Did you plan your first tattoo for months? Did you find something cool on a whim and just walk into a tattoo studio?
Whether you’re a spontaneous first timer or you have carefully planned out every piece it is important that you know how to behave when you walk into a shop.
We are going to cover some basic things that unfortunately not everyone understands or just doesn’t know. This isn’t just a list of things you shouldn’t do. These are important things to consider to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible and you end up with something you love for the rest of your life!
Please shower beforehand.
There’s a good chance you’ll be spending at minimum about an hour in very close quarters with your artist. It’s a common courtesy to practice good hygiene. The shop can often become very busy. This also helps ensure a good experience for everyone else either getting tattooed or waiting for a service.
Be prepared.
Whether you are new to the world of tattooing or not we highly recommend you eat a big meal before getting tattooed. It can be very taxing on the body and you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of energy! Having a general idea of what you want is a huge help when you walk into a studio. If you want a tattoo and don’t know what you want we have options where you can “get what you get” or you may choose something from an artist’s wish list. If you walk in and ask us what you should get it’s difficult for us because we all have different interests!
Pricing. Respect the process.
We all want to save money. We understand that completely. In our last blog we went over how we price in detail. That being said if you have a budget from the start, tell your artist. We are more than happy to work with you. Your artist does not want to know what you paid for your last tattoo in comparison or if you have a cousin that will do it cheaper. Not only with that not get you a better price you’re more than likely going to offend the artist you’re working with.
Don’t micromanage.
It’s your tattoo. You 100% have a say in the design, It is permanent and you should get exactly what you want! What we mean is don’t change your design 100 times. Be precise and specific with exactly what you want from the beginning. If you wait until the last minute and want something entirely different you are likely going to be rescheduled or you will bleed into the next clients time. Again the artist loses the income for that day and wasted hours of their time preparing your design. You’re here and putting your trust in our artists please do no hover over them while they are drawing and pick apart every little detail. You have the final say in the design if any changes need to be made after they are done!
Respect your artist.
There are a lot of different slang terms thrown around in this day and age. We try to politely educate those who aren’t in the industry as much as possible. Saying things like “I want a tat” or ” I wanna get yatted” is very disrespectful to your artist and the studio. People tattooing in their kitchens do “tats” tattoos are art created by a professional in a clean and sterile environment.
Tipping.
One of the more common questions we hear is “should I tip my artist”
The simple answer is it’s not expected but it’s greatly appreciated. We are after all a service industry. You tip your barber, your waitress, your delivery driver, who all much like us work on a service based commission. The other question is how much? Well. That’s entirely up to you. Anything is greatly appreciated!!!
Respect the studio.
Don’t bring an unnecessarily large group of people if you’re the only one getting a service. Covid regulations aside it’s bad for everyone involved. The studio can get very busy and space is limited. Bringing a friend is acceptable. Bringing 5 is not. We don’t allow food in the stations but if you happen to eat something or bring snacks for before you’re in the chair please clean up after yourself.
Being on time and keeping your appointment.
Being on time is important. If you’re 20 minutes late showing up then that means every client after you is now pushed further and further. People often wonder why we take deposits to hold appointments. Well, simply put it’s to ensure the artist is compensated for their time if you don’t show up for your appointment. Artists spend a lot of time preparing for your tattoo. nights at home, during lunch breaks, etc. let’s say you book a 4 hour appointment and don’t show up. That artist has now lost that income. Walk-ins are not guaranteed so there’s a good chance the income is simply lost that day. This also applies to being too early! You’re excited to get your tattoo we love that, but most artists are on a tight schedule. If you show up an hour early you may be interrupting a current session or maybe the small amount of time your artist has to eat their lunch!
Don’t rush your artist.
This also falls into the category of respecting the process. Tattooing isn’t an exact science we can’t always be 100% certain exactly how long your tattoo will take. We are happy to take walk-ins but adding the pressure of trying to get exactly what you want done so you can catch a movie in an hour is a little much. This goes with being prepared as well. If you have to worry about your kids being picked up or a baby sitter, etc. please plan accordingly!
Being in the chair.
Getting a new tattoo can be exciting! However, we cannot stress how important it is to be still. We welcome friendly conversation but if you know you use your hands a lot when you speak please be considerate. All of your body parts are attached; if you’re waving your arms around you’re likely moving the area your artist is working on. This also applies to taking phone calls and face time during the tattoo. It’s rude and very distracting to the artist.
Follow your after-care instructions.
You just spent a few hundred bucks if not more on your new tattoo, your artists spent several hours creating it for you. Everyone is happy! Let’s keep it that way. Everyone thinks they have the optimal way of healing a tattoo or has a friend that thinks they know everything. Ignore what you think you know. Ignore your friends. Your artist carefully created your art in a sterile environment but once you leave the studio it is 100% up to you to follow the instructions you were given. We offer free touch ups because sometimes they are needed. That doesn’t mean you should go to the beach the next day and ruin your fresh tattoo!
We love and appreciate all of our clients. without you we wouldn’t be here. There is a lot that goes into what we do that the public isn’t aware of. we want to educate everyone as much as possible to make your visit and the process of what we do smoother for everyone involved.