Life as a Tattoo Artist: Inside the Tattoo Shop Culture, Hierarchy, and Realities

Social media and TV often glamorize or misrepresent the life of a tattoo artist, creating unrealistic expectations for those looking to enter the industry. This can make it challenging for aspiring Tattoo Artists to truly understand what working in a tattoo shop is like.

Drawing from my decade of experience in various tattoo shops, I aim to provide an accurate picture of the tattoo artist profession. This article will delve into the realities of tattoo shop life – the rewarding aspects, the challenges, and even the less glamorous truths.

Navigating Tattoo Shop Culture: People and Personalities Matter

Having worked in numerous studios, I’ve observed a consistent physical layout across tattoo shops. You’ll typically find similar equipment, waiting areas, tattooing spaces, and artist areas for supplies and sterilization equipment.

However, the true character of a tattoo shop is defined by its people and the relationships formed within. The culture and dynamics between tattoo artists are what truly differentiate one shop from another.

Alt text: Tattoo artists discussing job opportunities and studio culture, emphasizing the importance of finding the right shop environment for professional growth.

Tattoo Artists: Collaboration or Competition?

Popular media often depicts tattoo artists as fiercely competitive, constantly battling for dominance. While some level of healthy competition can exist, the reality in most reputable tattoo shops is far more collaborative.

In my experience, strong friendships often develop between tattoo artists. We spend considerable time together and a positive, supportive environment is essential for everyone’s well-being and creativity. It’s common to see artists interacting, sharing techniques, and complimenting each other’s work. This collaborative spirit fosters learning and growth for all tattoo artists in the studio. Exchanging knowledge and celebrating each other’s successes is a hallmark of a healthy tattoo environment.

However, honesty compels me to acknowledge that personality clashes can occur, especially in larger shops. Occasionally, an artist might not integrate seamlessly into the group dynamic, perhaps due to an inflated ego or a tendency to create drama. Such individuals typically don’t last long, either leaving voluntarily or being asked to leave, as their negativity can disrupt the overall studio atmosphere.

Interestingly, ego issues tend to be more prevalent in shops where the overall artistic skill level is lower. In studios filled with talented tattoo artists, the focus shifts towards mutual learning and artistic improvement. Conversely, in less skilled environments, insecurity can breed competition and conflict, particularly when a highly skilled apprentice or new artist joins the team. This can lead to tension and jealousy, especially in shops struggling for clients where artists feel they must compete for every booking.

The Tattoo Shop Hierarchy: Understanding the Food Chain

A clear hierarchy exists within most tattoo shops. Understanding this structure is crucial for anyone starting their career as a tattoo artist.

Shop Owner

At the top of the hierarchy is the shop owner. Their decisions are final, and the studio’s primary goal is, ultimately, to generate revenue for them. The owner’s approachability varies. I’ve encountered two main types of owners throughout my career: actively tattooing artists and business-oriented individuals.

Owners who still tattoo, often claiming the prime booth space, can be less approachable. They may feel a need to constantly assert their status as the shop’s top tattoo artist, which can create a subtle tension.

Business-minded owners who don’t tattoo are generally more approachable. Their focus is on the overall success of the studio as a business. They tend to prioritize artist satisfaction, recognizing that happy artists are more productive and contribute directly to the shop’s profitability.

Lead Artists/Veteran Artists

These are the experienced, established tattoo artists who have been with the shop for a significant time. They are often the most sought-after artists, generating substantial income for the studio. They enjoy a level of preference and influence within the shop. Owners prioritize their happiness as they attract a large clientele and significantly impact the shop’s financial success. Lead artists often have the luxury of choosing which projects they take on and can pass on less desirable inquiries to newer tattoo artists.

New Tattoo Artists

Newly licensed tattoo artists occupy a lower rung on the hierarchy. While they are above apprentices, their seniority within the shop is still developing. For example, a new artist can guide an apprentice, but would not typically direct a lead artist or more experienced colleague.

Tattoo Apprentices

Apprentices are at the entry level, often performing essential support tasks. The treatment of apprentices varies between shops. Traditionally, apprentices often spend their initial period as the “shop slave,” responsible for cleaning, sterilizing equipment, running errands, and managing the front desk. They may not even handle a tattoo machine for the first year, focusing instead on foundational skills and shop management.

Apprentices often handle the least desirable tasks, contributing to the smooth operation of the studio. While this approach is common, it’s not universally ideal. A more supportive apprenticeship recognizes that these individuals are the future of the studio. Treating apprentices with respect and providing mentorship fosters loyalty and long-term commitment. Shops that mistreat apprentices risk losing their investment when the newly trained artist seeks a more supportive environment after completing their apprenticeship.

Alt text: A tattoo apprentice diligently cleaning equipment in a tattoo studio, highlighting the initial responsibilities and learning phase of becoming a tattoo artist.

Here’s a simplified guide to navigating common issues within a tattoo shop:

Client Issues: My initial approach is always to resolve the issue directly with the client, prioritizing their satisfaction. However, for significant problems, informing the shop owner is essential as it’s ultimately their business. For design-related challenges, seeking input from other artists in the shop can lead to creative solutions.
Artist Conflicts: Direct communication with the artist involved is usually the best first step. Involving the owner prematurely can be perceived negatively. However, if the issue is serious and unresolved, the owner will likely prioritize the artist who contributes more financially to the shop.
Apprentice Concerns: If an apprentice feels uncomfortable or unsafe, it’s crucial to immediately raise these concerns with the shop owner. Their well-being and safety are paramount.
Equipment/Supply Issues: Artists are generally responsible for their own equipment. Minor issues are usually handled independently or by asking a nearby artist for immediate help. Shop owners are typically only involved in building-related maintenance or major infrastructure problems. Purchasing new tattoo machines or personal equipment is usually the artist’s responsibility.

Tattoo Artist Compensation and Work Hours: Balancing Income and Lifestyle

Payment structures and working hours significantly impact a tattoo artist’s experience within a shop. In most studios, artists are classified as independent contractors. A shop’s approach to compensation and scheduling can be a strong indicator of its overall culture. Exploitative practices in these areas can point to a toxic environment.

Fair Compensation Structures: Understanding Commission Splits

New tattoo artists, in particular, should be aware of fair commission structures to avoid being underpaid. Common commission splits include:

60/40 (Artist’s Share): This is a standard and artist-favorable split where the artist receives 60% of the revenue and the shop retains 40%. In this arrangement, the artist typically covers their own supplies and marketing expenses.
50/50 (Even Split): In a 50/50 split, the shop should contribute to disposable supplies and actively promote the artists to attract clients. This split is also common for apprentices transitioning to full artist status.
40/60 (Shop’s Share): A 40/60 split, where the shop takes the majority, is generally unfavorable for the artist, unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as apprenticing with a highly renowned artist in a location with significantly lower living costs. In most cases, artists should seek studios offering fairer compensation.

Payment is often in cash, but this can vary from shop to shop.

Work Hours and Time Commitment: Beyond the Tattoo Session

Standard Shop Hours (9-5): Many shops, especially for newer artists, require a 9-to-5 presence. Flexibility beyond these hours depends on the shop’s culture and individual artist agreements. While some artists may work later, a consistent 9-to-6 workday is common in many studios.
Beyond Shop Hours: Tattooing extends beyond scheduled shop hours. Artists often dedicate 2-4 hours daily to design work for upcoming appointments. Client communication, consultations, and bookings through social media and other channels also add to the workload outside of tattooing hours. Managing client inquiries and administrative tasks is a significant part of being a successful tattoo artist.
After-Hours Tattooing: Some artists take their tattoo machines home for security, while others leave them at the shop. Shop policies on taking equipment home vary. Some owners may be suspicious of artists tattooing outside the shop as it represents lost revenue for the studio. Understanding the shop’s stance on this is important. Apprentices should generally avoid taking machines home to prevent any perception of unsupervised tattooing, which could jeopardize their apprenticeship.
New Artist Hours: New artists often operate on a 24/7 schedule initially. Building a client base requires significant time investment in social media engagement and client communication. Responsiveness is key in the early stages. As a client base grows, the need for constant availability diminishes.

Leveraging Support: As income increases, hiring a virtual assistant can significantly alleviate the administrative burden, freeing up the artist to focus on tattooing and creative work.

Flexibility for Experienced Artists: Veteran artists typically have more flexibility in setting their hours due to their established client base and value to the shop. Shop owners are often more accommodating to retain top earners. However, apprentices are usually expected to adhere to stricter schedules, often being the first to arrive and last to leave.

Vacation, Sick Leave, and Benefits: The Contractor Reality

Tattoo artists are typically classified as contractors, not employees. This distinction means they generally don’t receive traditional employee benefits like paid vacation, sick leave, or retirement plans.

Vacation Time: Time off directly translates to lost income for both the artist and the shop. Extended vacations may not be viewed favorably by shop owners. However, combining travel with guest spots at other studios can turn vacation time into income-generating opportunities. The tattoo industry uniquely allows for travel and income generation simultaneously.

Sick Leave: While there’s no paid sick leave, common sense prevails. Working while sick, especially with clients’ health at stake, is unacceptable. A reasonable shop owner will understand and prioritize health.

Retirement and Insurance: Tattoo shops typically don’t offer 401Ks, health insurance, or similar benefits. Artists are responsible for managing their own taxes, retirement savings, and insurance as independent contractors. Income is commission-based, without a base salary or hourly wage.

The Tattoo Shop Environment: Casual Yet Professional

Tattoo shops generally maintain a relaxed and informal atmosphere. Formal attire is uncommon, but professionalism is still paramount.

Dress Code: Closed-toe shoes are the primary dress code requirement, essential for hygiene and safety due to potential ink and blood spatter. Beyond that, casual and comfortable clothing like jeans and t-shirts are typical. Many artists prefer darker colors to minimize visible ink stains. Changing clothes immediately upon returning home, especially for those with families, is advisable to prevent potential contamination and maintain hygiene.

Language and Conduct: Swearing is common in many shops and often used humorously among artists. However, abusive or hateful language is unacceptable. Professionalism towards clients and colleagues is always expected.

Clients: The Heart of the Tattoo Business – Both Rewarding and Challenging

Alt text: Tattoo artist consulting with a client during a tattoo appointment, emphasizing the importance of client communication and building rapport in the tattoo process.

Client interactions are central to a tattoo artist’s career, offering both immense satisfaction and occasional difficulties. Building strong client relationships is crucial for success. While some clients are a joy to work with, others can present challenges, particularly in street shops with high client turnover. However, strategies exist to attract and retain ideal clients.

Client Reactions: Addressing Common Scenarios

Fainting and Nausea: Client fainting during tattoos is less frequent than often portrayed. In ten years, I’ve only encountered a handful of fainting incidents. However, preparedness is essential. Recognizing pre-fainting signs like lightheadedness or shakiness and offering sugary drinks can help prevent it. Nausea is also relatively uncommon among clients.

Hygiene Issues: Poor client hygiene can be a significant challenge. Lack of deodorant or inadequate cleanliness, especially in sensitive tattoo areas, can create uncomfortable situations for the artist.

Managing Client Comfort and Pain

Breaks During Tattoos: Clients often request breaks due to pain. While occasional short breaks are reasonable, prolonged or frequent breaks can actually increase discomfort as the area cools down and becomes more sensitive. I recommend breaks roughly every two hours for artist comfort and focus, but discourage excessive breaks for pain management unless medically necessary.

Pain Management Techniques: While tattooing inherently involves pain, strategies can help manage client discomfort. Applying a non-prescription antiseptic spray like Bactine can provide a mild numbing sensation and reduce redness, offering psychological comfort to the client, even if the numbing effect is minimal. It’s important to be honest about the limited numbing effect while still offering reassurance.

Setting Boundaries: Friends, Family, and Distractions

No Guests in the Tattooing Area: I personally discourage clients from bringing friends or family into the tattooing area. While some artists may allow it, I’ve found it often leads to complications:

Exaggerated Pain Reactions: Clients may dramatize their pain for attention when friends are present.
Movement and Distraction: Friends can cause laughter and movement, making tattooing more difficult and increasing the risk of mistakes.
Design Interference: Friends may offer unsolicited design opinions, potentially swaying the client away from their original vision or the artist’s expertise.
Increased Distractions and Questions: Extra people in the booth lead to more questions and interruptions, disrupting the artist’s concentration.
Overcrowding and Heat: More people in a confined space, especially under studio lighting, can raise the temperature and create discomfort.
Intrusive Observation: Friends often try to watch closely, hovering over the artist’s shoulder, creating pressure and hindering movement.
Childcare Issues: Children in the tattoo area are a significant distraction and safety hazard. They may touch equipment or become disruptive, increasing stress and the risk of errors.

Design Preferences and Refusals

Turning Down Designs: While some experienced artists decline certain designs simply due to repetition, I generally avoid turning down work as tattooing is my livelihood. I don’t consider any tattoo request beneath me and am willing to take on common designs.

Ethical and Skill-Based Refusals: However, I will refuse to tattoo offensive or hateful designs. Furthermore, even new artists and apprentices should never be pressured to perform tattoos they are uncomfortable with or lack the skill to execute competently, especially designs that violate their personal values.

Client Archetypes: The Best and Worst Client Traits

While striving to provide excellent service to every client, distinct categories of “ideal” and “challenging” clients emerge.

Ideal Clients:

Financially Appreciative: They value the artist’s skill and time, willing to invest appropriately in quality tattoos. They often opt for larger, more complex pieces and become repeat customers.
Healthy Skin: Clients with well-maintained skin, particularly younger women who often prioritize skincare, provide a better canvas for tattooing. While age and skin condition vary, healthier skin simplifies the tattooing process and promotes better healing.

It’s important to note that these are clinical observations. Personal connection and enjoyment of client interactions extend beyond these categories. Many older clients or those seeking simpler tattoos are equally valued and enjoyable to work with. However, from a purely business and technical perspective, certain client traits can streamline the tattooing process.

Challenging Clients:

Parents with Children: Bringing young children to appointments is problematic. The studio environment is unsafe for children, filled with sharp objects and potential hazards. The artist feels responsible for the child’s safety while trying to concentrate on tattooing.
Price Haggler: Clients who aggressively bargain for lower prices demonstrate a lack of appreciation for the artist’s skill and the value of custom tattoo work.
Hygiene and Health Concerns: Clients with poor hygiene or significant health issues can create unpleasant and complex tattooing situations. Hygiene issues are self-explanatory. Obesity can make positioning clients comfortably challenging, and underlying health conditions can impact tattoo healing.
Intoxicated Clients: Tattooing clients under the influence of drugs or alcohol is highly problematic. Communication is impaired, design clarity suffers, deposit collection becomes difficult, and intoxicated clients are prone to impulsivity and regret. They are also more likely to be restless and potentially aggressive.
Phone Obsessed: Clients constantly on their phones, especially those trying to document every moment for social media, move excessively, disrupting the tattooing process and making consistent work difficult. Passive phone use for entertainment is generally acceptable, but active, movement-inducing phone use is disruptive.

Attracting Ideal Clients: Shaping Your Clientele

Attracting clients who value your work, align with your artistic style, and are enjoyable to work with is a key aspect of career growth. As a tattoo artist’s career progresses, intentional choices influence the type of clientele they attract:

Tattoo Style Specialization: Your chosen tattoo style heavily influences your client demographic. Bold, tribal styles often attract male clients, while delicate, fine-line work may appeal more to female clients. Awareness of current trends within different age groups can also help target specific client types.
Shop Location: Location plays a significant role in clientele. Studios in affluent urban areas tend to attract a more sophisticated clientele with higher disposable income. Shops in less affluent or rural areas may encounter clients with different expectations and budgets.
Experience and Portfolio: Building a strong portfolio and gaining experience is crucial for attracting your desired clientele. Initially, artists may need to take on a wide range of projects to build their skills and client base. However, as experience grows, focusing on preferred styles and showcasing those in your portfolio will attract clients seeking that specific aesthetic. Once you begin tattooing clients who appreciate your preferred style, word-of-mouth referrals and social media promotion will further attract similar clients, leading to more fulfilling and exciting projects.

Inside Tattoo Shop Amenities: Enhancing the Work Environment

Beyond the core aspects of culture and clients, certain shop amenities significantly improve a tattoo artist’s daily work life.

Desirable Shop Features:

Front Desk Staff: Having dedicated front desk staff is invaluable. It frees up artists from interruptions to handle client inquiries, bookings, phone calls, and administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on tattooing.
Air Conditioning: Reliable air conditioning is essential for comfort and hygiene, especially during long tattoo sessions and in warmer climates.
Private Booths: Private tattooing booths offer artists focused workspace, minimizing distractions and enhancing concentration.
Stencil Machine: A stencil machine streamlines the stencil creation process, saving significant time and effort compared to hand-drawing stencils.
Shop Advertising and Marketing: Especially for new artists, shop-provided advertising and marketing support can be a major advantage in building a client base and reducing the initial marketing burden.

The Trade-offs: Balancing Pros and Cons of Tattooing

The biggest downside of tattoo shop life can be ending up in a shop that prioritizes profit over artist well-being and creative freedom. Shops that restrict guest spots or prioritize maximizing their commission at the artist’s expense can create a negative environment.

Another often-overlooked challenge is physical strain, particularly back pain. The hunched posture required for tattooing can lead to musculoskeletal issues. Prioritizing posture, taking regular breaks, and incorporating exercises like deadlifts to strengthen back muscles are crucial for long-term physical health.

Despite these challenges, the rewards of a tattoo career often outweigh the drawbacks.

Tattooing offers the opportunity to pursue a passion daily. For those genuinely passionate about the art form, the work itself is intrinsically rewarding. Finding a supportive shop environment that values creative growth and fosters positive relationships is transformative. The ability to travel and work globally is a unique and invaluable benefit of the tattoo industry, offering a dynamic and enriching lifestyle.

Alt text: Close-up of a tattoo artist’s hand holding a tattoo machine, symbolizing the artistry, skill, and dedication required in the profession.

Ready to Pursue Your Tattoo Artist Dream?

Historically, entering the tattoo industry meant enduring a lengthy and unpaid apprenticeship, often lasting 2-4 years. Aspiring tattoo artists spent years performing menial tasks to “earn” the knowledge needed to progress.

Now, accelerated learning programs like Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program offer a more efficient path. This program provides comprehensive training, condensing the traditional apprenticeship curriculum into video modules, allowing aspiring artists to acquire the necessary skills in as little as 90 days. This accelerated approach allows individuals to bypass years of unpaid apprenticeship and rapidly gain the skills needed to work in their dream shop or even launch their own tattoo business, learning at their own pace.

Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.