We sat down with Kevin Ward from The Psych Ward Tattoos

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• How did you get into tattoos?

I started into tattoos for the money reason, no joke.  I’ve always appreciated the art, and I was in the airbrush industry prior to tattoos, which went down quickly.  The market just kind of died and I needed to make money.  Friends and family both convinced me that it would be a good choice, as I already would design and draw tattoos for so many people, so I tried it, and haven’t looked back since.  It was never a dream of mine as a youth, but has become my dream job.  It’s an adventure every day and the smiles and the happiness that people have when they leave my shop or get out of my chair is priceless.  I wouldn’t trade it at all for any other job now.

• Did you really choose Dorval to make it more convenient for people to fly in for their tattoos?  

Originally I chose Dorval because it was a central location. 20 minutes from Downtown Montreal and 20 minutes from our clients off Island. Lately we have had clients flying in from Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, so that was very convenient for them. It’s humbling to have people not only spend their hard earned money on a piece from me but to spend it on a flight and accommodations. It means a lot to me.

• Who dreamed up this Friday the 13th bash ideas and did you ever think it would be such a HUGE success?

My wife dreamed up this idea a few months after we opened. Hoping it would catch people’s attention. $13 tattoos with a $7 tip…Bring yourself and a $20 bill and you are set! People didn’t know about us so she thought this might get the word out. We had concerns that we would create this event and nobody would show up to our party. That didn’t happen. We had over 400 people show up, they were lined up down the street and around the building. We were in shock. Literally! An event that was set to run from 3pm to 10pm went from 3pm to 5 am the next morning!  This event isn’t a huge money maker…it was created to say “Hey! Here we are! Tell your friends” But in the end the buzz was so big that we decided to do it every Friday the 13th. This year will be our 3rd. The people that showed up to these events are incredible. We have families coming together, Mom’s and Daughters, Fathers and daughters and siblings. We even had a lovely woman who was 72 years old wait almost 12 hours in line. These folks have become friends to us…their support through social media and their support to our artists and apprentice have surpassed anything we could have ever hoped for. When we say that we have the best clients, we mean it.

• Coolest tattoo you ever made?​

There really is no “coolest” tattoo, I think that every tattoo has a “wow” factor involved.  Whether it’s small or large, the client’s happiness is essentially the most important part.  Though I do have preferences in what I do, I still give my 100% for each and every client.  My job is to be the artistic talent behind their ideas and I do my best always to accomplish their visions and lay it on their skin in the most professional way.

• It really feels like a family here, how did you create that?​

I don’t feel like a “family atmosphere” can be created. It just happens. As an artist I want to be in a comfortable space to be able to create well, thus making a space where a client can be comfortable as well. Pictures and decoration just come with that drive.  I think that the way that clients are greeted and interacting with the client in a respectful and polite manner is essential. I myself had a lot to learn in social etiquette, but my wife is a model when it comes to customer service and social behavior, and I’ve learned from her ways to help me interact with others, hence becoming also a model in which others have followed.  So far it works, and I know if changes need to be made in order to better the shop I will make it happen and we will continue to always grow.
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• Favorite joke?

Favorite Joke…So one of our artists, Eric Bovay, is famous for his “bad jokes”. During our first Friday the 13th event, he told each client the same joke. I’m not sure if it was because exhaustion was setting in but every time we would over hear Eric say in a monotone voice “Wanna hear a bad joke”? We would all burst into laughter. So I guess you could say the joke is kinda famous. Here is a video of Eric's famous joke:

• Seems that Friday the 13th is pretty lucky in the end, what the thing that makes you feel the most lucky?

Friday the 13th is definitely not bad luck here at The Psych Ward…What makes us feel lucky is that regardless of the weather our clients are willing to wait 12+ hours to get a tattoo from this shop. That’s pretty cool.

• Tell me about the other artists at the Psych Ward...

Where do I start…We are blessed with some awesome guys here at the shop.

Eric Bovay:  Eric was a client of mine for years. Eric was a farmer and worked driving tractors here and in Alberta. One day he showed me some of his drawings and I was shocked with how much potential he showed with his artistic outlook. We discussed an apprenticeship and started working together. He blows me away daily on how far he has come and how quickly he was creating beautiful pieces of art for our clients. He traded in his tractor for a tattoo machine and the rest is history. Eric was right by my side when we found this location and had a hand in every step of the renovations. The shop would not have opened in time if not for his help.  His energy, friendliness and smile reflects daily on the people at the shop and his clients.  He often says how lucky he is; I think we are the lucky ones.
 Facebook: Eric Bovay Tattoos 
Instagram: @ericbovaytattoos 
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Sam Ruest:  Sam was also a client of mine for years. He would come to get a tattoo almost once a week learning visually much in the same fashion as I had when I began. Sam is mostly self-taught. Sam is not only a client; he is a friend. When the shop opened I asked Sam if he wanted to join the team. He has a natural ability to learn quickly.  Sam has confidence and is very relaxed and works well with almost any client. He does Black and grey as do I and his style is similar yet different, and is a great asset to the team. Sam has a huge following and many returning clients!
 Facebook: Sam Ruest Tattoo Bu  
Instagram: @sam_tattoo_bu
Vimeo

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Ray Halle: Ray was a pleasant surprise. The music connoisseur. We weren’t in the market for another artist but when we met Ray he fit well. Ray had been tattooing for a few years but didn’t have the exposure he deserved or the training he needed to take his art to the places he wanted to go.  He works very hard and endlessly critiques his work looking for improvement.  He has only been with us for about a month and already he has a following and some returning clientele. He’s a cool dude. I’m not sure he is used to the craziness of the shop just yet… ​
Facebook: Ray Halle Tattoo Artist   
Instagram: @rayhalle.ink

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Fonzy: The Psych Ward’s newest apprentice. This guy’s personality and energy is high and addictive. He came in looking for a mentor in me and has become a good friend. His drive and desire to become a tattoo artist is what convinced me to take him on. He never gives up.  Minutes after meeting him, you feel like you have known him your whole life. Fonzy isn’t tattooing yet but he is compiling a ‘waiting list’ for when he is ready to put needle to skin. He will be a force to reckon with once he gets going.
Instagram: fonzybaby_

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Kevin Ward
Owner and Tattoo Artist

​​Instagram:  @mrkevinward
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Make sure you follow the shop on ​