Karly Madill is waiting her turn at the Okey Doke Tattoo Shop to get a new design inked onto her ankle, but doesnt know yet what it will be. Shes letting the gumball machine decide.
Usually people put some careful thought into a tattoo. After all, they may wear it for life. But at the Dundas St. W shop, for $80, a customer can insert a token into the gumball dispenser and out spits a capsule containing a design. If the customer doesnt like it, tough.
We dont force you to get the tattoo, but you lose your money, explains tattoo artist Franz Stefanik. Thats the gamble.
Inside those capsules, its a mixed bag. There are some safe standards hearts and daggers, roses and retro cartoonish ones of Hamilton, the French bulldog who lounges around the shop, as well as edgier designs middle fingers and a crude lady with a donkey.
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Karly Madill shows off the angel tattoo that the machine picked out for her.
I dont think there would be anything so offensive I wouldnt do it. But maybe theres a wild card in there, says Madill, 30, with a laugh, eying the gumball dispenser. Im living on the edge.
She turns the gumball dispenser crank decisively and out flies a capsule with a drawing of a chubby cherubs backside, complete with wings. That was fun. My heart was racing, says Madill, a makeup artist, as she heads to the tattoo table. The angel is adorable. Ill take it.
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Okey Doke has had the dispenser for a month, with about 30 customers taking the risk. So far, everyone has gone ahead with the gumball-given design, says Stefanik.
The idea sprang from a conversation at the shop. Theyd heard about some places in the U.S. letting clients pick a design out of a hat or spinning carnival wheels, explains Stefanik. That morphed into the vending machine plan, and they ordered one. Its likely the only one of its kind in Toronto.
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A tattoo of Hamilton the French bulldog is one of the tattoos that randomly pops out of the machine.
The $80 price for a take-your-chance tattoo is the shop minimum, and a good deal, explains Stefanik. He says most of the dispensers designs would normally cost $120 to $140.
Those willing to gamble are usually longtime tattoo collectors, who want a little something to fill in an empty space, says Stefanik.
The tattoo artists head is down, perfecting a Grim Reaper on the ankle of a client, Andrew Reid. Hes not tempted by the gumball machine. Not yet. At this stage, I have a plan in my head of what I want, says Reid. But if I were in here with a couple of friends, it would be a cool thing to do.
Colin McConnell/Toronto Star
Karly Madill shows off the angel tattoo on her ankle that the machine picked out randomly for her.
Rachel Meyer and Steve Daniel have come into the shop with definite designs. He wants a fish taco and she, a pig-headed taco. We like Mexican food, says Meyer. Itll be a couple tattoo, but without names, they explain.
As for the tattoo-by-chance approach, Meyer says shed be game if she had more tattoos. That way, a funny design wouldnt stand out.
Madills cherub butt is now finished, displayed on her ankle, above the band of stars, next to the cat in a wig. Im very happy, she says. Its perfect and exactly where its meant to be.
Score one for the gumball machine.
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