Good Tattoo Etiquette Is A Thing

 

A guide on good questions to ask and things you just should never say

As tattoo artists, we are accustomed to getting all kinds of questions. Some are really good questions, and we could see why you might ask that. Some questions make us want to slap the taste out of your mouth. But hey, we aren’t here to chastise you right away are we? No, we are here to educate. That way the next time you go into a tattoo studio, you don’t say something, well… stupid.

How Much For A Sleeve?

Man this question just pisses me off. Because this is literally like walking into a car dealership and asking, “How much for a car?” You can see how that is not a good question now, right? It depends on so many different factors. Design, placement, your own pain tolerance, and your budget. An entire sleeve is not something you just walk in and get. It takes several sessions and several hours to complete a beautiful tattoo sleeve. So don’t ask again.

A better alternative would be to look at an artists portfolio, discuss one piece you want to start with and explain that you plan on it being part of a much larger tattoo. Work on a it a little at a time. Yeah, we like that. (See? Good tattoo etiquette.)

I’m Only 17 But My Parents Will Sign A Waiver

Nope. Come back when you’re 18. Sorry kid. It ain’t that far away.

Can I Take Some Shots Or Some Pills For The Pain?

Are you serious right now? First of all, drunk and/or high people are usually pretty annoying in the first place. I know I don’t want to spend hours with the drunk version of you. Also, let’s talk about what that does to your body. Alcohol and certain pain killers thin the blood. This is going to affect your entire tattoo from beginning to end. News flash, tattoos hurt. You don’t need a substance to have the courage to get a tattoo. This is something you develop by getting tattooed.

Now, there are numbing creams out there that you can use to help ease the pain a little bit, especially if you are getting tattooed in a sensitive area. They are usually around 5% lidocaine or benzocaine and will not mess with the surface we will be tattooing on. Use those instead.

What Style Should I Get?

Do I look like a psychic to you? How am I supposed to know what you want? You know what I really hear when you ask me that? That you don’t take getting a tattoo seriously and you should come back when you do. Maybe you are inexperienced, maybe you haven’t done any research, maybe you are a tattoo virgin. All of these things are ok. But we live in an age where you can summon designs and styles at your finger tips. So look some things up, check out some portfolios, and then come back with an idea.

That’s Expensive!

Ok this is not one I personally hear a lot, but it is still common. But hey, how much did you spend at the bar last night? Or at your last dinner? And that was a one time experience. This tattoo is going to be on you forever. And it takes most of us years and years trying to perfect a craft that we never stop learning about because it is just so damn awesome! You are getting a unique, carefully crafted, piece of art that you will wear forever, in a clean and sterile environment by some of the coolest people you will ever meet. It’s worth it. Plus, we aren’t getting a recurring monthly installment from you, geez.

Do You Get It Now?

I could go on and on about good tattoo etiquette, but that is enough for this installment if you made it this far. Wanna book an appointment? Come see us at Electric Eye Tattoo or shoot a message and we’ll be more than happy to get you on the schedule.

Do Tattoos Hurt?

How To Find The Best Tattoo Artist In Your Area

There are so many online tattoo guides and resources that will filter you from one link to another, one page to the next, all while not giving you much information. Really, there are only a few things you need to find the best tattoo artist in your area. 

Location, Location, Location

Oh, it is simply not enough to just know who the guy next door is, but where you might be willing to travel to get some work. Sure, the guy next to the cool venue down the street might be a fantastic artist, but he might not specialize in the kind of tattoo you are looking for. That would be like asking your landscaper for a hair cut. Doesn’t make sense right? 

You should definitely research the artists. in your city, view their portfolios, and meet them to see if you are comfortable with them. But if you are looking for a specific kind of tattoo, (i.e. photo realism, new school, traditional, etc.) then you should also research artists in your surrounding areas too. 

Check Instagram

It is easy to use social media to look for an artist when you understand how hashtags work. A simple search of #tattoo+location like #tattoosapulpa will help render you some results. This also works for types of tattoos. For example #rosetattoo will yield some results you are looking for. 

Use search engines as well. Several shops will be in the search results of Google even if they don’t have a website. (Though we are pretty fond of our website.)

What Kind Of Tattoo Do You Want?

Ok, so now you have decided you want a tattoo, who is the best tattoo artist to do it?That is the second part of your research. Your friends with ink will have an abundance of referrals for you. And if you like their work, you are going to want to talk to their artist. You need to look at some portfolios. If you know what you want in your skin, then you need someone that can do it. 

Nearly every shop you will walk into will have physical portfolios on hand so that you can choose the right artist for you. View their art and see if it matches your style. Sit and have a consultation with them and decide if they are the artist for you. 

Bring References If You Have Them

Many people will have pulled images from the internet, Instagram, Pinterest, and other sites that they like. Bring these with you or be able to pull them up so you can clearly communicate with your artist about your tattoo. 

What’s In Your Budget?

This is the third and final thing you need to consider when choosing the best tattoo artist for yourself. Not all artists price the same. There is a saying that good tattoos aren’t cheap and cheap tattoos aren’t good. This is true to an extent. But artists don’t typically publicize their prices. While some shops have a minimum fee, you can see variations from $80 – $150 an hour or more depending on the artist. To get the best idea of how much you are going to need for your piece, it is best to just go in and speak with the artist themselves. Some pieces may even be done in multiple sessions to help accommodate you. 

Check Out Electric Eye!

We would love to talk to you about your next tattoo. Come see our new location in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and check out our work! If you’d prefer to send us a message or give us a call at 918-813-1877 we would be happy to speak with you.