EThere are many challenges and opportunities to running a successful business: it takes dedication, tenacity, consistency and hard work. It also takes knowing when to make the right moves to better your business. Jake Baca, owner at Pumping Ink Tattoo Studio (located at 4001 Dyer St.) knows all about this. He’s been effective at staying relevant not only with his tattoo shop, but also with his annual event, The Great American Rockabilly Riot. We had the opportunity to speak with Jake about his tattoo shop as well as this year’s fest taking place at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.
What’s going on at Pumping Ink?
Jake: Nothing new, same vibe!
What do your artists specialize in?
Jake: Everything! Everybody specializes in their own; we have 14 tattoo artists here. We have 2 apprentices, 3 managers. Since we’re on the border of Fort Bliss [located in northeast El Paso], we have soldiers that come here and they want everything. So, we can’t just subject ourselves to one style, we have to do everything. Everybody is pretty much well rounded, but always having their specialty behind them.
Anything custom?
Jake: Anything custom, you name it! You bring us something and we’ll redraw it for you, we can rework anything. We do custom cover-ups, we do piercings and body modifications of different sorts. It’s not just a tattoo shop, it’s a piercing shop.
What’s going on with the Rockabilly Riot?
Jake: We moved it from the County Coliseum, which was Labor Day weekend 2018, to Sunland Park Casino. We partnered up with them and they’re doing so much for us. They’re actually wanting to partner up with us for next year so we can add the tattoo element back to it, but we’re (currently) dealing with the state and the city government as far as trying to come up with the right pricing, as far as the permits and the state licensing.
Do you have a date for the event?
Jake: For this year it’s going to be November 9th, and it’s mainly pin-up—no tattoos involved, but there’s going to be a car show and music. We have co-headliners this year, we’re turning it back and we’re doing it a little bit local. Instead of doing the Great American Rockabilly Riot, we cut out the Rockabilly and we’re doing the Great American Riot because we’re trying to push everything involved in Kustom Kulture. Kustom Kulture is everything involved in punk-rock, rockabilly, country—you name it, and different genres!
Our co-headliners this year are going to be Pissing Razors, which are a huge factor in El Paso and the surrounding area. Pissing Razors go way back, from the 90s. They’ve opened up for bands such as D.R.I., and we’re also bringing the Rockets out of Los Angeles. They’re more Rockabilly/psychobilly kind of style. And down from that we’re doing anything from Reggae style music, punk-rock, we’re going to have country bands and more soft-rock bands.
Why did you guys move it from the Coliseum?
Jake: Brian Kennedy and all the guys, all the years we did it there, 2 years in a row, they took care of us. I’m not going to bash anyone on anything. I just needed to step forward; our event is evolving. So, with us evolving that means we have to make changes. From the beginning we started at the Great American Steak House, and it got so big within 2 years that we had to move it to a bigger venue, which was Ascarate. Ascarate didn’t work out for us because it’s so hot out there and its nothing but pavement—to where we have the indoor/outdoor at the Coliseum which we worked out there. But, basically ticketing and Ticketmaster, this this and that…I’d rather have full control from the beginning. So, this year ticketing will be full control through us. There is not going to be any surcharges.
When and where can people get tickets?
Jake: Tickets go on sale September 15th. We’re looking at a $20 dollar price that’s in full and that covers you getting in the whole event. It’s an all ages event.
Anything else you want to add?
Jake: This year we’re also bringing back the burnout contest. That was a huge hit last year, the burnout contest was insane! These guys are coming from the east coast and they’re coming with extra tires to burn out and they want to pop tires in from of all of our spectators.
I would like to thank all the car clubs that are going to be at the event. I know it takes up a lot of time. There is a lot of people coming in from out of town that I would like to thank them, Rat Rod Magazine, Western Tech for always sponsoring us, every year they’re always looking out for us. Also any local vendors that are coming, I’d like to thank them, and trying to invite everyone out—come out and have a good time. It’s going to be Veteran’s Day weekend, so it’s a 3-day weekend!
https://www.facebook.com/GreatAmericanRockabillyRiot/
https://www.facebook.com/PITattoos/