Why?

Today I will be writing about every tattoo artist biggest pet peeve that is a word. 

Why. 

Now for normal people or those that have absolutely jack all to do with tattoos or tattooing you wouldn't understand the reasoning behind our headache when people ask "Why?" This also includes all variations of why as in "Why not?" or even "how come?" 

It has been something that not only bothered me but has been reoccurring lately ESPECIALLY since its Tax time. Tax time means that people either come in and want to spend little to nothing on work or are polar opposites and want to spend a ton of money on good work. For those who want to spend little to nothing this question comes up a lot. Let me delve a little deeper. 

When you come in to get a tattoo or get once priced I automatically ask you the size. My shop does everything by size. When you tell me you want a half sleeve of a Japanese landscape with a cherry blossom, silhouetted buildings with a sunset, blossoms blowing in the breeze with a river and koi fish and I quote you at a high number don't turn around to me, laugh and say "why so much?" 

Why? Why am I quoting you at an appropriate number? well for one, its a lot of work. Two you want a million things in one.It's difficult and will take some time to layout. Three, you're buying something that can never be stolen, replaced, lost, erased, forgotten or replicated. Not to mention you're buying my time and equipment, both of which are not cheap or worthless. I, as a tattoo artist, will put everything i have into that tattoo. Time and determination to make sure it is a 100% perfect, what you've always dreamed of. Your fantasy tattoo. Please don't disrespect me when I quote you a price but laughing in my face or snorting saying "nah no way that's way too much" because frankly its not only insulting, it pisses me off. You're coming to me to create a masterpiece on your body. If you want some scratcher type shit or mediocre at best ink then walk your happy ass right back out my door because you wont find it in my shop. You think you can find a SHOP that can beat my prices then fine, have at it but i guarantee the work will not be anywhere near to what my shop crew could do and I'll see you for the cover up in a month. 

On the opposite side of the scale we have those who get priced at a ridiculously low number and STILL ask why its so much.. this is purely ignorance. Most tattoo shops have a shop minimum, ours is not bad AT ALL so when i quote you AT of SLIGHTLY above shop minimum which is as I said NOT BAD don't say "oh man..well why so much? cant it be a little cheaper?  I don't really have that much" I'm going to dissect this sentence for you. 

"oh man...well why so much?" - Its SO much because it is what is needed to do your tattoo. By the time I'm done pulling out my needle, Vaseline, ink caps, Ink, bib, paper towels, stencil paper, printer ink to print the tattoo or sharpies to draw it on you, covers for the chairs, clip cord, machine, tube and a whole lot more I don't feel like listing its not worth your $20-$30 dollars you're so graciously offering me for my services. In fact the paper towels ALONE are $15, my outline ink (yes there's more than one type) is almost $30 a bottle so with just that added together YOU'RE PAST YOUR OFFERING AMOUNT. It isn't worth it for me to tattoo you because I'm not making anything on it its going right to my equipment and not even properly, its not covering shit for my equipment so I'm jipping myself. PLEASE do not misunderstand for those of my customers that come to our Specials when you pick off the sheet and all tattoos on it are $20. That is in bulk because I will tattoo about 80 people in a day so i will profit AND cover my materials so its different. 

"Cant it be a little cheaper"- Not only (see above) but because i said so? you're coming to me did you somehow think someone else was going to price your tattoo or that YOU would? Believe me its not how it works. 

"I Don't really have that much"  - Well then to be brutally honest you shouldn't be here. You shouldn't be in a tattoo shop trying to haggle an artist who already has more than fair prices. People don't get it. I feed my family with this. I SURVIVE with this business so if you really think you can walk in and "talk my price down" i almost have an impulse to Up your price just for the inconvenience and headache you're giving me. Not to mention the insult.  I work hard to create things designed to bring joy and happiness to people and you're giving it a bad look. If you don't have the money you don't try to lessen the price so it works you come back when you can afford me and my work.

.................................

Another situation that I have seen come up as of late is with booking. Now, not much goes into booking. Its simple really, you and the artist pick a date and time that coincide with both schedules, you put down a deposit and show up on the day assigned at the appropriate time and WHAM you get a tattoo! Shocking right? I know.
When you don't show up at the appropriate time and proceed to call 45 minutes later and say "oh well I know I'm late ill just come now" or "oh ill just come in later, 7:00 good?"...PLEASE don't be SHOCKED when we say... NO. The next sentence out of your mouth should not be "Well Why not?" or upon further conversation (which we really shouldn't have to go into depth about our reasoning with you ) don't respond with "why are you so booked"..............

Uhm..
Well..

How can I put this... WE ARE GOOD AT WHAT WE DO AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WANT US TO TATTOO THEM! YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE THEREFORE WE HAVE PROCEDURES SUCH AS APPOINTMENTS AND SCHEDULING WHICH YOU  CLEARLY HAVE NO RESPECT FOR!!!
Just Saying.  

Seriously. Please don't ask such stupid questions. I mean the saying goes "there is no such thing as a stupid question." Bullshit because there is. There is no way my THRIVING business is surviving on JUST your money that you happen to spend with me once every 4 months or even once a year so please bring your head back out of the clouds and get real. Next, That is what the appointment is for. We book up very quickly and yes there are more than just the owners of the establishment on staff that would be more than happy to tattoo you. If you do NOT want one of them to tattoo you and will only go to one of the two owners then guess what? YOU may HAVE to wait. Make an appointment and if you want that tattoo that badly you will wait for it.
Also, as far as, "well ill just come in later" Please see my blog entry about Respect because I go into detail about how that DOESN'T WORK. You have an appointment for a reason and please don't ever ask us, Why? Honestly, its pretty much breaks down to an almost juvenile explanation of, BECAUSE I SAID SO.
The last thing you want to do is piss off the person who is tattooing you. It will be a bad experience for both the artist and client and will leave a bad taste in the artists mouth when it comes to your name.
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for the next one. I promise it will be soon. Cheers.