When Israeli-born Ami James moved to New York to work in tattoo parlors in 1992 — five years before they were legal — starring on a TV show was far from what he had in mind. Even now, the star of the six-year-old “Miami Ink” and, now, “NY Ink,” says it’s all about the ink — not the fame. If he could have opened his tattoo parlor, Wooster Street Social Club, without it being on a reality show, he would have.
“But I knew it would be a good promotion,” says James, 39. Now, in addition to inking about five clients a day, he also signs 50 or so autographs and designs T-shirts, which are sold for $39 out of the SoHo shop and online.
At 11 every morning, fans and potential clients line up outside the shop, waiting for James and his handful of co-stars — Tim Hendricks, Tommy Montoya and Megan Massacre — to fire up their tattoo guns and get to work. As for his own tattoos, which cover his arms from shoulder to wrist, he would reconsider every one if he could start over.
“I don’t regret having tattoos. I just regret the ones I have,” he says.
As for his family, his wife has no tattoos, and he prefers it that way. “When you’re cooking steak all day, you don’t want to eat steak when you get home,” he reasons. And if he has his way, his daughter, Shayli, 3, will “never” get tattoos. “That would be like putting a bumper sticker on a Lamborghini,” he says.
Earlier this month, as “NY Ink” wrapped its first season, we sat with James at his tattoo shop and talked to some freshly inked fans.