Your name: Trey Sharp.
Your job: Tattoo artist.
Andy Adams/The Lufkin Daily News |
Trey Sharp, the owner of Boneyard Tattoo Shop, specializes in a vast selection of body modification, but says in Lufkin it's predominantly tattooing and body piercing.
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Your employer: Self-employed owner of Boneyard Tattoo Shop.
How long have you been in this job? In this business seven years. At this location we have been successfully open one year and two months.
What are your normal working hours? There is nothing normal about our working hours. They vary, usual business hours are 2 p.m. to midnight, but we are here until 4 and sometimes 5 a.m.
Your job duties: I specialize in a vast selection of body modification, but predominantly here in Lufkin it's mostly tattooing and body piercing. We are self-employed, so most job duties fall on us, including but not limited to cleaning toilets. I guess I would say I am a Jack-of-all-trades when it comes to this business, especially the part where I am responsible for keeping it running, and keeping a good reputation, as well as keeping our customers happy.
What do you like most about your job? My customers. Their support has meant everything to us. This is one of the greatest careers you could ask for. I get to do exactly what I love, and we get paid to do it. You can't ask for more than that.
What do you like least about your job? The stereotype of our business. It's very sad that tattooing gets such a bad reputation. Not all tattoo shops are the same. We are a family-based shop. We have children, support local charities and pay taxes. Our business is lumped in with the sex industry, and smoke shops and porn stores. That really stinks, because if you come into our shop you will see none of that. We believe this is about the "art" of tattooing, and giving someone the best possible tattoo they can get. It's not just about the "buck" like some shops make it out to be. We have turned down MANY young kids that want tattoos on their faces or hands. It may be their right, but it's our responsibility in the end.
What's the most unusual part of your job? Our job is so very unusual especially compared to other businesses in Lufkin. Sheesh. I gotta really ponder this question. I guess it would be the variety of people who enter this shop, from one end of the spectrum — local doctors, soccer moms and even pastors — to the most interesting and entertaining characters here.
What would you be doing if you weren't doing this job? I'd probably be a surgeon, or a motorcycle builder. My wife would be a lawyer or a forensic scientist. Go figure.
When you were in high school, what did you think you would be doing now? Not this. I was your average "no plans for the future" guy. But shortly after high school, I became interested in the body modification industry.
What would you like to be doing 10 years from now? Sitting on a beach with a drink with a little umbrella in it, and worrying about not a darn thing. In 10 years I will have hopefully fulfilled my five-shop goal, and will be semi-retired, and building motorcycles for fun, and watching my wife spend my money shopping and not care. It's looking good thus far.
