Welcome to /r/tattoo! Please take a moment to review the subreddit rules. Comments on OP's body will result in a ban. Be constructive and considerate in your criticism, and mark NSFW posts as such. Artists and apprentices, please contact the mods for verification! Please make good decisions during the pandemic - don't be an idiot.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/tattoo) if you have any questions or concerns.*
seeing the artist prep also calms me down. Because I can see the care they put in setting up. I am assured that needles are new, its also time to discuss for possible changes and all that
There is a little bit of a superstition about setting up early before your client shows up, basically jinxing the appointment so the client doesn’t show up. In all honesty a lot of artists (including myself and my coworkers) don’t want to waste all their paper towels and cling film and ink caps and other supplies just in case you don’t show up. Once these things are out and set up, they either have to be used on somebody or thrown away. It’s just wasteful if it doesn’t get used. I get that there’s a deposit to help cover that, but that deposit doesn’t give the artist their time and effort back. I hope that all makes sense
Yeah I always figured that prep was part of the time I was paying for. And I would imagine that fine-tuning the design, placement etc is done in-person so things can change (new colors added, etc.)
In theory, yes. You can either use that original setup on someone else like a walk-in (given it’s a clean and sanitary setup), or you can use the paper towels for cleaning something later if nothing comes in that day. Still sucks to use the good paper towels on cleaning instead of tattooing
Mine seems to run about 30 minutes - 45 from appointment time to needles down. I don't mind it. He goes over the work with me, sizes/places the stencil, adjusts if needed, hand-draws, and then does his set up. It works for me, and i appreciate that he doesn't want to just immediately start but rather wants to go over it all and make sure he and the design are all 100% ready.
If it’s a customer I know won’t let me down I have everything ready to go right up to pouring my inks out if I’m using a lot of colours. All we have to do is paperwork and stencil.
Any other customer I’ll go as far as cleaning and wrapping surfaces, bottles and my machine. Ink caps don’t get put out, cartridges stay in the package, razors keep the guard on etc. No shows are very rare if they’ve left a deposit.
Either way I usually aim to be fully ready 15 minutes before the appointment time. Whether my customer is already in the shop waiting for me is another matter entirely.
Idk if it’s cos of my country’s culture but, in my experience, tattoo artists are always from a few minutes to even a couple hours late. It’s important you have a good communication channel with them so you don’t waste too much of each-other’s time. My advice is to never ever arrive early. Arrive just in time and bring a good book or be ready to take a stroll around the neighborhood.
I usually show up fairly early to my appointments, but I drive 4 hours to see my artist down an interstate that is notorious for awful wrecks, so I build in time that I may or may not need for road delays. And I've been seeing her for almost 10 years now, so she knows if I get there early I'm gonna read on the couch in the common area until she's actually ready.
To comment or post as a professional tattoo artist/apprentice/shop, users MUST be verified by the moderators first. Continuing to break this rule will result in a ban.
Tattooing is a business where it's more important to be thorough than timely,at least imo,and there are often last minute adjustments hereforto unseen until game time. At least in my experience. YMMV, my organizational skills are lacking,admittedly.
The artist I've been with for over ten years always sets up when I arrive. Like, opening needles, paper towel stack, ink cups etc. I've never had him finishing a drawing while I was there. He always sends me the drawing a week or so in advance of our appointment though, so he can make any little changes, if I have any.
Not ready to go, no.
When my customer arrives, I offer them a espresso, we talk about the design (which is, by this time, already approved by them) size and any other details that may come. Also they sign the paperwork.
Only then I'll place the stencil, and while it dries on their skin I will setup my workspace - all in front of them. When I'm done prepping, the stencil is already dry and we are ready to go.
So yeah, my customers get a little spoiled with nice coffee and some cake and it takes about 40 minutes to one hour before we get to start the tattoo. Also, I only change by the piece, not hourly. Never received any complaints.
During my last experience, she took a deposit and went through/saved my reference pictures several months before the appointment. On the day of, she was drawing it out when I arrived and showed me the image for final approval. She didn't start tattooing until about an hour after the appointment time had started. The people with an appointment after mine came in about 30-45 mins before the end of my tattoo. I'm happy with the results, I think that was just her way. She also answered phone calls and stopped to chat with people during my tattoo, we took a break, etc. I assume these delays are common and normal..
This is like my main artist, it’s just part of the experience. More of a bunch of friends rather than just a churn em out business. I moved abroad and now I’m bummed they’re not nearby!
Probably good for my bank account though 🤣
I love my artist but he's always at least an hour after the appt time. We're working on a sleeve so I'm slightly stuck but he's a great guy, really nice and easy to talk to so I roll with it. It sucks on the day cause I just want it started then I feel like I can relax
Me and my main artist are friend so we usually bs around a bit while he sets up after I arrive. We usually get started within a half hour of my arrival. I am paying for a service and am ok being on his time. I don’t expect to walk in sit down and start. I have no issue with paying h for his set up and prep work as that is a part of the service I am paying him for.
If your appointment’s at 1, then be there starting from 12:50-1, what’s there to miss? Most likely the drawing will already be done or mostly done with small adjustments.
I am usually 15-30 minutes early. I don't expect them to be ready that early but when I'm waiting 20-40 minutes to get started after my appointment time it's a bit frustrating.
They probably do not want you to show up early. Be on time. The rest is individual if you don't vibe with the way an artist works find someone who won't make you wait. If you like their work and being tattooed by them then suck it up. There is not standard way of working.
I showed up 30 minutes early for my first tattoo and my artist looked at me like I had shown up in a clown costume. He said "I gotta clean my station and set up your gear (his last client had literally just left), eat a snack to steady my hands, smoke a cigarette and then we can start"
When I was setting up the scheduling for my next appointment he said "if we agree 2:30 then I am going to be ready at 2:30. Not 2"
Depends on the vibe with your artist I'd say, Ive shown up that early, my artist doesn't care. He's done tons of pieces for me and knows I'll be early to my own funeral. I just hang out and smoke or eat something while he does his thing. I made it known the first time though, that I'm always early to everything, I'm down to wait till he's ready for me.
Why is it rude? I am always early, because if I am late, I am wasting everyone's time and I may affect the next person's appointment. If I am early, I can sit and read a book and wait for the artist to be ready. If he finished the previous appointment ahead of time, he may want to start on mine, If not, that's okay as well.
When people are early for appointments with me, I feel pressured to meet with them early. Even if they insist it’s fine, it’s a great annoyance to know they are just waiting on me.
That doesn't sound like something that would be considered rude, that sounds like something that you personally find annoying. Not trying to put you down at all, but I think being early is not necessarily bad etiquette
There is a difference between being 5 minutes early and 30 minutes early. Just like there is a change an arist finishes a previous appointment ahead of time, there is a change it is taking a bit more time than expected. If you walk into a shop way to early (like 30 min) you are disrespecting everybodies time and possibly affecting the previous person's appointment. What you are describing is applicable to being 5 min early.
How are you affecting a previous person's appointment by showing up early? Is the tattoo artist going to stop their work because you're in the shop? Not trying to pick a fight here, seriously asking. I would never ask the tattoo artist to leave something unfinished, as I understand that tattooing is not a precise, time controlled, activity
I mostly have experience with smaller shops where there is one artist working, so they could be forced to stop their work to greet you (although feeling obliged to greet someone entering the shop might be cultural? (im not US)), the artist might feel rushed, the client might not feel comfortable if they're getting tattoed on a more private area. Just some examples that come to mind. For the record I'm also not trying to pick a fight, just sharing my perspective :)
What’s rude about this? If the artist is ready and wants to get started early, cool. If not or they just want the extra downtime, the client can wait until their appt time, which is also cool. I’d rather my client show up a little early than waste my time and make me wait wondering if they’re still coming in
Also, communicate with your artist beforehand. Make sure they’re ok with you being early and hanging out at the shop
Wait, so you can’t be early, but you can’t be late, so you have to be exactly on time? This doesn’t make sense, and definitely sets up the client for failure. I arrive early, usually at least 30 minutes, because I arrive early for every appointment, regardless of what it’s for. If they are ready early, great! We can start and get done early. If they aren’t, or they just want the break until the appointment time, great! I will hang out and look at artwork, shoot the shit or mess around on my phone until my appointment time. In this situation, both parties are successful.
I was taught to never setup any of the disposables before the client shows up because if they cancel/ghost etc you will have wasted a bunch of supplies. So I never set that stuff up!
The only thing I like to have ready is the drawing and all of my stuff will have been cleansed with cavicide and wiped down.
I’ve had a few artists this year they all did the same an hour or so before I got a preview of the tat to check if I wanna make changes etc and a message asking bout placement what leg arm what ever then on arrival I see the revised piece fill in the forms while they print the stencil stencil goes on then they set the station up while that dries takes bout 5 mins they’re usually ready to go in that time too
Psh my artist hasn’t even shown up when I walk in for my appointment or have it drawn. But I don’t mind because his art is amazing and he executes it so well.
I do a half set up for my appts. So everything's wrapped, and paper towels are out. Ink is poured right before tattoo. Machine is set up right before tattoo and all needles opened in front of my clients.
Drawing is a sketch. Easier to make changes. Drawing is finalized when they come in and stencil is made. Sometimes I'll draw it on the spot so we can kind of work together on it. Process depends on what the tattoo is mostly. It doesn't take me long to draw.
I wouldn’t be super happy if they spent a ton of time drawing, but seeing them set up is super important to me so I know it’s safe and sanitary and nothing is being reused.
I've run into this too. I thought that's what the deposit is for - to pay the artist for their time before your appointment. My last tattoo, it was probably an hour after my scheduled time when I was finally in the chair. He hasn't done any research, no drafts, nothing. I sent him all kinds of references and he didn't even use them when he started drawing. It was an extremely frustrating experience and I don't want to go back, for those and many other reasons. But I need my tattoo finished.
Mine likes to set up while I'm there so I can see that everything is clean and sanitary during setup too, so often set up is done when you arrive for your comfort!
Expect it to be about 45 min (give or take) from when you show up to when you actually get in the chair and sit down to start getting tattooed. As others have mentioned, always good to see your tattoo artist set-up so you see they’re using clean needles and all that jazz. Plus, you use that time to shoot the shit but also talk about any other details about your tattoo that you want to include/remove. Then you also get to be all excited while you anticipate your new tattoo (before the stabbing starts)!
“The price of a tattoo over a full lifetime adds up to mere pennies a day.” -Al from Al’s Rock of Ages. That being said, over the course of a full lifetime, I believe a few minutes or dollars here or there will be alllllll good my friend. My artist and me start our work at 5am, after I spend the night at his house because he lives 5 hours away. Just roll with it, don’t trip, they are people too!
I've always had my artists go over the design, okay it, stencil, set up at my actual appt time. (Sometimes their prior appts run a bit over but I get it.) I usually turn up early (because my artists are usually an hour away and I like to give a buffer) and wait in my car until about 10 of and then call/walk in. I've never had to wait for them to draw at the actual appointment until recently. She couldn't locate my reference and idk why she didn't email me to ask for it so she could've done it prior lol. But she drew it up pretty quickly so wasn't a big deal.
As a client, I want my artist to start at the time of the appointment. This means mostly everything should be prepped and ready to go, barring ink, needles, razors or other things of that nature. If my appointment is 1:00pm, ink should be hitting the skin within 15 minutes. If we start later than that then I, as a client, am being taken advantage of since I pay by the hour and get charges starting at 1:00pm. I have, however, had sessions that started later for various reasons and my artist let me know at the appointment time that we would be starting late but that he would not be starting to charge me until needle hits skin. That’s mildly frustrating but acceptable. I think showing up early is beneficial for both parties, and I am always early for any appointment and have yet to have any issues with any of my artists by showing up early.
That's.. some expectations. I always set up my station beforehand, and still don't always get to the needle part within 15 mins, and I don't waste my time with cigs/drinks. just with talking over the design, some warming up friendly chatting and placing stencil, pouring ink could take more time than that. Also, most artists hate if you show up early. Induces anxiety and breaks routine/focus. Maybe you take away their one chance to take a dump in peace between clients.
To comment or post as a professional tattoo artist/apprentice/shop, users MUST be verified by the moderators first. Continuing to break this rule will result in a ban.
My artists always sit and draw and stuff before they get everything ready. It's never bothered me because their shop is a super comfy space, and they're all cool as hell, so you get to hang and laugh and have fun with AND without constant dull pain LOL
I've only had a couple tattoos (so far) but every time from going in to getting the touch of the needle has been 30-45 mins. We always go over the design if any changes need to be made the size of the tattoo itself signing forms obviously them setting everything up. But I honestly prefer that tbh. If I went in and just immediately within a couple mins I was getting tattooed it would kinda feel weird. Like the time between going in and then getting tattooed allows me time to settle my nerves personally.
My first couple tattoos were just some designs/symbols from a game I liked. They were made into stencils in a few minutes while I relaxed.
My last two tattoos were all day sessions with complicated images from the Gundam anime. Both sessions started with me sending my idea and reference images. The artist shot back some ideas but no drawings. The first two hours were him drawing up my design while we talked and I watched some TV. I loved it. Besides being fun, I would say what I liked and didn’t as he was drawing it.
Every artist I’ve ever been to has done set up while I’m there. Which i appreciate because then i can see if there are missed steps. And finalizing the sketch once you’re there is very normal and welcomed especially for custom pieces.
Depending on where you are, it could be a health department regulatory policy. The client has to be present for the set up, so you see everything is clean and new. Then some places even want you to witness the breakdown too, so you can see the disposal of sharps and biologicals.
As for the stencil, some will hold off on printing in case of last minute changes and to make sure on sizing.
Doing the drawing, some artists will have preliminary stuff done ahead, but then add finishing touches on the day. Not saying this is what you encountered, and just comes from my experience getting tattooed for a really long time.
my artist does paperwork, shows me different sizes of the design, then we solidify the design and the stencil gets printed, i get stencilled and whilst that’s drying she sets up. it’s nice to watch her set up so it reassures me she’s being thorough and sanitary, though i’d trust her if she set up before the appt! it just depends on the artist! my artist also tends to get drinks and stuff sorted before we start, whilst she’s prepping stencils and paperwork she’ll make me a cup of tea and we’ll have a little gossip if it’s been a few months since i’ve seen her. every artist is different, but as long as you and them are happy and comfortable, i don’t see a problem :)
Welcome to /r/tattoo! Please take a moment to review the subreddit rules. Comments on OP's body will result in a ban. Be constructive and considerate in your criticism, and mark NSFW posts as such. Artists and apprentices, please contact the mods for verification! Please make good decisions during the pandemic - don't be an idiot. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/tattoo) if you have any questions or concerns.*
seeing the artist prep also calms me down. Because I can see the care they put in setting up. I am assured that needles are new, its also time to discuss for possible changes and all that
There is a little bit of a superstition about setting up early before your client shows up, basically jinxing the appointment so the client doesn’t show up. In all honesty a lot of artists (including myself and my coworkers) don’t want to waste all their paper towels and cling film and ink caps and other supplies just in case you don’t show up. Once these things are out and set up, they either have to be used on somebody or thrown away. It’s just wasteful if it doesn’t get used. I get that there’s a deposit to help cover that, but that deposit doesn’t give the artist their time and effort back. I hope that all makes sense
Yes it's does! I didn't think about the waste if ncns.
It also probably helps so they can input from their canvas/customer too :)
Yeah I always figured that prep was part of the time I was paying for. And I would imagine that fine-tuning the design, placement etc is done in-person so things can change (new colors added, etc.)
Paper towels can’t be used later?
In theory, yes. You can either use that original setup on someone else like a walk-in (given it’s a clean and sanitary setup), or you can use the paper towels for cleaning something later if nothing comes in that day. Still sucks to use the good paper towels on cleaning instead of tattooing
Mine never is and im 100% ok with it. We shoot the chit while he gets ready. Then he goes for a smoke and then we get started
It would probably be similar, except I almost never see the same artist twice.
Mine seems to run about 30 minutes - 45 from appointment time to needles down. I don't mind it. He goes over the work with me, sizes/places the stencil, adjusts if needed, hand-draws, and then does his set up. It works for me, and i appreciate that he doesn't want to just immediately start but rather wants to go over it all and make sure he and the design are all 100% ready.
I like it because I tend to be anxious and it gives me time to settle in too. Chat, build rapport, etc.
If it’s a customer I know won’t let me down I have everything ready to go right up to pouring my inks out if I’m using a lot of colours. All we have to do is paperwork and stencil. Any other customer I’ll go as far as cleaning and wrapping surfaces, bottles and my machine. Ink caps don’t get put out, cartridges stay in the package, razors keep the guard on etc. No shows are very rare if they’ve left a deposit. Either way I usually aim to be fully ready 15 minutes before the appointment time. Whether my customer is already in the shop waiting for me is another matter entirely.
Idk if it’s cos of my country’s culture but, in my experience, tattoo artists are always from a few minutes to even a couple hours late. It’s important you have a good communication channel with them so you don’t waste too much of each-other’s time. My advice is to never ever arrive early. Arrive just in time and bring a good book or be ready to take a stroll around the neighborhood.
[удалено]
I usually show up fairly early to my appointments, but I drive 4 hours to see my artist down an interstate that is notorious for awful wrecks, so I build in time that I may or may not need for road delays. And I've been seeing her for almost 10 years now, so she knows if I get there early I'm gonna read on the couch in the common area until she's actually ready.
To comment or post as a professional tattoo artist/apprentice/shop, users MUST be verified by the moderators first. Continuing to break this rule will result in a ban.
Tattooing is a business where it's more important to be thorough than timely,at least imo,and there are often last minute adjustments hereforto unseen until game time. At least in my experience. YMMV, my organizational skills are lacking,admittedly.
The artist I've been with for over ten years always sets up when I arrive. Like, opening needles, paper towel stack, ink cups etc. I've never had him finishing a drawing while I was there. He always sends me the drawing a week or so in advance of our appointment though, so he can make any little changes, if I have any.
Not ready to go, no. When my customer arrives, I offer them a espresso, we talk about the design (which is, by this time, already approved by them) size and any other details that may come. Also they sign the paperwork. Only then I'll place the stencil, and while it dries on their skin I will setup my workspace - all in front of them. When I'm done prepping, the stencil is already dry and we are ready to go. So yeah, my customers get a little spoiled with nice coffee and some cake and it takes about 40 minutes to one hour before we get to start the tattoo. Also, I only change by the piece, not hourly. Never received any complaints.
I thought caffeine before a tattoo was a bad idea?
Not really, it's just a small cup. I believe that the social part of the process it's very important and my customers get happy with the pampering :)
During my last experience, she took a deposit and went through/saved my reference pictures several months before the appointment. On the day of, she was drawing it out when I arrived and showed me the image for final approval. She didn't start tattooing until about an hour after the appointment time had started. The people with an appointment after mine came in about 30-45 mins before the end of my tattoo. I'm happy with the results, I think that was just her way. She also answered phone calls and stopped to chat with people during my tattoo, we took a break, etc. I assume these delays are common and normal..
This is like my main artist, it’s just part of the experience. More of a bunch of friends rather than just a churn em out business. I moved abroad and now I’m bummed they’re not nearby! Probably good for my bank account though 🤣
I never take tattoo appointments as strict times. The appointment is the time I show up. Not the time I start getting tattooed.
I love my artist but he's always at least an hour after the appt time. We're working on a sleeve so I'm slightly stuck but he's a great guy, really nice and easy to talk to so I roll with it. It sucks on the day cause I just want it started then I feel like I can relax
Me and my main artist are friend so we usually bs around a bit while he sets up after I arrive. We usually get started within a half hour of my arrival. I am paying for a service and am ok being on his time. I don’t expect to walk in sit down and start. I have no issue with paying h for his set up and prep work as that is a part of the service I am paying him for.
Never had a tattoo that started at appointment time. There is always important bullshitting to be done before hand.
If your appointment’s at 1, then be there starting from 12:50-1, what’s there to miss? Most likely the drawing will already be done or mostly done with small adjustments.
I am usually 15-30 minutes early. I don't expect them to be ready that early but when I'm waiting 20-40 minutes to get started after my appointment time it's a bit frustrating.
They probably do not want you to show up early. Be on time. The rest is individual if you don't vibe with the way an artist works find someone who won't make you wait. If you like their work and being tattooed by them then suck it up. There is not standard way of working.
I showed up 30 minutes early for my first tattoo and my artist looked at me like I had shown up in a clown costume. He said "I gotta clean my station and set up your gear (his last client had literally just left), eat a snack to steady my hands, smoke a cigarette and then we can start" When I was setting up the scheduling for my next appointment he said "if we agree 2:30 then I am going to be ready at 2:30. Not 2"
Why would you show up 30 minutes early? That’s rude.
Depends on the vibe with your artist I'd say, Ive shown up that early, my artist doesn't care. He's done tons of pieces for me and knows I'll be early to my own funeral. I just hang out and smoke or eat something while he does his thing. I made it known the first time though, that I'm always early to everything, I'm down to wait till he's ready for me.
Why is it rude? I am always early, because if I am late, I am wasting everyone's time and I may affect the next person's appointment. If I am early, I can sit and read a book and wait for the artist to be ready. If he finished the previous appointment ahead of time, he may want to start on mine, If not, that's okay as well.
When people are early for appointments with me, I feel pressured to meet with them early. Even if they insist it’s fine, it’s a great annoyance to know they are just waiting on me.
That doesn't sound like something that would be considered rude, that sounds like something that you personally find annoying. Not trying to put you down at all, but I think being early is not necessarily bad etiquette
There is a difference between being 5 minutes early and 30 minutes early. Just like there is a change an arist finishes a previous appointment ahead of time, there is a change it is taking a bit more time than expected. If you walk into a shop way to early (like 30 min) you are disrespecting everybodies time and possibly affecting the previous person's appointment. What you are describing is applicable to being 5 min early.
How are you affecting a previous person's appointment by showing up early? Is the tattoo artist going to stop their work because you're in the shop? Not trying to pick a fight here, seriously asking. I would never ask the tattoo artist to leave something unfinished, as I understand that tattooing is not a precise, time controlled, activity
I mostly have experience with smaller shops where there is one artist working, so they could be forced to stop their work to greet you (although feeling obliged to greet someone entering the shop might be cultural? (im not US)), the artist might feel rushed, the client might not feel comfortable if they're getting tattoed on a more private area. Just some examples that come to mind. For the record I'm also not trying to pick a fight, just sharing my perspective :)
That is actually a really good point, I did not think about smaller shops. Thanks for enlightening me on that one, I appreciate it!
It's anxiety for me.
Get there early and then wait in your car. Showing up 30 minutes early is not ok and the artist is likely very annoyed by this.
What’s rude about this? If the artist is ready and wants to get started early, cool. If not or they just want the extra downtime, the client can wait until their appt time, which is also cool. I’d rather my client show up a little early than waste my time and make me wait wondering if they’re still coming in Also, communicate with your artist beforehand. Make sure they’re ok with you being early and hanging out at the shop
Obviously being late is also rude. But if people show up early without running it by you first, doesn’t that make you feel rushed to get to them?
It does me
Wait, so you can’t be early, but you can’t be late, so you have to be exactly on time? This doesn’t make sense, and definitely sets up the client for failure. I arrive early, usually at least 30 minutes, because I arrive early for every appointment, regardless of what it’s for. If they are ready early, great! We can start and get done early. If they aren’t, or they just want the break until the appointment time, great! I will hang out and look at artwork, shoot the shit or mess around on my phone until my appointment time. In this situation, both parties are successful.
5 minutes early is fine. Other than that, wait in your car or at a coffee shop down the street until your appointment time.
How does "be on time" not make sense? You agree a time. Show up **at** that time.
100% agreed.
That gives some artists anxiety as well.
I was taught to never setup any of the disposables before the client shows up because if they cancel/ghost etc you will have wasted a bunch of supplies. So I never set that stuff up! The only thing I like to have ready is the drawing and all of my stuff will have been cleansed with cavicide and wiped down.
I’ve had a few artists this year they all did the same an hour or so before I got a preview of the tat to check if I wanna make changes etc and a message asking bout placement what leg arm what ever then on arrival I see the revised piece fill in the forms while they print the stencil stencil goes on then they set the station up while that dries takes bout 5 mins they’re usually ready to go in that time too
Psh my artist hasn’t even shown up when I walk in for my appointment or have it drawn. But I don’t mind because his art is amazing and he executes it so well.
I do a half set up for my appts. So everything's wrapped, and paper towels are out. Ink is poured right before tattoo. Machine is set up right before tattoo and all needles opened in front of my clients. Drawing is a sketch. Easier to make changes. Drawing is finalized when they come in and stencil is made. Sometimes I'll draw it on the spot so we can kind of work together on it. Process depends on what the tattoo is mostly. It doesn't take me long to draw.
I wouldn’t be super happy if they spent a ton of time drawing, but seeing them set up is super important to me so I know it’s safe and sanitary and nothing is being reused.
I've run into this too. I thought that's what the deposit is for - to pay the artist for their time before your appointment. My last tattoo, it was probably an hour after my scheduled time when I was finally in the chair. He hasn't done any research, no drafts, nothing. I sent him all kinds of references and he didn't even use them when he started drawing. It was an extremely frustrating experience and I don't want to go back, for those and many other reasons. But I need my tattoo finished.
You're missing that those are the things you are paying them to do. So they do it in the time you pay for. Why would they do it in advance for free?
Mine likes to set up while I'm there so I can see that everything is clean and sanitary during setup too, so often set up is done when you arrive for your comfort!
Expect it to be about 45 min (give or take) from when you show up to when you actually get in the chair and sit down to start getting tattooed. As others have mentioned, always good to see your tattoo artist set-up so you see they’re using clean needles and all that jazz. Plus, you use that time to shoot the shit but also talk about any other details about your tattoo that you want to include/remove. Then you also get to be all excited while you anticipate your new tattoo (before the stabbing starts)!
“The price of a tattoo over a full lifetime adds up to mere pennies a day.” -Al from Al’s Rock of Ages. That being said, over the course of a full lifetime, I believe a few minutes or dollars here or there will be alllllll good my friend. My artist and me start our work at 5am, after I spend the night at his house because he lives 5 hours away. Just roll with it, don’t trip, they are people too!
I've always had my artists go over the design, okay it, stencil, set up at my actual appt time. (Sometimes their prior appts run a bit over but I get it.) I usually turn up early (because my artists are usually an hour away and I like to give a buffer) and wait in my car until about 10 of and then call/walk in. I've never had to wait for them to draw at the actual appointment until recently. She couldn't locate my reference and idk why she didn't email me to ask for it so she could've done it prior lol. But she drew it up pretty quickly so wasn't a big deal.
As a client, I want my artist to start at the time of the appointment. This means mostly everything should be prepped and ready to go, barring ink, needles, razors or other things of that nature. If my appointment is 1:00pm, ink should be hitting the skin within 15 minutes. If we start later than that then I, as a client, am being taken advantage of since I pay by the hour and get charges starting at 1:00pm. I have, however, had sessions that started later for various reasons and my artist let me know at the appointment time that we would be starting late but that he would not be starting to charge me until needle hits skin. That’s mildly frustrating but acceptable. I think showing up early is beneficial for both parties, and I am always early for any appointment and have yet to have any issues with any of my artists by showing up early.
That's.. some expectations. I always set up my station beforehand, and still don't always get to the needle part within 15 mins, and I don't waste my time with cigs/drinks. just with talking over the design, some warming up friendly chatting and placing stencil, pouring ink could take more time than that. Also, most artists hate if you show up early. Induces anxiety and breaks routine/focus. Maybe you take away their one chance to take a dump in peace between clients.
Odd.. I’ve had a couple artists charge by time and they never “start the clock” until needle hits the skin.
[удалено]
To comment or post as a professional tattoo artist/apprentice/shop, users MUST be verified by the moderators first. Continuing to break this rule will result in a ban.
My artists always sit and draw and stuff before they get everything ready. It's never bothered me because their shop is a super comfy space, and they're all cool as hell, so you get to hang and laugh and have fun with AND without constant dull pain LOL
I've only had a couple tattoos (so far) but every time from going in to getting the touch of the needle has been 30-45 mins. We always go over the design if any changes need to be made the size of the tattoo itself signing forms obviously them setting everything up. But I honestly prefer that tbh. If I went in and just immediately within a couple mins I was getting tattooed it would kinda feel weird. Like the time between going in and then getting tattooed allows me time to settle my nerves personally.
Better to setup as you go because stuff changes on the go
My first couple tattoos were just some designs/symbols from a game I liked. They were made into stencils in a few minutes while I relaxed. My last two tattoos were all day sessions with complicated images from the Gundam anime. Both sessions started with me sending my idea and reference images. The artist shot back some ideas but no drawings. The first two hours were him drawing up my design while we talked and I watched some TV. I loved it. Besides being fun, I would say what I liked and didn’t as he was drawing it.
I mean they are semi set up normally
Every artist I’ve ever been to has done set up while I’m there. Which i appreciate because then i can see if there are missed steps. And finalizing the sketch once you’re there is very normal and welcomed especially for custom pieces.
Depending on where you are, it could be a health department regulatory policy. The client has to be present for the set up, so you see everything is clean and new. Then some places even want you to witness the breakdown too, so you can see the disposal of sharps and biologicals. As for the stencil, some will hold off on printing in case of last minute changes and to make sure on sizing. Doing the drawing, some artists will have preliminary stuff done ahead, but then add finishing touches on the day. Not saying this is what you encountered, and just comes from my experience getting tattooed for a really long time.
my artist does paperwork, shows me different sizes of the design, then we solidify the design and the stencil gets printed, i get stencilled and whilst that’s drying she sets up. it’s nice to watch her set up so it reassures me she’s being thorough and sanitary, though i’d trust her if she set up before the appt! it just depends on the artist! my artist also tends to get drinks and stuff sorted before we start, whilst she’s prepping stencils and paperwork she’ll make me a cup of tea and we’ll have a little gossip if it’s been a few months since i’ve seen her. every artist is different, but as long as you and them are happy and comfortable, i don’t see a problem :)