# Ink Master and Face Off / Same But Different **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364 "2015-09-15T14:53:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364/1 "2015-09-15T14:53:01Z")
So I’ve been watching _Ink Master_ on Spike Network since season 1, as well as\* Face Off\* on Syfy since season 1. I love both shows for what they are, as I am fascinated by the make up artist industry and being an artist myself, I am in awe at what tattoo artists can do on the human body. But anyway, on to my point… In my opinion, these shows are remarkably similar and yet different as well. They both have a group of contestants who are faced with a particular challenge for each episode. Both shows have a host and a group of expert judges. Both shows have the contestants staying together in a house of some sort during the competition. The format for each episode is roughly the same for both shows as well. The big thing that I find interesting is the way the contestants interact with each other. On _Face Off_, they all get along well and even help each other at times, with genuine interest in trying to help each other succeed. They are also sad and emotional when one of them gets eliminated from the show. They are like a big family. _Ink Master_, however, has the contestants fighting and cussing almost every episode, talking smack about each other and never really trying to help each other, unless it may benefit both players together. It’s as if they are trying to make tattoo artists out to be total jerks and makeup artists out to be friendly sensitive weirdos. I don’t know, it just seems odd to me how the 2 shows are so similar yet portrayed so differently. What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364/2 "2015-09-16T04:39:33Z")
It’s the same format for almost every competition show. Project Runway, Top Chef, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364/3 "2015-09-16T11:19:09Z")
That may be true, but I was only referring to those 2 because I actually watch them. I don’t watch _Project Runway_, _Top Chef_ etc. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364/4 "2015-09-16T15:00:34Z")
My friend was over doing a tattoo for me a few weeks ago. He does them independently now because he wasn’t making enough money at shops. He’s been tattooing for at least 10, maybe 15 years. He didn’t seem to have anything good to say about anyone else he worked with over those years. And he’s a pretty affable guy. I can’t speak for costume makeup designers. Don’t know any. I wonder if the difference is that tattoo artists can be very, very solo. They have little need for outside input or help. It’s an intimate thing between the artist and the customer. Costume artists will need to lean on others much more often and work as a part of a group to make something for “the public.” So they have to get along. ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@Dante\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_G)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2015, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ink-master-and-face-off-same-but-different/731364/5 "2015-09-16T15:14:33Z")
Good point Zipp. Thanks for the comment.