Although I've been neglecting my blog a bit due to my main job taking up my time, (I just got my first 9-5 "big girl" job, woo hoo!) I still continue to receive emails from you lovely readers. Seriously, you guys rock.
One question I've been getting lately is what on EARTH do I wear to a job interview for a tattoo shop receptionist gig? This is a fantastic question. I can recall back to when I got my first interview and I was FREAKING OUT over what to wear. I mean, it's a tattoo shop, so it's a casual environment, but I also want to dress to impress...what do I do? At the time, I even went onto some tattoo forums to ask some artists to chime in with their opinions.
I recently asked my boss this question, as well as some of my artists. They all said that what I wore was PERFECT. I wore dress slacks, some black flats, and a nice silky dressy-type shirt. Basically, business casual. This works out great because you are showing that you aren't trying TOO hard (I mean, come on, it's a tattoo shop...you don't need to wear a suit!), but at the same time you are a little more dressed up than usual, showing that you're a serious professional who is a contender for this job.
A few years after I got hired, we had a sudden need for another front desk person to be hired (As much as I'd like to be, I can't be at the shop all the time). It was exciting for me to see because I got to greet all of the potential candidates. Oh, to be new and nervous again! I remembered it well and tried my best to reassure each candidate that the interview would be really mellow. Anyway, I saw it all...suits, ties, blazers, you name it...as well as JEANS, SPAGHETTI STRAP TANK TOPS, SANDALS, DIRTY SNEAKERS...as well as everything in between. Think of it this way- you don't want to stick out in one direction, fancy or casual, too much. Think middle of the road!
A side note to all of this is hair and makeup. Again, I went real business casual with this- I wore makeup, but not a TON of crazy glitter eyeliner, bright neon lipstick, or anything like that...it was very natural. My hair had purple streaks, but I wore it straight and clipped back. I've gotten asked about showing tattoos, piercings, and crazy hair to interviews. Think about it- this is an industry where artistry of all forms is accepted, for the most part (sure, you might find a jerk here or there, but that's in any industry). If you have a crazy hair color, don't try to hide it...just rock it! If you're that worried about it, you could definitely style it in a more subdued way (low bun or ponytail, slicked back, etc.). When it comes to tattoos, oh my goodness don't be afraid to show those, that's what we are all about. Piercings, it's the same thing, except I might hold off on wearing your 00g septum ring...maybe try a retainer or jewelry that is a little less IN YOUR FACE for the interview. Unless that's your thing, then well, rock on, brother/sister. I only mention this last note because the boss man told me that it was his personal preferences to see candidates who chose jewelry that wasn't distracting for the interview. He also did note that upon being hired, YES, OF COURSE, ROCK THAT FACE METAL, friend!
I hope this is helpful. Have a great new year, folks!
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Lifesaver candies
There's never a dull moment in the shop. Sometimes it's due to the artists acting like seven year olds (ours in particular like to have office chair races across the floor and tech deck mini skateboard competitions on their drawing table). Other times, the clients and I strike up really fascinating and entertaining conversations. On more frequent occasions than I'd like to admit, my entertainment comes from me doing a fabulous job of spilling something probably hazardous all over (just kidding, I'm actually really good at handling the biohazards, but I have spilled a whole jug of rubbing alcohol everywhere before). I think the most common question I get from clients at this job, however, reminds me of just how eclectic and interesting my days really can be.
"What is the weirdest tattoo you've seen come in here?"
This one doesn't even get a second guess from me. I have this answer prepped in the back of my mind, because it truly was one of the most different requests I've seen over the years. Well, technically I didn't even SEE the tattoo (tattoos, actually) since she was behind a curtain, so does that even still count? Of course it does. Nothing has even come close to topping this one, nothing. Everyone I tell this to busts into hysterics once I say what it was. It's almost too bizarre to comprehend why anyone would want it...but hey, to each his own.
The woman wanted lifesaver candies tattooed right on top of her nipples.
Yep. Not around, not near, ON. Nipple, all of the areola and all. Now, being the professional I am, I didn't skip a beat and I just continued with my line of questioning as if she had asked for a simple star on her foot. Inside I was dying...did she...wait...what?! She didn't care who her artist was, so my next task was to try and even find someone who would do it (as I mentioned in my previous post, some guys won't do certain tattoos for various reasons). After getting rejection after rejection, I finally found the lucky man to complete the task.
I cannot fathom how painful these new additions must have been, but the woman got her lifesavers and I didn't hear a peep out of her the whole time. Tough
cookie.
My artist was great with the lady; very professional, and I could tell that the woman felt comfortable. Ultimately, that's the most important part...making sure that our whole team can provide awesome service and give our customers badass tattoos in a comfortable environment. I call it a win-win.
Monday, January 11, 2016
So you found your shop...now what?
So I outlined how to find yourself a good tattoo shop here. But...now what?
It can be scary walking into a tattoo shop, particularly if you've never been in one before. Heck, sometimes I don't even like going into other shops...fear of the unknown artists, I guess. The important thing to remember is that as long as you've picked a professional shop (and I'm sure you did with my tips!), no one is going to judge you, talk about you, or treat you in any unprofessional manner. We get clients from all walks of life- 18th birthday-goers, 70 year olds, males, females, transitioning gender clients, lawyers, doctors, dentists, professional athletes, teachers, exotic dancers, zookeepers, fishermen, bank tellers, servers, other tattoo artists from other shops...seriously, there's no one "marker" anymore that determines who gets tattoos and who doesn't. That's probably the thing that surprises people the most when they walk in and see who's sitting in the tattoo chairs (well that, and my immaculately clean shop thanks to yours truly, but I've told you about that already).
So my first piece of advice- don't let your fear get the best of you. If you want the tattoo, just go for it. Don't let your fear of the shop and staff turn you away.
But...let's back up. You need to do some homework before you go to the shop. You can be a walk-in, sure (and I'll outline that in a later post), but more often than not, the tattoos that people want are going to need to be drawn up. The reality TV shows like Miami Ink and Bad Tattoos have been great for exposing our industry to the general public. However, they also create unrealistic expectations for our clients. It's one thing to walk into a tattoo shop and ask for a small star the size of a quarter. It's a whole different thing to want a giant tiger that spans from your hip to your armpit, wrapping around your side with a killer background. Can we do it? Absolutely, and my guys love designing the larger pieces! Can it be done in an hour like the TV shows (I'm envisioning Kat Von D telling one of her clients to go "grab a bite to eat" to give her time to draw up some rad sketch) want you to believe? Nah...my guys need some time. Creativity takes time, ya'll.
In reality, custom pieces take various amounts of time to draw up. Something simple might take a few minutes, so sure, you can have it right then and there if there's time and availability. It might take an hour or two to draw up if it's like palm-sized, which may lead to you getting it that day if the artist is having a slow day, or we might book you on another day to give him some time (this is especially true if you are going to a busy artist, more on this later). If it's something real big like a thigh piece, full back piece, or a sleeve, then we'll usually book you out a week or two to give the artist some time to draw such a large piece, reflect on it, make changes, and come back to it and finalize it. Now, I've seen my guys do all of this quicker, and I've seen them take weeks on designs. It just all depends. They're perfectionists, which is a good thing considering these pieces are permanent. This is their livelihood, and you are basically a walking billboard for their work. They want that thing perfect!
So my second piece of advice- be realistic about the time frame of your tattoo. It might take some time to draw up. Small tattoos usually can be done same day or a day or so out. Larger tattoos might take weeks to get to your appointment date.
Now I mentioned busy artists. It's natural to want the best artist to do your work. We all want the best! However, be realistic about how long you are willing to wait for a tattoo. For example, my boss is one of the best in the business. People are sometimes not happy when I had to tell them that he was booked out a year or more in advance. "But it doesn't take a year to draw a tattoo!" True. But, consider all of the other people who came to him first wanting tattoos by him. This creates traffic in the appointment books, so to speak. I literally make appointments for a year or more into the future, and people keep these appointments because they want the artist. If you don't want to wait that long, that's fine, but you'll need to look for a different artist. I always tell people it's not necessarily a bad thing that you have to wait- it gives you time to save up! :)
Therefore, my next tip if you have your heart set on a certain artist- call the shop and ask how long _____ artist is booked out until. The kind shop girl/guy will tell you :) If you don't want to wait that long, find another artist.
(note- if you DO decide to book far out in advance and you want to inquire about seeing your sketch before your appointment date, keep in mind that the artist usually won't get to your drawing until about a week before your appointment date. He/she has other tattoos to draw for the people in line in front of you)
Ok, so you are cool with the wait time and you summoned the courage to go into a shop. My last piece of advice is:
Bring every reference material you have for your tattoo to the shop. It saves much time and energy for the artists (and your shop girl/guy!) when you come prepared.
I say this because just describing something to the artist, while entirely possible, sometimes leads to disappointed customers. If you are SUPER into an artist just creating their own masterpiece, then great! Many people do that. However, often times people have a very specific idea in mind. It's best to bring reference materials. If you want something super realistic, make sure you bring sample pictures of the idea. Now, it doesn't have to be another tattoo. Let's say you want a portrait of John Lennon. You can just bring in a photo of him, you don't need to bring in a picture of someone else's portrait tattoo. Or let's say you're really into cars and you want this specific hot rod. You don't need to find someone with the same tattoo you want (that might be hard to do, anyway). You can just bring in pictures you found of the actual hot rod. Some people have even brought it small models or toys of things that they want. Pictures from magazines, newspaper clippings, or even pictures downloaded onto your phone will work. Whatever works for you. That being said, you should know by doing your research on your artist whether or not they tattoo the style you want. Most talented tattoo artists can do many styles, but a lot of them have styles that they are just best at. I'll get into styles in a later blog post, but for now, keep this in mind- if your artist specializes in old school traditional, for example, he/she probably isn't the best candidate to do your rad new school music sleeve.
Woo hoo! So you've talked to your artist and they booked you an appointment (or, maybe your kind shop girl/guy did). Now if you are able to get this tattoo same day, you just fill out your paperwork, show your ID, and get tattooed. You pay at the end. And tip, if you are so inclined. If you have a tattoo in the future, you are going to most likely have to put down a deposit. This irritates some people, but think of it this way- while cancelled appointments at say, a hair salon, are annoying for the stylist, they only lose out on the money for the actual cut/color/whatever service. With tattooing, not only are the artists out the tattoo money if someone cancels, but they are out all of the time they spent drawing your tattoo and making sure it is super awesome and perfect. The deposit will go towards the cost of the tattoo at most shops, so it's not an extra amount. It's just insurance for the artist so in case you DO skip out, at least he/she gets paid for drawing up a tattoo. As for what kind of money to bring...cash is always best in a tattoo shop. My shop has a card machine, but we have to charge tax to run it. It's cheaper for you to do cash. Plus, since the guys get paid out at the end of the night in cash, they prefer it. With the cards, they have to wait a few weeks to get paid.
So, last tip for when you go into a shop- have your money ready for a deposit. Also have your government-issued ID on you in case you get tattooed that day.
The TL;DR cliffnotes of what to do once you find your tattoo shop and are ready to get tattooed:
1) Just go in the shop and make an appointment already, don't be scared!
2) You might not be able to get your tattoo that same day...expect to make an appointment for a later date
3) Double check on your artist's availability if you aren't willing to wait too long for an appointment
4) Have money ready for a deposit and bring your ID!
That's all for today, folks. I have a blog article coming up about what to expect the day of your tattoo, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Thanks for reading!
It can be scary walking into a tattoo shop, particularly if you've never been in one before. Heck, sometimes I don't even like going into other shops...fear of the unknown artists, I guess. The important thing to remember is that as long as you've picked a professional shop (and I'm sure you did with my tips!), no one is going to judge you, talk about you, or treat you in any unprofessional manner. We get clients from all walks of life- 18th birthday-goers, 70 year olds, males, females, transitioning gender clients, lawyers, doctors, dentists, professional athletes, teachers, exotic dancers, zookeepers, fishermen, bank tellers, servers, other tattoo artists from other shops...seriously, there's no one "marker" anymore that determines who gets tattoos and who doesn't. That's probably the thing that surprises people the most when they walk in and see who's sitting in the tattoo chairs (well that, and my immaculately clean shop thanks to yours truly, but I've told you about that already).
So my first piece of advice- don't let your fear get the best of you. If you want the tattoo, just go for it. Don't let your fear of the shop and staff turn you away.
But...let's back up. You need to do some homework before you go to the shop. You can be a walk-in, sure (and I'll outline that in a later post), but more often than not, the tattoos that people want are going to need to be drawn up. The reality TV shows like Miami Ink and Bad Tattoos have been great for exposing our industry to the general public. However, they also create unrealistic expectations for our clients. It's one thing to walk into a tattoo shop and ask for a small star the size of a quarter. It's a whole different thing to want a giant tiger that spans from your hip to your armpit, wrapping around your side with a killer background. Can we do it? Absolutely, and my guys love designing the larger pieces! Can it be done in an hour like the TV shows (I'm envisioning Kat Von D telling one of her clients to go "grab a bite to eat" to give her time to draw up some rad sketch) want you to believe? Nah...my guys need some time. Creativity takes time, ya'll.
In reality, custom pieces take various amounts of time to draw up. Something simple might take a few minutes, so sure, you can have it right then and there if there's time and availability. It might take an hour or two to draw up if it's like palm-sized, which may lead to you getting it that day if the artist is having a slow day, or we might book you on another day to give him some time (this is especially true if you are going to a busy artist, more on this later). If it's something real big like a thigh piece, full back piece, or a sleeve, then we'll usually book you out a week or two to give the artist some time to draw such a large piece, reflect on it, make changes, and come back to it and finalize it. Now, I've seen my guys do all of this quicker, and I've seen them take weeks on designs. It just all depends. They're perfectionists, which is a good thing considering these pieces are permanent. This is their livelihood, and you are basically a walking billboard for their work. They want that thing perfect!
So my second piece of advice- be realistic about the time frame of your tattoo. It might take some time to draw up. Small tattoos usually can be done same day or a day or so out. Larger tattoos might take weeks to get to your appointment date.
Now I mentioned busy artists. It's natural to want the best artist to do your work. We all want the best! However, be realistic about how long you are willing to wait for a tattoo. For example, my boss is one of the best in the business. People are sometimes not happy when I had to tell them that he was booked out a year or more in advance. "But it doesn't take a year to draw a tattoo!" True. But, consider all of the other people who came to him first wanting tattoos by him. This creates traffic in the appointment books, so to speak. I literally make appointments for a year or more into the future, and people keep these appointments because they want the artist. If you don't want to wait that long, that's fine, but you'll need to look for a different artist. I always tell people it's not necessarily a bad thing that you have to wait- it gives you time to save up! :)
Therefore, my next tip if you have your heart set on a certain artist- call the shop and ask how long _____ artist is booked out until. The kind shop girl/guy will tell you :) If you don't want to wait that long, find another artist.
(note- if you DO decide to book far out in advance and you want to inquire about seeing your sketch before your appointment date, keep in mind that the artist usually won't get to your drawing until about a week before your appointment date. He/she has other tattoos to draw for the people in line in front of you)
Ok, so you are cool with the wait time and you summoned the courage to go into a shop. My last piece of advice is:
Bring every reference material you have for your tattoo to the shop. It saves much time and energy for the artists (and your shop girl/guy!) when you come prepared.
I say this because just describing something to the artist, while entirely possible, sometimes leads to disappointed customers. If you are SUPER into an artist just creating their own masterpiece, then great! Many people do that. However, often times people have a very specific idea in mind. It's best to bring reference materials. If you want something super realistic, make sure you bring sample pictures of the idea. Now, it doesn't have to be another tattoo. Let's say you want a portrait of John Lennon. You can just bring in a photo of him, you don't need to bring in a picture of someone else's portrait tattoo. Or let's say you're really into cars and you want this specific hot rod. You don't need to find someone with the same tattoo you want (that might be hard to do, anyway). You can just bring in pictures you found of the actual hot rod. Some people have even brought it small models or toys of things that they want. Pictures from magazines, newspaper clippings, or even pictures downloaded onto your phone will work. Whatever works for you. That being said, you should know by doing your research on your artist whether or not they tattoo the style you want. Most talented tattoo artists can do many styles, but a lot of them have styles that they are just best at. I'll get into styles in a later blog post, but for now, keep this in mind- if your artist specializes in old school traditional, for example, he/she probably isn't the best candidate to do your rad new school music sleeve.
Woo hoo! So you've talked to your artist and they booked you an appointment (or, maybe your kind shop girl/guy did). Now if you are able to get this tattoo same day, you just fill out your paperwork, show your ID, and get tattooed. You pay at the end. And tip, if you are so inclined. If you have a tattoo in the future, you are going to most likely have to put down a deposit. This irritates some people, but think of it this way- while cancelled appointments at say, a hair salon, are annoying for the stylist, they only lose out on the money for the actual cut/color/whatever service. With tattooing, not only are the artists out the tattoo money if someone cancels, but they are out all of the time they spent drawing your tattoo and making sure it is super awesome and perfect. The deposit will go towards the cost of the tattoo at most shops, so it's not an extra amount. It's just insurance for the artist so in case you DO skip out, at least he/she gets paid for drawing up a tattoo. As for what kind of money to bring...cash is always best in a tattoo shop. My shop has a card machine, but we have to charge tax to run it. It's cheaper for you to do cash. Plus, since the guys get paid out at the end of the night in cash, they prefer it. With the cards, they have to wait a few weeks to get paid.
So, last tip for when you go into a shop- have your money ready for a deposit. Also have your government-issued ID on you in case you get tattooed that day.
The TL;DR cliffnotes of what to do once you find your tattoo shop and are ready to get tattooed:
1) Just go in the shop and make an appointment already, don't be scared!
2) You might not be able to get your tattoo that same day...expect to make an appointment for a later date
3) Double check on your artist's availability if you aren't willing to wait too long for an appointment
4) Have money ready for a deposit and bring your ID!
That's all for today, folks. I have a blog article coming up about what to expect the day of your tattoo, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Thanks for reading!
Wow...looks like I failed again.
WOW. Didn't I just post like, a year or two ago, apologizing to all of you for abandoning my blog? Why yes, yes I did. Well, here I go again...
I'M SORRY!!!!!!
Please forgive me.
In the midst of all of my other obligations, I had forgotten about my blog. Again. It's so shameful, and I feel really bad. I have good news though. I have now loaded this email address to my phone, so now you guys are with me wherever I go! WAHOO! Why I never did this before, I don't know. Also, fun fact I learned today...that handy dandy message box to the right? It was sending messages to me...but I couldn't read them on my computer! What the heck? As soon as I got this email all hooked up to my phone, BAM- tons of messages from you guys came flooding to my inbox. I have no idea why. I blame Google. Get with it, Google!
Anyway, I did my best to respond to everyone, and from here on out, I'm going to be posting regularly again. I have more free time now, because *drumroll* I am now a college graduate! That's right, Nikki is a college grad. I should really update my sidebar.
I want to thank each and every one of you for still being interested in my blog and the subject matter it entails. I want to continue to help you guys succeed, whether it's at tattoo shop reception, trying to become an artist, mustering up the courage to get your first tattoo, whatever. Let me know if you have any suggestions for posts. I've got tons of ideas (the customers are always sparking ideas in me), but I want to hear what you guys want, too.
Until next time! (which will be sometime in 2016. Pinky promise.)
I'M SORRY!!!!!!
Please forgive me.
In the midst of all of my other obligations, I had forgotten about my blog. Again. It's so shameful, and I feel really bad. I have good news though. I have now loaded this email address to my phone, so now you guys are with me wherever I go! WAHOO! Why I never did this before, I don't know. Also, fun fact I learned today...that handy dandy message box to the right? It was sending messages to me...but I couldn't read them on my computer! What the heck? As soon as I got this email all hooked up to my phone, BAM- tons of messages from you guys came flooding to my inbox. I have no idea why. I blame Google. Get with it, Google!
Anyway, I did my best to respond to everyone, and from here on out, I'm going to be posting regularly again. I have more free time now, because *drumroll* I am now a college graduate! That's right, Nikki is a college grad. I should really update my sidebar.
I want to thank each and every one of you for still being interested in my blog and the subject matter it entails. I want to continue to help you guys succeed, whether it's at tattoo shop reception, trying to become an artist, mustering up the courage to get your first tattoo, whatever. Let me know if you have any suggestions for posts. I've got tons of ideas (the customers are always sparking ideas in me), but I want to hear what you guys want, too.
Until next time! (which will be sometime in 2016. Pinky promise.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
How to find a good tattoo shop
So you've decided what you want to get. You've saved up your money and you are now itching to get new artwork on your skin. Maybe it's your first tattoo and you want to make sure it not only comes out perfect, but you don't catch any creepy diseases while getting it. Maybe you've got a bunch of tattoos, but you just aren't happy with the artwork from your old shop. Maybe your wife has finally laid down the law and says you can't go to your cousin Jimmy's basement anymore to get tattooed. Whatever the case may be, I'll give you some tips on picking out a good tattoo shop.
In the past, it was really common to just drive down the street and stop wherever you saw a neon "tattoo" sign in the window. Another method is by word of mouth. Although people still do both, many people tend to research the shop they saw or were told about before they even step foot into it. So...that shop you always pass on the way home from work? The place your coworker Erin swears is the best? Go ahead and Google those bad boys. Do they have their own website? Good! I am weary of places that don't (and yes, there are still places that don't). In today's day and age, it is essential to have a website. Not only does it show that the shop is serious about their work, but it allows the customer to do some background research before they even step foot into the shop (which makes life easier for us shop help, let me tell you).
The most common place that people research is Yelp. Haven't heard of it? Google it or go to Yelp.com. It's basically a site where people write reviews of businesses. The app is pretty neat, too...out of town and feel like seafood? Yelp a good seafood spot. Out of gas and need to find the closest station? Yelp. It's amazing. Anyway, with the popularity of Yelp, shops have really been benefiting from this modern-day word of mouth website and app (my own shop, included-we have a perfect 5-star Yelp rating, thank you very much). You can read the direct thoughts of real customers about hundreds and hundreds of businesses. Yelp has increased our sales quite a bit, and I've noticed that over the past few years we've gained a lot of business from further away cities, due to Yelp's ability to rank a certain mile radius search by star ranking. Whenever I ask new clients how they heard of us, the answer is almost always Yelp.
That being said, I've noticed that a funny thing happens when people use Yelp as a recommendation. At my shop, the guys that are usually available for walk ins are almost always the new guys. It makes sense; the guys that have been there for a long time have clients that they can book themselves the whole day, every day, for weeks or even months at a time. The new guys just don't have that popularity yet. Whenever a walk in comes in from Yelp, they usually get "the new guy". Now, my shop is awesome, so of course the tattoo comes out awesome, and the client will almost always Yelp about the artist by name. This leads to more and more people coming in and requesting this particular artist by name...people think they're going to "the best" artist, and trust me, our new guys are good once they get done with their apprenticeships, but they aren't necessarily the "best" because they have the most shoutouts by name...it's just people choosing someone because a bunch of other people happened to call him out by name on Yelp. So basically what I'm getting at is...beware of bandwagoners. At my shop, you'll get some sick work regardless...but I can't guarantee the same thing at other shops.
Therefore, the best thing you can do as a customer is to RESEARCH YOUR ARTIST. This is so important to ensure you know what you're getting. Even if a shop as a whole has a great rating, you never know if they have a "bad seed", so to speak. Start by checking out artist artwork. You've probably already found some shops you want to check out at this point, so go to their websites and see if they have online portfolios (the actual shop will have artist portfolios inside them, of course, but the advantage here is that you can peruse the work without feeling like someone is watching over you, expecting a response. Sometimes people get intimidated and just say "yes", even if they really don't want to get their work done there, just because they feel pressure). Another place that is becoming more popular is Instagram. The guys at my shop all have their own Instagram pages where they post their work daily. Try Googling the artist's name along with the shop name and see what you find. If they have one, it'll probably pop up in the first few listings.
Now, the most important part...is this artist good? For the non-artist, this can be difficult to decide. Your first instinct is usually right...if you like how the work looks, great! If you don't, that's ok, too! They might not even be a bad artist, but if the work isn't how YOU want it, then they aren't the artist for you. Simple as that. Artists all over specialize in so many different styles, so it is important that if you have a specific vision, you go to someone who can pull it off. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. For example, we have a phenomenal artist who specializes in traditional work (bright colors and bold lines-think Sailor Jerry). He is booked out for at least six months at a time. It's ridiculous! People love him, and for good reason. However, sometimes people hear that he is the best, so they'll come in asking him to do some crazy black and gray work, like a portrait. Now, can he do it? Probably. Is it his specialty? No. He almost always recommends them to one of our portrait guys in the shop, because he knows they'll do it better. As far as the actual artwork goes-when you are looking at the work of an artist, make sure that the example work shows clean lines (like the artist made the lines in one single stroke, rather than having to keep picking up the machine to draw a long line) and solid colors or shading, if there is any (no funky spots that look out of place in the tattoo, like it isn't finished). Again...if it looks good, you're probably in the clear. Don't be shy to ask friends what they think of the artwork, too. Just remember that style preferences are different from artistic ability.
So you found your shop and your artist. Time to go into the shop! You'll want to bring in your references for your tattoo (information on how to do that is going to be outlined in a future post) in at this point. When you walk in, how do you feel? What is your first impression? Does it appear clean, like a doctor's office? Do you see cobwebs in the corner of the shop with dust on the windowsills? These things matter. If they don't care enough about the appearance and cleanliness of their shop, then they probably don't care too much about tattoo cleanliness, either (and hence one reason why I am employed-to keep the shop looking it's best). If you can, check out the stations. Are they clean? Do you see someone breaking down stations to get ready for new clients (This is a timing thing, you would have to enter the shop just as someone was done getting tattooed).
Are you greeted by someone, or are you awkwardly standing at the front, waiting for someone to approach you? I really hope you're greeted by someone...I think it is essential to make someone feel comfortable in an environment that can potentially be very intimidating. Ask the person if they use single use needles (they should), if they ID every client (they should), if they use sterile coverings and dressings as required by law on each client's station (they should), and if they sterilize all non-disposable items, such as tattoo tubes, in an autoclave (they should, and on this one, if the answer is yes, ask if you can see their spore test for their autoclave-it should be tested MONTHLY by law). If any of these questions come back as no, then don't walk but RUN out of there. Think about it- would you eat at a restaurant that served you on dirty dishes? I didn't think so. Tattoos are the same idea, but tenfold...you can catch gnarly diseases, and any shop worth it's salt will do everything within their power to follow all body art laws and practices to keep their clients safe.
Perfect, your shop passed all the tests. Go ahead and ask to talk with your artist, or grab a business card and come back with your references for your tattoo, which I will be explaining how to do in a later post. If you talk to your artist at this point, I always tell people that it is super important that you feel comfortable. If your artist gives off any weird vibes, then I don't care how talented he or she is, you should find someone else. Depending on what you're getting, you're going to be sitting with this person for a LONG time. Some people don't talk to their artist much during tattoos, and some do. Both are fine...but still. Do you want to be paying your hard earned cash to someone who you don't feel comfortable with? No. And I don't want you to, either. You deserve the perfect artist, and I'm sure that you'll find him or her if you follow these tips.
In the past, it was really common to just drive down the street and stop wherever you saw a neon "tattoo" sign in the window. Another method is by word of mouth. Although people still do both, many people tend to research the shop they saw or were told about before they even step foot into it. So...that shop you always pass on the way home from work? The place your coworker Erin swears is the best? Go ahead and Google those bad boys. Do they have their own website? Good! I am weary of places that don't (and yes, there are still places that don't). In today's day and age, it is essential to have a website. Not only does it show that the shop is serious about their work, but it allows the customer to do some background research before they even step foot into the shop (which makes life easier for us shop help, let me tell you).
The most common place that people research is Yelp. Haven't heard of it? Google it or go to Yelp.com. It's basically a site where people write reviews of businesses. The app is pretty neat, too...out of town and feel like seafood? Yelp a good seafood spot. Out of gas and need to find the closest station? Yelp. It's amazing. Anyway, with the popularity of Yelp, shops have really been benefiting from this modern-day word of mouth website and app (my own shop, included-we have a perfect 5-star Yelp rating, thank you very much). You can read the direct thoughts of real customers about hundreds and hundreds of businesses. Yelp has increased our sales quite a bit, and I've noticed that over the past few years we've gained a lot of business from further away cities, due to Yelp's ability to rank a certain mile radius search by star ranking. Whenever I ask new clients how they heard of us, the answer is almost always Yelp.
That being said, I've noticed that a funny thing happens when people use Yelp as a recommendation. At my shop, the guys that are usually available for walk ins are almost always the new guys. It makes sense; the guys that have been there for a long time have clients that they can book themselves the whole day, every day, for weeks or even months at a time. The new guys just don't have that popularity yet. Whenever a walk in comes in from Yelp, they usually get "the new guy". Now, my shop is awesome, so of course the tattoo comes out awesome, and the client will almost always Yelp about the artist by name. This leads to more and more people coming in and requesting this particular artist by name...people think they're going to "the best" artist, and trust me, our new guys are good once they get done with their apprenticeships, but they aren't necessarily the "best" because they have the most shoutouts by name...it's just people choosing someone because a bunch of other people happened to call him out by name on Yelp. So basically what I'm getting at is...beware of bandwagoners. At my shop, you'll get some sick work regardless...but I can't guarantee the same thing at other shops.
Therefore, the best thing you can do as a customer is to RESEARCH YOUR ARTIST. This is so important to ensure you know what you're getting. Even if a shop as a whole has a great rating, you never know if they have a "bad seed", so to speak. Start by checking out artist artwork. You've probably already found some shops you want to check out at this point, so go to their websites and see if they have online portfolios (the actual shop will have artist portfolios inside them, of course, but the advantage here is that you can peruse the work without feeling like someone is watching over you, expecting a response. Sometimes people get intimidated and just say "yes", even if they really don't want to get their work done there, just because they feel pressure). Another place that is becoming more popular is Instagram. The guys at my shop all have their own Instagram pages where they post their work daily. Try Googling the artist's name along with the shop name and see what you find. If they have one, it'll probably pop up in the first few listings.
Now, the most important part...is this artist good? For the non-artist, this can be difficult to decide. Your first instinct is usually right...if you like how the work looks, great! If you don't, that's ok, too! They might not even be a bad artist, but if the work isn't how YOU want it, then they aren't the artist for you. Simple as that. Artists all over specialize in so many different styles, so it is important that if you have a specific vision, you go to someone who can pull it off. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. For example, we have a phenomenal artist who specializes in traditional work (bright colors and bold lines-think Sailor Jerry). He is booked out for at least six months at a time. It's ridiculous! People love him, and for good reason. However, sometimes people hear that he is the best, so they'll come in asking him to do some crazy black and gray work, like a portrait. Now, can he do it? Probably. Is it his specialty? No. He almost always recommends them to one of our portrait guys in the shop, because he knows they'll do it better. As far as the actual artwork goes-when you are looking at the work of an artist, make sure that the example work shows clean lines (like the artist made the lines in one single stroke, rather than having to keep picking up the machine to draw a long line) and solid colors or shading, if there is any (no funky spots that look out of place in the tattoo, like it isn't finished). Again...if it looks good, you're probably in the clear. Don't be shy to ask friends what they think of the artwork, too. Just remember that style preferences are different from artistic ability.
So you found your shop and your artist. Time to go into the shop! You'll want to bring in your references for your tattoo (information on how to do that is going to be outlined in a future post) in at this point. When you walk in, how do you feel? What is your first impression? Does it appear clean, like a doctor's office? Do you see cobwebs in the corner of the shop with dust on the windowsills? These things matter. If they don't care enough about the appearance and cleanliness of their shop, then they probably don't care too much about tattoo cleanliness, either (and hence one reason why I am employed-to keep the shop looking it's best). If you can, check out the stations. Are they clean? Do you see someone breaking down stations to get ready for new clients (This is a timing thing, you would have to enter the shop just as someone was done getting tattooed).
Are you greeted by someone, or are you awkwardly standing at the front, waiting for someone to approach you? I really hope you're greeted by someone...I think it is essential to make someone feel comfortable in an environment that can potentially be very intimidating. Ask the person if they use single use needles (they should), if they ID every client (they should), if they use sterile coverings and dressings as required by law on each client's station (they should), and if they sterilize all non-disposable items, such as tattoo tubes, in an autoclave (they should, and on this one, if the answer is yes, ask if you can see their spore test for their autoclave-it should be tested MONTHLY by law). If any of these questions come back as no, then don't walk but RUN out of there. Think about it- would you eat at a restaurant that served you on dirty dishes? I didn't think so. Tattoos are the same idea, but tenfold...you can catch gnarly diseases, and any shop worth it's salt will do everything within their power to follow all body art laws and practices to keep their clients safe.
Perfect, your shop passed all the tests. Go ahead and ask to talk with your artist, or grab a business card and come back with your references for your tattoo, which I will be explaining how to do in a later post. If you talk to your artist at this point, I always tell people that it is super important that you feel comfortable. If your artist gives off any weird vibes, then I don't care how talented he or she is, you should find someone else. Depending on what you're getting, you're going to be sitting with this person for a LONG time. Some people don't talk to their artist much during tattoos, and some do. Both are fine...but still. Do you want to be paying your hard earned cash to someone who you don't feel comfortable with? No. And I don't want you to, either. You deserve the perfect artist, and I'm sure that you'll find him or her if you follow these tips.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
The deal with white ink.
One common question that I get asked at my job is if we do white ink tattoos. This answer varies depending on a bunch of factors. Over the years, white ink tattoos have become very popular on social media sites such as Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram. Once healed, they tend to look like a faint scar, depending on your skin tone. So how come they aren't as common as other colors, like black?
Honestly, white ink doesn't hold up very well. The pictures of these tattoos on social media sites are generally only a few months old at most. Therefore, at the time of the picture they are in their "prime", so to speak, as far as how they look physically (all tattoos age, no matter how well they were done). The fact of the matter is that any artist who has been tattooing for awhile has seen clients that come back with white ink they have used in their tattoos, only to find that the white has sort of turned brown-ish. This is the main reason I give people when asked this question. After all, who wants a brown-ish tattoo if your intention was for it to be white?
It's also pretty difficult to get white ink packed in solid-i.e., it doesn't "fill in" very well. There will almost always be patches in the work if it is a large area of white that needs filling in. Of course, this isn't a problem if the client is just looking to get line work done, but it's still a factor to consider if the piece is larger.
In general, my shop personally only uses white ink for mixing custom colors (to get a lighter blue, a creamier pink, etc.) and for accents, such as eyes in animals. We don't really use it as a main color anywhere. We tend to shy away from white ink tattoos, and we will try to recommend that the client gets the tattoo in black (or even another color) instead. Of course, if someone REALLY can't imagine it being any other color, we'll do it, but we do warn clients of all the risks involved.
The good news: if you decide you really want a white ink tattoo, then get it. You can always go back later and get the design redone (or even covered up with a completely different design) in a darker color, and no one will ever know.
Honestly, white ink doesn't hold up very well. The pictures of these tattoos on social media sites are generally only a few months old at most. Therefore, at the time of the picture they are in their "prime", so to speak, as far as how they look physically (all tattoos age, no matter how well they were done). The fact of the matter is that any artist who has been tattooing for awhile has seen clients that come back with white ink they have used in their tattoos, only to find that the white has sort of turned brown-ish. This is the main reason I give people when asked this question. After all, who wants a brown-ish tattoo if your intention was for it to be white?
It's also pretty difficult to get white ink packed in solid-i.e., it doesn't "fill in" very well. There will almost always be patches in the work if it is a large area of white that needs filling in. Of course, this isn't a problem if the client is just looking to get line work done, but it's still a factor to consider if the piece is larger.
In general, my shop personally only uses white ink for mixing custom colors (to get a lighter blue, a creamier pink, etc.) and for accents, such as eyes in animals. We don't really use it as a main color anywhere. We tend to shy away from white ink tattoos, and we will try to recommend that the client gets the tattoo in black (or even another color) instead. Of course, if someone REALLY can't imagine it being any other color, we'll do it, but we do warn clients of all the risks involved.
The good news: if you decide you really want a white ink tattoo, then get it. You can always go back later and get the design redone (or even covered up with a completely different design) in a darker color, and no one will ever know.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
How to get my job (or...tips to try, anyway)
The majority of the emails that I have received so far deal with one question..."So just how DO you get a receptionist/shop help type job at a tattoo shop, anyway?" This is a great question that I'd like to try to answer to the best of my ability. Although none of these tips are going to guarantee that you'll get a position similar to mine (many shops don't even HAVE a position like mine), I feel that these could possibly boost your chances.
First things first-get a resume together that is geared towards being a receptionist/front desk/shop help. I would definitely make this as well rounded as possible; a possible employer is going to choose the person who is going to benefit their company the most. As I've explained before, my position involves much more than just answering phones and scheduling appointments all day- I do most of the cleaning that goes on in the shop. Also, it may be obvious that you need to have customer service skills for this job, but you're going to want to make sure to highlight that you indeed have them. Because of all of this, you are going to want your resume to reflect everything; don't leave any stone unturned. Don't be afraid to be creative with your past experience. For example, my first "job" was babysitting. I wasn't in "customer service", per say, but my resume reflected the fact that I interacted with my clients and ensured that the care that I was providing for their children was meeting and exceeding their expectations. I also worked for a company that put on birthday parties for children; I used this as experience for cleaning, because I had to vacuum, clean restrooms, and set up and take down decorations for the parties. Basically, I made what little experience I DID have applicable to the tattooing world, even though nothing I did related directly. Sidenote- if you happen to be interested in art, SAY so! Bonus points if you make art on the side, are in art school, or anything. These are definitely good things to put on a resume because it shows that you are interested in their field. However, I had none of this (I can barely draw stick figures), so it's definitely not a requirement (unless you wanted to tattoo, but watch for a future post on that).
I would also take this time before the job hunt to start studying up on tattooing and the process. Of course, you may already be very knowledgeable about these things. I wasn't, so I needed to research. This way, you're prepared for questions and you sound confident that you know what you're talking about. You never know when you'll be offered an interview, so you'll want to have this started. It wouldn't be a bad idea to brush up on piercings, either, since many shops also offer piercing services.
Your best bet in finding a job is going to be to find a shop that is actively hiring for this very position. I would start by looking on popular sites that list jobs...monster.com, craigslist.org, etc. You may need to try using different keywords, such as "tattoo receptionist", "tattoo front desk", "tattoo shop help"...you get the idea. Honestly, if you just search "tattoo", you'll probably find everything that you're going to find on the particular website that you're on (plus some actual tattooing jobs, of course). Another idea would be going going onto the websites of shops that are local to you (to get THESE websites, you're on your own...use Google to your advantage) and see if they have an "employment" or "HR" section. You *might* just luck out and find an ad about shop help wanted (Of course, these types of sections on a tattoo shop website are rare, but you NEVER know!). Be sure to check out the social media sites of shops, as well, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Shops have been known to post help wanted ads on these mediums, as the traffic is pretty heavy on them. I'm personally not active on any tattoo/piercing forums, but I know that jobs have been posted on forums in the past...so be aware of these options, as well!
If you can't find any listings for jobs, now you're going to have to start cold calling, essentially. This is why I suggested getting a resume together. With this resume, you'll be persuading employers that you're worth hiring and that you'd be a valuable asset to their company. I suggest that you walk into shops in person- calling about a job on the phone comes off as lazy. Whenever someone calls our shop, I have been instructed to tell them to come in and speak to a manager. You don't want to be pinned as lazy even before you interview...not good. Go into shops and ask to speak to a manager. Ask if they are hiring for a front desk/receptionist/shop help position. Actually...I would probably say shop help, as that is what they would most likely want, if given the option (it sounds the most appealing, plus you'll probably end up doing reception anyway if hired on as shop help). As you probably read in one of my posts, that's essentially what I do...help out around the shop and do everything the artists DON'T want to do. If the manager says they are hiring, great. If not, or if they say they don't even have the position, I would ask if they've ever considered having shop help. Go into the benefits of having an extra set of hands in the shop that aren't tattooing- someone to always answer phones, someone to always greet clients and answer questions (have you ever walked into a business and just kind of stood there, confused, because no one greeted you? Awkward and uncomfortable), someone to clean up after the artists and make the shop run as seamless as possible. Sure, it's possible that the manager already does all of this. However, I DO know that many shops are all dudes, and artistic tattooer dudes don't always think of things that make a shop more appealing to the average client, like having a receptionist. Plus, my guys at my shop LOVE that they don't have to do any of the cleaning around the shop. You might also want to offer the fact that you could help out with cleaning tubes and autoclaving things (just more stuff they don't want to do). Don't be afraid...the worst that can happen is they say no.
Get an interview? Great! Wondering what to wear? So was I! Check out this post to get more information on that.
Hopefully this was all helpful. As always, feel free to email me or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
First things first-get a resume together that is geared towards being a receptionist/front desk/shop help. I would definitely make this as well rounded as possible; a possible employer is going to choose the person who is going to benefit their company the most. As I've explained before, my position involves much more than just answering phones and scheduling appointments all day- I do most of the cleaning that goes on in the shop. Also, it may be obvious that you need to have customer service skills for this job, but you're going to want to make sure to highlight that you indeed have them. Because of all of this, you are going to want your resume to reflect everything; don't leave any stone unturned. Don't be afraid to be creative with your past experience. For example, my first "job" was babysitting. I wasn't in "customer service", per say, but my resume reflected the fact that I interacted with my clients and ensured that the care that I was providing for their children was meeting and exceeding their expectations. I also worked for a company that put on birthday parties for children; I used this as experience for cleaning, because I had to vacuum, clean restrooms, and set up and take down decorations for the parties. Basically, I made what little experience I DID have applicable to the tattooing world, even though nothing I did related directly. Sidenote- if you happen to be interested in art, SAY so! Bonus points if you make art on the side, are in art school, or anything. These are definitely good things to put on a resume because it shows that you are interested in their field. However, I had none of this (I can barely draw stick figures), so it's definitely not a requirement (unless you wanted to tattoo, but watch for a future post on that).
I would also take this time before the job hunt to start studying up on tattooing and the process. Of course, you may already be very knowledgeable about these things. I wasn't, so I needed to research. This way, you're prepared for questions and you sound confident that you know what you're talking about. You never know when you'll be offered an interview, so you'll want to have this started. It wouldn't be a bad idea to brush up on piercings, either, since many shops also offer piercing services.
Your best bet in finding a job is going to be to find a shop that is actively hiring for this very position. I would start by looking on popular sites that list jobs...monster.com, craigslist.org, etc. You may need to try using different keywords, such as "tattoo receptionist", "tattoo front desk", "tattoo shop help"...you get the idea. Honestly, if you just search "tattoo", you'll probably find everything that you're going to find on the particular website that you're on (plus some actual tattooing jobs, of course). Another idea would be going going onto the websites of shops that are local to you (to get THESE websites, you're on your own...use Google to your advantage) and see if they have an "employment" or "HR" section. You *might* just luck out and find an ad about shop help wanted (Of course, these types of sections on a tattoo shop website are rare, but you NEVER know!). Be sure to check out the social media sites of shops, as well, such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. Shops have been known to post help wanted ads on these mediums, as the traffic is pretty heavy on them. I'm personally not active on any tattoo/piercing forums, but I know that jobs have been posted on forums in the past...so be aware of these options, as well!
If you can't find any listings for jobs, now you're going to have to start cold calling, essentially. This is why I suggested getting a resume together. With this resume, you'll be persuading employers that you're worth hiring and that you'd be a valuable asset to their company. I suggest that you walk into shops in person- calling about a job on the phone comes off as lazy. Whenever someone calls our shop, I have been instructed to tell them to come in and speak to a manager. You don't want to be pinned as lazy even before you interview...not good. Go into shops and ask to speak to a manager. Ask if they are hiring for a front desk/receptionist/shop help position. Actually...I would probably say shop help, as that is what they would most likely want, if given the option (it sounds the most appealing, plus you'll probably end up doing reception anyway if hired on as shop help). As you probably read in one of my posts, that's essentially what I do...help out around the shop and do everything the artists DON'T want to do. If the manager says they are hiring, great. If not, or if they say they don't even have the position, I would ask if they've ever considered having shop help. Go into the benefits of having an extra set of hands in the shop that aren't tattooing- someone to always answer phones, someone to always greet clients and answer questions (have you ever walked into a business and just kind of stood there, confused, because no one greeted you? Awkward and uncomfortable), someone to clean up after the artists and make the shop run as seamless as possible. Sure, it's possible that the manager already does all of this. However, I DO know that many shops are all dudes, and artistic tattooer dudes don't always think of things that make a shop more appealing to the average client, like having a receptionist. Plus, my guys at my shop LOVE that they don't have to do any of the cleaning around the shop. You might also want to offer the fact that you could help out with cleaning tubes and autoclaving things (just more stuff they don't want to do). Don't be afraid...the worst that can happen is they say no.
Get an interview? Great! Wondering what to wear? So was I! Check out this post to get more information on that.
Hopefully this was all helpful. As always, feel free to email me or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
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