Donny Manco's New Republic Tattoo

Summer Is Here!

2010-05-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

Cool! Welcome to Summer 2010! It's gonna be a blast, right? If you're thinking no, then you need to get with the program!

I'm back to work busting butt, and making the best tattoos of my career right now! Hope you've got one coming up soon! Thanks for all of your patience with my schedule---I always knew I had the world's best clientele. You guys rock on forever!

My Crew is top notch. There is none better, I will put my word on it. These guys are in their prime, come get some ink before you miss out. Dominick, Dusty, Fred, Nate, Zeke --- unfadable. Don't play around about it. And Jake and Junior, too? Forget about it.

And, I'm proud to announce the newest arrival to the NRT family --- New Republic Skate: A Community Project. Way more details available with a new web page coming up soon. Stay tuned this week!

Plus: New exciting info about a friend of ours! Don't be the last person to know this guy's name---because it's only a matter of time before everyone is talking about JUSTIN WOODS! You better ask somebody.
And our own Nate Click is Scheduled to compete in the Indiana Highland Games on June 12! Nate has been training hard, and he's ready to show you how it's done *wink. Good luck to our other comrades---the strongest, baddest dudes you've ever met: John O'Connor, Pete Vanderweele, Matt Roberts, and all the guys reppin us on the New Rep Strongman Team. Again, you need to ask somebody.

See everyone soon with more information.
Donny

An Open Letter From Donny

2010-04-25T07:53:00.000-07:00

To my friends and tattoo clients,

I thought it would be helpful to pull my thoughts together and put them here where I could address everybody with the same message.

My wife, Sarah, has chronic respiratory issues, and has lived with asthma her entire life. As you may already know, on Monday morning, April 19th at 1:00am, she had a severe asthma attack that resulted in a 100% closing of her airways. As you can imagine, it was the most serious kind of crisis that can result from her condition. Four and a half days in ICU (and six days of hospitalization) later, she has come home. She is on the mend, but she is nowhere near 100%. The trauma to her airways will take many days to heal, and her recovery is going to require a lot of attention and support from her loved ones.

Missing as much work as I have this last week will be pretty devastating to my already hectic schedule---and that is the main reason I am writing this letter. If you have an appointment with me, or have tried to make one with me recently, then you understand already how busy and overwhelming my workload has been. I have done my best to serve my clients well, but now I need to seriously focus on mending my family and caring for my wife. This means that I can only return to work in a limited way until I've seen this through.

Unfortunately, many of my scheduled appointments will have to be rescheduled or postponed indefinitely. I understand that this will be very disappointing for some of you, especially for those of you who have been waiting many weeks for your tattoo. I am sorry, but this is the way it has to be. I am talking with my shop managers now in an effort to triage the best plan for my scheduling transitions.

Please understand… I have been working 6 days a week for the last year or more. Most days are 10 hour days. Even working at this rate I have been booked 2-3 months consistently. As much as this appears to be a successful scenario, it has its severe shortcomings. For example, what do I do with a week of displaced appointments when I have a family emergency? Where do I put the 60 hours of work that has to be rescheduled? Do I simply reschedule this last week of missed work for 3 months from now at the end of my schedule--despite the amount of time those folks have already waited for their appointment? Or do I turn my 60 hour work week into 80-100 hour work weeks until I’ve caught up? It’s a complicated scenario, whether I miss a week for a family emergency, or a single day because I feel under the weather.

My main goal as an artist has always been to connect with people in a way that changes both our lives for the better. In fact, my greatest desire has always been to be a people pleaser---to make my clients happy---but I’ve found more and more that my hectic schedule has hurt my ability to do this. It’s my fault, really, because I simply cannot say “no”. I’ve taken on all of your projects, no matter how big or small, and I have never charged the rates others in my position command. I don’t mind doing whatever I can to help those who seek me out, but I see now how it has hurt the big picture. So now, as my family needs me most, I will be taking steps to tame my schedule. My goal is to return to a mode of work that I can enjoy and find fulfillment in, while spending the time I need at home to keep my family healthy. As much as I would like everyone to be on board with my plan, I can assume now that there are those clients out there that will be upset and will not understand. For you, I am sorry, but I invite you to find another artist, and another shop, to work on your project.

At my shop I am surrounded by the best tattooists in the Midwest. Each has agreed to help me serve my clients in whatever capacity they can. I will be returning to work soon, and will concentrate on completing unfinished work, and taking care of those who are on board with my new plan. Please, I ask for your continued patience and understanding.

Sincerely,
Donny Manco

New Shirt Available

2010-03-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

New Republic has another new shirt design. Designed by Dusty Neal, the shirt can be purchased here at our shop for $20. Come in and get yours while supplies last. At this time, available sizes are S-XL & 3XXL.

Champions

2010-03-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to John O'Connor, Pete VanderWeele and the rest of the team for winning the St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Challenge this March 17th.

Holiday Bash!

2009-11-20T16:30:00.000-08:00

The holidays are right around the corner. Be sure to save the date and mark the calender. We'd love to have you come out to our celebration.

New Rep Community

2009-11-20T15:00:00.000-08:00

We take pride in supporting events and activities that make our community a better place to live!

Justin Woods

We'd like to introduce Justin as the newest addition to our community. He and his family have been getting tattooed from us so it made sense to sponsor him once we found out he was doing MMA. He's certainly qualified, as an undefeated 2008 State Champion Wrestler from Leo High School, Justin's successfully transitioned to MMA with a 3-0 record. We are proud to sponsor him and invite all patrons to help in supporting him. His next big fight is 12/31. Keep in touch for more details soon.

New Republic Tattoo Baseball Team at Georgetown Little League

Congratulations to Memphis Manco and all the players and coaches of the New Republic Tattoo team for a winning first season! Next year will be even better!

New Republic Tattoo Soccer Team Wins City Championship

Congratulations Fred Ray and the members of the New Republic Men's Soccer team for an amazing season! We are fortunate to be connected to such a talented team of athletes.

Welcome John O'Connor to the New Republic Tattoo Family!
When John came to NRT for a St. Florian tattoo, we knew right away that he was serious about firefighting. When he mentioned that he also was a Highland Games competitor, we knew he was just plain serious. But don't be afraid, this guy's intensity is surpassed only by kindness. We are proud to support John's efforts to be a real life superhero for the people he protects in our community.

2009 Kalamazoo Scottish Festival. Way to go John!

SHIRTS!! Finally...

2009-11-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

We will soon have shirts again!

Each will be $15 and will display the image below on black. In the past we've had trouble with running out of shirts quickly and not having a person's size. To combat this issue, if you'd like to make sure that you get one please drop us a line with:

Your Name
Shirt Size
Phone Number & Email

We will contact you when you can pick it up. Hope you like it.

Holiday Party Coming Up

2009-10-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

New Republic will be having our 2nd annual Holiday Celebration this year on December 5th. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. We plan on having an even bigger party this year and hope everyone comes out.

There will be food, drinks, contests, raffles, door prizes, live music and more.
Save the date!

Readers Pick Winner: Best Tattoo Shop

2009-10-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you for making us the Readers Pick winner for best tattoo shop two years in a row. We appreciate all the support we have had and continue to receive from everyone here in the community.

Check us and all the other Fort Wayne Reader winners: HERE

We are at the listed at the bottom of the page in the "Places to Go" section.

Thanks again!

Shout Out

2009-10-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the band Continuance for getting signed to Rise Records and on their upcoming album. A special thanks for wearing one of our shirts in the band pictures. Most of the members, past and present, have been tattooed by artists here and we appreciate it. Thanks a lot.

For those of you who haven't heard them. Listen to them: HERE

Recent Press

2009-09-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, our very own Dusty Neal has been featured in the Fort Wayne Reader on two occasions. One article mentions a painting he submitted to the Art Link 2009 Member's Show, you can read it here. The other article was written about his opening reception at the University of Saint Francis Gala that featured a solo exhibition of his work in the Spotlight Gallery. That article can be found here.

Thank you to the Fort Wayne Reader!

Built From the Ground Up

2009-09-15T00:29:00.000-07:00

We came across some old photos during the two week period we spent creating the shop. Here are a few photos showing the progression of it all, leading into pictures taken after everything finally came together. This should give you an idea of how important our shop is to us, and all the work we put in building New Republic into what it is now.

2009-09-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

Would you like to stay in touch with us here at New Republic?
Subscribe to this site by going to the "Followers" section at the bottom right column of this page. It's free and only takes a minute. All one needs is an account with either Google, AIM, or Yahoo.

Followers will be kept in the loop and won't miss out on any new developments.

No Way, Not Now, Not Ever...

2009-09-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, Zeke did not make the final casting call for Blood In Blood Out, however, he did make it into the publication, Classy Vatos Monthly.This bike was acquired by our own Nate Click in exchange for his tattooing abilities. His client actually made the bike. It is plated in 10k gold, classy huh? We are now commissioning Mr. Nick Green to make a "New Republic Tattoo" themed bike.

Viva La Revolucion!

Post Secret: Thank You

2009-09-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who alerted us to our appearance on Postsecret.com.

To the one who posted it, right back at you!

News: Welcome to the New Website!

2009-09-02T06:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by the new blog/website. This style of webpage will be way easier for us to update---and therefore easier for us to inform you of all the cool things going on at the studio!

Make yourselves at home, and be sure to post a comment on our Feedback blog.

Peace, Donny

Feedback!

2009-09-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

Feedback! Go ahead, tell us your thoughts, concerns, anecdotes, and recommendations.

Artist Spotlight at the University of Saint Francis

2009-09-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

Our very own Dusty Neal. Congratulations!

Booking Appointments

2009-09-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

The best way to discuss possible tattoos is in person! It is extremely difficult to accomplish a plan for a visual project without using visuals. Only in person can we be sure that the client and artist are on the same page when talking about a visual project. That being said, we can not book appointments or quote prices over the phone.

We understand that some clients are traveling from far off places and only then are we able to attempt booking by other means.

So if you'd like to book an appointment please come in to the shop to do so. Bring any and all references with you and be prepared to discuss your idea clearly and in great detail.

The formula for determining the cost of a commissioned tattoo is:

Size+Complexity+Color+Location=Time & Time=Money

In order to give a fair quote, we must know all these elements so that we can book an appointment. Booking appointments requires a $20 deposit ($50 for $200+ tattoos). All deposits must be made in cash. This is a non-refundable charge which comes off the cost of the entire tattoo.

We accept cash and credit card (Mastercard or Visa) only. There is a 10% processing fee for all credit card charges.

Stop in to visit when you are on our end of town to see exactly why New Republic Tattoo has been voted Fort Wayne's Favorite Tattoo Studio for two years running!

DONNY MANCO'S NEW REPUBLIC TATTOO
6652A St. Joe Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46836

We are one mile north of Pierre's across from the north end of Shoaff Park. Our neighbors are Bikes-n-Boards and Mama Mia's Pizza.

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11a - 7p

Artists

2009-09-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

These are the artists of the New Republic

Donny Manco
Myspace
DonnyManco.com

Dominick Manco
DominickManco.com

Dusty Neal
Myspace
Blog

Fred Ray
Myspace

Nate Click
Myspace

Zeke Edwards
Myspace

Contact/Location

2009-09-01T06:40:00.001-07:00

Contact Us!

Are you thinking about getting a tattoo from one of our artists? The best way to discuss possible tattoos is in person! It is extremely difficult to accomplish a plan for a visual project without using visuals. Only in person can we be sure that the client and artist are on the same page when talking about a visual project.

It is important to mention that we do not give tattoo quotes over the phone, email, myspace, etc. The formula we typically use to determine the cost of a commissioned tattoo is:

Size+Complexity+Color+Location=Time and Time=Money

Our approach to determining tattoo quotes works very efficiently for us when we can talk in person---not so well over the phone or online.

For more information on how to book an appointment, please visit "Booking Appointments" in the Links section on the right hand side.

Besides, seeing is believing. Stop in to visit when you are on our end of town to see exactly why New Republic Tattoo has been voted Fort Wayne's Favorite Tattoo Studio for two years running!

DONNY MANCO'S NEW REPUBLIC TATTOO
6652A St. Joe Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46835

We are one mile north of Pierre's across from the north end of Shoaff Park. Our neighbors are Bikes-n-Boards and Mama Mia's Pizza.

Email: newrepublictattoo@gmail.com

Phone: 260.387.5886

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11a - 7p

Aftercare/Follow Up

2009-09-01T06:40:00.000-07:00

At New Republic Tattoo, we care about the healed appearance of you new tattoo. Follow these instructions to guarantee the best results!

1. We will bandage your tattoo before you leave our studio. Please leave your bandage on for one to two hours. Remove your bandage very carefully when you are in a safe environment where you can properly clean your tattoo.

2. Wash your new tattoo with fragrance free liquid soap. We do not endorse a certain brand, but we recommend that you choose a basic soap, and avoid soaps with additives (scents and moisturizers). Avoid friction to your wet tattoo. Always pat dry or air dry the area of your body where your healing tattoo is located.

3. Many ointments on the market work well for healing tattoos. If you are new to healing tattoos and want a recommendation, we recommend Vitamin A&D ointment. It is typically used for diaper rash, but is an industry standard for tattoo aftercare because it works extremely well for keeping your healing tattoo healthy and protected. Use a thin coat of Vitamin A&D ointment on your tattoo 2-3 times daily for the first 3 days after your tattoo procedure. After the third day, switch to a fragrance free moisturizing lotion for the remainder of one week. Use lotion as often as needed to prevent dryness.

4. Very important: No rubbing, picking, or scratching (and, yes, we can tell by looking at your healed tattoo). No swimming, hot tubs, or tanning for 10 days following your tattoo procedure. Avoid all friction to the tattooed area until the tattoo is completely healed.

Please, if you have any additional questions concerning your healing tattoo, call us at 260.387.5886. Anyone who answers the phone will be qualified to assist you.