Interview with Ronak Patel: Transcript

0:00 Ronak Patel (RP): Before coming in here I've never tattooed before, getting used to the tattoo machine and that, that was a struggle of it's own. starting out wasn't very confident in my skills and my abilities, and you know just came with time and practice and tips from other artists around me, watching how other people did things and now I feel more confident.

Am I the best tattoo artist already? No.

I have a long road to go but have I improved since I began? Absolutely!

0:30 Guy Prandstatter (GP): Hello everybody and welcome to the tattoo trainer podcast my name is Guy Prandstatter and I am the tattoo trainer.

My guess on the show today is Ronak Patel from our Philadelphia location and Ronak is a really talented graphic artist who found himself working and managing a liquor store and he's gonna share with you how he went from working at that liquor store and managing that liquor store to be one of our premier tattoo artist in our PA location.

So let's get right in to the interview and could tell you his story.

1:01 Alright, Ronak, welcome to ART tattoo trainer podcast, man, thanks for being here I'm really really glad you're here. I was really looking forward to this today co'z you're just somebody who I've really admired, y'know watching your development watching you grow and become someone that we can all count on here. And did just become such a good tattoo artist and a staff member that I wanted to share your story with all our listeners.

RP -- awesome, man, thank you for having me.

GP -- yeah you're welcome.

RP -- appreciate it.

GP -- so we got a lot of people out there listening to our podcast subscribing daily to our podcast and in their mind what is this thing all about, they're not sure, they're uncertain they got doubt, y'know.

So, what we're doing is more or less bringing them, y'know people who had the same maybe had the same kind of thoughts and become a part of our culture and had success with it.

So, you're definitely one of them, man, so, tell us a little bit about your journey...what was your life like before you were a tattoo artist?

What did you do, what did it looked like?

RP -- So straight out of high school, my parents were not supportive of me becoming a tattoo artist at all. They wanted me to go to college, so I did the whole college thing I went and I got my degree in graphic design, I was working as a graphic designer for a while.

The money was good but I just wasn't happy.

So, I quit that, I found a job at a liquor store and I signed up for ART and...y'know it was just man I would do it all over again if I had to, y'know, it was absolutely worth it.

GP -- so you're working at a liquor store,

RP -- I was...

GP -- Tell us about that, man, you went from being a graphic designer that you went to college for like what school did you go to?

RP -- I went to the artist 2:43

GP -- is that like some inexpensive cheap school that you just do?

RP -- No, absolutely not.

GP -- so, I mean...were your parents supportive of paying for your college or did you pay for it, how did you get through it?

RP -- it was half and half, yeah...they helped me out, I paid for a lot of it, but the money wasn't worth it for me. I was stuck in a cubicle 9 to 5, and being an artist is just not my type of environment, y'know?

I wanted to be around like-minded people, sharing ideas, bouncing off of each other, learning from one another, not being in a box all day.

GP -- right, yeah man.

But that's just an interesting path, right; it is probably very much like so many people in say our country, that were sort of force-fed. This is the way do things, right?

You get out of high school, you apply to college, you get in a college, and perhaps you figure it out maybe a small percentage of people really know what they want to do and are pursuing what they really want to do from the beginning.

It sounds like you were just trying to figure it out along the way.

RP -- I mean, I've always known that I wanted to be a tattoo artist, it's just I am not sure how to go about doing that.

Where I'm from, there's a few small shops and...

GP -- where are you from?

RP -- Nutley, New Jersey.

GP -- right

RP -- and those shops are just, they'll be your friends, they'll be friendly as long as you want to get tattooed by them. But they won't really tell you how to go about becoming an artist or no tips anything like that, no sort of help.

GP -- what was that moment that that you really decided, man, y'know what; I don't wanna live in this cubicle anymore I wanna be a tattoo artist and you just like...what happened?

RP -- I was actually at work one day at the designer job and everyone was getting ready to go to lunch, and like...the whole time I was working there, I noticed that nobody would talk to each other, got to lunch, anything like that together.

Everything was just done on their own, and one day I just had enough of it. I was like I'm here surrounded by all these creative people but I feel alone.

So I was like...no, I don't want to do this anymore.

GP -- and then what did you do?

So what was like your path to get into the apprenticeship?

RP -- I've always seen the advertisement when I was in college like I used to see them on facebook. So that's actually how I recalled how to get in touch.

So I went on Facebook, I sent out a message, and within the next few days I would sign up for the workshop,y'know.

As soon as I signed up for the workshop, I quit my job and then I started working as the manager of the liquor store.

5:19 GP -- right.

And then, y'know, obviously you made a....did you made a dec...well I don't want to say...

You made a decision to join the apprenticeship, right, after the workshop?

RP -- right.

GP -- what was the reason you made that decision?

RP -- I was actually new, y'know. From you I got the vibe that listen; just because you were offering this doesn't mean that it's just gonna be handed to you. you gonna have to work your ass off and you're gonna have to earn it. And that just like really, that hit home for me.

So, that's what it was. I saw how real you were and how real the apprenticeship was.

GP -- so, was that your experience that it was challenging, hard, you had to work hard for it, it didn't come easy to you, what was your experience of it?

RP -- It was definitely hard, it was definitely challenging, and it helped me grow a lot not only as an artist but as a person.

From the art perspective of it, there were some things that came naturally for me because those mediums I've used my entire life, and then there were certain things like water color, for example, I was just stuck on it for a long time.

And it really took like a lot of patience to sit there and just work through it.

GP -- so you would say like that water coloring process was the biggest challenge you had in the program even....

RP -- well one of 'em, y'know...I've never used a tattoo machine before so when I got to that part of the program, that was a whole new challenge...

GP -- okay...

RP -- yeah y'know that wasn't easy, but it was worth it I will tell you that, and like I said before I would absolutely do it all over again if I had to.

GP -- right.

Did you have some fears going in to it?

RP -- I did, I wasn't really sure what to expect, I came in, kind of...shit what if I don't fit in? What if they don't accept me?

Stuff like that. But then, immediately, like everyone was very receptive, I would get tips from fellow apprentices, people that were doing these things I going through they've already been through them.

GP -- right.

RP -- Trying to help me further my progress, get along...move along a little quicker, sorry.

GP -- so you actually had other people who were in the apprenticeship with you who were just a little further ahead like helping you and support you to understand the place that you were at.

RP -- Right.

And some of those people, y'know, some are greatest friends like Paloma, for example, y'know I have a lot of love for her.

And she's very successful at doing what she's doing and I'm so happy that I had her there. Y'know?

GP -- Yeah, Paloma was on here last week, man, we had a great interview with her.

RP -- That's cool.

GP -- yeah.

Y'know, some of our listeners, man, they're really like they're stuck, man, like they can relate to you, they're stuck in whatever they're doing, they're looking for a path, they're looking for a path to become professional tattoo artist, right?

Y'know...you found that path.

So, where are you now like what's you life like now?

RP -- oh man! (laughs)

My life is great right now!

Dude, like first of all thank you for this, y'know. I would have never imagined man, I was born and raised in New Jersey, so I've been there my whole life.

And now I'm out in Philadelphia living in Center City, PA like life is good.

I'm an assistant manager in this shop out here in PA, and in four months, man, y'know.

I finished in 4 months ago and...

GP -- right.

People don't appreciate, y’know thats how fast something could occur for someone who really works hard and excels. And you're definitely that person, man.

You work really hard and you showed up everyday with great attitude, great energy, and just willing to do whatever it takes to successful so, that's why you were where you're at, man!

RP -- thank you, thank you

GP -- that's why you're there

RP -- thank you so much

GP -- yeah, no doubt.

So you're an assistant manager on PA location,

RP -- right

GP -- is that where you aspired to be, y'know?

RP -- I mean I had no idea! (laughs)

Y'know what I mean? Like,

GP -- you got more than what you bargained for?

(laughs)

RP -- where I aspired to be was hopefully one-day manager of one of the locations, ART.

But this was unexpected, y'know, and I'm so grateful for it, and like being so soon, y'know,

GP -- yeah man, opportunity opened up and you were a candidate for it by a lot of people.

A lot of people like looked at you as like "yeah, he's definitely somebody that is right for this".

Lot of people! It wasn't just me.

RP -- thank you, that's awesome.

GP -- yeah, you're welcome.

You know, so many times I see people, I'm hearing people like on the internet or somewhere talking that if you get your education in a tattoo school, you'll never gonna be accepted in to the existing tattoo culture. Right?

RP -- right.

GP -- and, it doesn't sound like that's your experience like you're having success inspite of any of that, right?

RP -- right, absolutely, man.

Y'know, there are some close-minded people out there and they're gonna give you shit, it is what it is. But the industry is growing and it's changing, and I don't know if you had to listen to someone, radio, or anything like that?

But they've been talking about it like it's gonna be a thing, it is a thing, we're here, y'know?

Like tattoo school, like it's not a 2-week Bull sh*t program, this is a real apprenticeship where you earn your way and it is what it is out there. I know that we're different and I'm proud of us!

We are who we are!

GP -- I couldn't have said it better myself, man.

So let's just go right in to a...y'know...you've made it sound ...I don't wanna say 'easy', right?

Like you've made it sound like you had a lot of success and that's great. I know you have, I've been personally involved in it.

But there had to be some real struggles in there for you, man. And 11:17 about water coloring or anything like that...I'm talking like personal life struggles that you had to overcome to get where you are, what you wanted.

Can you share with our listeners something like that?

RP -- right.

Well, as I said before, my parents weren't supportive of this at all.

And it tool a lot....

GP -- why?

RP -- well I'm Indian, obviously, I think nobody could see me...

GP -- nobody could see you, man. Radio, it is.

RP -- Well, I'm Indian...

GP -- he's definitely Indian I will atest to that.

RP -- (Laughs)

Y'know in our culture, not very accepted as of yet.

So, it was just kind of like we're gonna be looked down on, and the next within our community. And eventually like they saw how hard I was working and like how happy I was doing what I love.

GP -- right.

RP -- And it finally changed their mindset and towards the end of my apprenticeship, I actually...when I was doing my supervised tattoos, I actually got my mother to come in and I tattooed her.

GP -- NO WAY!

I didn't know that.

RP -- Yeah, it's really cool.

My dad is still kind of not very supportive of it, a little bit more that he was before, but it's kinda one of those things where he doesn't really wanted, he doesn't care to know about.

GP -- right.

RP -- He's happy that I'm happy, that's as far as he cares.

GP -- right.

12:33

GP -- that's not uncommon, man, y'know? Like, in some of those things take time to work themselves out, y'know.

RP -- right.

GP -- so you would say that the cultural divide, I guess between you and your family not really digging the idea of you being a tattoo artist. They imagined you being something else.

RP -- right, they wanted me to be quote and quote; in a professional industry like certain kind of thing...y'know...majority of Indian parents all want their kids to be doctors, so I was lucky that they didn't necessarily want me to go down that path, they wanted me to do something 9 to 5 job.

Which I wasn't happy at all doing.

GP -- yeah man, that was just so like common in our world, I guess.

Parents just want what they think is best for their kids, right?

They don't always think like 'I really just want my kids to be happy...'

I got kids, I just want them to be happy, y'know.

I would support them to whatever it is that they wanted to do.

Be happy about it, co'z I've learned! I mean, I just learned through my own life that I was never happy when I didn't do...like I spent 5 years in the marine corps and when I went in to the marine corps, I mean primarily because my dad wanted me to do that.

He was a marine and to him that was like the greatest thing ever in life and I did it, but it just wasn't me.

Once my time was up, man, I was like I got to get out of here.

And I came home and when I found tattooing, it was like "man, like I just became alive"

RP -- right, right, right.

GP -- and it sounds like that was your experience too.

RP -- absolutely.

I found my calling in life.

GP -- yeah...

I mean how many people actually find their calling in life, man, like very few do.

Like no shit, man, like very few people really find what their passion is in life and then do it and do it as a source of income and living, right?

Like some people do it but they don't make any money at it.

Y'know I play music, I love music it's a passion, right? I write, I play, I record, I go out, I do all kinds of things of music , I mean, it doesn't make me any money.

If I was to like have to live up the money I made making music, man, I'll be like homeless.

(laughter)

But, you know you get the opportunity as well ..I mean the opportunity to do something that you love to do, it's your passion in life, and you can make your living a good one like doing that.,...

RP -- absolutely

GP -- ...like doing that like it's just not really common, man, so...

RP -- it just doesn't even kill sometimes, I get up and like I'm happy to go to work...

Is that a real thing?

GP -- is that really 15:14

RP -- yeah exactly, is that a thing? Is that really happened? What?

GP -- well, you got to keep that attitude up, man, like tough times will come too y'know.

You're like challenged and you go like ah shit...y'know...

15:27

GP -- so tell us a little bit about your tattooing, man, like how it's evolved?

RP -- well, before coming in here, I never tattooed before.

So, getting used to the tattoo machine and all that, that was a struggle of it's own. Starting out wasn't very confident in my skills and my abilities.

And, y'know, it just came with time and practice and tips from other artists around me.

Watching how other people did things and now I feel more confident, am I the best tattoo artist already? No.

Like I've got a long road to go. But I have...I gotten ..have I improved since I began? Absolutely!

It's crazy, it's like I scrolled down on my pictures on my phone and I see the first tattoo that I ever did and like I see the tattoo I did yesterday.

It's just incredible to see yourself grow.

It's just hard to explain, it's just such a good feeling

GP -- I got you, man, I got it.

I can feel you're like overwhelming, like most enthusiastic about it, man.

So, what did you do recently? Done anything recently that you could share with everybody that you're proud of tattoo?

RP -- Tattoo was? umm....I'm actually was working on a give away, I mean out here in PA and not knowing anybody trying to y'know get my name out there a little bit

GP -- right

RP -- I have this piece that's in progress, it's an eagle sitting on the liberty bell with some clouds and some cool flowers behind in the background.

We got as far as the shading he couldn't really sit too much longer, it was a fairly bid piece and he was kinda small guy so...we're gonna finish it up in about 2 weeks or so..

GP -- how did you find that guy to give it away?

RP -- Instagram.

GP -- what'd ya do?

RP -- I put out like a... I made a thing in photoshop kinda like a flier if you will, and I just blasted all over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and I used a certain hashtag, I used the hashtag ronaktattoosphilly

So I let that run for about 2 weeks, the whole thing was you have to like the picture, follow me, and then share the picture, and use that hashtag ronaktattoosphilly.

So I gave it 2 weeks to run, and then on the 2nd week, it was a Thursday night, it's like 3 am, me and my boy Nick were at the diner and I was like y'know what, let's pick this winner right now!

So I went under the hashtag RonakTattoosPhilly, scrolled through it and randomly picked on a picture and the guy that I had picked on had reposted this picture about like about 25 times in the past like 3 hours.

GP -- right.

RP -- It was just...it was insane!

GP -- so you chose him, and he came into the shop, and what is your like, I'm sure you're pretty well versed in a computer area, but I'm guessing that you've been having some support around on how to market yourself as a tattoo artist.

RP -- Absolutely.

You know Christina's helped me out a lot, she gave me some tips...

GP -- who's Christina? (nobody knows Christina)

RP -- Christina is our social media lady...

GP -- Social media lady...(laughs)

She's not gonna appreciate hearing that.

RP -- I'm sorry, I'm not sure what the exact title is, but she's in charge of social media and she tells us how to go about marketing ourselves and how to gain a following, how to reach out to people through social networking, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc...

And she's awesome!

She actually...is putting me in touch with somebody that's gonna work one on one with me out here in PA to market myself even further.

GP -- right on. that's good man, that's not like common either, right?

It's not a common thing, you know.

RP -- absolutely not.

GP -- most places I ever worked to was like there is your blank counter over there, there's your counter, put your stuff on it, put your portfolio on your desk, and good luck.

RP -- right

GP -- Y'know, that's just kind of way it works...

RP -- there's a lot that goes on here, it's not just "alright learn how to tattoo, here you go..."

"you know how to tattoo, go make money..."

No, there's a whole support team behind you. Like it starts with the social media and then it goes to the dream program we have here.

There is a lot that comes with this and it's incredible.

GP -- explain that a little bit, explain the dream program a little bit...it sounds interesting.

RP -- the dream program, what it is, is it's...you have a personal call with ...how would you call Frank...?

GP -- he's the dream manager.

RP -- Dream Manager, there you go.

He asks you about; what are your dreams?

Like serious dreams something that you really want to accomplish in your life and he helps you work towards that.

You have a 20:22

Actually, tomorrow, me and him.

GP -- okay...

RP -- So that's gonna be my 2nd call with him and I'm excited about that. Like I've said, I've just finished 4 months ago so I am still fairly new to this part of the...this part of ART the artist part, the artist side.

GP -- right

Did you come up with the dream like that you've shared with him yet?

RP -- I haven't, no.

He actually wants me like release it down and seriously think about it, not just come up with some bull shit on top of my head.

And I'm gonna give him that respect and do that, y'know...

GP -- well I'm gonna invite you to come up with some bull shit out off the top of your head right now like if you had that gun to your head come up with something, what would it be?

RP -- well, what I'll tell you is this isn't bullshit, it's real.

If I can dream something it would be that I was a well known tattoo artist, that I had a good following, across the globe that I can go anywhere make money, travel and meet new people, and it's absolutely ...it's possible in this industry.

And that would be my dream to be living that life.

I'm able to travel like a few months out of the year, go to a....

GP -- sounds like travelling is big part of your future and your dreams.

RP -- yeah, and I would absolutely like that.

GP -- So I would just invite you to expand like...y'know it doesn't have to be about tattooing, and the dream program isn't only all about what you're gonna do here or what are you gonna do there...

It's like hey man I wanna travel the world, I wanna meet new and interesting people, I wanna make a difference, I wanna like...y'know whatever...whatever excites you, y'know...

RP -- right, right.

GP -- I wanna visit visit every single continent, y'know I'm a big baseball fan so one of my dreams was like go to a baseball game in every single city that has a baseball team.

RP -- that's cool, nice

GP -- ...at least once. So I'm a part of the dream program, too man.

I got dreams I'm working on.

RP -- that's awesome, it starts all the way from the top ...22:14

GP -- you know we got these Trello boards, they're like vision boards that you can keep online, I got my trello board up and...being a musician like a big part of my dreams are musically related, playing in front of thousands of people and share my music, and just things that I have yet to accomplish, y'know...

RP -- that's awesome.

GP -- yeah man, so keep dreaming. Keep dreaming bigger, bringing it to Frank,

RP -- Absolutely,

GP -- I mean, I listened to the quarterly call the other day that the program how I wasn't able to be there so I listened to it, the recording of it, there were some amazing things happening, man.

It was pretty inspiring.

That's some inspiring stuff right there. Everybody in the company, man, things are just happening for, so good stuff, really good stuff.

Alright man, sounds like you got a lot going on there, the shop's busy, and you got people pulling at you in all different directions. So, let's just wrap it up really quick and get right in to our...

But first, before we do that man, I wanna have you give your own little special secret sauce of advise to any aspiring tattoo artist out there who's looking at ART maybe the first time, the tenth time, and go oh man I don't know this just looks like some good shit, I don't know if its bull shit...like what would you say to that person?

RP -- Just do it!

Stop hesitating, stop resisting, go for it.

At least take our workshop, you got to know us a little better, you'll get to know the program a little bit better more than just you see online.

It's just...like I said, for me it's like...it's been life changing and the only advise I can give you is just stop procrastinating and do it.

GP - that's awesome, man. alright we're gonna go right into our lightning round.

I'm just gonna throw some couple of questions at you so people can like get to know you a little bit.

RP --alright....

GP -- what is your favorite tattoo genre?

RP -- Neo traditional

GP -- man, you're like everybody's the same! Like everybody's saying the same thing.

RP -- that's what's gonna hold up....24:09 y'know...

Like traditional but brought to a newer, newer age

GP -- especially in Philly, man, you're in the right place so...

What is your favorite quote?

RP -- My favorite quote?

Just do it.

(laughs)

Just do it, yeah!

GP -- sounds like it.

I don't mean to put words in your mouth there.

Alright, cool, and what is your favorite band or music that you listen to when you're tattooing?

RP -- Linkin Park

GP -- Linkin Park in 90s, in the 90s

awesome stuff man, thanks so much Ronak for being here and sharing your story with me and our listeners man, of course, y'know....as I always say I wanna wish you the best success, y'know...being in partnership with you like your success is my success.

And you've been like an amazing staff member, an amazing inspiration to me watching you develop and y'know in to the professional that you are, and I just could never...I would never have imagined in that...

I think I ran your workshop right?

RP -- you did!

You're the one who convinced me to join, y'know...

GP -- yeah, I mean, I would have never imagined meeting you that day that you'd be here where you are right now, so thanks man, thanks for sticking it out , thanks for working hard, thanks for being great, just keep it up!

RP -- absolutely, thank you so much for this opportunity, thank you for everything.

GP -- you're welcome man, so if you want to learn more about ART's program, you can go to our website...our new website, www.tattooschool- art.com

you can forward slash podcast there you can hear inspiring stories from all of our ART staff and soon we're gonna be doing new stories with people who are actually in the apprenticeship now, and all of our podcasts are available there and you can also go on to our Instagram and Twitter @ ARTtattooschool

You can email us at [email protected] or you can just call us man, 844 8-tattoo

it'll go right directly to our main office in Brooklyn New York

Alright Ronak, thanks again man I'll see you out at Philly soon

RP -- sounds good, thank you

GP -- you're welcome!

End credits