***FORUM RULES - PLEASE READ! BEFORE POSTING***

Welcome to the Big Dave's Body-art Forum! This board is a place for tattoo artists of all levels to discuss and share their love for the art of tattooing. We welcome beginners and professionals alike!

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This site is not a substitute for a professional apprenticeship with a licensed tattoo studio. Nor is this site a definitive source for learning the art or trade of tattooing. Tattooing is not something that should be taken lightly. Not only is your work permanent, but if safe practices are not followed, there is the possibility of contamination and infection (and we mean the kind of diseases that really f*ck up your life). An apprenticeship is the ONLY universally accepted way to learn proper safety practices and sound technique.

While we welcome members of all levels, we STRONGLY advocate staying away from skin until you've received formal training from someone who works in the field. Hell, even hair stylists must complete over a year of courses, pass a state health board exam, and apprentice under a professional studio before earning a chair.
The trade of tattooing has a rich history and traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. If you respect the art, please show your respects by learning the right way.

All opinions on this site are solely those of the author/member posting, and we accept no responsibility or fault for any damage or undesired consequences encountered by those following the guidance of ANY member of this board. We highly recommend finding multiple sources when seeking information of ANY KIND. We strongly advocate, go to your local tattoo parlor and get professional advice from a reputable artist.

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IMAGE HOSTING: While we prefer that you host images used in posts remotely on sites like Flickr and Photobucket, all member groups (except for Newbies) can upload attachments directly from the forum. If this feature is abused is any way we will simply remove this option.

COPYRIGHTED IMAGES: DO NOT post any images of people other than yourself or your clients without their implicit consent. If we feel that you've violated these terms, the image will be deleted and you will be warned against any further infractions.

CODE OF CONDUCT:Please refrain from overtly negative or hateful comments or posts. That being said, we encourage differing ideas, constructive criticism, and debate. However, this is a private board and while we are firm defenders of the First Amendment, we reserve the right to edit, modify, or delete any posts that we feel do not contribute to a positive community.

SELF-PROMOTION: While we love to see the work of professionals, this forum was created to foster a community of people interested in tattooing. We encourage participation, not just self-promotion. If Anyone on the forum feels that a member's posts are created strictly for advertising purposes, their posts will be deleted and their membership revoked.

PRIVATE MESSAGES (PMs): Never post private messages from another member on the public board. Private messages are meant to be PRIVATE. Please respect other member's privacy by adhering to these rules. Failure to do so may result in suspension and/or membership being revoked.

YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO JOIN. NO EX