The Tattoo Wars: Miami Ink Vs. La Ink

Kat von D and Ami James never really saw eye to eye in that inking reality TV series Miami Ink. So, it was hardly surprising to audiences when Kat packed up her bags, left Ami’s shop, and moved back to Los Angeles. It was not surprising either when Kat was offered to have her own spinoff of this reality TV show when she opened her own tattoo shop on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. That reality TV spinoff is none other than LA Ink.

Similarities between the Two Reality TV Shows

Is LA Ink just a carbon copy of Miami Ink? Do they have the same kind of business going on, just in different locations? LA Ink, being a spinoff of Miami Ink, does have similarities with its parent reality TV program in that it aims to demystify the idea of getting a tattoo and disproving whatever myths and misconceptions the public may have over tattoos. Just like with Miami Ink, viewers of LA Ink get to see Kat and her crew in action, taking in clients, discussing with them the tattoo designs they want and offering suggestions whenever improvements to the original design are needed, and then getting the actual tattoos done on their clients.

Where the Similarities End

But format is where the similarity ends. Many fans of both reality TV shows were quick to note that LA Ink has more to it than what Miami Ink had. For one, the location of Kat’s shop is close to Hollywood, and so it attracts more recognizable celebrity clientele. Of course Miami Ink had its own celebrity clients, but the LA Ink crew’s clients had more star power, simply because they come from Hollywood. Notable guest appearances in LA Ink included Tom Green, Ja Rule, Eve and Jared Leto.

Another notable difference between Miami Ink and LA Ink is Kat von D’s unique touch in tattooing. Perhaps now that Kat no longer had to deal with Ami’s constant scrutiny back when she was still with Miami Ink, she was able to shine on her own. It became more and more obvious to fans of both reality TV shows that the tattoo designs Kat and her crew worked on were more stellar in quality and aesthetics than those made by Ami and his group.

It has been proven that LA Ink is a lot better than Miami Ink anyway. The ratings of LA Ink on its first season premier were the highest that the TLC channel got in all its history for a reality TV series. Also, on December of 2007, LA Ink was pitted against Miami Ink and the other spinoff London Ink as to which show is popular, has the best employees and has the best artwork. Which emerged as the winner? It was none other than LA Ink.

Kat von D made an absolutely right decision to leave the guys at Miami Ink. LA Ink is really a stellar deal.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/the-tattoo-wars-miami-ink-vs-la-ink-363982.html

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Myths Associated With Lower Back Tattoos

One of the most popular places on the body for women to get tattoos is the lower back. This is also one of the most controversial places on the body for people of either gender to get tattooed. That's because there are a lot of myths associated with lower back tattoos, myths that persist to this day despite the fact that tattoos of all kinds have gotten more mainstream and are seen across a diverse body of people. In order to dispel those myths, it's important to take a look at what they are and why they simply are not true.

The biggest myth associated with lower back tattoos is that the women who get them are promiscuous. As soon as you say it out loud, you realize how ridiculous this sounds. Women get tattoos (including lower back tattoos) for a whole variety of different reasons and most of them don't have anything to do with signaling their sexuality to others. However, there became a widespread acceptance of the myth that women who wear tattoos on their lower backs are putting a target on themselves that draws men's eyes to their bodies with the intention of sexual suggestion. Of all of the myths about lower back tattoos that are out there, this is the one that is most dangerous.

Women are not the only targets of lower back tattoo myths, though. In fact, coming a close second to the myth about promiscuity is the myth that lower back tattoos should only be on women and not on men. Many men who have taken an interest in getting a tattoo on the small of their back have opted not to get this type of tattoo because of the ridicule that they faced from people who found out about their plans. Men who do opt to get these kinds of tattoos often face assumptions about their sexuality, which also are not true.

Finally, there is a persistent belief that there are only certain types of tattoos that should be obtained on the lower back. Because of the other myths, it is believed that these tattoos should be flirty, girly and sexy. A woman who liked sun tattoos might be pressured to look at sun tattoos that were suggestive such as a female-looking sun with long eyelashes and a winking smile. Alternatively, she might be encouraged to avoid sun tattoos and get something like a heart or a butterfly instead.

All of the myths that surround lower back tattoos are based on the idea that the only people who should get them are women and the only reason that they should get them is to indicate to society's men that she is sexually available. Considering that tattoos are permanent and availability is transitory, this is clearly an absurd foundation for a myth. And yet lower back tattoos continue to be viewed in this way by a large percentage of people who are out there hitting the bars and scoping out the tattoos on the other patrons.

When getting a tattoo, you should think about two things: the design that you want and the message that you're sending to the world. If you're in love with lower back tattoos and sun tattoos and you're committed to the idea of getting one even though you're a man, you should feel confident in your choice and get inked. However, you'll have to be aware that there are myths out there which are going to follow you around whether you like it or not. People will make assumptions about you based on the choices that you make with your tattoos. If you've got the self-esteem and confidence to pull it off, then this won't be a problem. But if you're someone who is sensitive to peer pressure then you might want to re-think the location or design of your tattoo.

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