Use a friendly and respectful tone in your communication. Address the artist by their name if you know it; if not, a simple ``Hello'' or ``Hi'' works. State Your Intent: Clearly mention that you are interested in getting a tattoo.
Communication is key – but make sure you know quite well what you want so your artist does not need to be bombarded with emails every time you think of something else your would rather include. Adding to that, do not micromanage the process. Every little detail does not need to be discussed and mulled over.
It's usually best to email your tattoo enquiries in as you can explain in detail what tattoo you want, send reference photos and describe how you want the tattoo to look.
While it's fine to get ideas from pictures of other tattoos, talk to your artist about what their ideas are for creating it. Tell them what you would like to change so the piece is uniquely yours. Remember, you selected your artist because they have strong portfolio and you are attracted to their style.
The first part of proper tattoo etiquette comes in the design phase. Your tattoo artist is just that – an artist – so although the tattoo is yours, you need to work with them on the design. Don't ask them to tattoo in a style that's wildly different from their usual style, and listen to their recommendations.
As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done. So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that's $240.
It can be tempting to want to chat with your tattoo artist while they're working on you, but it's important to remember that they are trying to focus on giving you a great tattoo. If you must talk, keep it brief and to the point. The same goes for taking pictures.
Visit your artist a few weeks after the tattoo has finished peeling, to allow them to assess the need, if any, for touch ups. Together you can make plans on how to schedule time for the work.
A deposit is a way to financially ensure that you are committing to your appointment. Without some sort of monetary protection the tattoo artist and the shop would be losing significant amounts of money due to cancellations without any repercussions.
Consultations generally take 15-40 minutes, depending on how involved the tattoo is. The consultation itself is free, but if you do decide to book a tattoo appointment once we've talked, I have you put down a deposit to secure your spot.
If you want to get something that day you can definitely walk in and get tattoos. However, make sure that the studio of your choice takes walk-ins. Private studios only do custom work for tattoo appointments. Keep in mind, also, that if you specifically want a custom tattoo, that takes longer than a flash tattoo.
As we state generally “tips are not required, but appreciated “ because most tattoo artists in a shop minus the owner are making 50-60% of the total cost… on a $1000 tattoo (most likely multiple sessions) I would tip at least $100-$150 for every session done.. so roughly I'd say average a good tip on a tattoo that's ...
Many tattoo artists prefer to be paid in cash as it simplifies the transaction and allows for a seamless commission payment to the studio. Invoicing or involving banks and payment sites can introduce unnecessary complications to an already busy workflow.
“Some tip less, and some are very generous." For instance, you might wonder how much to tip for a $500 tattoo. In this case, tipping anywhere from $75 to $125 would be appropriate. If you're getting smaller art done or maybe a touch-up for $100, tipping anywhere from $15 to $25 fits the bill.
Don't negotiate the price. Tattoo artists will always quote you beforehand based on their time and the size of the tattoo. They want to make sure they get the design just right, so it's better to pay for an extra half hour or so than to walk out with something that looks rushed and sub-par.
Tattooing minors, offensive hate symbols, or copyrighted designs without permission are examples of requests that can be legally refused.