My move to Pioneer Studios last year has been wonderful. The change from walk-in tattoos to purely appointment based was a little scary... suddenly you're relying on your clientele and the ability to draw more.

All of which is relative. Is my work solid enough to pull more clients? Do I have a style of my own? Is the quality of the final product worth the amount of money the studio charges?

These questions have haunted me, and I needed it.

I'll always be my biggest critic. So jumping all into the studio world put the pressure in my face. With the help of Erin, my assistant, the transition was seamless. I can't thank her enough. She's maintained scheduling and emails as the response has been tremendous.

And to top it off, I'm surrounded by three incredible guys. Seriously. Harlan Thompson, Tim Biedron, and Josh Howard inspire me. Three different styles, with three different, caring personalities.

We, as tattooers, are gift givers. I see this more and more. I watch these guys and their level of quality and professionalism every day. It sets the bar so high, I'm forced to raise my own.

I'm posting tattoos regularly on my Instagram feed. View it online via Instagram:
http://instagram.com/davidallen/

I'm also posting random tattoo pictures and information on my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/allentattoo

My Flickr has my tattoos as well...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/allentattoo/

Last, I'm always posting random stuff on Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/allentattoo

I'm often asked about my equipment. I'm a gadget man. I spend way too much money trying out everything; always have. Once I started tattooing, the same interest took shape as an obsession. Anything I use, I do so because I've tested it. So here's the list off the top of my head. (I'll run through my ink another time)

Machines (three favorites)
Liner - Pulse Specialist
Softer Liner/Rounds - Next Generation Orion (Aluminum, Full Coil)
Shader - Aaron Cain Acantha Jones Shader

Tubes
Disposable tubes - Eikon all the way. My disposable liners are all diamond tips. I use a 5 and a 7. I can even fit tight 11's in the 7 tube if need be. If I want, I use a razor blade and cut off the tip straight to use for rounds. (Wanting to try the disposables by True Tube for larger pieces, to justify the expense)
Liners and mags - I prefer the precision of Eikon's grips and tubes.
Larger mags (15-45) - Blitz tubes are worth the price! So good.
Grip covers - Red Rat 1/2", red (easier to see what I'm cleaning) I was used to tattooing without these, but once you try them, it's worth the extra effort for your hands.

Needles
Liners from Eikon
Mags from Eikon
Bugpin mags from Mithra.

Misc.
Power Supply - My Eikon EMS300 has served me well. I'm sure I'll try the 400, but I've been more than happy with the 300. It's a little larger than others I've tried. But I like that. It's steady and easy to clean. My only complaint is that the adhesive for the little feet could be stronger.
Footswitch - Aquiline Maintained all the way. My power supply lets me choose this option, but I skip that step and have never looked back. Step on and let it fly. Ha.
Springs from Workhorse and Lucky Supply.
Clipcord from Pulse.
Empty ink bottles from Workhorse Irons.
Black ink bottle from US Plastic - 4oz Nalgene drop dispenser. I stick a tiny gauge needle into the tip to increase flow. The drops come out slow and steady, making it perfect for making my black and grey mixtures.

Computer
Easily, the most important piece of equipment I use (besides my machines) is my Wacom Table (Intuos 4). I'll be making a separate post about this later, but I can't stress its importance enough. My entire computer experience has changed since using a tablet. It's worth the money and learning curve.