Convention Connection: How TV Pressure Turned Megan Massacre Into a Cover-Up Tattoo Expert
On America’s Worst Tattoos, Megan Massacre was handed cover-ups that would normally take three separate sessions on three different days. The show needed them done in four hours. She often didn’t even get to see the tattoos ahead of time. She still doesn’t know how she pulled them off, but she did, in front of millions of viewers. That pressure turned her into something rare: a Tattoo Artist who actually loves cover-ups.
Chico Cortez caught up with Megan at the Tattoo Society World Expo in New York for Convention Connection. She talked about TV, why she turned down Ink Master, and what she’s learned about covering up old ink.
Key Takeaways
TV made her a specialist: America’s Worst Tattoos forced Megan to learn cover-ups fast, and now she considers them her niche.
Tattoo age matters: In her experience, tattoos under three years old are almost impossible to cover. After five years, there’s much more wiggle room.
Opaque mid-tones work: She’s found that medium-tone, opaque pigments can blend with older ink and cover it completely.
Cover-ups are an opportunity: With tattoos aging and business slowing, she believes cover-ups are a way for Tattoo Artists to earn more.
She said no to Ink Master: After reading the contracts, she decided the restrictions weren’t worth the pay.
Who is Megan Massacre and why does her story matter?
Megan Massacre is a Tattoo Artist, TV personality, and owner of Grit N Glory, a New York tattoo shop that’s been open for over a decade. She recently turned 40.
Many people know her from New York Ink, which started in 2010, about 15 years ago. By then, she’d already been tattooing for about seven years. She says back then, it took about seven years to get established. You couldn’t pick up a tattoo machine and be known in a year or two. When New York Ink started, she felt she was just beginning to do her first truly great tattoos.
Her story matters because it shows how much a hard challenge can shape your skills. The cover-ups she was forced to do on TV became the specialty she’s known for today.
What is a cover-up tattoo and why is it so hard?
A cover-up tattoo is a new design placed over an existing tattoo to hide or transform it. Megan says most Tattoo Artists avoid them. In her words, nobody wants to do cover-ups.
She does. She loves them. Clients come to her after talking to five other Tattoo Artists who all said nothing could be done. They think they’re stuck with a tattoo forever. Megan tells them they haven’t met her yet.
She says getting to change a tattoo someone felt sad about into something they love is one of the best parts of her work.
Pro Tip: Megan’s experience shows that the age of a tattoo matters a lot. Ask clients how old their tattoo is before planning a cover-up.
How did TV pressure sharpen her cover-up skills?
America’s Worst Tattoos was the show Megan did after New York Ink. Clients came in with the worst tattoos she’d ever seen.
She asked to see the tattoos ahead of time but usually got only bits of information. Then she’d learn she had to finish a cover-up that normally needed three sessions in just four hours. She calls it impossible. She also knew millions of people would see the result, so it didn’t just have to cover the old tattoo. It had to look good.
To make it work, she experimented with different techniques and asked clients a lot of questions: How old is your tattoo? When and where did you get it done? Those answers taught her lessons about cover-ups she’d never known.
She’s quick to say the crew was great, and she had a good time. And she’s grateful for the experience. Even though it was more than a decade ago, it gave her the confidence to call herself a cover-up expert.
TV stress came in many forms
Megan admits she wasn’t ready for TV at first. She’d done photo shoots for magazines but had never been on video. In her first month filming New York Ink, the crew told her she’d be fired if she didn’t get it together. She was that bad on camera because her anxiety was so high. She worried constantly about how she looked and sounded.
She also felt caught in the middle at times. The cast was fun, but they didn’t always want to do what the crew wanted.
Why do conventions make tattoo artists better?
Conventions show your work to people who’d never walk into your tattoo shop, and the results speak for themselves.
Chico once met a woman at a convention with one of Megan’s cover-ups. He says it didn’t even look like a cover-up. That’s the kind of moment that builds a reputation.
Megan used to do the full convention circuit. Now she has a three-year-old, so she does fewer, sometimes bringing him along. She does the Empire State Tattoo Expo every May. She also recently returned from the Hawaii Pacific Ink & Art Expo and plans to go back.
How do you master cover-up tattoos step by step?
Megan is clear that she’s not a scientist. These are lessons from her own experience.
Step 1: Ask how old the tattoo is.
Zero to three years: Almost impossible to cover. It’s really hard.
Three to five years: More wiggle room.
Five to 10 years: A lot more wiggle room.
Step 2: Understand how ink changes. Megan believes ink breaks down under the skin over time. The older a tattoo gets, the easier it is to cover with colors that aren’t super dark or black.
Step 3: Use opaque, medium-tone pigments. She’s found that solid, opaque pigments in medium tones seem to mix with older ink particles and fill in the same space, completely covering them.
Step 4: Choose organic designs. Cover-ups need organic shapes. Flowers, feathers, fur, scales, and other textures work well.
Step 5: Be careful with portraits. Portraits don’t always work for cover-ups. Faces have subtle details, and with human portraits, you can lose the person’s character. Animal portraits have a little more wiggle room, but they usually need to be darker. A general animal can work better than a specific pet.
Step 6: Follow safety standards. Every tattoo should follow the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard.
Why cover-ups are an opportunity
Megan says people will never stop having bad tattoos, especially as tattoos age. With business slowing down, she believes Tattoo Artists who learn cover-ups can earn more. She’s eager to teach anyone who wants to learn.
Why does pressure forge professional Tattoo Artists?
Pressure forced Megan to solve hard problems quickly. But she’s also thoughtful about which pressure is worth it.
She’s been approached to do Ink Master several times. She’s read the contracts, and she has friends who’ve been on it. She’s careful to say she can’t speak to their personal experience. But after years in TV, she couldn’t believe the restrictions for the pay. She made more money just tattooing.
She also notes a big difference between the shows. On New York Ink, the cast filmed during the day and went home at night. From the outside, she says, a competition show where everyone lives together looks far more stressful.
How can you build these skills with Ink Different?
Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship builds the fundamentals every cover-up depends on, with hands-on mentorship and licensing support. Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years. Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is also available in 60+ tattoo studios nationwide.
What You Can Expect from Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship
The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases. No prior art experience is required.
Phase-based structure: Training builds from fundamentals to supervised client work.
Hands-on training: You learn in person from experienced Mentors inside a working tattoo studio.
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 own tattoo studios.
A Career That Comes With Confidence
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 own tattoo studios.
Mentorship That Pushes Your Brand and Skills Further
Once you’ve built your foundation, Ink Different’s Master Mentorship connects you with Master Mentors, including Al Fliction, Liz Cook, Kyle Dunbar, Boneface, Jordi Pla, and Marcel Oliveira.
Making Tattoo Training Accessible for Everyone
Ink Different offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego. You’ll also join a “Good Humans” culture, a supportive community where you’re never alone.
Remember: Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.
Ready to become a Tattoo Artist?
Megan Massacre turned an impossible TV assignment into her favorite specialty. Today, she runs Grit N Glory, which spent most of its life on Orchard Street on the Lower East Side before moving to the Village during COVID. Along with cover-ups, she loves tattooing pet portraits, especially cute cats and dogs.
If you’re considering a career change through a tattoo apprenticeship, start by applying.
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 at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. Fill out our quick questionnaire to see if it’s right for you.
To book with Megan, visit Grit N Glory in the Village or her website at meganmassacre.com. Follow her on Instagram at @megan_massacre, and follow Chico at @m4l_chico.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Megan Massacre become a cover-up expert?
On America’s Worst Tattoos, she had to complete tough cover-ups in about four hours each. The experience taught her techniques she still uses today.
How old does a tattoo need to be for a cover-up?
In Megan’s experience, tattoos under three years old are very hard to cover. Three to five years gives more room, and five to 10 years gives a lot more.
What designs work best for cover-ups?
Organic designs with texture, like flowers, feathers, fur, and scales. Portraits are harder unless they’re dark.
Why did Megan Massacre turn down Ink Master?
After reading the contracts, she felt the restrictions weren’t worth the pay. She made more money tattooing.
How long does the Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship take?
Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases, with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.
Can I train in Spanish?
Yes. Ink Different has Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego.
