Tattoo artist delivers

[Rat-tat-tat]

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/139410

Larry McIntyre's slogan could be, "Have gun, will travel."

But unless you're already a client of his, you wouldn't know the gun is the kind used for giving tattoos.
McIntyre, 38, is a rare breed of tattoo artist — the kind who makes house calls.

Lots of folks who want tattoos are intimidated by the image presented in the stereotypical tattoo shop, he said.

For those who don't run with certain subcultures, it can be downright scary, depending on where you go.
McIntyre's goal is to take the stigma out of getting a tattoo by coming to the people who want his services.

"Me, being the lone tattoo artist coming to your friend's house, I'm the only one in their comfort space and not the other way around," he said.

And as a businessman, it saves him a bundle of money on overhead by not having a storefront to maintain.
When you put a tattoo on someone, "you become part of a person's life forever. It gets harder and harder to charge what it takes to keep a shop open, with people you like."

Laura McIntyre, 35, Larry's wife of 18 years, said her husband is frequently greeted with disbelief when he tells people what he does.

"Most people really just can't believe it: 'You come to us? How many can you do?' " she said.
That response launched a new dimension to McIntyre's house calls.

He does tattoo parties as well.

Jarrod Lash, a 30-year-old martial-arts instructor whose body is graced with seven pieces by McIntyre, hosted a two-day party recently and is planning another in less than a month, he said.

Finding a good tattoo artist is sort of like when women find a hairdresser they really like, Lash said.
You're not going to change artists, and you're going to show a great job to everyone you know.
"He's humble and he's really talented," Lash said.

At Lash's party, McIntyre worked from noon Saturday until 2:30 a.m. on Sunday and again Sunday from noon until 11:30 p.m.

At $50 per hour, he's pulling in good money.

"I went back to kindergarten," McIntyre said, explaining why he doesn't tire easily during such marathon sessions.

Parties are clean affairs, and McIntyre requests that the host stays sober and sets the tone for the rest of the party.

Many times, a football game or movie is on TV and food is plentiful for the guests. With 20 or more people present, only four of them might be getting inked, McIntyre said.

He brings an entire setup, including chair, mats for the floor, all equipment and books of "flash" — examples of tattoos that people can use to form their own ideas or that they can choose to get.

He asks that the party host have an open, 10-by-10-foot area, preferably with tile floors, where he can set up. He schedules friends and family in two-hour increments, and there is no minimum number of people required.

Party hosts earn credit toward their own tattoos based on the number of people who get tattoos at the party. And McIntyre frequently books parties with guests from the first party.

Eat your heart out, Tupperware Lady.

Though they haven't hosted a party, Buck and Cheryl Hardy regularly schedule appointments with The Wandering Dragon, as McIntyre has named his mobile business.

They met the McIntyres four years ago, when the couple ran their own shop at West Ina and North Oldfather roads.

The Hardys were looking for a place for Buck to get a tattoo, and they took it as a good sign that McIntyre's shop had people inside it.

Once they went inside, they were struck by how clean, tidy and sterile it was, said Buck Hardy, 56.
McIntyre said he uses all disposable equipment to maintain sterility. Some artists reuse some of their supplies, sterilizing instruments between clients.

Buck's back is now covered with a tattoo in progress featuring an Indian theme, and his wife, 37, is keeping pace with him via a tattoo down the side of her right leg with more of a nature motif.

At last count, she had nine tattoos on her leg, eight of them by McIntyre. Now the pieces have begun to merge into one large, conceptual tattoo.

"It's an obsession," she said.

McIntyre said the most important thing in dealing with him is patience.

"I like the little details that most artists don't do," he said. "If you want to be treated like cattle, and you want something you're going to want to cover up next year, that's fine. I'm just not going to be the one to do it for you. I don't want to be part of somebody's regret."

[Dileca]

That is cool, I like the idea of a tattoo party