Tipping for Tattoos

[lawrocket 3]

Should a person tip a tattoo artist? If so, why? How much?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Floats18 0]

Four Hundred Dollars

--- and give them wings so they may fly free forever

DiverDriver in Training

[EMSchick98 0]

I am one to tip just about anyone, having worked for tips in the past, so don't quote me on this. I believe it is customary to tip a tatto artist. I have usually tipped about 20 dollars for a small tattoo ($45 tattoo). I don't know what the standard is though...

"me you alcohol a rig a car and a bunch of planes what could posibly go wrong" - Pruitt

[AggieDave 6]

Yes, you should tip a tat artist. How much depends on the size of the tat and how much work the tat takes. Also, did the artist draw design custom for you or was it flash? Hopefully you're not getting flash, but custom artwork should be tipped as well.

Remember, this artist is responsible for drawing something on your body that you will have the rest of your life.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[lawrocket 3]

So a tip should be determined by the qork performed, the artistic talent required, and whether he/she did a good job?

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[AggieDave 6]

Yes.

A simple flash tattooed somewhere that wasn't complex, wasn't done freehand and wasn't the artist's original artwork...well, for one I wouldn't get something like that, but if I did, that wouldn't really mean the artist gets much of a tip, if any.

Now this next tattoo that I've been working on the artwork for the past few months, along with my artist, this one isn't going to actually cost too much, but it will end up leaving the artist with a pretty good tip. Its sort of a hard piece to do, and the artist has really helped me shape the design that I had in my head.

The actual tat will be about $300, but I'm going to want to tip $75-100.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[swedishcelt 0]

Yes. They are an artist and if it's original I would tip around 20% of the fee if they did a nice clean job. So, 300.00 / 60.00 and 600.00 / 120.00 because Taiping/ Tipping isn't just a place in China.

[Miami 0]

The artist who did my wife's sleeve got tipped about $40-50 per sitting, with the average sitting being about 4 hours.

Miami

[briguy 0]

dear abby covered this the other day:

http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/?uc_full_date=20060204

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[funks 1]

Quote

A simple flash tattooed somewhere that wasn't complex, wasn't done freehand and wasn't the artist's original artwork...well, for one I wouldn't get something like that, but if I did, that wouldn't really mean the artist gets much of a tip, if any.

Is it the tattoo artists fault you picked a design like what you described above? Why should he get screwed out of a tip in the scenario that you mentioned? Not really understanding your logic here

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

Not really understanding your logic hereCrazy

That the artist didn't do anything but trace a premade design that was applied via the transfer to your skin. I don't get flash, so I'm never in that situation, so do what you wish if you like getting flash.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Brains 2]

I tip my artist. Mainly because he won't charge me and i make him take my money. Did i mention that my brother is a tattoo artist??

Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you.

[MagicGuy 0]

In my opinion, you should definitely tip your tattoo artist. This runs true especially if you plan on getting more than one. If your artist knows that you tip well, he will be more likely to work harder on your tattoo, both in the drawing and tattoo stages. How much is really a matter of preference, but I'd like to think at least 10%.

I just got a tattoo that cost me $300 (3 hour sitting). I tipped $40. But my tattoo artist rocks and he deserved every penny. Once I can get a picture up I'll let you guys take a look!

BE WARNED: Tattoos are HIGHLY addictive, and if you don't want to have multiple tattoos, than don't even bother getting one. I got my first tattoo in November, my second last week, and I'm going back on March 4th to start working on a sleeve. Jesus...

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

BE WARNED: Tattoos are HIGHLY addictive, and if you don't want to have multiple tattoos, than don't even bother getting one.

Guess why I haven't gotten one! It's been about 15 years that I've been thinking of getting one.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[Nightingale 0]

Well, according to Pat Fish, "Tipping in advance makes it hurt less." www.luckyfish.com Personally, I'd tip 15% before, and probably another 15% after to show satisfaction with the work. Tattoos are art, and the tattooist isn't just performing a service; they're creating a work of art on the canvas of your skin.

I've never had a tattoo, but I've tipped piercers as much as 40% when I was very happy with the piercing and it was a somewhat complicated one (industrial piercing in upper right ear...two holes that must align perfectly to hold one barbell). For more straightforward piercings, I've tipped between 20 and 30%, and piercing takes only a few minutes. If you don't like a piercing, you can just take it out, but if you don't like your tattoo, it can be very expensive and painful to remove, if it can be removed at all, so you want to keep your artist VERY happy.

My cousin and I are planning on making a road trip up to Pat's studio, since she does amazing work. I just have to save up for it. Juliana wants a knotwork shamrock, and I want a butterfly done in knotwork, representing my celtic roots and skydiving wings.

[swedishcelt 0]

Pat is the best. I consulted her before I got my own work done. (It's celtic as well.) I wish I could have gotten it done by her but my artist is excellent and since he did all of it, the work has a unity to it. Good luck, would love to see it when you get it done.