite a bit, how do our venues and stages compare to those of other countries? A: Ja, it depends on were you are. If you play a dodgy bar in Amsterdam you still play a dodgy bar. They would probably just have slightly better equipment than in SA. But, there are also some great venues and stages. Some of our venues are on par with venues internationally. Q: What are the VCK guys doing over Christmas and New Year’s this year? A: The WIE'S BANG launch tour is heading up the east coast of South Africa, we will be playing shows all over the place. On the 31st we will play a show in Stilbaai in the morning and we will hit Pretoria that night. Q: Finally where can we get your new album and info on upcoming shows? A: Everything is on our website: www.vancokekartel.co.za
SYNERGY LIVE, BOCHENDAL ESTATE, FR
RANSCHHOEK, 25—27 NOVEMBER 2011 Photos courtesy of Greg Evans, Kyle Mijlof and www.electrotrans.co.za
Reviews “Long Street posers and shakers” What a night, what a night, the “sneaky” Tuesday evening jams at Down South on Long Street is an evening everyone should experience. Manager Mike de Jager explains to me that for a time every dive on Long Street was just playing international tunes but the jams at Down South entice locals and tourist alike to a plethora of local artists to expose their talent and the venue. So expect a chilled setting offering up some great food and drinks, well as long as your boss doesn’t mind the hangover look at work the next morning… The entertainment was hosted by the very talented duo that is Riaan Smit and Ara of the Crimson House band. These guys are masters at setting the mood with their charisma and dedication to their craft always ensuring their audience is left wanting more. Along to support this duo was the multi – talented busker come guitar percussionist Tombstone Pete. This one man band is a gem in sea of Long Street posers and shakers as his style is the original and best. He played to a crowd who just about ate up the upbeat guitar thumping and headbanging, it really just gets the blood flowing. The night for me ended with the Crimson House duo bringing the vibe up with some classic covers and bike engine sounding vocals to revive even the most inebriated patron. Great night out, chilled, pleasant and highly recommended. Slippery Lyzard
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WE NEED YOUR ALCOHOL TOLERANCE! Crimson House blues band at the Viper Lounge. Friday 11/11/11 This title definitely rings true but it seemed more so for the band than their adoring fans as the chased every track with a round of tequila shots, this is the Crimson House blues band jamming their hearts out at the Viper Lounge in Table View. The badly lit yet neat venue that is the Viper lounge is every biker’s wet dream come true. You got bikes, a bar and an interesting collection of Americana inspired paraphernalia that makes you question whether you just walked into a bar somewhere in the southern states. I was wined and dined by the intimate 3 -5 hours set these boys had on offer; it was a quaint yet very stylistic blues rock performance that had the crowd of about 20 or so grinding in ways I would rather not mention. I was impressed by their dexterity to impress and to have a good time; I mean isn’t that what going out to a gig at your local focsle is all about? Frontman Redye Riaan tore up the slow brewed audience with his hand gestures and guttaral chopper of a voice; inspiring the overly zealous bar owner to start igniting his bike in the venue, queue loud engine noises and CO emissions. They rocked it with some standard blues covers then shredded into their killer set of original and soon to be classic tracks, songs to watch out for being the aptly named Halfway Whorehouse and Sweet Ride. At a stage Redeye even got on the floor and took the time to fraternise with the fans mid-set while the band kept holding that groove. I really enjoyed with admiration the tightness and sazz the band kept producing in this seemingly contented affair. Another great Friday night out listening to that good ole timing music. Slippery Lyzard
Cape Town +27 83 774 3404 tyronmunnik@pointblanc.co.za
Bertie’s Mooring Harbour Island, Gordon’s Bay Tel: 021 856 3343
Aandklas 43A Bird Street, Stellenbosch Tel: 021 883 3545
2nd - Gian Groen Band 4th - Valiant Swart 9th - Akkedis Band 11th - Gerald Clark and Band 17th - Black Cat Bone 18th - Boulevard Blues Band 23rd - Southern Gypsey Queen 31st - New Year’s Eve party with Joint State
9th - Zinkplaat 13th - Saving Silence, Oros in ‘n Lang Glas and Frank Freeman 21st - Out of Nowhere 23rd - Aandklas Christmas Party 29th - JackValve album launch 31st - Aandklas New Year’s Eve Party
Kirstenbosch Gardens Rhodes Drive, Newlands Tel: 021 79 8783 4th - Lira 11th - Parlatones 26th - Zebra & Giraffe 31st - New Year’s Eve concert feat Prime Cirlce and Elvis Blue
Nameless Pub Main Road, Somerset West Tel: 3rd - Pik Swart 9th - Alphaculture and Super Sneak Attack 10th - Mason, All My Circus Friends and Someday Rush 17th - Out of Nowhere and guests 20th - CrashCarBurn and When Karma Sleeps 23rd - Obsessie Met Als and guests 30th - CANDI
The Waiting Room Address Tel 5th - Dave Ferguson 6th - The Sofa Sessions feat Andy Lund, Ian Watson and Simon Pienaar 7th - Kool Out Lounge 12th - Laurie Levine 13th - Pretty Blue Guns acoustic 19th - Taleswapper 20th - The Collective Imagination and N8N (Belgium) 27th - The Windy City
Cape Town Bike Festival Cape Town Stadium 16th - Seether, Zebra & Giraffe, The Plastics and Peachy Keen 17th - The Graeme Watkins Project, Taxi Violence, Haddaway and Mark Haze 18th - Goodluck, Tidal Waves, Locnville and MacStanley
Every Thursday - The Rites Every Sunday - The Akelian Circus
&Union 110 Bree Street, Cape Town Tel: 021422 2770 21st - Crimson House Blues
DECEMBER 2011 www.nivarecords.com
The Jolly Roger 155 Main Road, Plumstead Tel: 021 797 7272
The Melting Pot 15 Church Street, Muizenberg Tel 021 788 9791
2nd - Make Overs 3rd - Stereo Zen and machineri 12th - Crimson House Blues
2nd - Charlene King and Redeye Riaan 3rd - Tombstone Pete 9th - Mr Sakatumi 10th - Block Noise 16th - Jitsvinger 17th - CY.STR 23rd - Eric Ompa and Koitrans 24th - Southpaw 27th - Natalie Chapman and Peter Hoven 31st - Jampara
Mercury Live and Lounge 43 De Villiers Street, Zonnebloem, Tel: 021 465 2106 1st - Classics feat DJs Azhul and Falko 2nd - Wolftown and Them Tornadoes 3rd - Homegrown D&B 5th - Sixgun Sessions feat Make Overs and Almost Alice 7th - Arts Not Dead film screening 8th - Bluestown Sessions 9th - Stereo Zen, Lyderkane and Witness to Wolves 10th - Rubadub 12th - Sixgun Sessions feat Acousticliquid, All My Circus Friends and The Mysticcs. 14th - Hip Hop party 15th - Bicycle Thief 17th - Shadowclub and 3rd World Spectator 19th - Sixgun Sessions feat When Karma Sleeps, Saintfearless and The Man Motels 21st - CrashCarBurn and When Karma Sleeps 22nd - Bluestown Sessions 23rd - Back to the 80s party 26th - Sixgun Sessions feat My Friend’s Bread 29th - Boo! and Longtime Citizens
Obz Café 155 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Tel: 021 448 5555 9th - The Rudimentals
Every Thursday - Reggae Night feat Revelation Time
Other 7th - Make Overs at Purple Turtle 10th - Prime Cirlce at the Paul Cluver Amphitheatre, Paarl 10th - Mark Haze, Jesse Jordan, Bjorn Faree and Pebbleman Project at Hillcrest Estate, Durbanville 10th - Cape Town Folk and Acoustic Music Festival feat Ard Matthews, Farryl Purkiss, Rory Eliot, Janie Bay and John Ellis at the CTICC 11th - Heather Waters at Anchor Tavern, Gordon’s Bay 14th - Make Overs, The Wild Eyes and The Great Apes at Gandalf’s 15th - Dan Patlansky at Backsberg Wine Estate 18th - Plush at Backsberg Wine Estate
We asked Rock the River organizer Moon Abrahams a few questions about the festival. Where and when did your journey of outdoor festivals begin? It started with a river trip in 2009 with a couple of our mates. We decided to have a New Year’s party for 100 of our close friends…..that kind of spilled over to a couple of thousand! The concept behind RTR SA focusing on promoting smaller local artists as well as a few larger acts at each festival seems to have been working over the past few years attracting thousands of people for what also seems to be a festival that is constantly improving and attempting to top on previous events. So I must ask, what is in store for the RTR SA brand in 2012 and beyond? We just do what is needed to make people happy and give them the best possible music festival experience. 2012 will be awesome for the Rock the River SA team…lots of surprises. Watch this space ;) Will we be seeing an international act at RTR SA in the near future? Do you have any in mind? GUNS & ROSES! RTR SA has changed its location for this years event, where is the venue? Why did you decide to move the venue? It’s very simple; we changed the location to accommodate as many people as possible but still retaining that amazing outdoor vibe and the awesome Rock the River SA experience. We are proud to say that the new Rock the River SA venue is at the Cape Town Ostrich Ranch on the N7 only 20 minutes from Cape Town’s CBD! Sound quality has been pretty average at the previous RTR events, and I am sure people are wondering if they will see an improvement at this year’s event. I can assure everyone we have made extra effort to improve on the sound, so we are going to deliver! Has RTR SA got a new strategy in mind regarding sound for this year’s festival? Spend more money! Tickets seemed to be going pretty fast if I use Facebook as a reference, tell me what sort of attendance you are expecting at RTR this New Year’s. We are hoping for 5000…but might have more. So go get your tickets. Are there tickets still available? How much? From? Tickets are available at the gate, Computicket, www.rocktheriversa.co.za, from participating bands, all Paul Bothner music store locations, Wildfire tattoo & piercings shops and Gandalf’s. Three-day weekend pass: R300 presale R350 at the gate One-day Sunday pass: R150 (at gate only) Rock the River SA: Twitter: @rocktheriversa, Website: www.rocktheriversa.co.za Facebook: www.facebook.com/RTRSA and the event page: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=284358398259139
Van Coke Kartel photographed by 187
Peachy Keen photographed by Clare Foxcroft Williams
Photographer: Ben Herman, Make up by Nicole Grant, model Coco from 3D Model Agency
Although “tattoo artist” is not the first thing any parent wants to hear when they ask their child what they want to be when they grow up, there are quite a few tattoo artists around the country making a living from permanently marking other people’s skin. However, do not for one moment think that becoming a professional tattoo artist is a good career choice for people who don’t like working hard. This is not a way to make easy money. The worst thing that aspiring artists can do is to purchase a DIY tattoo kit that they saw advertised in a magazine and start tattooing their friends. You’ll end up with inferior quality equipment and a long list of people with bad tattoos who will hate you forever. Also, a professional tattoo artist will be very reluctant to let you apprentice at his show as he knows that he is going to have a tough time getting you back on the right track. One option is to pay an artist or shop to teach you how to tattoo, but consider that no tattoo artist will teach you everything he knows for a few hundred bucks. So, how do you get set on your way to becoming a professional tattoo artist then? The first thing you’re going to need is talent. If your drawing of an elephant looks more like a rhinoceros, then keep dreaming and move on my friend, this is not for you. It’s true that many designs are traced or stencilled, but you will need to be able to draw to create good designs. Then of course you’ll need a portfolio. A collection of drawings will prove that you have the creative skills required to be part of this industry. Having this, you will have to find a mentor, someone to teach you the trade. Not all tattoo artists are willing to take in apprentices due to bad past experiences or the fact that they do not want to share all their knowledge. If you do find a good one who is willing to teach you, be eternally grateful. During training you’ll need good quality equipment and consumables. You will also learn about cleanliness, what should and shouldn’t be re-used and how to sterilise your equipment. One thing that all successful tattoo artists have in common, apart from talent, is a clean workspace and equipment. Personality-wise you have to be driven and dedicated. Becoming a tattoo artist to make lots of money is a waste of time. You have to do it because you love the art and want to create beautiful body art. At the beginning, especially, you’ll have to be willing to work for free before someone will let you take up a spot in their shop. Tattoo artists generally take a cut from the tattoos that they do, so the more customers you have, the higher your pay that month. Almost everyone in the Helderberg and Stellenbosch area with a tattoo knows about Marius Bosman, whether they were inked by him or not. After leaving Dragons
Tattoos in Somerset West, Marius moved to Steel Chameleon in Stellenbosch and the Cape Gate branch. In October 2009 he closed the Stellenbosch branch and is now the Head Artist at Steel Chameleon Tattoos & Piercing at the Cape Gate Lifestyle Centre. Marius has been a professional tattooist and piercer for 18 years. Marius is the only South African tattoo artist to have received a bursary from the Association of Professional Piercers in the USA and completed a certificate in Advanced Piercing in Amsterdam, covering piercings,
implants and suspensions. Q: So I’ve now decided that I want to become a tattoo artist, what do I do? Should I study some design or art degree or should I just pitch up at a tattoo shop with a few drawings? A: Best is too study an art degree, then build up a portfolio of your designs / drawings before even approaching a tattoo studio. There are so many people out there that think its cool to just become a tattoo artist after watching a few tv shows about it, that the market is getting saturated by bad, do-it-yourself, at home wannabe’s. If you want to be a success in this industry – study! Like any other profession. Q: How long does an apprenticeship last before you can be a resident artist at a tattoo parlour? Should you apprentice at just one studio or travel around a bit? A: Apprenticeships vary from studio to studio but should average 3 – 5 years and you should definitely stay at one studio only – like any job, job hopping especially during
an apprenticeship, is not a good idea. You have to learn everything from cleaning the studio, dealing with customers, doing paperwork to understanding how to approach a tattoo, colours, skin texture, blood borne diseases etc. Q: Is there such thing as a qualified or registered tattoo artist in South Africa? How do I know that the guy inking me knows what he’s doing? A: Yes, there are fantastic artists in South Africa – they will all have long established shops and their reputation will be well known. But ask questions and research! Never go to an artist who tattoos from his house or, even worse, offers to come tattoo you at your house! How will you ever know where to find him again when he messes your tattoo up. Never go to those ladies who have done a course in permanent make-up either – its not the same thing and they end up scaring you badly. Always check that the studio has a certified medical waste disposal system and the correct sterilisation equipment. Q: How much can a start-up artist expect to earn in a month, working 8 hours a day, 5 days a week? A: Hard to say because most studios pay commission based on experience. Some studios will start an artist off from as low as 10% up to 60% for experienced artists. Running your own shop though is a very different thing – your overheads are very high and to get a studio in a decent area you will obviously have to pay high rent. Ultimately, you earnings are only as high as the amount of customers walking through your doors each day. And in winter time, there are many days you can go without tattooing a single client. There is no such thing as a “salary” in the tattoo industry. Q: How do residencies work? Is it like a normal employment contract? It seems that in smaller tattoo shops artists come and go quite easily. Is tattooing a job with stability and security or do you continuously have to be on the lookout for new contracts/shops? A: To be a resident artist you need to be very good and an asset to the studio. Studio owners will think twice before employing a resident artist that’s been “shophopping”. As important as it is for the artist to feel secure in a studio, it is as important for a shop owner to feel secure about his artists. Artists who aren’t reliable or trustworthy tend to hop shops the minute the quiet season hits, thinking it will be better somewhere else… Unfortunately the tattoo industry is a very close-knit industry and word about these “shop-hoppers” spreads quickly and eventually no one will be interested in employing them. Q: How did you come by the bursary from the APP? Are there many such bursaries available to South African tattoo artist? A: I applied, I had a good reputation, a stable studio and had already been piercing for many years so I was a viable candidate for a more intense body modification course. No, these bursaries are not easily attainable and only comes along once in a blue moon should the right person be selected. Q: What would you say if your children said they wanted to become tattoo artists?
A: I wouldn’t encourage it at all. It’s a hard industry to make a living in, its full of unnecessary politics and all the kinds of things you want to keep your kids away from. Youngsters watch programs like LA Ink and Miami Ink and think it’s a rock star life – unfortunately these are TV shows only and are highly dramatized and glorified to make them appeal to the masses. Yes, it’s a job where, when you are a good artist, your clients always leave happy but to keep them that happy isn’t always that easy. You can NEVER have an off day at work! A tattoo is for life and the last thing you want is to mess someone’s tattoo up, scar them or give them some infection. Q: If I’m coming to your shop to get a tattoo, what should I bring/know/do? A: Make sure you’re clean – hygiene is number one! A lot of customers get tattoos on their feet, for example, but don’t wash the area before they come – imagine what that’s like for the artist who has to bend over and be really close to that area for a fair amount of time… Wear clothes that are practical to get tattooed in, i.e. if you are getting a tattoo on your hip, don’t wear a long dress with no underwear on, wear loose fitting pants rather. Eat something substantial and bring a soft drink and maybe even a chocolate with in case your sugar levels drop a bit. Don’t bring your whole entourage or children with. Too many people will just crowd the studio and distract the artist and kids aren’t allowed in most studios for a number of reasons. Visit Marius at Steel Chameleon Tattoos & Piercing in the Cape Gate Lifestyle Centre to have a look at some of his work, get a quote or finally get that 17th piercing. Also check him out on Facebook at http:// www.facebook.com/steel.chameleon or email him at info@steelchameleon.com
MONTHLY POLL
Chilling at Nameless Pub in Somerset West
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Dean from The Mysticcs supports Movember
The Man Motels giving each other some man-love