As a
tattoo artist,
I deal with a wide range of people on a day to day basis. I enjoy
meeting people from all over the world, in all different trades,
religions, ethnic groups, and stages of life and spirituality. I feel
that it is society's college, so to speak. I have learned so much from
my great group of customers, but I feel that there is a percentage of
them out there that could use some knowledge on tattoo shop etiquette.
So, for all of those out there, you may want to see if you fall into any
of the catagories listed below.
1. Flea market bargain shoppers. Should be pretty explainatory. These are the customers that come in wanting either a huge
tattoo,
like half their back or a full sleeve, and are unemployed and dont have
a dime in their pocket to put down for a deposit, or they want a script
name on their neck with two colors and stars, but they only have $5.
The most irritating is when someone comes in with a reasonable tattoo,
talks one of the artists down 20 or 40 bucks and then says they dont
have the money they negotiated for. If you know u cannot afford a
tattoo, dont haggle a price, that is just retarded. Your wasting
everyone's time and you are getting on the artist's bad side, so if you
ever do come back in, they may not be so willing to be nice to you.
2.
I'm just looking shoppers. Ok guys, I am not stupid. We are in Texas,
it is hot, and I am aware there is a bus stop on the corner. Yes, my
tattoo shop
is nice and cool, but guess what, it is not a social hang out. Once
again, you are disrupting and wasting my time. I have other people's
designs to work on. You know who you are. You come in and want to go
thru every piece of flash in the place, dont know what you are looking
for, dont want any help, constantly watching the time on your cell
phone, and then dash out to catch your bus. So, because of people like
this, it has changed the way tattoo shops do business to an extent. Now,
when you walk in my shop, you will see no flash, no design books laid
out on the coffee table for you to look thru. Instead, you will be
greeted by an artist or manager, asking how they can help you. If your
response is "Just wanting to look at some designs." You will be asked
what kind of tattoo you are thinking of getting. If you respond with a
"not sure" or "dont know, just wanting to look at designs", then you
will be told, that maybe you need to get some ideas of what you want and
then come back so we can help you. I know this seems harsh, but
unfortunatley, the amount of stragglers that have wasted hours of our
time have made it this way.
3. Wanting a friend deal shoppers. Ok
guys, I do like to get to know my clients. I am a friendly person. I
love conversation, and that helps me know what my clients like and how
to make the tattoos perfect for them. Talking helps most people get thru
a tattoo easier, and in the process, especially after a few tattoos, we
do develop a friendship. But, business is business. Please dont come to
me wanting a crazy low price, or credit. I do not give credit - even to
relatives - it just breeds ill feelings. Dont prey on me for a "special
friend deal" or how many people you are gonna bring to me. You came to
me because you wanted my work first, becoming friends came second. Dont
ask me to short change my shop because you want more than you can
afford, calling me your good friend, when the only time I actually see
you or hear from you is for tattoos. Real friends are more than that.
4.
Got a quote 2 years ago. Ready for that tat now? Ok, and what was the
tattoo. I am sure you were quoted a price 2 years ago, possibly from
another artist, manager, and maybe from me, I cant remember a random
quote from that long ago. What I can do, is talk to you about the tattoo
right now and give you a quote, please keep in mind that it will not be
good for 2 years either.
5. Indecisiveness. Ok, we have decided
on your tattoo, you have done paper work, and paid, and I am making the
stencil, but guess what? You have changed your mind. You dont want that
one anymore, you want the other one we were looking at.. WHAT?!???? Ok,
if you cannot pick something and stay with it long enough to get it
actually tattooed on you, YOU DONT NEED A
TATTOO!
6.
I love children, but..... it does not say daycare center on the front
of my shop! Children are welcome in the waiting area of the shop, as
long as they are supervised. And what I mean by supervised is, dont let
them be tearing up magazines, tattoo portfolios, wiping their nasty
hands, mouth and face all over my glass displays, grabbing things off
the receptionist desk, or taking a crap and smearing it on the walls. If
you cannot control them, dont bring them. If they are screaming out of
control, take them outside. Be respectful to the artist, they are
creating permanent art on someone and do not need to listen to you
yelling at your kids or your kids screaming, or smelling dirty diapers.
7.
Complainers... It is a tattoo... IT HURTS! That is just the way it is.
If you are a wassa, dont get one. We dont want to hear about it, we have
tattoos, we know what it feels like. If you cannot carry a
conversation, or talk about something else, then shut up.
8.
Movers.... If you move, how are we supposed to do a quality job on your
tattoo? Ha Ha, right? You think it is all fun and games now, but guess
what, we dont. Be still. Dont answer your phone while we are tattooing
on you, and dont think that you know how we want you positioned and
instinctively move where you think it is better for us. Guess what, we
will move you or tell you to move when we need you to. Stay put where we
have you, and quit asking if we want you to change positions.
9.
Fighting Couples. About a month ago, I had a couple of clients that were
married. I did a restore on the husband one day, while his wife also
had a friend with her. Everything was fine. End of the week, the wife
and husband came back for her to get her tattoo. She started off ok,
then started complaining, then moving, then they started fighting, she
just keep on about stupid crap with him, like picking a fight. On and
on. I had to get him to leave so that I could finish the tattoo. They
were just one of those couples that love to jack with each other in
public, with no respect for anyone around them. Remember folks, a tattoo
is an artistic thing. Tattoos come out better if your artist is in a
good place, not annoyed to hell, so keep the social displays of retarded
out of the tattoo shop.
10.Not tipping. I guess that most people out there, unless they are long time tattoo veterans, are not aware of how
tattoo artists earn
their money. Well, out of the money you pay to the shop, the artist
gets a small percentage, and they do incurr costs they pay out of their
own pockets, like for machines that can cost $350 to $750 each, ink sets
that can add up to thousands, and various other things. You tip a
tattoo artist or piercer just like you tip your bartender, especially if
you have an outstanding tattoo, and you had a good time getting it.
Well,
that is my top 10 things that we see in the shop most of the time. If
you have any questions or would like to add to this list, leave me a
comment!
