Brandon Mercado’s first tattoo is just the first step in getting a piece that extends over his collarbones and shoulders.

As a sophomore two years ago, the now-senior information technology major took a road trip to Saratoga, N.Y. with some friends. He was intent on getting his first ink, a chest piece that reads “Live Life No Regrets.”

“The more I think about it, the less I really know,” Mercado said, describing the meaning behind his tattoo. “I’m a pretty sporadic person anyway. The idea was in my head, and I knew they have good artists in Saratoga.”

He collaborated with his tattoo artist to choose the script, and the whole process took roughly two hours.

The first time Mercado showed his mom his tattoo, she was not amused. Not a fan of body art, she had previously warned him against getting anything so permanent.

“She didn’t care about ink on my body, she cared about the perception,” he said with a laugh. “I think the fact that I wrote ‘Live Life No Regrets’ pissed her off.”

For his next step, Mercado aims to get the top and bottom of his chest outlined with tattoos.

Mercado plans to return to Saratoga, and may get stars or roses on his chest, along with his mother and grandmother’s initials. The overall outline will be similar to that of Chris Brown’s placement, reaching to the bottom of his shoulders.

“I want to go to the chick who did my tattoo, and let her do her thing with my input,” Mercado said.

Though, when it comes to the often strict judgment of the corporate world, Mercado is aware of the stigma placed on visible tattoos.

Said Mercado: “I will be conscious of about it. I know it will have some sort of impact, but, nowadays, pretty much everyone has a tattoo. It’s been normalized.”

Published on April 1, 2014 at 2:00 am

Contact Naomi: ncfalk@syr.edu