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.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
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.
Friday, August 29, 2014
So you think you want my job?
I want to prepare you for the realities of working in a shop. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the entire tattoo industry is extremely dependent upon a hierarchy. This is true at the smaller scale (inside a tattoo shop), as well as in the larger sense (the industry as a whole..there are some big tattooing names in this business. Sailor Jerry, anyone?) Basically, there are the the high people on the totem pole and the low people...and you DON'T screw with the higher ups, ever. They worked hard to get to that position, so regardless of your personal feelings towards them, you still need to show them respect (This may seem pretty obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't seem to abide by these social cues). Now, that being said, it should be pretty obvious to you (if you read my "day in the life" post) that the shop help/front desk/receptionist can be found at the very bottom of this metaphorical tattooing totem pole...so prepare yourself for this. Seriously, when I first started, I wasn't ready to pick up trash thrown on the ground, throw away abandoned half-empty coffee cups strewn across the shop, or clean up after the meals of full grown men. I was surprised when I realized I would be scrubbing toilets, handling disease-ridden needles and equipment, and basically doing anything and everything an artist wants me to do, no questions asked. I mean...it's just a receptionist job, right? Isn't there a custodian or something to do all the dirty work? (HAH!!! How quickly I learned, silly and naive little Nikki...) It's a bit demeaning on the surface, but you just have to learn to accept it- that's how it is. If you don't like it, get another job. I can assure you that they won't have any problem finding someone else who will deal with this "bitch" work.
Many people are interested in just being a part of this environment from the inside. This is one aspect that really appealed to me when I first applied, and I'm sure this is appealing to many of my readers, as well. Being in a position like shop help can allow you to be an insider of the tattooing world without actually being a tattooer (if you're interested in tattooing, stay tuned for a future post). That being said, be aware that like anything, working on the "inside" will allow some (or most) of that "magic" to leave. You'll know how everything works, and you'll learn the politics that are present in tattooing (nope, can't escape them, no matter what your job!). I'd imagine it's kind of like working at Disney World or something...when you're surrounded by something all the time, even something that you may love, the magic is gone.
For me, personally, I still love tattoos- don't get me wrong! I have many, and I still continue to get them. I love looking at (good) tattoos. I even enjoy hearing about other people's tattoos, to an extent. But that's really where it ends...I used to love to pour over the internet, looking at Tumblr accounts that featured tattoos, doing Google image searches of tattoos, going to forums to look at other people's tattoos...this was all before the Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest hype, but I'd imagine I would have been on those social sites, too. I just am not interested in searching tattoos anymore. I think I just see enough of them day in and day out that it doesn't really appeal to me. I don't want to go home after a long day at work and go look at MORE tattoos, you know?
Also, I've noticed that occasionally I'll pick clothing that covers my tattoos if I'm going out (something I never consciously did before this job). Covered tattoos means no uninvited conversations with strangers about my tattoos...and trust me, this happens a LOT when I am out in clothing that reveals them. I mean, I get it...my artists at my shop ROCK, and people want to know who does my work. But honestly, it gets to get old real quick, especially after being at the shop all day with clients talking to me about my tattoos (again, must be too much of a good thing). I'm sure this happens to anyone who has visible tattoos, not just me because I personally work at a shop. However, it's something to consider...are you ready to talk about your tattoos at work all day, then go out and run some errands when you get off after a hard day's work, just to be inquired even MORE about your tattoos when all you really want to do is peel them off and throw them at the strangers for being so nosy? Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get my point. My life is tattoos, always...and yours will be, too. This needs to be ok with you, so I'm pointing it out now.
My final point would be that since your family and friends will know you work at a shop, you might become their "go-to" person when they need tattoo advice. This can be fine, and I welcome it, honestly- I know that my advice is going to be a lot better than someone who is just repeating "hearsay" from the street. Somehow, I've noticed, people that I haven't talked to in YEARS have discovered I work at a shop. These people suddenly will message me on social networks and small talk me. I always know what is coming next..."So, can you hook me up with a discount or something?" Ugh. There will always be those moocher-type people, but it's especially popular when it comes to tattoos...they're expensive, and people are willing to do whatever it takes to save a buck (grrrrr). Prepare for them, and prepare your appropriate response. I've even had random people I've met on the street ask if I can get them discounts...that one always confuses me.
With everything that I have mentioned so far, I feel it necessary to remind you that it is IMPERATIVE that you always display pride for your shop at ALL times. Even though I have pointed out a number of frustrating things that come with this job, the bottom line is you are ALWAYS a representative of your shop...ALWAYS. Doesn't matter if you're physically working a shift at your shop, in line at the bank, out drinking with some buddies, or at a family reunion with people you haven't seen in years. Once it comes up that you work at a shop (and it will, trust me), people will be asking questions, wanting to know more (it's an interesting place that not many people get to experience from the inside, so who can blame them?). You have to push your frustrations aside and represent your shop well. After all, if you make any indication that people shouldn't go to your shop, the shop looses money...if they need to start making cuts, guess who's first to get canned? (Hint: see the totem pole analogy above).
So, these are the negatives of working at a tattoo shop. If you're still interested in working at a position such as mine, then I commend you- your future boss will be very lucky to have you. Stay tuned for a post on tips to actually nail a job like this!
Many people are interested in just being a part of this environment from the inside. This is one aspect that really appealed to me when I first applied, and I'm sure this is appealing to many of my readers, as well. Being in a position like shop help can allow you to be an insider of the tattooing world without actually being a tattooer (if you're interested in tattooing, stay tuned for a future post). That being said, be aware that like anything, working on the "inside" will allow some (or most) of that "magic" to leave. You'll know how everything works, and you'll learn the politics that are present in tattooing (nope, can't escape them, no matter what your job!). I'd imagine it's kind of like working at Disney World or something...when you're surrounded by something all the time, even something that you may love, the magic is gone.
For me, personally, I still love tattoos- don't get me wrong! I have many, and I still continue to get them. I love looking at (good) tattoos. I even enjoy hearing about other people's tattoos, to an extent. But that's really where it ends...I used to love to pour over the internet, looking at Tumblr accounts that featured tattoos, doing Google image searches of tattoos, going to forums to look at other people's tattoos...this was all before the Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest hype, but I'd imagine I would have been on those social sites, too. I just am not interested in searching tattoos anymore. I think I just see enough of them day in and day out that it doesn't really appeal to me. I don't want to go home after a long day at work and go look at MORE tattoos, you know?
Also, I've noticed that occasionally I'll pick clothing that covers my tattoos if I'm going out (something I never consciously did before this job). Covered tattoos means no uninvited conversations with strangers about my tattoos...and trust me, this happens a LOT when I am out in clothing that reveals them. I mean, I get it...my artists at my shop ROCK, and people want to know who does my work. But honestly, it gets to get old real quick, especially after being at the shop all day with clients talking to me about my tattoos (again, must be too much of a good thing). I'm sure this happens to anyone who has visible tattoos, not just me because I personally work at a shop. However, it's something to consider...are you ready to talk about your tattoos at work all day, then go out and run some errands when you get off after a hard day's work, just to be inquired even MORE about your tattoos when all you really want to do is peel them off and throw them at the strangers for being so nosy? Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but you get my point. My life is tattoos, always...and yours will be, too. This needs to be ok with you, so I'm pointing it out now.
My final point would be that since your family and friends will know you work at a shop, you might become their "go-to" person when they need tattoo advice. This can be fine, and I welcome it, honestly- I know that my advice is going to be a lot better than someone who is just repeating "hearsay" from the street. Somehow, I've noticed, people that I haven't talked to in YEARS have discovered I work at a shop. These people suddenly will message me on social networks and small talk me. I always know what is coming next..."So, can you hook me up with a discount or something?" Ugh. There will always be those moocher-type people, but it's especially popular when it comes to tattoos...they're expensive, and people are willing to do whatever it takes to save a buck (grrrrr). Prepare for them, and prepare your appropriate response. I've even had random people I've met on the street ask if I can get them discounts...that one always confuses me.
With everything that I have mentioned so far, I feel it necessary to remind you that it is IMPERATIVE that you always display pride for your shop at ALL times. Even though I have pointed out a number of frustrating things that come with this job, the bottom line is you are ALWAYS a representative of your shop...ALWAYS. Doesn't matter if you're physically working a shift at your shop, in line at the bank, out drinking with some buddies, or at a family reunion with people you haven't seen in years. Once it comes up that you work at a shop (and it will, trust me), people will be asking questions, wanting to know more (it's an interesting place that not many people get to experience from the inside, so who can blame them?). You have to push your frustrations aside and represent your shop well. After all, if you make any indication that people shouldn't go to your shop, the shop looses money...if they need to start making cuts, guess who's first to get canned? (Hint: see the totem pole analogy above).
So, these are the negatives of working at a tattoo shop. If you're still interested in working at a position such as mine, then I commend you- your future boss will be very lucky to have you. Stay tuned for a post on tips to actually nail a job like this!
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Guess who's back!
OH my goodness. It's been awhile, hasn't it? :D
So today started like any other day...I woke up, went on the Internet and did my normal stuff on Youtube, FML, Pinterest, Failbook... you know, wasting away my life one website at a time by the minute. Before I knew it, I was on a blog. One blog turned into two...into four...eight...wait, blogs? Why am I reading blogs? Well, this thought is kind of interesting...ok, let's read one more...
STOP. Nikki. Didn't you make a blog, like, a really long time ago? Didn't you quit after about, uh, ONE post? Yes, and yes (later I saw I had three, but still).
So I googled. I remembered the name of my blog, and lo and behold, it popped up first on Google. "That's odd," I thought to myself. "It didn't used to pop up first when I would search for it before..." I clicked on it, scared, but basically reassured that it had probably gotten about 10 hits over the past however long I had left it. After all, for the whole week or so I blogged before, I had two viewers- myself and some bot from China (thanks, Google analytics).
I was wrong.
My blog actually had COMMENTS. THREE comments. What? People were interested in what I had to say? Holy crap, I had an email posted on there, too, didn't I? I couldn't remember the password, but I finally managed to get in. I had six or seven emails from people, all asking for my help. MY help. Something that I had knowledge in could actually HELP awesome people like you guys. I had NO idea anyone would actually take me up on that offer! People actually seemed to like what they had read, and they were telling me how they could relate to me. Some even told me how they wanted to confide in me, because they knew I'd understand where they were coming from. *blush*
I have a confession for you guys. Well, a new one, besides tattoo confessions. When I made this blog...what...a year and a half ago (and I came up with the idea years before that, I just never got around to making it), I NEVER thought anyone would be interested in reading it. After all, my job can be pretty boring. Sure, it SOUNDS cool...but like anything else, the magic fades once you're "behind the scenes". I'd imagine the same could be said for working at Disneyland.
At the time of this posting, my blog has had 3,577 page views and 1,546 unique visitors. I was floored. I still am floored. And humbled. And...well...gosh, I'm just so excited I decided to search blogs today.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I promise to update more often than once every two years :) Seriously, though, I found this Word document I made full of blog post ideas. You guys have re-inspired me, and I am so thankful and excited. Thank you!
So today started like any other day...I woke up, went on the Internet and did my normal stuff on Youtube, FML, Pinterest, Failbook... you know, wasting away my life one website at a time by the minute. Before I knew it, I was on a blog. One blog turned into two...into four...eight...wait, blogs? Why am I reading blogs? Well, this thought is kind of interesting...ok, let's read one more...
STOP. Nikki. Didn't you make a blog, like, a really long time ago? Didn't you quit after about, uh, ONE post? Yes, and yes (later I saw I had three, but still).
So I googled. I remembered the name of my blog, and lo and behold, it popped up first on Google. "That's odd," I thought to myself. "It didn't used to pop up first when I would search for it before..." I clicked on it, scared, but basically reassured that it had probably gotten about 10 hits over the past however long I had left it. After all, for the whole week or so I blogged before, I had two viewers- myself and some bot from China (thanks, Google analytics).
I was wrong.
My blog actually had COMMENTS. THREE comments. What? People were interested in what I had to say? Holy crap, I had an email posted on there, too, didn't I? I couldn't remember the password, but I finally managed to get in. I had six or seven emails from people, all asking for my help. MY help. Something that I had knowledge in could actually HELP awesome people like you guys. I had NO idea anyone would actually take me up on that offer! People actually seemed to like what they had read, and they were telling me how they could relate to me. Some even told me how they wanted to confide in me, because they knew I'd understand where they were coming from. *blush*
I have a confession for you guys. Well, a new one, besides tattoo confessions. When I made this blog...what...a year and a half ago (and I came up with the idea years before that, I just never got around to making it), I NEVER thought anyone would be interested in reading it. After all, my job can be pretty boring. Sure, it SOUNDS cool...but like anything else, the magic fades once you're "behind the scenes". I'd imagine the same could be said for working at Disneyland.
At the time of this posting, my blog has had 3,577 page views and 1,546 unique visitors. I was floored. I still am floored. And humbled. And...well...gosh, I'm just so excited I decided to search blogs today.
Thanks for reading, everyone. I promise to update more often than once every two years :) Seriously, though, I found this Word document I made full of blog post ideas. You guys have re-inspired me, and I am so thankful and excited. Thank you!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Don't walk behind my wall!
Today, friends, I am going to rant about something that doesn't happen often, but when it does...irritates me. In my shop, like many businesses, there is a counter. Well, it's more of a half wall-type thing with a tiny ledge on it for portfolios to sit on, but I digress. That is where you'll find me, ready to greet you into our humble abode (as I described in my previous blog post- I'm always on the ready when it comes to customers walking in).
Now, I have always assumed that people knew what the social customs and appropriate norms of behavior were previous to working at this establishment. For example, boundaries. Now, boundaries can mean many things...conversational boundaries, relationship boundaries...but today, we'll discuss physical boundaries. As in my counter. Blocking your way from your side, as the customer, from my side, as the employee of the business.
Perhaps it is silly of me to think that people should just KNOW that walking behind my wall isn't appropriate. Or should I say, it isn't appropriate unless you are invited. I mean, it is perfectly acceptable for you to come behind the counter upon one of the artists or I requesting you to do so...and we might do this for many reasons. Either you have an appointment and we're ready for you to come back, or we need a tracing of part of your body (so the artists know how big to draw stuff), or maybe I need you to come back to talk to an artist while they are tattooing someone else because they can't take a break at the moment. Any of these are fine reasons to be behind my counter. Or, maybe you need to use the restroom and you ask if you may do just that. Wonderful! I love that you asked! Even if you didn't ask...it's not a huge deal, because you're just going to the restroom, and who am I to stop someone from going to the restroom?
Here's when it ticks me off when you walk behind my wall. When I greet you at the front counter and you seem uninterested or even annoyed that I am greeting you...and then you continue to just WALK BEHIND MY WALL to talk to the artist you want to talk to...no. Just no.
There is a REASON, people, why I am employed as the receptionist at this shop. Besides the obvious stuff (phones, appointments, etc.) and the not so obvious (cleaning, setting up, etc.), I am there to GREET you. To help you out with whatever you may need. And, like it or not, I am also there to facilitate with the discussion of tattoo design ideas and things. I must talk to you first about what you want before you start yapping to an artist. Not only does it help them out (for example, if you tattooed them before and they don't remember it when they talk to you, then they look dumb. Forgive them! They have lots of clients! But if I ask you if they've tattooed you before, it doesn't seem out of the ordinary by me asking, and then I can relay this information to the artist, saving them from looking foolish), but it saves them from talking to someone who really isn't serious about getting tattooed. Read-it saves them from wasting their time.
Now, I understand that anyone who needs to find out more information about how to make their tattoo idea better, pricing, location suggestions, etc. needs to talk to an artist. However, if I can talk to you first and perhaps help you out with the main details, it ultimately is much easier on the artist. I can't tell you how many times people come in and they don't really know what they want, and I end up talking with them about possible ideas for the next thirty minutes. Now, I don't mind this at all...but an artist might, if he has a whole week's worth of tattoos to draw and you're just babbling on about what you MIGHT get. You feel me?
I guess that's another rant that I have...when people don't understand WHY they must talk to me, just to end up talking to an artist about the same exact thing. Well, the reason is simple...and I just explained it above. It can also be because sometimes, people just come in to change an appointment or make an appointment with someone who isn't there that day. Both of those situations involve me and me alone...and discussing the matters with an artist would just result in the artist coming to me to complete the task, anyway.
Either way, I'd appreciate it if customers would at least acknowledge me in a friendly manner, or even just acknowledge me. I'd like to think I'm pretty welcoming, but sometimes I don't even get a response from people when I greet them- they just dart towards an artist and start talking to him. It makes me feel bad. I understand that I'm not an artist, so it may feel like a waste of time to even talk to me, but even so...there is a reason as to why I'm greeting you first. Why else would I be there? If I wasn't needed, my boss wouldn't have me doing that part of the job. Still, I don't understand how people justify walking behind a counter that is very clearly supposed to be a barrier from you to me.
So, the bottom line of today's blog post is to say hi to me, even if you don't want to...and STAY BEHIND the counter, until you are asked to come back :)
Now, I have always assumed that people knew what the social customs and appropriate norms of behavior were previous to working at this establishment. For example, boundaries. Now, boundaries can mean many things...conversational boundaries, relationship boundaries...but today, we'll discuss physical boundaries. As in my counter. Blocking your way from your side, as the customer, from my side, as the employee of the business.
Perhaps it is silly of me to think that people should just KNOW that walking behind my wall isn't appropriate. Or should I say, it isn't appropriate unless you are invited. I mean, it is perfectly acceptable for you to come behind the counter upon one of the artists or I requesting you to do so...and we might do this for many reasons. Either you have an appointment and we're ready for you to come back, or we need a tracing of part of your body (so the artists know how big to draw stuff), or maybe I need you to come back to talk to an artist while they are tattooing someone else because they can't take a break at the moment. Any of these are fine reasons to be behind my counter. Or, maybe you need to use the restroom and you ask if you may do just that. Wonderful! I love that you asked! Even if you didn't ask...it's not a huge deal, because you're just going to the restroom, and who am I to stop someone from going to the restroom?
Here's when it ticks me off when you walk behind my wall. When I greet you at the front counter and you seem uninterested or even annoyed that I am greeting you...and then you continue to just WALK BEHIND MY WALL to talk to the artist you want to talk to...no. Just no.
There is a REASON, people, why I am employed as the receptionist at this shop. Besides the obvious stuff (phones, appointments, etc.) and the not so obvious (cleaning, setting up, etc.), I am there to GREET you. To help you out with whatever you may need. And, like it or not, I am also there to facilitate with the discussion of tattoo design ideas and things. I must talk to you first about what you want before you start yapping to an artist. Not only does it help them out (for example, if you tattooed them before and they don't remember it when they talk to you, then they look dumb. Forgive them! They have lots of clients! But if I ask you if they've tattooed you before, it doesn't seem out of the ordinary by me asking, and then I can relay this information to the artist, saving them from looking foolish), but it saves them from talking to someone who really isn't serious about getting tattooed. Read-it saves them from wasting their time.
Now, I understand that anyone who needs to find out more information about how to make their tattoo idea better, pricing, location suggestions, etc. needs to talk to an artist. However, if I can talk to you first and perhaps help you out with the main details, it ultimately is much easier on the artist. I can't tell you how many times people come in and they don't really know what they want, and I end up talking with them about possible ideas for the next thirty minutes. Now, I don't mind this at all...but an artist might, if he has a whole week's worth of tattoos to draw and you're just babbling on about what you MIGHT get. You feel me?
I guess that's another rant that I have...when people don't understand WHY they must talk to me, just to end up talking to an artist about the same exact thing. Well, the reason is simple...and I just explained it above. It can also be because sometimes, people just come in to change an appointment or make an appointment with someone who isn't there that day. Both of those situations involve me and me alone...and discussing the matters with an artist would just result in the artist coming to me to complete the task, anyway.
Either way, I'd appreciate it if customers would at least acknowledge me in a friendly manner, or even just acknowledge me. I'd like to think I'm pretty welcoming, but sometimes I don't even get a response from people when I greet them- they just dart towards an artist and start talking to him. It makes me feel bad. I understand that I'm not an artist, so it may feel like a waste of time to even talk to me, but even so...there is a reason as to why I'm greeting you first. Why else would I be there? If I wasn't needed, my boss wouldn't have me doing that part of the job. Still, I don't understand how people justify walking behind a counter that is very clearly supposed to be a barrier from you to me.
So, the bottom line of today's blog post is to say hi to me, even if you don't want to...and STAY BEHIND the counter, until you are asked to come back :)
Sunday, February 3, 2013
A typical day at my job.
For my second post, I thought I'd tell you all about what my job actually entails. My official job title is "front desk receptionist", although that label is incredibly deceiving. When people think of a receptionist, they tend to envision someone sitting in a cushioned chair behind a computer-topped desk, answering phones and greeting clients all day. I suppose this isn't entirely inaccurate for some receptionists, but it's definitely not what I do (or not all of it, anyway).
When I had my first interview (more on getting the job here), I was told right away what was to be expected of me, so I wasn't picturing this job to resemble the example I described above. This was fine by me, as I have tried the whole "office job" deal, and it is definitely not for me. I like to move around and have the freedom to change tasks frequently, not be chained down to a desk all day. So, this gig turned out to really work in my favor due to my activity level and preferences.
First things first. I do answer phones, and I do make/cancel/reschedule appointments. I also greet customers. However, it's all a bit more challenging than people would think, especially at the beginning before you know what you're doing. I am also responsible for cleaning the entire shop, breaking down and setting up stations, cleaing, helping the artists with anything they might need, cleaning, helping clients with anything they might need, cleaning, oh and did I mention cleaning? A clean shop is a happy shop...which is how it should be! Who wants to get tattooed at a dirty, gross shop? Nobody, I hope. More info on finding a good, clean shop later. But for now, I'll leave you with a typical outline of my day at the shop:
Noon- We're open! I flip the sign to "open" and open up the curtains. At this time I'll also inform the artists of the status of their clients (whether they have confirmed for their appointment or not).
During the next hour- I'll set up the artists for their appointments that typically start at one. A station that is ready for an artist consists of covering literally everything that the artist and the client will be touching during the tattoo. This means all bottles, knobs, lamp handles, armrests, pillows, everything! I even set out little baggies that they put their machines in, so those are covered, too. Not only is it the law to make sure everything is covered up for each client by disposable coverings, but it's just the right thing to do. Everything is single-use, just for the client...and the things that must be reused (tables, chairs, tattoo machines, tubes, etc.) are all either sterilized in our monthly spore-tested autoclave or disinfected by hospital-grade spray. During this time, I MUST be listening to the phone and the door. If the phone rings, I have to be prepared to handle whatever the call entails. Sometimes it's just a rescheduling of an appointment. Other times it's inquiries about piercings or tattoos. A good shop girl must be very well-versed in everything the shop offers, because it doesn't look good for the shop if the person answering the phones can't answer the questions a client is asking. By watching the door, I mean I must constantly be watching the door for clients walking in. This is important. Have you ever walked into a tattoo shop, just to not be greeted? You probably walk around, trying to find someone, and end up sitting down in a chair, defeated and feeling silly. I've done it, and it sucks. What I love about my shop is that you won't ever get that experience...someone will ALWAYS be there to greet you and help you out. Sometimes the people walking through the door are just people who have appointments (and I need to make sure they have the proper paperwork filled out, complete with ID). Other times, it's people asking about getting walk-in tattoos. In this case, I must figure out what they want, get them an available artist, and set them up a station to get tattooed at. Basically what I'm saying is...multitasking is key, and more often than not I find myself dividing my time between multiple activities at once to make sure the shop runs smoothly.
One- With luck, all of the appointments have shown up on time, and the artists are ready to tattoo them. Woo hoo! I'm no longer running around setting things up, but my ears are still ready to listen for an artist asking me for a pillow, a new rinse cup, or whatever else they might find they need during the course of the tattoo. Obviously, I'm also ready to greet a customer who might walk in or answer the phone, should it ring.
During the next two hours, approximately- Now is the time to call the following days' appointments, to see if they are coming in or not. Sometimes there are only a few appointments for the next day; sometimes there are a lot. We have eight artists total, and although they aren't all on shift all the time together, it can get busy, particularly on the weekends. Not all shops offer the confirmation call, but we find that our clients like it. Sometimes I catch people who didn't realize their appointment was the next day, so it's a good service just to remind them. Once I'm done with that, I start cleaning the shop. I have various chores, such as washing windows, cleaning mirrors, cutting paper towels for artists, cleaning doorknobs, cleaning and stocking the bathroom, dusting...I could go on and on. Some people might find these things to be "busy work", but as I stated before, a clean shop is a happy shop. Having the shop presentable to clients is so important, and has a big impact on people as to whether or not they'll choose to get tattooed at our shop. At this time I've also set up the lunch tables so the guys have somewhere to eat. Of course, I'm always watching the front door and the phone.
Three- Most of the appointments from the early afternoon are done by now. I have to be available to talk to clients and make them future appointments. I also handle all of the payments for tattoos, and deal with it accordingly. The guys will usually eat now, but I stay up front cleaning and doing chores, ready to assist anyone who calls or walks in. I'll note that the walk-in rotation must be dealt with carefully, so all of the artists have a fair chance at making some money for the day. I'll also break down all of the stations at this time. Breaking down consists of the exact opposite of setting up...I take all of the used coverings and throw them away. I also disassemble the tattoo machines. Oh, and I'll note this right now...needles and razors (for shaving off hair in the area of the tattoo) are of course all single-use, and they are disposed of in sharps bins. Once everything is disposed of properly, I clean the stuff that can't be thrown away or autoclaved with our medical-grade disinfectant. I then set the stations back up again, because four o'clock means...
Four- The artists are done with lunch, and with luck, have started tattooing their four o'clock appointments. As always, I'm listening for the door, phone, and artists that might need me...but now I'm back to cleaning. Cleaning the sinks, cleaning the floor, cleaning the chairs and tables not in use...I'll also pick up the lunch room.
Five- I'm off! I inform the shop girl who is working after me of anything she might need to know (this client is coming in later, there may be two girls coming in later as walk-ins, whatever) and I leave.
This is just a basic idea of what I do during a tattoo shop shift. Of course, if I'm closing, it's a bit different, but the idea is still there. Overall, this job is exciting and has a lot of variety. I enjoy the interaction I get to have with people, and I like that I can show off my tattoos, rather than cover them up as I had to do during my office job days. It can definitely get stressful, and multitasking is a must. I also have to deal with some crazy clients sometimes, and it can be challenging to help them without losing my cool. You might see some of these stories with posts to come...luckily, my shop is pretty classy and professional, but occasionally there will be an odd duck who will come in and try to cause havoc.
Thanks for reading!
When I had my first interview (more on getting the job here), I was told right away what was to be expected of me, so I wasn't picturing this job to resemble the example I described above. This was fine by me, as I have tried the whole "office job" deal, and it is definitely not for me. I like to move around and have the freedom to change tasks frequently, not be chained down to a desk all day. So, this gig turned out to really work in my favor due to my activity level and preferences.
First things first. I do answer phones, and I do make/cancel/reschedule appointments. I also greet customers. However, it's all a bit more challenging than people would think, especially at the beginning before you know what you're doing. I am also responsible for cleaning the entire shop, breaking down and setting up stations, cleaing, helping the artists with anything they might need, cleaning, helping clients with anything they might need, cleaning, oh and did I mention cleaning? A clean shop is a happy shop...which is how it should be! Who wants to get tattooed at a dirty, gross shop? Nobody, I hope. More info on finding a good, clean shop later. But for now, I'll leave you with a typical outline of my day at the shop:
Opening Shift
15 min before shift- I get to work and get everything ready for the day. On go the lights, fans, air conditioning (so people don't pass out!), various office equipment and displays, the register...you get the idea. If I see on the computer that an artist (or two or more!) have appointments set for right when we open, I have to set up stations and equipment for that, too. If I'm lucky, my coworkers will help me out if they see me struggling or if I ask...but I don't like to count on that, because I've gotten fast over the years and can usually handle it all myself.Noon- We're open! I flip the sign to "open" and open up the curtains. At this time I'll also inform the artists of the status of their clients (whether they have confirmed for their appointment or not).
During the next hour- I'll set up the artists for their appointments that typically start at one. A station that is ready for an artist consists of covering literally everything that the artist and the client will be touching during the tattoo. This means all bottles, knobs, lamp handles, armrests, pillows, everything! I even set out little baggies that they put their machines in, so those are covered, too. Not only is it the law to make sure everything is covered up for each client by disposable coverings, but it's just the right thing to do. Everything is single-use, just for the client...and the things that must be reused (tables, chairs, tattoo machines, tubes, etc.) are all either sterilized in our monthly spore-tested autoclave or disinfected by hospital-grade spray. During this time, I MUST be listening to the phone and the door. If the phone rings, I have to be prepared to handle whatever the call entails. Sometimes it's just a rescheduling of an appointment. Other times it's inquiries about piercings or tattoos. A good shop girl must be very well-versed in everything the shop offers, because it doesn't look good for the shop if the person answering the phones can't answer the questions a client is asking. By watching the door, I mean I must constantly be watching the door for clients walking in. This is important. Have you ever walked into a tattoo shop, just to not be greeted? You probably walk around, trying to find someone, and end up sitting down in a chair, defeated and feeling silly. I've done it, and it sucks. What I love about my shop is that you won't ever get that experience...someone will ALWAYS be there to greet you and help you out. Sometimes the people walking through the door are just people who have appointments (and I need to make sure they have the proper paperwork filled out, complete with ID). Other times, it's people asking about getting walk-in tattoos. In this case, I must figure out what they want, get them an available artist, and set them up a station to get tattooed at. Basically what I'm saying is...multitasking is key, and more often than not I find myself dividing my time between multiple activities at once to make sure the shop runs smoothly.
One- With luck, all of the appointments have shown up on time, and the artists are ready to tattoo them. Woo hoo! I'm no longer running around setting things up, but my ears are still ready to listen for an artist asking me for a pillow, a new rinse cup, or whatever else they might find they need during the course of the tattoo. Obviously, I'm also ready to greet a customer who might walk in or answer the phone, should it ring.
During the next two hours, approximately- Now is the time to call the following days' appointments, to see if they are coming in or not. Sometimes there are only a few appointments for the next day; sometimes there are a lot. We have eight artists total, and although they aren't all on shift all the time together, it can get busy, particularly on the weekends. Not all shops offer the confirmation call, but we find that our clients like it. Sometimes I catch people who didn't realize their appointment was the next day, so it's a good service just to remind them. Once I'm done with that, I start cleaning the shop. I have various chores, such as washing windows, cleaning mirrors, cutting paper towels for artists, cleaning doorknobs, cleaning and stocking the bathroom, dusting...I could go on and on. Some people might find these things to be "busy work", but as I stated before, a clean shop is a happy shop. Having the shop presentable to clients is so important, and has a big impact on people as to whether or not they'll choose to get tattooed at our shop. At this time I've also set up the lunch tables so the guys have somewhere to eat. Of course, I'm always watching the front door and the phone.
Three- Most of the appointments from the early afternoon are done by now. I have to be available to talk to clients and make them future appointments. I also handle all of the payments for tattoos, and deal with it accordingly. The guys will usually eat now, but I stay up front cleaning and doing chores, ready to assist anyone who calls or walks in. I'll note that the walk-in rotation must be dealt with carefully, so all of the artists have a fair chance at making some money for the day. I'll also break down all of the stations at this time. Breaking down consists of the exact opposite of setting up...I take all of the used coverings and throw them away. I also disassemble the tattoo machines. Oh, and I'll note this right now...needles and razors (for shaving off hair in the area of the tattoo) are of course all single-use, and they are disposed of in sharps bins. Once everything is disposed of properly, I clean the stuff that can't be thrown away or autoclaved with our medical-grade disinfectant. I then set the stations back up again, because four o'clock means...
Four- The artists are done with lunch, and with luck, have started tattooing their four o'clock appointments. As always, I'm listening for the door, phone, and artists that might need me...but now I'm back to cleaning. Cleaning the sinks, cleaning the floor, cleaning the chairs and tables not in use...I'll also pick up the lunch room.
Five- I'm off! I inform the shop girl who is working after me of anything she might need to know (this client is coming in later, there may be two girls coming in later as walk-ins, whatever) and I leave.
This is just a basic idea of what I do during a tattoo shop shift. Of course, if I'm closing, it's a bit different, but the idea is still there. Overall, this job is exciting and has a lot of variety. I enjoy the interaction I get to have with people, and I like that I can show off my tattoos, rather than cover them up as I had to do during my office job days. It can definitely get stressful, and multitasking is a must. I also have to deal with some crazy clients sometimes, and it can be challenging to help them without losing my cool. You might see some of these stories with posts to come...luckily, my shop is pretty classy and professional, but occasionally there will be an odd duck who will come in and try to cause havoc.
Thanks for reading!
Welcome!
Hello and welcome! Thanks for taking a peek at my blog. As you can see, I'm pretty new around here...but I've had this idea for a blog for awhile now. I realize that I am lucky to have such a cool job during college...I've run into many people who are very curious about what my job entails and what I deal with on a day to day basis. You can call me Nikki, and I'm a shop girl at a tattoo shop in the United States. If I seem somewhat elusive as to who I am and where I work, it's for a reason...I would never want my ideas and opinions of things to affect my shop negatively in any way. However, I hope that my posts will help you understand the do's and don'ts of getting a tattoo, etiquette while being inside a shop, etc., as well as satiate your curiosity as to what really goes on behind shop walls. If at any time you have any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas for a post, feel free to either leave a comment here or shoot me an email at tattooshopgirl@gmail.com. Peace!
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