Tattoo Studio Etiquette

May 2, 2008 9:58 AM

Tattoo Studio Etiquette - I'm getting a tattoo, not my first tattoo, but my first artistic one. I understand that you tip the artist, but I'm not sure how much. The estimate is ~$200 for the work, is 20% tip right? Too much? Too little?

Thanks in advance for your insight.

posted by Argyle to clothing, beauty, & fashion (9 comments total)

For my tattoo's done by an artist - I always tip 20%.
posted by jaythebull at 10:03 AM on May 2

I see the same artist for all of mine - how long is yours going to take? One session or more. I find I do about 25% but more if I'm feeling generous...and I try to be generous.
posted by Sophie1 at 10:08 AM on May 2

Yah, 20% sounds about right. You don't want to piss off the man (or woman) you're paying to scar you.

(I have fairly extensive tats, and I tip like mad to keep the really good relationship I've developed with my tattooist.)
posted by restless_nomad at 10:10 AM on May 2

Yea, 20-25% is about right. My first tattoo was $105 and I gave the artist a $30 tip, but I was absolutely floored by how good the colouring looked.
posted by Nelsormensch at 10:37 AM on May 2

Egad, I never knew that I should tip. I guess a owe a woman in Chicago a tip + 11 years interest.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 10:47 AM on May 2

I don't tip my tattooist - I don't think the practice is as widespread here in the UK as it is in the US, though it's definitely gaining ground - I give her gifts instead. I have been getting work from her for years however, so that approach may not work so well with an artist you don't really know.
posted by Acarpous at 10:58 AM on May 2

I have worked at tattoo studios in the past. 20% is average. More (30%) if the artist was really personable and did a great job. If you plan on getting more work done in the future by the same artist, and the artist did a really good job, I would tip at least 20-25%.

On the other hand, if the artist doesn't seem to be into it, rushes the work, and/or is otherwise not good, 0-10% is fine, too.
posted by peewinkle at 11:02 AM on May 2

Suggestion: do your research on your artist, obviously. If the artist rushes or is otherwise, "not good" you don't want to be under his/her needle.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:20 AM on May 2

I usually tip my artist more for the first tattoo (30%ish) then scale back a bit for the subsequent work (if done by the same artist). However, I rarely tip less than 20% for good work. Only once did I tip less and that was for a tattoo I got in Thailand.....I tipped him cigarettes and flowers. To second what has been mentioned, if you do plan on coming back to the same artist tip well they WILL remember.
posted by birdlips at 11:55 AM on May 2