Enter Token Tom's  Eye of the Dragon

Tattoo Experience

• Early 60s - Did my first tattoo at age 12 or 13. Practiced on my friends (Needle, thread & India ink - very primitive) - results were awful.

   

• Mid 70s - Began tattooing as a hobby under the name "Wahoo."

   

• '77 - Began tattooing full speed ahead under the name "Lonesome Tom."

   

• '81 - Went on tour, changing my name to "Token Tom." A TOKEN is a symbol or a memento. A TATTOO IS A TOKEN of where a person is coming from at that time in their life. It had a double meaning because back then I was also a hippy. Need I say more. All I can say is, I DID inhale. They say if you remember the 70's you weren't really there and I THINK I was there and I THINK I do remember inhaling something. Can't remember what it was for sure. Could have been pot, banana peels, catnip or a combination of all 3. LOL

   

• '81-'83 - Tattooed on circuit through North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, and Canada.

   

• '83-'88 - Had 2 studios in Phoenix, AZ.

   

• 1985 - I wrote and published several books on how to tattoo, which I later sold to the owner of one of the largest tattoo supply companies in the world. He now publishes an updated version which is only right since he taught me how to tattoo in the first place, over the phone. He says I can't mention the name of the book because he bought the copyright to it, including the title which he kept, so I won't mention it by name. I will only say it rhymes with Pappooing J - C.

   

• 1988 - Left Phoenix and toured the country, tattooing as I traveled through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, The U.P. (Upper Peninsula), Wisconsin, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and finally, Florida. I ended up in Ormond Beach, just outside of Daytona Beach. I toured much of Florida, tattooing at many events. I was also the engraver for the Harley Owners Group (HOG) during Bike Week in Daytona Beach.

   

• 1990 - Moved back to Idaho, tattooing along the way in Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada. Tattoo Convention at Club 91 - my tattoos won all but one of the awards.

   

• 1992 - I learned the art of permanent make-up and was certified by Louise Carrol, a registered nurse, who has made her living for 20 years applying permanent make-up on burn victims and cancer patients who have lost their hair, brows, and lashes. Tattoo Convention at the First National Bar - my tattoos won all of the awards.

   

• 1994 - After many years of dabbling in hypnosis, I was certified as a hypnotherapist in 1994. I am also a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists. Tattoo Convention at the Benton Street Bar - my tattoos won all but 2 of the awards.