Today we’d like to introduce you to Synthia Roy
Hi Synthia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started piercing professionally in 1994. I was working at a piercing and tattoo shop call Caribbean connection in Riverside back then. I was also going to Jacksonville University as a music and art major. Being an art major and hanging out with Tattoo artist at work, it was only a matter of time before I picked up a tattoo machine. 🙂 I was touring a lot with my band X- Sister Z back then. Whenever I came back from a tour I always had a spot piercing there but a lot of the tattoo spots were taken up so I would take a few years break from tattooing before I got back into it again. So I would say I’ve been tattooing a total of about 25 of those 30 years. I was at that tattoo shop for close to 18 years.
After working at that tattoo shop I helped a friend get his tattoo shop up and running in St. Mary’s Georgia. I was there for a little over a year doing both piercings and tattooing.
In September 2013 I helped build and get the shop Mystic Koi Tattoo and body piercing up and running. I worked for them for a little over 10 years.
So now that I’ve been in the business here in Jacksonville Florida for 30 years and I’m two years away from 50, it’s about time I took my turn at bat and started my own tattoo shop. 🙂
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I wouldn’t say that my piercing and tattoo career has been rough. It’s definitely been enjoyable. The things that made the road rough was the alcohol abuse in my life from age 18 to 37. Of course it was fun partying and playing rockstar with the band but it took its toll. In early 2013 I went into a two week coma from a bad alcohol detox but that definitely changed life for me. I have been clean and sober now since that day. I think that’s what’s going to help me secure my career in this new tattoo shop. I’ve seen a lot of tattoo shops go down or have major problems because of alcohol and drug abuse. My shop will be completely hard drug and alcohol abuse free. 🙂
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I have been tattooing professionally for 25 years and I’d like to think if I had a specialty in the Tattoo field it would be my color and fine line work. I have won several awards for my tattooing and body piercing over the years. Including best local artist with the Jacksonville community rainbow rewards in 2020 and best body Piercer in the folio weekly best of Jax several years including 2018 and 2023.
I also do special effects make up and prop design for horror movies. I’ve tried doing assistant Director and producer and executive producer work on films and some acting But I have won awards for my special effects make up work on several independent films, including being voted Best make up artist in the folio weekly‘s Best of Jax 2023 edition.
I’m also the singer songwriter for the band X-Sister Z. We have toured parts of the country several times over the past 20 years. We have shared stages with bands such as Mudvayne, members of Marilyn Manson, Gwar and Powerman 5000. Music was my first major at Jacksonville University. Visual arts was my second major and theater was my minor. So my original passion was with the music But in this chapter of my life I’m going to be a tattoo shop owner so we will see where the tides take me. 🙂
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Whether you call it luck or you call it karma I believe that had a small part to play in getting me through my multiple stages of life, including the stage of life I’m starting right now with the tattoo shop. I believe karma has helped out in many ways. as I learned in AA several years ago, it is always good to pay it forward, as they say. I like to think that I’ve been helpful in other peoples lives and that maybe it’s starting to come back and help me in some aspects. 🙂 but A lot of what has gotten me to where I am right now is patience and hard work. Ask anyone who knows me. They will say I’ve always been a hard worker. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.Synthiaroytattooandbodypiercing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/synthia_s_roy
- Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/SynthiaRoyTattoo
