118. Safety and Professionalism in Tattooing ft. Cathy Montie

The tattoo industry has undergone significant transformations in safety and professionalism since the 1960s and 70s, largely due to the efforts of key advocates for health regulations and training. In those early days, tattooing practices were far from the standards we consider safe and professional today. Artists often worked without gloves, used unsanitary equipment, and operated in environments that lacked basic health standards. For example, it was common for tattoo artists to dip sponges into metal buckets of water to clean the skin—a practice that would be deemed unacceptable by today's standards.

In this episode of Chats and Tatts, host Aaron Della Vedova sits down with Cathy Montie, a pivotal figure in this transformation, who shares her experiences from those early years, highlighting the chaotic and often unsafe conditions under which tattoos were performed. She recounted how her husband, Gil Montie, tattooed in their living room and later in a makeshift studio within an oil change shop, illustrating the lack of formal training and regulation at the time.

Tune in for an insightful look at tattoo history and the ongoing commitment to safety and professionalism in the industry.

Chat Highlights:

00:01:06 - Introduction

00:01:06 - Evolution of Tattooing from the 60s to Today

00:01:28 - Importance of Safety in Tattoo Industry

00:02:28 - Challenges of Regulating Tattoo Industry

00:03:31 - Cathy Montie's Bloodborne Pathogen Course

00:06:01 - Moving to Vegas and Tattooing with Doc Dog

00:09:03 - Tattoo Shows and Traveling Lifestyle

00:12:39 - Tattoo Forefathers