Social media and TV often present a skewed view of life in a tattoo shop, exaggerating certain aspects while downplaying others. This inaccurate portrayal can make it challenging for aspiring tattoo artists to truly understand the industry before diving in.
To offer a clearer picture, I’m drawing on my own decade of experience working in various tattoo shops to share what it’s actually like to be a tattoo artist. We’ll explore the good, the challenging, and even the occasionally unpleasant sides of this profession.
Navigating Tattoo Shop Culture: It’s All About the Vibe
From my experience in numerous shops, I’ve noticed a consistent layout. Tattoo shops generally share similar equipment setups and spatial arrangements, including waiting areas, tattooing stations, and artist zones for supplies and sterilization equipment.
However, the true character of a tattoo shop isn’t in its physical structure, but in its people and the relationships formed within. The culture of a shop significantly impacts the daily experience for tattoo artists.
Tattoo Artists: Collaboration or Competition?
Television often depicts tattoo artists as fiercely competitive, constantly vying for dominance. While some level of healthy competition can exist, my experience leans more towards camaraderie. I’ve built genuine friendships with many artists I’ve worked alongside, extending beyond shop hours. Given the close proximity and shared experiences, a positive and supportive atmosphere is far more conducive to a good work environment. It’s common to see artists exchanging techniques and offering compliments, fostering a learning environment.
However, it’s realistic to acknowledge that in larger shops, occasional personality clashes can occur. Individuals with inflated egos or those prone to drama can disrupt the harmony. These situations are often short-lived, as such individuals tend not to last in a collaborative tattoo studio environment.
Interestingly, ego issues seem more prevalent in less skilled shops. When talented artists gather, the focus shifts to mutual learning and craft improvement. But in shops with less experienced artists, the arrival of a skilled apprentice can trigger insecurity and jealousy. This dynamic can breed negativity, particularly in shops struggling for clients, where competition might turn less friendly.
Tattoo Shop Hierarchy: The Pecking Order
A clear hierarchy definitely exists within a tattoo shop. Understanding this structure is crucial for navigating the professional landscape.
Shop Owner: The Top of the Chain
The shop owner sits at the apex. Their decisions are final, and ultimately, artists are there to contribute to the shop’s profitability. Owner approachability varies. I’ve encountered two main types of owners: those who are also tattoo artists and those who are purely business-focused.
Owners who actively tattoo, often occupying the prime booth, can be less approachable. There can be an unspoken dynamic of them needing to constantly validate their position as the top artist within their own shop, potentially creating tension.
Conversely, business-minded owners who don’t tattoo tend to be more approachable. Their primary focus is the shop’s financial success, and they understand that artist satisfaction directly impacts their bottom line. They are often more invested in maintaining a positive environment for the artists who generate their income.
Lead Artists/Veteran Tattooers: The Influencers
These are the seasoned professionals, often the most skilled and highest-earning artists (besides a tattooing owner). They wield considerable influence. Shop owners prioritize their contentment because they attract a steady stream of clients and significantly impact revenue. They often get first pick of walk-in clients and can delegate less desirable projects to newer artists.
New Tattoo Artists: Climbing the Ranks
Artists fresh out of licensing are at the lower end of the hierarchy. While they can direct apprentices, they hold less sway with veteran artists or lead artists. Building respect and seniority takes time and consistent quality work.
Apprentices: Learning from the Ground Up
The apprentice experience varies greatly between shops. Traditionally, apprenticeships involve a significant period of “shop duties” – cleaning, sterilizing equipment, running errands, and managing the front desk. Actual tattooing practice might be limited in the initial year.
Apprentices often handle the less glamorous tasks, a philosophy I personally question. Treating apprentices poorly can backfire. Once they become skilled artists, they may recall their initial treatment and seek more supportive environments. This artist turnover is detrimental to shops that have invested time and resources in training them.
Here’s a quick guide on navigating issues within the shop hierarchy:
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Client Issues: I generally handle client concerns directly, prioritizing customer satisfaction. For major issues, informing the shop owner is necessary, as it’s their business. For design dilemmas, seeking input from fellow artists is helpful.
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Artist Conflicts: Direct communication with the artist is usually the first step. Escalating to the owner can be perceived negatively. If owner intervention is truly needed, be aware they may prioritize the higher-earning artist.
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Equipment/Supply Issues: Artists are typically responsible for their own equipment maintenance. For immediate needs during a tattoo, asking a nearby artist for assistance is common. Owner involvement is usually limited to shop-wide issues like building maintenance (e.g., broken AC). Purchasing new tattoo machines is generally the artist’s responsibility.
Tattoo Artist Compensation and Work Hours: Balancing Hustle and Health
Compensation and hours are critical aspects of shop culture. While artists are usually independent contractors, shops that exploit artists financially or demand excessive hours often foster a toxic environment.
Fair Compensation Structures for Tattoo Artists
New artists, especially, can be misled regarding fair commission splits. Here’s a typical breakdown:
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60/40 Split (Artist’s favor): This is a standard, artist-friendly model. The artist retains 60% of earnings and typically covers their own supplies and marketing.
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50/50 Split (Even): In a 50/50 split, the shop should contribute to disposable supplies and marketing efforts to attract clients for the artist. This is also common for apprenticeships during tattooing phases.
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40/60 Split (Shop’s favor): A 40/60 split, where the shop takes the majority, is often unfavorable to the artist unless in exceptional circumstances (e.g., apprenticing with a renowned artist in a low-income country). Artists should consider shops offering fairer splits.
Payment methods vary, with cash being common, but shop policies differ.
Tattoo Artist Work Hours: Beyond the 9-to-5
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Standard Shop Hours (9-5): Many shops, particularly for newer artists, expect a 9-to-5 presence. Flexibility regarding early arrival or late stays depends on the shop culture. Personally, I aim to finish by 6 PM.
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After-Hours Workload: Tattooing extends beyond shop hours. Design work for upcoming appointments often requires 2-4 hours of home preparation daily. Client communication via social media for bookings and inquiries adds to administrative time outside of work hours.
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Tattooing Outside Shop Hours: Policies on taking equipment home vary. Some owners may be suspicious of artists tattooing privately, fearing lost revenue. This can lead to conflict or termination in some shops, while others are more lenient. New artists and apprentices should generally avoid tattooing outside the shop to prevent misunderstandings and potential mentorship issues.
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New Artists’ Extended Hours: Building clientele as a new artist often means a 24/7 approach, actively engaging on social media and responding promptly to inquiries, even late at night. Established artists with consistent bookings gain more flexibility.
Tip: As income grows, consider hiring a virtual assistant to manage administrative tasks, freeing up artist time.
- Setting Your Own Hours: Veteran artists and shop owners typically have greater control over their schedules. Apprentices are generally expected to adhere to shop hours and be highly available.
Time Off and Benefits: The Contractor Reality
Tattoo artists are usually contractors, not employees. This means traditional benefits like paid vacation, sick leave, or 401Ks are generally not provided. Time off translates to lost income, both for the artist and potentially the shop. However, travel for guest spots can be a way to combine travel with income generation, a unique perk of the tattoo industry.
While sick leave isn’t formalized, health is paramount. Working while ill, especially in a hygiene-sensitive profession, is not advisable. Understanding shop owners should prioritize health and safety over forced attendance when genuinely ill.
Retirement plans and health insurance are typically the artist’s responsibility as contractors. Income is commission-based, without a base salary or hourly wage, and artists manage their own taxes.
The Tattoo Shop Environment: Casual Yet Professional
Tattoo shops often have a relaxed atmosphere, deviating from typical corporate dress codes. However, professionalism remains essential.
Closed-toe shoes are a standard safety requirement due to potential biohazards like ink and blood spills. Otherwise, attire is generally casual and trendy. Darker clothing is practical to minimize visible ink stains. Changing clothes promptly upon returning home, especially for artists with families, is a good hygiene practice to prevent potential contamination.
- Language and Swearing: Casual language, including swearing, is common in tattoo shops. However, it’s usually used humorously and not directed negatively at clients or colleagues. Hate speech is generally unacceptable in professional shops.
Clients: The Heart of the Tattoo Experience
Client interactions are a dynamic mix. Incredible connections can form quickly, leading to meaningful conversations. However, client experiences can be unpredictable, especially in street shops with high walk-in traffic. Developing strategies to attract preferred clients is key to long-term satisfaction.
Client Reactions: From Fainting to Hygiene Concerns
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Fainting and Vomiting: Client fainting is rare, despite viral videos suggesting otherwise. In a decade, I’ve only encountered a handful of fainting incidents. Preparation and client communication are crucial. Advising clients to eat beforehand and regularly checking in during sessions can help prevent such occurrences. Vomiting is even rarer. Artist discomfort often stems more from hygiene issues than blood.
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Hygiene Challenges: Poor client hygiene, such as lack of deodorant or strong body odor, can be unpleasant. Tattooing sensitive areas like butt cheeks can also present hygiene challenges.
Managing Client Pain and Breaks
- Pain Management and Breaks: Clients often request breaks due to pain. While tattoos are inherently uncomfortable, frequent breaks can prolong the discomfort as the area cools down. Suggesting breaks every couple of hours is reasonable for artist and client comfort. In cases of significant pain or nausea, short breaks are necessary. Using a mild antiseptic spray like Bactine can offer a slight numbing effect and psychological comfort, even if the numbing is minimal.
Setting Boundaries: Friends and Family in the Tattoo Area
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Restricting Guests in Tattoo Area: Many artists, including myself, prefer to tattoo clients without accompanying friends or family in the immediate tattooing space. While seemingly supportive, guests can introduce complications:
- Exaggerated Pain Reactions: Clients may amplify pain responses for attention.
- Distraction and Movement: Laughter and conversation can cause client movement, hindering tattooing precision.
- Design Interference: Friends might influence design decisions, potentially against the client’s initial vision.
- Increased Distractions: Multiple people increase noise and questions, disrupting artist concentration.
- Overcrowding and Heat: Extra people in a booth can raise the temperature, especially away from AC.
- Invasive Observation: Guests often hover and watch closely, creating pressure and obstructing artist movement.
- Child Supervision Issues: Children in the tattoo area pose safety risks and distractions, with potential for accidents and disruptions.
Design Preferences and Refusals
- Turning Down Tattoo Designs: Some experienced artists decline designs they find repetitive or uninteresting (e.g., infinity symbols). While I generally accept most designs as tattooing is my livelihood, I draw a line at offensive or hateful imagery. While less favored designs might be delegated to newer artists, no artist should be forced to tattoo something against their values or beyond their skill level.
Client Demographics: Ideal and Challenging Clients
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Favorite Client Traits:
- Financial Means: Clients willing to invest in quality tattoos and value artist time. They often opt for larger, more elaborate pieces and become repeat customers.
- Good Skin Condition: Younger female clients often have well-maintained skin, ideal for tattooing due to hydration and elasticity. (This is a clinical observation, and positive relationships exist with diverse clients).
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Challenging Client Traits:
- Bringing Children: Clients bringing unsupervised children create safety concerns and distractions in a hazardous environment.
- Haggling on Price: Clients excessively negotiating price often undervalue the artist’s skill and work.
- Poor Hygiene/Health Issues: Hygiene issues create discomfort. Significant weight or health conditions can complicate positioning and potentially affect tattoo healing.
- Intoxication: Clients under the influence impair communication, design clarity, and payment processes. They can be unpredictable and prone to regret tattoos received while intoxicated.
- Excessive Phone Use: Constant phone use, especially for live posting, leads to movement and disrupts the tattooing process.
Cultivating Desirable Clientele
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Attracting Preferred Clients: Shaping your client base involves strategic choices:
- Tattoo Style Specialization: Specializing in specific styles (e.g., tribal, delicate linework) attracts clients seeking those aesthetics. Understanding style trends across demographics can also influence client type.
- Shop Location: Urban locations often attract more affluent and sophisticated clientele. Shops in less affluent or rural areas may encounter a different client demographic.
- Experience Level: Building a desirable clientele takes time. Initially, tattooing a wide range of clients is necessary. As experience grows and a distinct style emerges, attracting preferred clients becomes easier through word-of-mouth and portfolio development.
Tattoo Shop Amenities: Enhancing the Artist Experience
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Shop “Luxuries” that Matter: Certain shop amenities significantly improve the daily experience for tattoo artists:
- Front Desk Staff: Dedicated receptionists handle client inquiries, bookings, and phone calls, freeing up artist time.
- Air Conditioning: Essential for comfort and hygiene in a physically demanding profession.
- Private Booths: Individual, enclosed spaces enhance focus and privacy.
- Stencil Machine: Streamlines stencil creation, saving time and effort.
- Shop Advertising: Shop-supported marketing, especially for new artists, provides crucial client generation.
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Pros and Cons of Tattoo Shop Life:
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Downsides: Exploitative shop environments focused solely on profit can be detrimental. Lack of support and unfair commission structures are major drawbacks. Physical strain, particularly back pain from prolonged postures, is a common concern. Prioritizing posture and exercise, like deadlifts, can mitigate this.
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Upsides: Passion fulfillment is a major draw. Tattooing offers creative expression and daily engagement in a loved craft. Positive shop cultures foster growth and supportive relationships. Travel opportunities through guest spots provide invaluable experiences and income potential.
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Ready to Embark on a Tattoo Artist Career?
Traditionally, becoming a tattoo artist involved lengthy, unpaid apprenticeships, often lasting 2-4 years, focused heavily on shop duties before actual tattooing instruction.
Now, accelerated programs like Tattooing 101’s Artist Accelerator Program offer a streamlined path. This program condenses traditional apprenticeship elements into a 90-day video module format, enabling aspiring artists to acquire professional skills efficiently. It offers a faster route to working in a tattoo shop or launching an independent career, learning at one’s own pace and bypassing years of unpaid apprenticeship.
Click here to learn more about the Artist Accelerator Program.
