Convention Connection: How Forshe Built Kansas City Tattoo Club by Putting People First
Forshe went to school for graphic design, but he never enjoyed it. He already had one foot in the tattoo industry and only chose design because it felt stable. Today, at 28, he owns Kansas City Tattoo Club. He’s also known for building some of the most memorable booths at his hometown show. We caught up with him at the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival in Kansas City for Convention Connection. He’s only owned a tattoo shop for about four years, but his philosophy is already clear. As he puts it, it’s never about the money.
Key Takeaways
Who: Forshe, 28, owns Kansas City Tattoo Club and has run it for about four years.
His style: Graffiti-inspired tattooing with tags, symbols, and cartoon influences from his early drawing days.
People first: He says he doesn’t care about being an owner. He does it because he loves being around his team.
Team buy-in: Every new hire does a guest spot, meets the whole team, and needs everyone’s approval.
The real workload: Forshe says tattooing isn’t a part-time job, and there isn’t much work-life balance.
What Is Kansas City Tattoo Club?
Kansas City Tattoo Club is the tattoo shop Forshe has owned for about four years.
Its name inspired his convention booths. Last year, he built his booth to look like a speakeasy, almost like a secret club. This year, he wanted to top it. Kansas City has many alleyways with lights strung above them, so he recreated the back alley right outside that speakeasy’s door.
His tattooing is just as personal. Forshe has done graffiti since he was a kid. As his style developed, he started adding tags and symbols to his pieces. Clients loved it, so he kept going. He also started out drawing cartoons, and that influence still shows up in his work.
His graphic design background shows in his booths. He also points out that some of the design firms he considered working for in school have since gone out of business.
Why Does Putting People First Matter in Tattooing?
For Forshe, putting people first is what makes the work sustainable. He believes it’s the key to longevity.
He’s honest that he’s still figuring things out. He’s 28, he’s not an expert, and he still makes mistakes. But the biggest lesson he’s learned is to focus on the people around him rather than the money.
He doesn’t care about being an owner for its own sake. He loves creating, and he loves being around the people in his shop. Owning Kansas City Tattoo Club lets him curate his own environment, and his team makes every day enjoyable.
He says good things have come to him by making sure everyone is happy and satisfied.
Pro Tip: Forshe’s advice for anyone thinking about tattoo shop ownership is to put the Tattoo Artists first. If you want longevity, it’s never about the money.
How Do Tattoo Conventions Build Real Careers?
Tattoo conventions put your work in front of clients and other Tattoo Artists. For Forshe, they’re also a chance to show what his tattoo shop is all about.
He works several conventions a year, including shows with Black and Grey and the Tattoo Collective. But the Villain Arts Tattoo Festival in Kansas City is his home convention, so that’s where he goes all out.
His reason is simple. His clients are walking the floor, and a big, creative booth catches people’s attention.
Even established Tattoo Artists treat conventions as part of the job.
What Did Forshe Do to Build Community?
Forshe built his tattoo shop’s culture by making sure everyone on his team has a say in who joins it.
The habits behind Kansas City Tattoo Club
Team approval for every hire: New Tattoo Artists do a guest spot first. Everyone meets them, and everyone has to sign off.
No drama: Forshe says he hates drama. He doesn’t want anyone dreading work because of someone they didn’t choose to work with.
People over profit: He focuses on keeping his team happy instead of chasing money.
Going all out for the hometown crowd: Each year, he builds a bigger booth for the Kansas City convention, where his clients are.
He explains it this way: if he hires someone the team doesn’t like, the environment gets weird. Then people don’t want to come to work. He just wants to go to work and hang out with his team.
How Can You Start Building Your Own Tattoo Network?
You start by building real skills, showing up consistently, and treating people well.
Step 1: Commit fully. Forshe says tattooing isn’t something you do part-time. If you want good work and steady income, you have to put the work in.
Step 2: Keep drawing. When Forshe isn’t tattooing, he’s drawing or designing. Practice outside the chair is part of the job.
Step 3: Develop your own style. Forshe brought his love of graffiti and cartoons into his tattoos. Clients noticed, and it became his signature.
Step 4: Get to conventions. Show your work, meet clients, and watch other Tattoo Artists work.
Step 5: Protect your clients. Forshe books only through his tattoo shop’s website because scammers impersonate busy Tattoo Artists and take deposits. Ink Different has seen the same thing at its own tattoo studios. Tell clients exactly how to book you and never to send deposits elsewhere.
Connections can open doors, but your skills keep you in the room. That’s why real training comes first.
Where Does Ink Different Fit Into Your Journey?
Ink Different Tattoos helps beginners build a tattoo career through hands-on training with experienced Mentors and a supportive “Good Humans” culture.
Forshe’s advice is that tattooing takes full commitment. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship gives that commitment structure, so you know exactly what to work on and who to learn from.
Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years. Tattooing is also a career built on human connection. As we explain in why tattoo artists are still essential, trust between a Tattoo Artist and a client can’t be automated.
What Does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship Offer?
The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is an 18 to 24 month, four-phase tattoo apprenticeship that takes complete beginners to job-ready Tattoo Artists with licensing support. No prior art experience is required.
What you can expect
Hands-on training: You learn in person from experienced Mentors inside a working tattoo studio.
Beginner-friendly: You’ll learn drawing and fundamentals from the start.
Safety-first standards: Training includes bloodborne pathogens protocols based on OSHA standards.
Licensing support: Guidance through your state’s requirements.
A guaranteed job offer: You’ll receive a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s tattoo studios.
This is a career that comes with confidence. You’ll finish with job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s 60+ tattoo studios nationwide. Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.
Curious how this compares to a degree? Our article on tattoo apprenticeships as a college alternative lays it all out.
How Does Master Mentorship Push You Further?
Once you’ve built your foundation, you can keep growing with Ink Different’s Master Mentors. They include Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, and Jordi Pla.
Learning from Tattoo Artists at that level sharpens your technique, your style, and your business sense. That matters if, like Forshe, you hope to own a tattoo shop someday.
Making training accessible for everyone
Ink Different offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, New York City, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego, so language is never a barrier to your tattoo career.
Ready to Build Your Own Connection?
Forshe walked away from graphic design, built a graffiti-inspired style, and now owns a tattoo shop where the whole team chooses who joins. His advice is simple: put people first and put the work in.
Ready to become a tattoo artist? Apply now to Ink Different's Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career, with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer. Prefer to explore first? Fill out our quick questionnaire to see if the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a tattoo at Kansas City Tattoo Club?
Book through kctattooclub.com. Forshe says the website is the only way his tattoo shop books appointments.
Do I need prior experience to start a tattoo apprenticeship?
No. Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is built for beginners and teaches drawing and fundamentals from the start.
How long does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship take?
The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases.
What makes Ink Different different from other training options?
Ink Different offers in-person mentorship, access to Master Mentors, a guaranteed job offer, and a “Good Humans” culture, backed by 15 years of experience.
How can Tattoo Artists protect clients from booking scams?
Make your booking process clear and consistent. Forshe books only through his website, and he says clients should never send deposits to accounts the tattoo shop doesn’t list.
Is tattooing a part-time career?
Forshe doesn’t think so. He says success takes full commitment, and there isn’t much work-life balance when you’re drawing and designing constantly.
Related Posts: Start Your Tattoo Apprenticeship This Spring, Tools Every Beginner Tattoo Artist Should Know, and Tattoo Apprenticeships as a College Alternative.
