Comments on: Tattoo Studio Etiquette

Question: Tattoo Studio Etiquette

Argyle — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:58:19 -0800

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.

By: jaythebull

jaythebull — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:03:20 -0800

For my tattoo's done by an artist - I always tip 20%.

By: Sophie1

Sophie1 — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:08:44 -0800

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.

By: restless_nomad

restless_nomad — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:10:41 -0800

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.)

By: Nelsormensch

Nelsormensch — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:37:13 -0800

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.

By: otherwordlyglow

otherwordlyglow — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:47:01 -0800

Egad, I never knew that I should tip. I guess a owe a woman in Chicago a tip + 11 years interest.

By: Acarpous

Acarpous — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:58:12 -0800

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.

By: peewinkle

peewinkle — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:02:20 -0800

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.

By: roomthreeseventeen

roomthreeseventeen — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:20:18 -0800

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.

By: birdlips

birdlips — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:55:29 -0800

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.