Take a tattoo for the team — An interview with Aaron Sanchez

For a man who didn't hesitate to get one more in the name of good journalism.

Because that was the deal.

[...] only if I was getting one — my first — at the same time.

Because sometimes you need to go all in.

Sanchez was splayed out before me with Fink marking up the business end of him; Myles sat to my left, needle tracing along my upper arm.

Partly because Sanchez and his partners are pleasantly obsessed with the history of this counterculture art, partly because much of the shop itself has been given over to museum space to host Myles and Fink's collection of flash — tattoo talk for sample designs — and other tattoo antiquities.

[...] it's that collection that got Sanchez into business with Fink and Myles a few years ago.

Sanchez would feed the gang at the shop — "I've never met a tattoo-er who doesn't love to eat!" — and in exchange they'd keep the shop open late to work on his growing body of body art.

The next day, as he demonstrated a smoked tuna taco he'd prepared for an event at the New York City Wine and Food Festival, I asked Sanchez about his top-to-bottom coverage and whether he had any regrets.

To get a sense of just how covered he is, know that Fink needed to tattoo over old tattoos to make room for the one Sanchez received with me.

Back to the shop and back to my left arm.

[...] I pulled up my sleeve and gave it over, neither Sanchez nor Myles knew quite what to make of my willingness.