Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Rains.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was always extremely good at drawing as a kid, but honestly never thought it would lead anywhere let alone lead to where I’m at in life now. The idea of being a tattoo artist never once popped in my head until one day I was getting one of my first tattoos done and I randomly asked if they were looking for an apprentice and they said: “Yeah actually we are”.
They then asked if I had a portfolio and I lied to them and said yes, ad they asked if I’d bring it in the next day so I went home that night and drew five portraits as fast as I could, took them back into the shop the next day and they hired me on the spot. That was literally the exact moment I realized I may become a tattoo artist. The same thing could have happened to me at any shop anywhere in that city and I would have been just as excited, but I lucked out and ended up apprenticing at one of the best shops in the country.
It was terrifying and exciting at the exact same time, but I felt like the universe put me there for a reason so I decided to put everything I had into it and haven’t stopped since. Chelsea Dolen just joined my team as a Permanent Makeup Artist/Microblade Artist so we are now an Exclusive Body Enhancement Studio and are expanding into a few other areas of body Enhancement that will be announced very soon.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is way way WAY too many to name, so I’ll just say yes, there have been a lot.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Probably the biggest thing a lot of my clients/people don’t realize is that I’m also a musician on the radio as well. I’ve always intentionally kept the two worlds separate and don’t bring it up because I didn’t want people coming in to get tattooed just because I was the guy they heard singing on the radio. I wanted to get tattooed because they liked my tattoo work, and I wanted them to buy the music and come to concerts because they actually liked the music.
The reality however is, I’ve had three top-five singles on the billboard rock radio charts, I do arena tours all over North America with all of the other bands you hear on the radio, and when I’m not on tour I tattoo. They kind of go hand in hand together with scheduling a demographic and you name it, so I’m just now starting to bring the two worlds together.
My Musical artist name is “Rains”, and it’s on every music platform that exists, and I’m actually releasing a new single on the radio in the next few weeks.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My Daughter, My Girlfriend, Creating Music, Creating Tattoos, Living life, Helping other people succeed(sometimes to a fault). I feel like what I get to do for a living are things most people hope to do as hobbies, and I feel like I’ve been given a really good life and I just want to make the best of it, I’ve made PLENTY of mistakes in life, but I’ve done my best to learn from them and keep moving forward and now every day I get to wake up and either draw on people or sing to people and get paid for both.
Yes stuff still goes wrong, yes I have good days and bad days just like everyone else. I have serious anxiety issues and most likely have a little drop of depression mixed in as well once in a while, but all in all, I’m very happy and grateful to have built the life I currently have.
Contact Info:
- Email: rainstattooco@gmail.com
- Website: www.rainstattooco.com
- Instagram: @rainstattooco
- Facebook: @rainstattooco
- Twitter: @rainstattooco
Image Credits
Allie Buonie and Chelsea Babin
