Do you like Comics? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Sci-Fi? Tattoos? Reality TV? Well hell, this is the interview for you. Today I am sharing an interview I did with Chris 51 from Area 51 Tattoo, but you may know him from his kick ass show, “Epic Ink” on A&E. As you know, I am a huge fan of all things NERDy and I like to share my love with you the people. I absolutely love the show, “Epic Ink” and I wanted to help spread the word so that we can see the amazing adventures of the Area 51 crew in Season #2. So, before I ramble anymore, let’s get this party started shall we?
SWN: Who are you and where are you from?
I am Chris 51; Alpha Geek, artist, writer, TV personality, and cookie consumer. From Ft. Myers, (hot-ass) FL, grew up in Springfield (true home of The Simpsons) OR
SWN: Where did the idea of Area 51 Tattoo come from?
I wanted something different, unique and pop-culture related when I first opened my shop. Something that seperated me from the standard rose-panther-lotus-black-something names that were overused and unimaginative.
SWN: When did you realize you wanted to tattoo for a living?
The first line of the first tattoo I did, I realized that this is what I was born to do. But I have always looked at it as a business too, probably because I grew up in a household that always had their own businesses, so I always took the promotional and marketing side of the art just art of tattooing itself.
SWN: I absolutely love the show Epic Ink, did they approach you or did you pitch the show?
Both…kind of. A production company got a hold of me because of my name and reputation, and also the fact that I marketed my businesses in the industry with a heavy sci-fi influence. They approached me with an idea for a sci-fi tattoo show. Meanwhile I was near completion of a proposal on a pop-culture related drama-free tattoo show. So, as you can see, our ideas meshed well together and it took off from there. Needless to say, I was prepared when the call came because I was about to start making my own calls.
SWN: I notice a lot of great stuff in your shop. Do you or the crew bring in your own personal stuff or do you just by stuff for the shop?
Almost everything in the shop is my own personal collection that I had long before the show was realized. Bodwell, Jones and Wortham also brought some nice additions when they came on. Don’t tell them, but they aint getting them back hahaha.
SWN: What was your first “Nerdy” tattoo on yourself as well as the first one you gave to a client?
My first nerdy tattoo is allof them. Honestly, I don’t know of any I have that arent nerdy. Even the Seattle Seahawks ones I have are done in a nerdy way. I have the Mystery Machine on my chest, a Hanna Barbera leg sleeve, giant choc chip cookie on my ass, aliens everywhere…and I do mean everywhere, Star Wars and Star Trek all over, and even Blinky (the 3-eyed fish) from the Simpsons where no tattoo has dared to go before hahaha.
As far as giving geeky tattoos to clients, that is all I do anymore, and pretty much all I will do. It’s why I do what I do and what I live for. Cartoons, sci-fi, movies, toys, vintage games and characters; all that is what makes my nerd world spin round.
SWN: I know you are a trekkie, which version do you like the best? (Original, STTNG, Voyager, etc.)
My favorite of course is Next Gen, that changed the face of television sci-fi and was ground breaking and so intelligent, not to mention a cast of the most wonderful actors. But my heart is also soft for Voyager. I am friends with Garrett Wang (ensign Harry Kim) and of course have the world’s biggest crush on Jeri (7 of 9). I loved the concept of being lost, and every single world and every single alien species was fresh and new, but they still held to the Starfleet principles as much as they could. Damn, I get aroused just talking Star Trek…shit!
SWN: Down boy, down! Do you have any advice for up and coming tattoo artists?
YES! Get licensed before you do shit. Go through proper trainig cause you can really fuck people up for life, so dont be a selfish asshole. You know enough nowadays, and tattooing is prevelant enough, to find proper training easily, unlike years ago. If you do this, you have my respect, and I will gladly offer help and advice to anybody. if you take the easy road and cut corners you can suck my balls.
SWN: Straight to the point, I like that! What are your plans for Halloween?
We always throw a big party at Area 51, decorated to the tilt, like in our Friday the 13th Elvira episode. Most of the decor on that episode is stuff I already owned from my parties. I always throw it on a weekend and save actual Halloween night for taking the kids trick-or-treating. Nothing better than seeing my 4-yr old dress up as a stormtrooper last year!
SWN: How did you assemble such a great cast of artists?
They are my best friends in the world. They were long before the show and will be long after. I have literally traveled the world with this crew working conventions for years. They were the first and most logical choice when I was casting. There really was no other option than this crew, it was either them or nobody. The only way it would be successful was if the whole puzzle of talent and personalities was put together. I truly love them all, they are my family.
SWN: That is exactly how we are here at Somewhatnerdy, we are just a big NERD family. What was it like to have Elvira in the shop?
Crazy! We brought her in just to surprise her biggest fan, with not even a mention of getting a tattoo. We were just excited to have The Mistress of the Dark here. She hit it off with Heather Maranda and actually called her daughter to ask if it was cool if she got a tattoo. Her daughter said…ummm Yeah Mom, it’s actually really cool haha. The camera men and producers were freaking out when she actually sat in the chair. What a bonus right?
SWN: I know. When I interviewed her yesterday she mentioned that it was spur of the moment and some people were freaking out. Any other famous people come by to get some “Epic Ink”?
My great friend Butch Patrick (Eddie Munster) was actually on the Elvira 13th episiode too. They had to cut his part out because of clearance issues I think. We were both pretty bummed about that, the whole cast was. I owe him big time for coming. I also tattoo Dan Chandler, lead singer of Evans Blue. Bodwell tattoos Noah Hathaway (Atreyu from Neverending Story) and other nerd celebs can be seen from time to time.
SWN: Where can our readers see more of your work?
Chris51.com
Facebook @Chris 51 and Area 51 Tattoo
Instagram @ChrisFiftyOne
Twitter @Chris51Tattoo
