Midi playing: "Waiting For Tonight" by JLo
Ok, so you've sat down and decided on the tattoo you want...now we come to the biggest decision of all...where do you go to have it done? This is where you must get out there and search for the best studio and best artist for you...
Here are some basic signs you should look for when searching...
Is the studio clean in appearance? This is a major aspect to look for...the cleanliness factor says A LOT about how the studio operates..you naturally want a place where it is neat and clean, where you can trust that the tools used there are kept clean and are properly washed. Talk to the counter people...ask questions about the business, the tattoo you are interested in...the process of tattoing...etc. Do they seem personable and friendly? Do they seem to care about what is in your best interest? Or do they seem to just be after what is in your wallet? Do they seem to just...for lack of a better word..kiss your @ss and tell you what you want to hear? If you feel that they are just saying what you want to hear because they want your money, walk out and try another place. When you find a studio that you feel is truthful and honest and open with you, you have completed part of the search.Talk to the tattoo artist Get a feel of his/her personality...are they friendly? Talk to them about the tattoo you are considering. Do they just yes you to death or do they actually offer advice, opinions, constructive criticism, options? You want an artist who is willing to work with you to come up with the design you desire, someone who has ideas to perhaps enhance the design or make it more appealing....one who has passion for their work, not someone who just considers it "another day at a crappy job" ( I've met a few artists with this attitude...it's a shame =0(Watch the artist at work Usually, when the tattoo is being done on an area that is not private, you will be able to see them at work on other people....watch how they operate the tattoo gun, MAKE SURE THEY DISPOSE OF THE NEEDLES WHEN THEY ARE DONE WITH EACH PERSON!!!, are they gentle when working on others? OR do they not seem to care if the pain is too great on the person being worked on?Price shopping...OK, now this can work two ways....I have found places that are OVERLY EXPENSIVE, and OVERLY CHEAP.....the places that are overly expensive I have found to be cold environments...the artists are not friendly at all, and the counter people are rude. I will not name the tattoo studios in which I have encountered this, but they drive away A LOT of business with both bad prices and BAD ATTITUDE....now onto the overly cheap prices....there is the saying "you get what you pay for"...there are some studios that are desperate for business and take cheap measures to get more customers...the lower their prices, but consider that lower prices means less income into the store, which means they probably have cheaper methods and tools....I watched an artist once who did not bother to change the needle in the tattoo gun when he moved on from one customer to another...needless to say, that studio is no longer in business. Be careful...if the tattoo seems to be too cheap, trust your gut and move on to another studio, but also make sure that you are not getting ripped off!
