Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Brown.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Matthew Brown, I am the owner and primary tattooist at ZapTrip Mobile Tattoos!
When I first started tattooing about five years ago, I had this dream of turning my career into travel opportunities. At the time this idea meant traveling to conventions, and getting guest spots in other cities and learning from artists all over the USA, and even the globe.
Then I hatched the idea of being able to take the whole shop with me.
Zaptrip was made with love and intention from the bottom up by one of my closest friends, Kaylub and I. We struck a deal that in return for helping me build out my business, my buddy gets free tattoos for life. Needlesss to say we’re both pretty damn stoked on the deal.
The bus started as a transit vehicle for a local rafting company. Retired but in incredible shape, a nabbed it on an equally incredible deal.
Interior design was clear from the gate. I wanted to have the shop feel as comfortable as possible. And for me, this meant log cabin vibes.
My buddy and I got to work and the project was (mostly) done in about nine months time.
We cut out all of the chairs, tore off all the walls down to its skeleton, and moved from the ground up.
I don’t know if I’ll ever call the project fully done, as we’re always looking to step it up another notch. But as of now, Zaptrip has found its place everywhere from concerts, weddings, festivals, private parties you name it. We are showing up!
We are incredibly proud of the buildout, as well as the crew that works the bus. We are still making our name known, and still getting into the public eye, but the response from the community already has been overwhelmingly positive and our hearts are very full.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The tricky part about the mobile Tattoo facility is that there’s not a lot of people around to help take notes from. We have a very niche market that we handle. As far as I am aware, there’s only one or two other mobile Tattoo facilities in all of Oregon.
Since we don’t have a set business location, and it’ operates as a private shop outside of events, we don’t get walk-ins as other shops do at the moment. This was a tricky thing to work out.
The events really are the catalyst for us to get to meet new people and returning clients. Really it just takes getting them in the door. When people first step in the shop, the response is usually the same thing. “ this is so cool! “
Another challenge is finding just what kind of events actually really work for us. Certain events will repeatedly get multiple pages of sign ups. And then every once in a while we strike out. That’s the name of the game and that’s just us figuring out where we thrive!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Prior to starting tattooing, I found a passion in black and gray realism/surrealism acrylic painting. Unfortunately, my passions were not paying my bills, and I wanted to find an outlet in my life where I could express not only my creative side, but satisfy the social aspect that I love in art creation. All whilst being able to pay my bills and fuel my travel.
The laws in Oregon require schooling rather than an apprenticeship in order to be licensed to operate. By chance, my buddy’s family was starting a new tattoo school in town. I signed up, graduated the program, and immediately got in to a shop that took me under their wing to help me truly navigate my new career path. (shout out to Rory and Amber Hill at Thornbird Tattoo/ Four Flames Tattoo, both in redmond.)
I had a Headstart in my field, as I had a deep understanding for realism, which I got to work right away on applying to Tattooing. As well as a good grasp on customer service and working with people, as I have been doing that my whole working life prior.
Today I have found a wonderful balance between small fun tattoos at killer public and private events, and much larger, more detailed pieces, privately from my own home. Cultivating environment is just as important as anything else in this industry, and I feel I am very good at that. Having a tattoo shop that you can come in and put on whatever movie you want.. listen to whatever music you want.. watch a guilty pleasure show or a live concert.. it’s really just you and me and you have the remote control – I can watch my client settle in and relax. I get alot of fulfillment from that.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I mean, the whole thing is a risk right? I’m still paying off the whole risk aspect. Ha ha. We knew taking on this project that there may be an unforeseen reason that mobile tattoo facilities aren’t really a thing here. And I personally had never held a debt over a few hundred dollars in my life. It’s always scary throwing yourself in a financially risky position. But the business seems to be just doing better and better, and that’s all we can hope for. A quote from my favorite band has been ringing in my ears a lot recently, “Death to me is a life lived safely” and I think that sums it up pretty well. You miss every shot you don’t take because it’s hard or uncomfortable. So sometimes you just gotta take the risk.
Pricing:
- For events, such as concerts, etc. we have the same price as we do for our private studio hours. Minimum of $80, and $150 an hour prorated after that!
- As for weddings, per artist (up to 2 currently), we charge on a sliding scale. Minimum of four hours, is $900 per artist. For 6 hours it goes down to $1300 per artist, and at eight hours is $1600 per artist. Any amount of time after that is prorated at the same rate as the eight hour option.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Zaptriptattoos.com
- Instagram: @zaptripmobiletattoos and @tattoosbym.brown
