Ink Master season 10 interview: DJ Tambe previews being a coach on ‘Return of the Masters’
DJ Tambe certainly had a number of advantages entering this season. He came into the season as the most-recent winner, and with that in mind he was the freshest in terms of remembering how this competition works. In our new exclusive interview below, DJ touches on being a part of this season, what some of the challenges were for him, and if he would ever come back to compete himself down the road.
CarterMatt – What can you say about the twist and being a part of the show this season?
DJ Tambe – It’s a super-crazy season. Just like every other season of Ink Master there are twists around every corner. You have 24 artists trying to get onto just 18 spots. It’s a fight right from the beginning. Me and the other two coaches, Steve Tefft and Anthony Michaels, get to battle it out in the end for another $100,000. I’m gonna see if I can win it again.
Being the most-recent winter of Ink Master, did you find that that there was added pressure to defend the title?
Of course. Everyone thought I was crazy for coming right back, but I definitely have a name to uphold and I’m definitely try to win again. I was feeling that way all season. I was the freshest in everyone’s mind. I didn’t get a chance to completely prove myself last season, so this gives me a second chance to do it by myself.
How different was it being there this time without Bubba?
It was a little different. It was always good to have a friend there to talk things out who had already been through it. Going into this, I was sure I would know some people and turned out that I knew a bunch of people. It was great to have friends there again. It was just different being on the other side of the fence. Not being able to tattoo all the time or draw, it takes a toll on me because I like doing that stuff.
How familiar with Steve and Anthony going in? Had you met them before?
Anthony I had met before a few times — we’re friends outside of everything and I knew about Anthony’s work. I knew he was a really tough competitor. Steve, I really didn’t know that much about. I’m pretty sure I watched his season, but I wasn’t too familiar with his work.
What was your experience like being a coach?
It was awesome. I love teaching people anything I can, and just for artists to think I’m capable of teaching is cool to me. It gives me a little bit of anxiety, but it was a lot of fun. I couldn’t always get involved with them, and that was hard.
So would you say that this was your biggest struggle as a coach, not being able to jump in and get things done?
Oh, for sure. Not being able to pick up a pencil or be hands-on — I’m a real hands-on person, so not being able to show these guys stuff was the hardest thing for me. I’m like doing football plays on my hand and lining things up on a table to show them how to do things. It was tough.
Were there specific sorts of artists you were looking for going into this?
I’m a pretty good judge when I see tattoos — I’m really good at critiquing. I knew what I was looking for going in and could see who had a strong art background and who can draw. I knew if I’d seen something before. I was really looking for people who were strong in art first and foremost, because the flash challenges take a lot of art. It’s not all about tattoos.
Did you specifically look for people who you could find some sort of common ground with, that you understood on some level?
Yeah. It’s difficult to know right off the bat who has that and who does that, especially not knowing their backgrounds going in. So yeah, it was super-tough to judge and make a split decision. I did what I could figure it out.
Related – Check out our interview with Anthony Michaels about season 10
Is there anything that you learned as a mentor that you didn’t learn as a contestant?
I had never coached anything before. I had never coached Little League or any kind of sport, I’m just a tattooer. When I came into this it was a little different, but I knew I could be a positive role model for everybody and to keep everyone’s head up. Have them doing their best art. You’ll see as the season goes along, but all of our coaching methods are really different.
Would you ever want to come back and compete on an all-winners or an All-Stars season?
I’ll compete on anything, literally. I’m always ready.
Related – Check out our interview with Steve Tefft about season 10
What do you want to see from DJ on Ink Master season 10?
Be sure to share some of your thoughts in the comments below!
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