Bang Bang Built An Art Empire With Ink & Skin | EP 39
Aug 14, 2024
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Keith McCurdy, the creative force behind the Bang Bang tattoo brand, shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in Flatbush to celebrity tattoo artist. He discusses the evolution of tattoo culture and its acceptance in society today. Keith opens up about the importance of humility, navigating imposter syndrome, and finding happiness beyond wealth. He also touches on the innovative intersection of tattooing and skincare, revealing the exciting future of his craft. Get ready for anecdotes packed with passion and wisdom!
Keith McCurdy's journey from a single-parent household to a sought-after tattoo artist showcases resilience and dedication in overcoming personal challenges.
Bang Bang aims to elevate tattooing by merging it with fashion, leveraging celebrity influence to normalize and celebrate tattoos in mainstream culture.
The podcast emphasizes creating welcoming environments in tattoo studios to enhance customer experience and attract a broader, more diverse clientele.
Deep dives
Choosing Tattoos as Personal Expressions
Tattoos often serve as a personal expression of identity and beliefs. The podcast discusses the significance of selecting a tattoo that resonates with an individual's personality or experiences. The hosts engage in a lighthearted segment where they imagine tattoos for each other based on their interactions, emphasizing the importance of meaningful tattoos. The concept highlights how tattoos can symbolize personal journeys and aspirations.
The Journey to Success
The discussion explores the journey of Keith McCurdy, known as Bang Bang, from humble beginnings to becoming a renowned tattoo artist. He reflects on his challenges growing up in a single-parent household and how overcoming those obstacles fueled his ambition. His path involved tenacity, where he worked hard, often sacrificing social activities to hone his craft. This dedication ultimately led to opening a successful tattoo studio and writing about his experiences.
Bridging Tattooing and Fashion
Bang Bang reveals his mission to elevate the perception of tattooing by bridging it with the fashion industry. This intention was set when he opened his studio, aiming to change the stigma that often surrounds tattoos. He mentions influential clients like Cara Delevingne and Rihanna, whose tattoos became associated with high fashion, contributing to the normalization of tattoos in mainstream culture. The discussion underscores how influential personalities help in transforming tattoos from being marginalized to celebrated art forms.
Innovative Approaches to Tattoo Culture
There is a significant conversation about changing the dynamics of tattoo culture by focusing on the customer experience. Bang Bang emphasizes the importance of creating a welcoming environment in tattoo shops, contrasting it with experiences where customers often feel uncomfortable. By adopting a more service-oriented approach, tattoo studios can engage more diverse clients and demystify the process. This change has not only made the tattooing experience more enjoyable but has also helped to attract a broader clientele.
Continuous Growth and Impact
The podcast highlights the importance of ongoing personal development and the drive for impact beyond monetary success. Bang Bang shares insights into his ongoing projects, including innovative skincare and tech solutions related to tattooing. He stresses that the pursuit of passion and creativity is crucial to staying fulfilled, emphasizing that the definition of success evolves over time. This reinforces the notion that true achievement is tied to one's personal journey and contributions to the community.
Keith McCurdy is the mastermind behind Bang Bang. He joined us at Mike's office to share his stories building a creative empire. Keith turned his passion for tattoo artistry into a globally recognized brand, using innovative techniques and unique artistic vision. He's not perfect, but it's his ability to move past the mistakes and hone in on his focus that make him such an inspiring leader.
He discusses his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a sought-after tattoo artist for celebrities and now building a skincare line with all the experience he has working on skin tirelessly. His entrepreneurial spirit, the challenges he faced, and his insights on creativity and business growth inspired us and we thought he'd be the unorthodox guest that you'd fall in love with. And gain valuable tips on building a successful creative business.
No shortage of ounces of gold on this episode. Shoutout our folks at JM Bullion: https://jmbullion.com/businessuntitled
Neither the information, nor any opinion contained in this podcast, constitutes an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments or to participate in any advisory services or trading strategy. Nothing contained in this document constitutes investment, legal or tax advice or is an endorsement of any of the investments/companies mentioned herein.
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