tattoos & tipping tattoo artists

[MeatyPortion]

I recognized the picture...but it's been too many years now for the quote.

lol yeah, I only know it because I've seen that movie waaaaay too much.

 

[slimer]

I tipped my last tattoo artist the half the difference that it would have cost me to get it here.

He charged me $300 for both mine and my wife's tattoo. Mine would have been $500 alone. Hers would have been at least $200. ($700 total) We gave him a $200 tip.

 

[user 22118]

Regardless of industry, if you do your job then there is no tip needed. If you go above and beyond and make suggestions, do the art and really do a good job then sure. Waiters go into the job also knowing that they are making three bucks an hour and that if they don't do their job and serve the public well then they aren't making tips. You want to talk about crap wages then let's start another thread about the cooks, who regardless of whether their food is emaculate often times don't get a tip and also get paid slave wages. Strippers don't get paid much either and tips are what they rely on.

I was recently at a bar and the bartender was useless, so I left him a buck a drink for a thirty dollar tab of two drinks. I haven't gotten a tattoo yet, but I know that if I get a great tattoo and the guy helps me out with it, then he is getting a tip.

EDIT: I just started another thread for Tipping in General, let's quite off topic posting here and post our thoughts on how all industry should be tipped there.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

If someone was about to scar me for life you can bet your ass I would tip them! I would tip them as I walked in the door and I would tip them again when they got the needles out. I would tip them during the tattoo process, and I would tip them just before they finished. Who needs a tattoo that says "I suck"?

 

[springer]

Wait staff and tattoo artists are a terrible comparison. Do you tip your mechanic or plumber or anyone else that charges $50 to $100 an hour for their services? No.

I have lots of tattoos and the only ones I tipped for were the free ones.

Well actually I do tip my Mechanic and the plumber if they don't own the business if they do a good job. Their not the ones making 50 to 100 $ an hour.And the owner isnt either with overhead


I do the same for my tats. I use the same guy every time and he does great work and goes over backwards to get the tat just the way I want it.

 

[Cape Brewing]

Who needs a tattoo that says "I suck"?

You?

(sorry... couldn't resist)




So to answer the OP... I vote for tipping the tattoo artist if they do a good job. Just my vote

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

You?

(sorry... couldn't resist)

Yup!! I need that one on my forehead!!

 

[LarissaEsq]

I'd treat tattoo artists much like hairdressers: The general wisdom and etiquette is that you tip employees but not the owner of the business.

On the other hand, my hairdresser IS the owner of the salon and I tip him anyway. It just doesn't feel right to me not to. So with an employee, it's expected. With an owner, it's your choice.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I'd treat tattoo artists much like hairdressers: The general wisdom and etiquette is that you tip employees but not the owner of the business.

On the other hand, my hairdresser IS the owner of the salon and I tip him anyway. It just doesn't feel right to me not to. So with an employee, it's expected. With an owner, it's your choice.

Until I realised who it was I was ready to laugh at you for having a "hairdresser" .

 

[monty73741]

I have to differ on the tattoo artist. I got mine done. 65 bucks she did a great job. She the owner of the company & I didnt feel the need to tip her. Tattoo artists are independant contractors. So they work on referals, same way a realtor works. people dont pay realtors 2000 bucks then tip them cause they did a couple of open houses. as for tattoo design. most of the time you have to pay for that up front. I just have people trying to make me feel bad for not tipping the tattoo artist. I mean 65 bucks 30 mins worth of work why am i tipping you. you just made 65 bucks an hour & i paid you in cash so you dont have to include it as income if you like.


Now wait staff, those people make tons of money, but it is not steady income.

 

[malkore]

I stated in the other tip thread that 20% is too much for the average waiter/ress.

But that's because waiting tables is not hard. Its not rocket science, and it doesn't really require talent. I'm not saying any idiot can wait tables and do it well, but its not that amazing.

Tattooing, however IS a talent, and does require experience and specific skills to be good at it. I do tip my tattoo artists.

 

[Beernik]

SWMBO's an artist.

There are three kinds of shops: 1) Artist pays a fixed monthly rent to the shop, 2) Artist pays a percentage of the tattoo to the shop, 3) Artist is an employee of the shop and is paid hourly by the shop like they worked anywhere else.

There are not many of #3, but they are starting to gain numbers because of shop/artist liability reasons and IRS employee vs. contractor tax implications.

The bottom line, regardless of what kind of shop it is, it is a physically demanding job. If its a custom piece, they probably didn't charge you for the drawing time. Show some appreciation and tip your artist. If you don't, they may not want to tattoo you again and will push you off to another artist lower in the pecking order. Or maybe next time, your session might mysteriously cost you and extra $50.

But for certain, when they go home that night, they will complain to their spouse about what a cheap bastard you were. Save an innocent spouse some grief.

Thanks.

 

[slimer]

I'm pretty sure that my tip was spent on hookers and blow that evening.


Just kidding.


I still feel that the person is putting something that is irreversible on your skin and if they did a good job, they should be rewarded for it.

 

[opengun]

at $200 an hour for a five hour tattoo, i didn't tip my artist.

 

[Kronin]

why do I have to be Mr. Pink?

 

[homebrewer_99]

So you don't tip at restaurants either?

I don't tip at restaurants...I give a "gratuity"...something of my own free will for good service. Bad and mediocre service gets $0.01...but that has to be well deserved.

As I've always known it, "TIP" is an old English acronym meaning "To Insure Promptness" This was something the waitress did when a "rich" person entered the establishment...they would wait and serve them first hoping they would get a "tip". When they came in next time...they were waited on and served their food (hot) first.

I lived in Europe for 9 years. Over there employers pay their employees salaries. Somehow in the US this got all twisted so that now establishments expect, and even DEMAND (you've seen: 18% gratuity added to bill for 8 or more persons...CRAP on your checks), customers to pay their employees salaries. A POX ON THEM ALL!!! Employers that is...

So, technically, the ONLY person who actually ever gets a TIP these days are the people who get you a table because you slipped them something...everything else is a gratuity...


Getting back to the tattoo artist...if he/she mispells/misshapens a tat that can't be corrected is the tat free or do they give you a refund? And would you tip them then?

 

[homebrewer_99]

...when they go home that night, they will complain to their spouse about what a cheap bastard you were...

How is not tipping someone being cheap? If you ask how much for the service...that's it...bottom line.

Do you get a tip everytime you do your job? I know I don't. A "thank you" from a soldier is all that drives me to do better.

How many people do you know that works for tips? I remember once in an Olive Garden a waitress was complaining to other customers about how some people don't tip. She then told us the days specials which included "Chicken Scampi"...to which I asked her how many shrimp come with the chicken...and she said "none, it's chicken scampi". I figured for an "Italian" restaurant they should at least know SOME Italian and know that "scampi" is "shrimp" in Italian...DOH!!! "Scampi" does not mean garlic and butter sauce.

After the other people left I talked to the young woman and explained that one of the reasons she may not get good tips is because she complains to customers about other customers. As customers we only want good food and good service. If we don't get both we don't tend to tip...then I went into the gratuity vs tipping spiel...then changed tables...

 

[Beernik]

The artist doesn't necessarily charge you for everything. Many artist don't charge for drawing time.

If all you want is a cheep ass tattoo. Go find a cheap ass scratcher working out of his bathroom. If you want quality, something that someone put some real effort into making look good on you body for the rest of your life, show some appreciation.

And if you don't want to tip money, I've tipped with homebrew, rum, and scotch.

 

[monty73741]

the tip issue that i though was if i;m paying for a tattoo & the artist pays a booth rental & getting 100% of tattoo. I dont feel the need for a tip. I orginally started this thread because i get tattoo'd by the owner of the establishment. why should i tip them.

 

[Beernik]

Do you want to get tattooed by them again? Unlike the waiter/waitress example, quality tattoo artists can pick and choose who they do and do not tattoo. Most shop owners can fill their books 8 hours a day 7 days a week with repeat clients.

I go back to my original statement:

If you don't tip, if they choose to tattoo you again, you may get charged more. If they don't want to tattoo you again, they will kick you down the pecking order to a lesser artist and work on a client who does tip instead

 

[monty73741]

I my opinion that just bad customer service. I just dont see tattoo artist as person who give tips. you dont give your finish carpenter, painter etc etc tips. I will tip a waitress that is great because thats how she makes her money.

 

[Beernik]

That's the thing about good artists. They have a very loyal client base and so they don't need to have great customer service. From their standpoint, why tattoo someone who doesn't tip when they can tattoo someone who does.

I know one shop owner here who only opens his appointment book 4 times a year. People who want to get tattooed by him will line up outside his shop like they were buying tickets to a rock concert. People that he knows won't tip conveniently get rescheduled out of his book.

I know another shop owner. Most despised owner in town amongst artists outside his shop. Smokes more pot than Tommy Chong. Plus he does a little coke and meth on the side. But he's a good artist so his clients put up with him. Any new client who doesn't tip him gets kicked down to another artist the next time they come in.

The bottom line is the artists who can afford not to be tipped are the artists who will put up with it the least, because they can easily replace your business with someone else's. Only the artists who are still building their reputation and client base or happen to be struggling to get by at the moment are the ones who will put up with not being tipped.

They aren't carpenters, painters, etc. They are tattoo artists. People who want their service seek them out. If enough people are seeking them out, they can afford to be picky and choosey as to who they serve. It may not make sense to you, but that is how it is.

 

[JebCkr]

I tipped 20 bucks when I got mine (it cost 170). I did it simply because the lady who did it was friendly and did a good job. It is a common thing to do from what other people have told me and you should tip, but I doubt they'll spit on you if you don't.

 

[monty73741]

no i dont agree with that artist bull ****. most people that come in to get tattos just pick flash off the wall & most tattoo shops hire anyone who can tattoo whether they are good or bad.

Plus i was told that anyone who performs a service should get tipped. well i should be tipped from my real estate clients, my computer clients. PLus if an "artist" is such a prick he doesnt want my money. I go find someone else. there alway other tattooist out there. PLUS if an artist remebers me cause i didnt tip them & i got a tatoo a year ago that says they arent that busy/

 

[malkore]

no i dont agree with that artist bull ****. most people that come in to get tattos just pick flash off the wall & most tattoo shops hire anyone who can tattoo whether they are good or bad.

wow, two very broad, mis-informed statements.

Let me guess...you don't even have a tattoo?
:cross:

 

[homebrewer_99]

I don't think tatto artists expect tips...for what it's worth...your tat is their advertising...if it's not good why would you tip them...I know they should expect that you're going to tell other people to not use them.

 

[jacksonbrown]

I'm really glad I just found this thread. I got my first tattoo last night and tipping my artist didn't even occur to me until this morning. I was thinking about going back to tip her, but that might be a bit weird. $200 for a four hour job, although she thought it would only take 2.5-3 originally. She did not create the art, and the only modification was reducing the number of scales, which I am now SO grateful for because the scales hurt! She was great and I love the work. As for her job, we did talk about it, she gets $10/hr, 40 hrs/week whether she's tattooing or not, plus commission for the tatts she does. That's not so bad for a 24 year old. Would you tip her?

 

[summersolstice]

I have enough identifying features without adding more.

 

[the bunnay]

I'm really glad I just found this thread. I got my first tattoo last night and tipping my artist didn't even occur to me until this morning. I was thinking about going back to tip her, but that might be a bit weird. $200 for a four hour job, although she thought it would only take 2.5-3 originally. She did not create the art, and the only modification was reducing the number of scales, which I am now SO grateful for because the scales hurt! She was great and I love the work. As for her job, we did talk about it, she gets $10/hr, 40 hrs/week whether she's tattooing or not, plus commission for the tatts she does. That's not so bad for a 24 year old. Would you tip her?

Nice ink! While I probably would have tipped, I am admittedly unsure of the right thing to do in that context. Considering you were pretty much going with flash and she was paid hourly/commissions I think you are probably okee, but if you go in for a touch up (most places will touch up for free) i would Definitely tip then.

 

[jacksonbrown]

if you go in for a touch up (most places will touch up for free) i would Definitely tip then.

That's what I was thinking. I already found a spot that will need it. The dragon's belly, about four clicks from it's mouth, there's no separation between the belly and the scales as there is the rest of the way around.