Listen to podcast interview with Jose Carrera, owner, Ocho Placas about tattoos and his Little Havana business

Posted by Elena del Valle on September 14, 2009

Photo: Jipsy

A podcast interview with Jose Carrera, owner, Ocho Placas is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Jose discusses his tattoo business in Miami’s Little Havana with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.

Jose refuses to think inside the proverbial box. Unwilling to categorize his tattoo style and art by genre or theme, the Miami-native has built a team of eclectic tattoo artists at Ocho Placas. He learned to tattoo en 1993 when his misdemeanors escalated into imprisonment. It was in jail that he inked for the first time, using a BIC lighter to channel negative energy into a creative outlet. Released in 1997, Jose worked at a handful of South Florida tattoo shops. In 2002, his entrepreneurial spirit ultimately drove him to open Ocho Placas in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.

These days, Jose’s leadership role is clear in his Eight Street parlor. He’s mentored many of the artists that he currently employs. In 2007, the once underground shop was awarded Best Tattoo Parlor recognition by the Miami New Times and most recently, Jose partnered with Kreepy Jaksin to launch the KreepyTiki Tattoo Lounge in Fort-Lauderdale. He enjoys tattooing the friendly neighbor as much as he does traveling to conventions and inking overseas. Born to Cuban and Ecuadorian parents in 1971, Jose has branched into painting oil on canvas, graffiti and t-shirt design.

To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Jose Carrera” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2009 section of the podcast archive.