Thursday, October 27, 2011

Emily Post Get's a Tattoo




(Tatau, n.d.)

Always remember, a proper lady tips her tattooist twenty percent!

        I see it every time I am sitting for a tattoo.  Somebody walks into my artist’s station and wants to know what time he can get tattooed today.  Davy tells them coolly that they can make an appointment up front with the receptionist.  This is inevitably followed with confusion as to why they cannot get their tattoo today.  I made my appointment a month ago; Davy is likely to tattoo 3-4 people after me ending up with a 9-12 hour work day.  Don’t get me wrong, most shops do have walk-in slots available, but to walk in and expect to have your pick of artist, and have them drop everything and work on your piece is just rude.  The business doesn’t work that way.  Sadly, many rules governing proper behavior while getting tattooed get disregarded.

Ask any tattooist, they can rattle off examples of discourteous clients from every workday of their week.  Most tattoo etiquette is common sense: be on time, don’t show up to your appointment drunk, and practice good personal hygiene.  However, whether it’s due to ignorance or a perception that people with tattoos don’t care about manners, these rules are ignored.  Lest you approach your big day uneducated we will go over some basics!  Also, always remember, if you are unsure about something just ask your artist.  These rules are general and in no way representative of every shop you will visit. 

Like any other business in or segment of our society tattoo parlors operate under specific rules of etiquette and decorum.  Many first time clients may unwittingly violate these rules, therefore it is advised that one educate themselves before shopping for an artist.  One should always be respectful and sober when visiting a shop (Stewart, 2011).  Get to know the artist before getting your tattoo, and know what you want to get (Genzlinger, 2011).  Children should not be present during the tattooing process (EPI, 2010).  Respect the shop’s pricing policies, and do not haggle (EPI, 2010)!  On the day of your appointment: eat before you arrive, don’t bring an entourage, arrive on time, take a shower, wear appropriate clothing, don’t talk on your cell phone while the artist works, and don’t ask to play your own music (EPI, 2010).

When you visit a tattoo shop 9 times out of 10 it is a privately owned establishment, the owner works there, and the employees all consider themselves part of a family.  In a situation such as this it is doubly important to be respectful; not to mention you are conversing with a person that may be putting a piece of art on your body that will be there forever, so be nice.  Establishing a relationship with a shop and artist is important if you want to work on a large piece, or several small pieces that will comprise a sleeve.  In regards to alcohol, save it for after the appointment; drunken people are clumsy, have a hard time sitting still, and it is illegal for your artist to work on you if you’ve been drinking.

Knowing what you want is the all important first step to getting a tattoo.  It is not the artist’s job to decide what you should get.  If you don’t know what you want, then you should wait until you do.  Most tattooists moan when they have to tattoo from flash (a piece of art picked from the parlor wall); they are artists after all, and enjoy doing original pieces that offer a challenge.  Bring reference art to your chosen artist and delight in the process of developing your idea into a piece that will be only yours.  Once your art is drawn up DO NO HAGGLE OVER THE PRICE.  A good artist is worth what they quote, and in the realm of tattoos you do get what you pay for.  To quibble over cost is to imply that the artist is not worth what they are asking.

The day has finally arrived, so now what?  First of all, take a shower!  Nobody wants to sit in close proximity with somebody sweaty from the gym, and your artist is no exception.  You are going to sweat more due to nerves and adrenalin so a shower and deodorant are imperative.  Don’t bring all of your closest friends with you.  Work stations tend to be small with limited seating, so bring one person if you need to, otherwise go solo.  Dressing appropriately to get a tattoo sounds strange so let me explain.  You are going to be sitting/laying in a potentially uncomfortable position for up to several hours so, dress for comfort not to impress.  Ensure that the area to be tattooed is easily accessible, and that the artist will not have to work around any straps.

Adhering to these simple rules of etiquette will help ensure your experience is fruitful, and that your artist will want to work with you again.  A tattoo is forever, and your relationship with your artist is potentially a long one.  In closing, remember that America is a tipping society.  You tip your hair dresser, your pizza delivery person, and your server at a restaurant, your tattoo artist gets a tip too.  Twenty percent is considered polite, but feel free to express you opinion of the work with a higher (or lower) tip.  A polite society if a happy society, so be polite and reap the benefits!



Works Cited


EPI. (2010, October 22). Etiquette is everywhere: tattoo shop etiquette from kat vond d. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Emily Post's Etiquette Daily: http://www.etiquettedaily.com/2010/10/etiquette-is-everywhere-tattoo-shop-etiquette-from-kat-von-d/

Genzlinger, N. (2011, January 11). The New York Times. Please don't swat the bug tattoo, p. MB4.

Stewart, J. (2011). Tattoos/Body Piercing. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from About.com: http://video.about.com/tattoo/Tattoo-Courtesy-and-Etiquette.htm

Tatau. (n.d.). HubPages. Retrieved October 25, 2011, from Sexy Victorian Tattoos: http://tatau.hubpages.com/slide/Victorian-Tattoos/1295340


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