If you didn’t know already, my girlfriend tattoos. Because of this, people have a lot of questions for me, and I’d thought I’d take this opportunity to address them, so this is not directed at any one particular person. Additionally I find a lot of people aren’t really aware of what the tattoo experience entails, how they should be prepared, how they should expect to pay, and how they should interact with the artist. Hopefully this will help you and your artist or future artist have a good relationship.

On making an appointment and getting a price and tipping:

• It’s a good idea to make an appointment, even if you’re just coming in to get ideas. Then the artist will have a specific block of time set aside to help you, otherwise you might have to wait behind a lot of people who made appointments or came in before you.
• I am not Alana’s secretary. If you want a tattoo price, if you want to make an appointment, or more importantly cancel one, you need to talk to her. Particularly, do not hit and run IM me.
• Don’t skip out on appointments, call and cancel at least a day in advance. Skipping appointments without a reasonable notice costs the artist a lot of time and money.
• An artist generally cannot give you a price on something without seeing it and without knowing what size you want it. For a better idea of price ask what the shop minimum is, if the minimum is low their hourly rate is probably lower as well. Some factors in the price of the tattoo include size, complexity, if it is in an area that will require a lot of touch ups*, amount of colors required, and how big of a pain in the ass you are to the artist. The only real way to know an exact price, however, is to take your ready made design or idea into the shop and ask the artist.
• Getting a tattoo is not like buying a used car. The artist will give you the best price they can, it is not in their best interest to treat you like a sucker. You do not need to try and bargain.
• You get what you pay for, and one tattoo artist is not interchangeable with another. If you want a quality piece of work on your body for the rest of your life, you’d be an idiot not to pay for one. I’m not talking about paying a ridiculous amount, but you’re not really doing yourself any favors by saving yourself $40 to go to a different artist.
• You’re not going to get a good tattoo from anyone who will work with you in trade for weed or beer or at the hourly rate of a McDonalds employee. An artist does not get to keep all of the money you pay for your tattoo, they only keep a percentage.
• You tip the person bringing you your food 20 - 25%, so it should be obvious you not only tip the person putting a design on your body for the rest of your life, but you tip them well. This ensures good karma, as well as a good continued relationship.
• Don’t tell your artist you only have $100 to spend and then pull out $200.

On choosing and designing your tattoo:

• Not everyone’s style is going to mesh with your own. It’s a good idea to look at someone’s portfolio before committing to work with them, then you’ll know what you’re in for.
• Have a clear idea of what you want, the artist is not going to pick the tattoo for you.
• Don’t ask an artist to draw something just to see it. Their time is money, so if you’re making them take that valuable time to draw you something you’d better be planning on getting it.
• A few changes are okay, but do not make the artist change the design and redraw it 50 times. If you need that many changes, you’re not ready to commit to this for the rest of your life, go home, think about it, and come back when you’re ready.
• If the artist tells you something is a bad idea and won’t work, you should listen to them. They do about 1500 tattoos a year (no exaggeration) so they know what will and won’t work on skin.
• Have multiple ideas about the placement of your tattoo in case your design doesn’t work in your first choice.

On treating your artist with respect and the client / artist relationship:

• It is in your best interest, as a repeat tattoo customer, to establish a good relationship with one artist. All of your tattoos will have a consistent look and feel as opposed to a slapped together collage. Also this allows the artist to get to know you and understand your needs and tastes. It’s okay to start working with a new artist if you move away. It’s insulting to get a really good tattoo from one artist, and then go to another out of laziness, or price constraints. They won’t want to work with you again if they know you might surround their work with crap.
• It is also extremely disrespectful to begin a tattoo with one artist, and go to another to finish it. The exception to this would be if you were unsatisfied with the original artists’ work or moved an unreasonable distance away.
• Don’t waste the artist’s time. This means, don’t tell them about a tattoo they’ll be excited to work on, get their ideas, say you’ll get it from them, and then without any warning go to someone else.
• If someone tattoos for a living, just because you are their friend does not mean they can afford to give their work away for free or ridiculously cheap. Would you expect this of a mechanic, doctor or any other professional friend? This is their career, not a store in the mall. This doesn’t mean you won’t get a small discount, and repeat visits will probably also get you a small price break.
• Basically, tattooing is not like working at Target. Do not treat your artist that way. The work they do on you is very personal to them, as it should be, treat them accordingly. Be flexible, respectful and use common sense. You’re getting something for the rest of your life, you should be concerned about its quality.

On having the best experience possible for all parties:

• This should be a no brainer, and probably does not apply to anyone I know, but take a shower before you come in because you’re probably going to sweat. Try not to eat a garlic and onion topped slice of pizza before coming in. You’re going to be in a small enclosed space with someone for a long time. Think about it.
• Also a no brainer: don’t ask “are you done yet”, flatulate on the artist, talk on your cell phone, talk with your hands, refer to their machines as “guns” or say “tat.”
• You do not need a cheerleading section while getting a tattoo. Bringing a friend is fine, but it’s not a party, and the shop probably doesn’t have the space to accomodate an entourage. No one likes being crowded.
• The artist’s musical selection is to make them comfortable, not you. Remember, they’re putting something on you forever, you want their working conditions to be the best possible.
• You don’t have to make conversation with the artist, it’s not a beauty salon.
• When reviewing your completed tattoo, this is your opportunity to let the artist know how you feel about the work you’ve received, and that you appreciate their time. At least give them a thank you.

On after you leave the shop:

• If you do not take good care of your tattoo when you leave the shop, it is not going to look good, and you could possibly get an infection.
• If you’re really happy with your tattoo, tell everyone what artist did it. This is also good tattoo karma, and that ensures future sweet tattoos from that artist.

Miscellaneous:

• A tattoo shop is no place for children.
• Never show an artist a tattoo you got elsewhere and ask how much they’d charge for it. It’s a loaded question. This all depends on the previously mentioned factors, and the individual artists.
• Contrary to popular (and unfortunate) belief, dudes are not inherently better artists than ladies.
• For further information on tattoo etiquette, check out this site.

*Pain in the ass places to tattoo / or places that require frequent touch ups / or places some artists decline to tattoo altogether:

• Your neck.
• Your head (This includes your face.)
• Inside your lip.
• Your hands.
• Your feet.
• Your wiener.
• Notice a connection? Places with very thin skin.

Thursday, June 14th, 2007 at 11:45 am | Leave A Comment | Comments Feed
Filed under: Art, Culture, Tattoos