Third Annual Free B’s Tattoo Day!

On Saturday, August 15, Pastime Tattoo, 1394 E 14th St in downtown San Leandro, sponsors its third annual free Ballers tattoo day.

Brainchild of parlor co-owner and Ballers broadcast booth/game recaps/team art wizard Ben Verhoek, fans can come between 12-8pm to get one of the B’s and Oakland-specific designs that have been rolled out all season on Tattoo Tuesdays at Raimondi:

Normal tattoo rules apply: have to be 18, not under the influence, have eaten ahead of time. Temporary Pastime tattoos also available at Raimondi.

From our interview with Ben back in March:

On the opposite side of things, for somebody who's getting a tattoo for the first time, what should they know?

Do your homework on who's gonna do your tattoo. Make sure it's in a reputable shop. Look at their portfolio, make sure they have solid lines, good saturation, smooth shading, good lines without wiggles and blowouts. 
And don't always go for the cheapest price, because you get what you pay for, and usually, it aligns with experience. And then good reviews, for sure, because someone could be the most immaculate tattoo artist and still be a prick, you know what I mean? When you're doing something like tattooing, it could be a very intimate experience, and comfort is important. And then as far as preparing your body for it, getting a good night's sleep the night before; it makes a huge difference as to how well you can sit. Making sure you ate recently is very, very important. Because when the tattoo first starts, your body goes through an adrenaline rush, and that's fueled by your blood sugar, and if you don't have enough, you’ll pass out. So stay hydrated, don't go out and get drunk the night before. Take care of your body, and it'll take care of you.

You are an “American traditional” tattoo artist. What does that mean?

That means I specialize in the style of tattooing that was made famous by the old-school tattooers who would mostly tattoo sailors and bikers and degenerates. And what makes a tattoo traditional style is a few factors. 
Bold lines, saturated colors with a minimal color palette, then iconic imagery like ships, anchors, eagles, and skulls and daggers. Of course I do a lot more than that.

B’s brass has variously estimated there are over 50 B’s fans from the first two seasons who have gotten team ink. This editor is the proud owner of two B’s tattoos and will be getting a third.

Joe Horton is the editor of Dispatches from Raimondi.