It takes two to tango—and it goes the same in creating a good tattoo. Getting a tattoo involves not just the Artist and their work, but also the client’s cooperation and ability to listen to instructions. You may have envisioned a bad-ass tattoo to grace your skin for the rest of your life any time soon—but as the old saying goes: a goal is reached by beginning with a first step. And the first step is KNOWLEDGE. A complete awareness of what you’re getting yourself into. So I gathered insights from our tattoo artists and here’s what they want to tell you. Read this Tattoo Etiquette article for guidance and how to behave & we guarantee you walking out of the tattoo shop with total understanding, satisfaction, plus a good relationship with your tattoo artist.
Seriously. Don’t just get tattooed. Think about it. It doesn’t have to have some deep, dramatic meaning to it. It can be as carefree as picking a flash design that you vibe on…just as long as you know you want it. And don’t let others (not even your Boyfriend or girlfriend) tell you what you should get. It’s your skin. Be the Master & Know what you want. Seek books, read about tattoo meanings, and if anything fits, sketch up or print out some references of what you think you want & come see us for consultation. Our tattoo artist’s would be more than glad to make deals with someone who isn’t confusing.
You looked through portfolios, and finally found the perfect artist you want for the job. So if you’re really sure, trust him or her Try not to be manipulative when it comes to his/her tattoo designs. Listen when he/her tells you that what you want won’t work. And don’t take it personally. Trust me, it’s for your own good.
A really good tattoo isn’t cheap. So save up for it because YOU are worth it. And DON’T HAGGLE. Tattoo artists, and all kinds of artists for that matter, are not art machines. Their products aren’t like those mass-produced items you see at the mall on-sale. They risk their health for tattooing every day, and as if back pains, head and hand-aches aren’t enough…they also rack their brains trying to understand how to design your tattoo. Good tattoo artists should get paid by the hour, as justly as you do. If there should be any discounts made, it should be the artist’s call. Take it as a gift.
Be on time to finish on time. Time is Money. Time is of the essence.
If it hurts, take some deep, meditative breathing. Clear your mind & think Mind over Matter. Pain is just there and it won’t kill you. Think strong thoughts. You’ll earn that beautiful tattoo soon.
If we’re not talking, it doesn’t mean we’re being rude. We’re simply just concentrating. Tattooing, as in carefully inserting pigments to the correct area of the skin, requires much concentration. So if you want the best work, let your artist focus to conserve his/her creative energy.
This should be self-explanatory. Clean yourself up, making sure to wash the area where you want the tattoo. It should be clean and undamaged. Make sure you smell good, to keep your tattoo artist from being distracted.
For one thing, it’s annoying to tattoo a loud & drunk person. For another, it’s hard to tattoo when you’re too drunk or too high to keep still. So please, be in your best condition. We take this job seriously, and any good tattooer will refuse to tattoo a person who’s not in good condition for tattooing. If it’s cool with your artist to down a few beers then do so, but do your part: keep still.
For the best tattoo experience, get enough sleep and eat hearty before the tattoo appointment. Your body needs rest & rejuvenation for maximum pain tolerance. And please abstain from alcohol at least 48 hrs. before the tattoo session (alcohol thins the blood, making you bleed more than you should—thus giving your artist a hard time to tattoo).
Tip him/her as you would to a waiter or driver for their good service. Especially if you made them do a lot of revisions and a lot of laborious work. Tipping your artist makes them feel appreciated and establishes a good relationship for the next tattoo projects to come.
