Tips - when and how much

Yay for City Elf! Someone finally asked me a question. I was about to shut this side-blog down (and I still might).

Okay, here's some information about tipping your tattooist. I don't think there's a tip percentage, but here are some guidelines:

It's a bit tricky, to be honest. Generally, most tattooists make more money doing flash, where there's a set price in advance, than they do when they are charging by the hour. Now, if the tattooist is very slow, this is not the case. This variable makes it difficult to determine the tip (or if to tip). I'm sorry I'm not making this easy on you! Now, if you do your research, you may find out who the "slow tattooists" are. I'm not saying to stay away from them; there are plenty of good slow tattooists.

In my general area, I know of one tattooist who works so incredibly slowly that there is no way in hell I'd suggest that anyone tip him. He does excellent work, but when it's by the hour, you're getting socked (or soaked).

Here's when you should tip:
* If the tattoo artist draws up an original design for you and doesn't charge for it. You might want to ask how long was spent on the drawing. If they've drawn up a couple of different things, so you have a choice, that shows a lot of consideration (and not indecision). Give the person at least 20 bucks (but don't give 'em anything if you hate the drawing!) If it's a back piece, fifty is a good number.
* If the you're told in advance that a tattoo will take a certain amount of time and it's done in less time and they are charging by the hour - in this case you should pay them the amount they expected it to take. For example: If you were told it would take two hours and it takes one and a half, if they are charging you a hundred bucks an hour, you should pay them two hundred dollars. THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT!!
* If it's flash art or artwork you brought in and you think they did an especially nice job, give a tip. Really, this isn't about percentages. Give what you feel good about giving. Otherwise, you'll feel resentful.
*If you pass out, throw up, or ask for lots of breaks, and you are treated well, give a tip. Again, give what you feel like. Even five bucks is okay. I know some tattooists would argue with that, but that's my opinion. I hate obligatory tipping, don't you?
*If you feel that the tattooist (or anyone else in the shop) provided you with service that went beyond the ordinary, tip 'em. Isn't this what tips are for?

So, sorry, it's not cut and dry (or is it dried?) I'm sure someone would tell you that "yes, it is" and say give tips like you do in restaurant, betweeen 15 and 20 percent. You can do that. That's fine.

You can also give the tattooist a gift. I have to say that I do not remember the people who gave me tips, but I do remember people who gave me thoughtful gifts, and some of them were truly touching. Some of them were downright awful, too, but that's the way gifts are.

Here's a few that made me feel great, to give you an idea: I did an interpretation of a painting from a beautiful book for a woman and she gave me a copy of the book with an inscription in it a week later. Now that I think of it, this happened twice. I'll always have those beautiful books.

One woman gave me a present a full year after she got her tattoo and that was quite nice and unexpected. But what was even more unexpected was receiving gifts and thank-yous from the spouses or partners of people whom I never even met! "Thank you for giving my wife such a beautiful tattoo that I'll always see. . ." A bottle of wine in a velvet bag from the girlfriend of a man with a big backpiece. . .

Stuff like this makes me feel a bit sad that I've given up doing this for a living. Huh. So, it's not really about money here. The tip is a show of appreciation and if you really feel like giving one, just put some thought into it.

Maybe I should have just said 15 percent and be done with it!

Black skin vs. tanned skin

I noticed that I got a hit from someone who googled "Why a black person shouldn't get a tattoo." The answers to that question are the same for people of all skin colors.

However, there are special considerations for people who have either naturally dark skin or are heavily tanned.

Here's some of my thoughts:

If you are black, and you live in an area where you are in the distinct minority, look through the tattooist's photo book to see if there are any pics of tats on black people. Now, you may not see any 'cause the tattooist did a crap job of taking a photo. But never mind that, you should ask the tattooist about tattooing black skin. See if (s)he knows anything about it.

Here, where I live, a good amount of tattooists have never tattooed a black person. When I was tattooing, I had black people come in who were heavily scarred up by other tattoo artists. Why? Because naturally dark skin is more prone to keloid (heavy) scarring than white skin. Unfortunately, there are tattooist who do not know this! They see dark skin and think "tough" (as in skin). Black skin is not the same as tanned skin, which is tough. There is a reason why scarification is a tradition in parts of Africa. Black skin scars easily. The beautiful designs of traditional scarification are easier to see than black ink on skin that is naturally very dark.

When a tattooist looks at a person's skin, in advance of tattooing, they make some choices. They can pick a tattoo machine that hits the skin harder, faster or slower and more softly. You see a guy who's been working outside all his life, with dark tanned skin and you usually reach for a machine that's going to hit that skin hard. But if a person has black skin, that's the absolute wrong thing to do. That person will probably get scarred up.

As for you who tan easily (or go to tanning beds): don't insist on yellow flowers and then come back and complain that noone can see the color of your tattoo. Of course they can't: Your skin is darker than the yellow. It's just common sense.

And once again: There is no such thing as opaque ink. Ink is not paint.

Any questions?

Hey folks, leave some questions! Challenge me! Maybe you don't like the lack of photos? Well, I'll keep this blog up for a while longer, and see what happens. . .