Last night’s Grand Opening Party was an incredible experience for Malia and I. The turnout was impressive despite all of the other events around town. Thanks to all of you who came out to celebrate with us.
Towards the end of the night I stumbled through the crowd inviting everyone to come into the tent for a toast and to announce the winners of the raffle. It was obvious to me that I was going to butcher the speech I had been planning so I opted for a quick and easy abridged version. What follows is the speech I should’ve made-
“It took 8 months, countless sleepless nights, hours on the phone, planning, building, tearing down, painting, more painting, drawing, and tattooing- but I can proudly say that my dream, Ink & Dagger Tattoo Parlour, is now a reality.
This studio was built with the generous help of many dear friends. To all of you who lended your time and experience I would like to officially thank you. I honestly could not have pulled this off on my own.
Tonight, I’ve been on the receiving end of numerous complements about the general feel of the shop, it’s artists, it’s layout, and it’s vibe. Naturally, I am happy to hear that you guys think the studio turned out great. But lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what really makes a tattoo shop special. For me, it’s the stories. The countless hours of fun hanging out and tattooing new friends everyday. I know Malia feels the same. What I’m trying to say is that while the time for construction at Ink & Dagger is coming to a close, the time for making history is just beginning. We are proud to invite each and every one of you back time and time again for good times and great tattoos!”
-Russ Abbott 10/20/07