A Daily life as a tattooist

# Exclusive Designs:-

designs you cannot find in any of the flash (design) books predrawn and set out inobvious spots would be classed as exclusive as the customer will need them drawing up for their special requirements.

 For this i would need to charge the same/or close to the original hourly rate of tattooing. When i first explain this to my customer there never seems to be a question,

  its only when they get past their first hour and dont like the thought they neeed to pay another fee to get better visualisation…..myself i’m always happy with how it looks first hour around because i have artistisc view and wouldnt present it unless it was good enough.

  ON the other hand though the customer who can imagine what he wants but cant ot it down to make it easier and wants you to do it all for him seems to want another viewing date without paying for the following time.

# Quotations

Customers coming in with an idea but want a price quote, all they know for sure is size and placement.

 how is any tattooist meant to give a price quote on something he cant visually see:-

   WE either over price it and scare the customer off with their imaginary idea.

   WE either under price it making them the happiest customer on the planet as they add even more to their idea (they never had before),

#  Deposits

When we take deposits theres always half banter between friends who claim theyve never let us down and never would…..weeks later im wishing id taken phone numbers, the odd few times ive been able to get hold of them has ended in arguments because they cant see sense that not only have they lost their deposit but i ALSO want paying for the time and materials ive put aside for their particualr tattoo (not to mention preparing their design the night before)

# Experience

with almost 20 yrs experience as a tattooist my prices are almost half that of other tattooists in the area. not becasue my quality lacks but because i dont pay apprentices or secretaries, its all run in house.

this means your getting my artwork, not whats been passed to me to copy off….im setting your machinery up ,not what im trusting a trainee with to use on your skin.

Birthday love from a customer who understands how sustenance is needed ;)

Portraits at half the cost :)

Im Doing HuuuUUUUuuge discounts on portrait style tattoos……kids, grannies, wolves, cats, dogs, sheep…nah bad that idea!! erm, horror scenes, charicatures!!!! anything with character and attitude that looks like its about to say somethin’!!!! send me your ideas and sizes and ill see whats possible ;D

The aim is not to fill my pockets and get rich cos thats never gonna happen, 7 years on and i still walk to work with my plastic bag and butties ;D
I just want more portraiture in my portfolio, i was a portrait artist well before i began to tattoo and think they have an extreme look to them compared to a lot of tattoo styles.