By Jeeves, she’s got it.
A tattoo of the Johnson’s Residence butler, Jeeves, that is.
Taylor Hutchinson, 20, now has Jeeves on her ankle – which will gain her free entry into the Dunlop Street establishment on Friday nights.
“I just had to do it,” said Hutchinson. “My mother doesn’t know yet. I’m a bit worried about telling her.”
It’s not just the tattoo on her ankle.
It’s the story behind the tattoo.
It was a social media dare.
“I made a photo of someone with my face on it … and posted it randomly on Facebook,” said Jeeves Edwards, who has served as the host in the downtown entertainment venue since it opened six years ago.
“I pulled out all the stops and it went to 160 ‘likes’, within an hour.”
The Ruby Tattoo Studio joined the fun and offered to give the first 16 volunteers their tattoo, with the images chosen from a series especially designed for Jeeves and The Johnson’s Residence.
Hutchinson, who has six tattoos, was among the first volunteers to get inked. She could explain her others to her mother. They tell her story of how she suffered and recovered from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that temporarily paralyzed her when she was 17.
Her tattoos include sayings she’s written and there’s a bird learning to fly on her back, a symbol of her recovery and learning to walk again. There’s another, “Although she is but little, she is fierce.” And there’s another featuring inspirational lines she wrote, which showed her g cup to recover.
“When I was sick, I was paralyzed and I wrote it. I mouthed it and my ex wrote it down: I will not be sad about the things I cannot do yet. Instead I will be happy about the little things I accomplish.”
She expects having Jeeves on her ankle, though, could take some explaining to her mom.
And for Matt Lazzaro, his first tattoo is a red Solo cup, an iconic drinking cup on his upper left arm.
“It represents having fun, crazy times,” said Lazzaro, 23, who is using the opportunity to hide a childhood vaccination scar.
He he does, however, have an appointment to get a second tattoo next week. For his lower right arm, he’s envisioning one of the Canadian flag wrapped together with the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays logos.
Ruby Tattoo Studio owner Dana Browne, who goes by the artistic name Dana Rose, said she was eager to join in the fun because it’s a way for local businesses to support each other.
“The whole idea is crazy and awesome,” Browne said. “We’re donating our time and supplies to cross-promote. They’re all here with one interest – The Johnson’s Residence.”
The Johnson’s Residence is located on Dunlop Street East and was formerly known as The Mansion.
Opened by Dusty Leigh, the establishment is set up as a house, with a kitchen, a bedroom and activity areas such as a Mario Karts area, a ball pit and even a foosball table. There is, of course, also a dance floor.
It offers Barrie a house-party theme Friday and Saturday nights.
Jeeves is the host who works to make guests of all ages welcome and relaxed.
“We have groups of 19 and 20 year olds, 25s and up, 30s and they all party shoulder to shoulder. It’s extremely unique,” said Jeeves, who added he has also hosted milestone birthday celebrations, including two 60s.
The tattoo options include several of Jeeves, a couple featuring coloured balls in reference to the ball pit and a red Solo cup.
“The (Jeeves) tattoo itself has no eyes, nose or mouth and there’s a reason for that: He’s very person. It would represent the time you had at The Johnson’s Residence,” said Jeeves, who said he always wanted to be a butler.
The energy at Ruby Tattoo Studio during the special day was incredible, said Browne.
“Here these people are, willing to get this on their skin forever because that’s how firmly they stand behind Jeeves and The Johnson’s Residence. Today has been crazy busy!” said Browne.
“I met some amazing people and had so many laughs. It was challenging, fast-paced and just rewarding. Working hand-in-hand with local business is what a community is.”
