Wait. That's a brag?

S1. E4. Standard.

I've been seeing a lot of artists and studios over the years showing all the amazing things they offer their clients when they get tattooed from them. Great! What's bad about that? Well, nothing, nothing at all. Although...

I was under the illusion that these things were just standard practice? How naive of me. Let's take a little look at some of the things that I didn't think we needed to shout about, but maybe we should have been?

Professionalism

We didn't think we needed to say it, but, we're hella professional! From initial contact to the moment you walk out the door. Punctual, adaptable, concise and very much always in a state ready to execute your tattoo. Just generally striving to give you the best value we possibly can and you know, not dicking around.

Honesty

This is a big one for me personally and something I have instilled across the studio. We will always, always try to give you the most honest advice about what gets you the best tattoo. I will regularly tell people to go and see other artists at other studios (terrible business model!) if what you're wanting, can be executed better somewhere else. The goal for me has been, and always will be, that you get the best tattoo you can.

Adaptability

I've seen people say things like "we took all morning to change the design until it was right"... Like, yes. So the artist should. I've been tattooing long enough to know things happen, things change and it's a difficult industry as everything is subjective right? Being adaptable and open to change is vital for a successful tattoo I think. If the artist hasn't got the design right for the tattoo, maybe there was lack of clarity in the booking process from one or both sides, but either way, if the client isn't happy with the design, you sure as hell better change it or take a step back and reevaluate the day. This is a call to all artists, please, please, never tattoo something onto someone that isn't 100% happy with the idea. Also on this topic, actually, this opens another door to another section. Next.

Safe space

I feel it is the artist and studios job to make sure that every client is informed clearly and is equipped with the knowledge that they very much can "challenge" things. If a client doesn't feel comfortable enough in a studio or with an artist to say they don't like something, that is going on their body forever, then I personally feel like that is a huge failing as an artist. I understand people and clients can be uncomfortable in these situations, so as the artist, make them comfortable, tell your client that you very much welcome questions and critique, I think it is your job is to read people and be aware of how they are. In my opinion, one of the worst things that could ever happen would be a client didn't feel comfortable enough to speak up about something they weren't happy with and then leave with a tattoo they fundamentally didn't like. Which kind of leads me nicely into...

Client health

This is something else that has baffled me recently. It's not a brag that you let your client take breaks or caught them when they passed out... Getting a tattoo is trauma and if you're not managing that trauma as an artist, pushing your client past their thresholds and not letting them take breaks is so far away from a flex, for me it's negligent. This is also going back to them not feeling comfortable in your space to ask for a break, failure from the artist.

Free drinks and snackies!

If you do feel you need a break, because you know, getting tattooed sucks, we have always from day one had hot drinks available, a fridge full of free drinks, bowl full of sweets, chocolates and goodies. I thought this was standard! I thought, surely, every studio you go to, they offer you a drink? Right? Well, I've learnt, apparently not, we didn't think we needed to shout about it too much, we just have it, by default.

You're always our priority

This one ended up feeling a little more ranty than I anticipated, but also, if you know me or have been tattooed in our studio, you know I don't actually really care about anything that anyone else is doing outside of our walls, I just care about the you, the clients. We do it how we do it and I'm happy with that. Although if you do consider any of these things as a brag, then let me tell you, that's our baseline, the real flex is in the high end products we use and the luxury aftercare but what do I know.

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