How To Book A Tattoo Appointment?
Booking a tattoo appointment, in theory, seems easy. But in fact, the process can be very intricate. If you’re not careful, and especially if you haven’t been through the process before, wrongdoings at the time of the booking can go on to cause catastrophic consequences for you and your tattoo by the end of the process. You can book a tattoo appointment by:
- Going through the website booking point
- Emailing an artist directly
- Calling the studio or artist
- Walking in
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Can I just walk in and get a tattoo?
Are There Any Rules To Getting a Walk-In Tattoo? – Yes, there is a number of rules you’re supposed to follow to get a walk-in tattoo and ensure you don’t cause any problems to the tattoo artist. For example;
- You cannot come for a walk-in tattoo and expect your tattooist to do a large or complicated design in one day. If that’s what you want, then you should make an appointment.
- Before you go to a tattoo studio, try to come up with a potential design idea you might be satisfied it. It will save your tattooist time and make it easier for them to perfect the design.
- If your pain tolerance is low, make sure to let your tattooist know. This will help them find a perfect tattoo placement if you’re not sure about it, for obvious reasons.
- Don’t come to a tattoo studio expecting you’ll pay a lower price for a walk-in tattoo. You will have to pay full price for a walk-in tattoo, just like you’d do for a regular one. The price is determined according to the tattoo design, size, and placement, or by the hour rate provided by the tattooist.
- Don’t forget to tip your tattoo artist. It is rude not to tip, especially if the artist has come out of their way to squeeze you in for a walk-in tattoo. Many artists find it incredibly rude when they allow someone to get a walk-in tattoo, and they don’t tip.
- Do not come to a tattoo studio under influence of drugs or alcohol. You will get kicked out, for sure. No tattoo artist will tattoo an intoxicated person; it’s not fun, they might hurt you and they might even lose their license since it is illegal to do drunk tattooing in some states.
- Make sure to take a shower before you go to get a tattoo. It is important to be fresh and clean, and not gross the tattoo artist out with weird body odors. Try to have a proper meal and hydration before a walk-in as well.
How do you DM a tattoo artist?
Step 4. How to message a tattoo artist when booking an appointment? – The question we get asked the most is: How to message a tattoo artist when booking an appointment? And we promise messaging a tattoo artist when booking an appointment doesn’t have to be full of anxiety. Our advice is pretty simple, just like your message should be! What to email a tattoo artist when booking an appointment:
- A simple description of your idea and any photo references you may have.
- The size and body part you’d like to have tattooed, as well as your budget.
- Any particular style, colors, details, and similar, that you’d like included.
- Dates that work well for you.
The best thing to keep in mind when you ask yourself how to message a tattoo artist is: be straight-forward and polite. Keep it short but make sure to include all of the information above plus anything else you think may be relevant. What if I’m unsure about the size or the placement? If you’re unsure about the size or placement of the tattoo, that’s okay! Just say so! But we’re pretty sure you probably have an estimate in mind. Let the artist work their magic with you! 
We totally understand why so many people are confused about how to email a tattoo artist. It’s not always obvious how a tattooist wants to be contacted, and a lot of people don’t really know what to say anyway! And what if it’s not clear how to book? Maybe their profile doesn’t have a “Book Now” button, or they don’t have a bio specifying how they want to be contacted.
if you don’t, that’s also okay. The tattoo artist will work with you to figure out a size and a placement for your piece that will work perfectly. It’s part of their job. The same goes for if you’re unsure about colors, design, style, etc.
If it’s an artist, try to find their email. Keep it short and brief, like: “Hey, I found you on Tattoodo, but I wasn’t sure how to book a tattoo with you. Please let me know what you prefer, and what information you’d like to have. ” The same goes for a shop that doesn’t have contact info.
If you can’t find the shop email, feel free to give the shop a call — phone calls are great. Simply say, “Hey, I found you on Tattoodo. I’d like to book a new tattoo. ” Again, the key is to be clear, and to the point.
Many shops don’t have a shop manager to handle calls, so an artist is probably taking time away from drawing or tattooing to help you. Have your schedule ready to confirm a date, and make sure to write down anything else you’re told. 
What if you have the artist’s email, Instagram, Facebook or phone number? Unless you have a special relationship with that tattoo artist or that person is a dear friend, following the rules will make you the best client you can be. And we assume if you’re reading this: that’s exactly what you should do. Tattoo artists’ schedules are whacky and busy, keeping track of multiple forms of communication is exhausting for anybody. By going through the right motions, you ensure you’re on the calendar properly, and it will help everyone out in the long run. 
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Do you need a consultation before getting a tattoo?
Can You Get a Tattoo Without a Consultation? – Not all shops demand a consultation in advance. You may not need a consultation if your design is simple or if you know your artist well. However, many tattoo artists insist upon one before the big event to guarantee a successful end to the process.
For one, if you’re not picking a standard design, your tattooist needs time to design or draw it. They can’t sketch out that elaborate dragon or a photo of your favorite pet moments before tattooing you.
Secondly, the consultation allows you to think things through about the artwork you’ll keep for a lifetime. A study of 500 tattooed individuals revealed that roughly 16 percent regretted their decision — you don’t want to fall into that category. Finally, a consultation is the perfect time to ask any questions your may have about your future tattoo.
How early do you show up for a tattoo appointment?
– If you’ve made it this far into our guide, it’s safe to say that you have all your bases covered. To wrap things up, here’s how your interaction with your artist and getting your tattoo done will likely unfold:
- Reach out to the artist or shop to talk about rates and set up a consultation.
- Meet the artist to talk about your design and expectations.
- Agree upon the final design with the artist and confirm the rate. If revisions are needed, this may involve setting up a follow-up appointment to look over the final design before locking in your tattoo date.
- Aspirin (Bayer) and ibuprofen (Advil) are off limits in the 24 hours leading up to your appointment, as they can thin your blood. This applies to the consumption of alcohol as well. You may be able to take acetaminophen (Tylenol), but confirm this with your artist beforehand.
- Plan to wear something that will keep the area to be tattooed exposed. If you can’t do this, wear something you can easily slip in and out of.
- Show up to your appointment 10 minutes early. Don’t forget to bring cash for tips!
- Fill out any paperwork and, if needed, finalize any details of your design.
- Your artist will take you to their station. You may need to roll up or remove any clothing that may be in the way of your tattoo placement.
- Your artist will disinfect the area and use a disposable razor to remove any hair.
- Then your artist will place the tattoo stencil onto your skin. Move this around as much as you like until you’re happy with the placement!
- Once the placement is perfect, your artist will tattoo the outline of your design before filling in any colors or gradients.
- After your artist is finished, they’ll clean the tattooed area, wrap it up, and tell you how to take care of it.
- Don’t forget to leave a tip for your artist when you pay! It’s standard to tip at least 20 percent, but if you had an awesome experience and are able to tip more, go ahead.
If you have any lingering questions, ask before you leave the shop. One of the best times to get them answered is when your artist is wrapping your skin. Since you’re here, screenshot or print out this handy list of questions for your consultation before you commit to an artist.
How much do you tip on a $1000 tattoo?
How much do you tip a tattoo artist for a half sleeve? – The average cost of a half-sleeve tattoo is $500 – $1,500. So for a $1,000 half-sleeve tattoo, you’d tip $200 – $300. The final price you’d expect to pay for the artwork is $1,200 – $1,300.
What should you not ask a tattoo artist?
How do you ask for a tattoo done?
How Much Should U Tip a tattoo artist?
How Much to Tip Tattoo Artists – Unfortunately, there’s no hard and fast rule governing how much to tip tattoo artists. As with tipping waitstaff, 20-25% percent is a good standard. An easy way to include tipping in your budget is to add it in when getting the estimated costs for having your work done.
So, if your tattoo is expected to cost $200, with a 20-percent tip, that’s $240. That said, you can tip more or less, depending on several factors. For one thing, your willingness to tip will depend on how pleased you are with their work.
If you don’t like the work, it makes sense that you would want to tip less. That’s up to you. But keep in mind that a tattoo is a piece of art you wear on your body for personal expression. The tattoo artist makes your vision a reality on your skin. Choosing the right tattoo artist is as important as choosing the right tattoo.
- Do your research, first;
- Don’t be afraid to ask people with great ink where they got it done;
- Chances are they’d love to tell you about their tattoo artist and the experiences they had with them;
- Another reason you might tip less or choose not to tip at all is because of a bad experience;
But, like any service-based industry, it’s not just the artist’s attitude that’s a big deal. You want to be treated with dignity and respect, but so does your tattoo artist. Tipping is a part of that, but so is showing up on time and being ready for your appointment.
- In most instances, tipping is appropriate and encouraged;
- While you can tip less than 15%, try to avoid it;
- Good work should be recognized, and being broke is no excuse not to tip;
- If you don’t have the money to tip your artist, rethink getting tattooed until you can;
Or, ask your artist if they’d be interested in being tipped in goods or services if you run your own business and can float a sweet freebie their way in lieu of cash. Tipping in cash is fine. That way your tattoo artist gets the entirety of the tip and avoids any service fees or taxes.
If adding your tip to a credit or debit transaction, add a bit more to cover those fees. The best time to tip is after your appointment when you’re paying for your services. If your tattoo artist isn’t the person checking you out, just hit them up afterward with a thank you and, “This is for you.
” They’ll appreciate it. Remember, you’re tipping them based on their professionalism and the quality of their work, so there’s nothing wrong with waiting to make sure you’re pleased with the experience before you tip. You also don’t need to let your tattooer know you’re tipping, but it’s not a bad idea.
- That way they know you didn’t accidentally overpay them or think they owe you change;
- In some rare instances, a tattooer might not accept tips if they’re the owner of the shop, but that’s very unlikely to be the case;
There’s no reason to ask your artist about tipping if you plan on tipping them with cash. And, most credit card interfaces offer prompts for adding tips as part of the check-out process, making it even easier. Gratuities are part of the tattoo experience so don’t feel awkward or uncomfortable about them. 
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What should I bring to a tattoo appointment?
Come Prepared – 
Depending on the length of your appointment, it’s always wise to bring some form of entertainment for yourself. It’ll help keep you occupied and keep your mind off the pain a little bit. Bring a phone charger, headphones, portable game device, book – whatever will keep you busy and help time go by faster for you. It’s also a good idea to bring a water or beverage with you.
Is it rude to ask tattoo price?
Many artists find it extremely rude if you try to haggle the price of a tattoo. Though negotiating the price of some goods and services is normal, haggling with your artist over the cost of a tattoo is typically seen as unacceptable and insulting.
Why are tattoo artists so rude?
Conclusion – It could be that the tattoo artist that you go to see is having a bad day or has been treated badly by another customer. There could be lots of reasons why they seem to be being rude towards you. However, it could just be their way and they don’t mean anything by the abrupt way they speak to people.
Where should I get my first tattoo?
What should you not do before getting a tattoo?
Do painkillers help before a tattoo?
– To reduce tattoo pain, follow these tips before and during your appointment:
- Choose a licensed tattoo artist. Experienced artists usually take less time to finish tattoos. Before your appointment, meet the artist to get a feel for their personality and the shop’s hygiene.
- Pick a less sensitive body part. Talk to your artist about placement. (See the table above. )
- Get enough sleep. Your body can handle pain better after a good night’s rest.
- Avoid pain relievers. Don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen for 24 hours before your session. These medications can thin your blood, which may prolong the tattooing process.
- Don’t get a tattoo when you’re sick. Sickness heightens your sensitivity to pain. If your immune system is struggling, your tattoo will take longer to heal.
- Stay hydrated. Getting tattooed on dry skin hurts. Before your session, keep your skin hydrated by drinking enough water.
- Eat a meal. Low blood sugar increases pain sensitivity. Eat beforehand to prevent dizziness from nerves or hunger.
- Avoid alcohol. Don’t drink alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment. Alcohol heightens pain sensitivity, dehydrates your body, and thins your blood.
- Wear loose clothing. Dress in comfortable clothes, especially over the area you’re getting tattooed.
- Breathe deeply. Stay relaxed by practicing steady breathing.
- Distract yourself. Bring your headphones and listen to music. If your artist is open to conversation, or if you’re allowed to bring a friend, talk to them to distract yourself.
- Ask about skin-numbing cream. Your artist can recommend a numbing cream for getting tattooed.
- Communicate with your artist. If the pain is too much, let your artist know. A good artist will let you take breaks.
After your session, follow your artist’s aftercare instructions. Good tattoo aftercare will promote proper healing and reduce the risk of infection.
How do you prepare your body for a tattoo?
How does getting a walk in tattoo work?
What is a walk-in tattoo? By it’s most simplest definition is a tattoo that can be done quickly. This doesn’t have to spur of the moment or spontaneous (although we welcome those moments too!). Your tattoo idea can be well thought out, it can be planned, but it also isn’t a sleeve or large back piece. Even if you don’t have an idea, most walk-in tattoo shops have tons of designs on the walls or in books for you to choose from! At Gate City Tattoo we have designs in books, designs on the walls, we even have designs on the ceiling! Do you have to know what you want before coming in? Nah. 85% of the flash on our walls are all hand painted custom pieces by our artists! You can literally walk in and get a custom piece. If you don’t see anything on the walls, the artist or artists available for walk-ins that day have books of designs they really really want to tattoo, so don’t be afraid to ask for their sketchbooks! Our artists have books that they draw in or have original drawings on their Ipad that they would love to tattoo.
Not sure what to get? That’s OK, too! If you look up on our ceiling we have hundreds of designs that have already been tattooed, so look up and get an idea. Being able to make a simple change to design still constitute a walk-in tattoo.
A word about budget. when you come in and your talking designs with the tattoo artist make sure to tell the artist your budget for the tattoo. Knowing your budget can help the artist point you in the direction of designs that will be in your respected price point or they can draw the tattoo design to fit that budget.
With that being said, your walk-in tattoo should be small to medium size at most. A walk-in tattoo is a tattoo that the artists doesn’t have to spend hours drawing and preparing. If you are thinking of a half sleeve or a chest piece or even some neck tattoos then you are going to want to schedule a consultation with the artist of your choice before making an appointment.
These types of tattoos are great examples of what a walk-in tattoo is NOT. During the consultation you will the artist all your reference images, he or she may take photos of the area to be tattooed and you will discuss timing and price. You can schedule a consultation HERE. Please keep in mind that walk-in tattoos are first come, first served. For example, if you call and ask if we have walk-in time and we do. we will answer you with, ” as of now we do ” meaning at that particular point we do, but someone could just walk in after we hang up and take the time you just inquired about. If you feel like a walk-in tattoo is right for you, stop by at any time and if we have someone available, we will do our best to get you in same day! Whatever you do, please do not show up drunk or dirty straight from work or on drugs. If you are not physically prepared to receive a tattoo and take care of the tattoo we will refuse you service. Not sure how to be physically prepared? Read our helpful tips HERE. We take our first tattoos at 1pm and our last at 7pm. Our studio minimum is $75 with an hourly rate of $150.
Where is the least painful place to get a tattoo?
Least painful to tattoo – The least painful places to get a tattoo are areas of your body with fewer nerve endings. Think outer shoulder, calf, buttocks, and outer arm. While people generally focus on the location on the body, Stanley Kovak , a cosmetic physician, theorizes that pain is more about size.
How much does it cost to get a small tattoo?
Small tattoos are always a fan favorite because they have really cool designs and usually don’t take too much time or planning. A small tattoo on average costs about $50 to $80 total, and usually won’t take more than an hour.
How much do tattoos cost?
Factors of Average Tattoo Prices – There is a lot that goes into figuring out the cost of your new tattoo. It isn’t a straight forward answer. Things like materials, size, location, and type of tattoo affect the price. On average you can expect to charge $50-100 for a small tattoo, up to $200 for a medium tattoo and over $250 for a large tattoo.
