To Tip or Not to Tip - Tattoo Artists

[FlamesAddiction]

Just wondering what people's thoughts are on this.

I had one done yesterday and when I was paying, I noticed a tip option on the machine. The business also does piercing, hair styling, make-up, and I think a few other things. I wasn't sure if tipping a tattoo artist was expected or not, or if that option was there for the hair styling and other things.

Since it was a 9 hour session and she did work late, and I will be getting another session in a few months, I gave her a nice tip (both because she did a great job, but also because I want to the same dedication for the next session).

For people more familiar with the industry, what do you think? Is it customary or expected?

[bc-chris]

i think it depends on how much ranch dressing is consumed while the tattoo work is being done and if the ranch dressing arrives on time and in a 'side dish'

[FlamesAddiction]

No ranch dressing was served. Now I feel ripped off!

[Locke]

You got a tattoo without a shot of Ranch?

[AFireInside]

I don't think artists should expect it, but appreciate it. They charge a lot. Charge what you want to get paid.

That said, I always tip. I'm at about 130 hours of tattoo time right now and I've tipped every single time. Not a crazy amount but always an extra 100 or so.

[You Need a Thneed]

What's the going rate for tipping your homebuilder these days?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

What's the going rate for tipping your homebuilder these days?

15% gets a bit steep after a while.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

I don't think artists should expect it, but appreciate it. They charge a lot. Charge what you want to get paid.

That said, I always tip. I'm at about 130 hours of tattoo time right now and I've tipped every single time. Not a crazy amount but always an extra 100 or so.

Thanks, they certainly do charge a lot, but there is quite a bit of overhead and from what I heard, cancellations for big jobs due to people flaking out at the last minute are pretty common and sometimes they end up being there all day hoping for walk-ins.

I booked mine 4 months ahead of time and needed to give a $200 down payment... that was enough to commit me. It is the standard at the place I went to. But while I was getting worked on, someone called in and cancelled an all day session with one of the other artists and being so close to Christmas, she was pretty upset. She is in high enough demand that she could have booked someone else in for a $1,000 tattoo that day. Apparently last minute cancellations happen all the time. And then she had to argue with the person for an hour about why they couldn't have their down payment back. Fortunately, she posted on Facebook and Twitter that she was available for the day and had a couple of people come in for touch-ups and small tattoos, but it was still a bad day.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Thanks, they certainly do charge a lot, but there is quite a bit of overhead and from what I heard, cancellations for big jobs due to people flaking out at the last minute are pretty common and sometimes they end up being there all day hoping for walk-ins.

I booked mine 4 months ahead of time and needed to give a $200 down payment... that was enough to commit me. It is the standard at the place I went to. But while I was getting worked on, someone called in and cancelled an all day session with one of the other artists and being so close to Christmas, she was pretty upset. She is in high enough demand that she could have booked someone else in for a $1,000 tattoo that day. Apparently last minute cancellations happen all the time. And then she had to argue with the person for an hour about why they couldn't have their down payment back. Fortunately, she posted on Facebook and Twitter that she was available for the day and had a couple of people come in for touch-ups and small tattoos, but it was still a bad day.

Yeah all that can be a pain, but it's not up to me to pay extra because of flaky people. Again charge what you want to be paid, appreciate the tips, but don't expect them.

If an artist is taking 40 - 60% of their fee home and a good artist is booking up 3 - 4 days per week they are making a decent living.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

Yeah all that can be a pain, but it's not up to me to pay extra because of flaky people. Again charge what you want to be paid, appreciate the tips, but don't expect them.

If an artist is taking 40 - 60% of their fee home and a good artist is booking up 3 - 4 days per week they are making a decent living.

I agree. I was just kind of going off on a tangent. It sounds like one of those businesses that can be difficult to predict. There are good times and then lean times. Especially in smaller towns and cities I think.

It's sort of like being a musician. There are a few at the top that do really well, and a few in the middle that make a living, but there there are bunch at the bottom that struggle. For those ones in the middle, cancelling a gig could be big deal. Again, just digressing.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

I don't think artists should expect it, but appreciate it. They charge a lot. Charge what you want to get paid.

That said, I always tip. I'm at about 130 hours of tattoo time right now and I've tipped every single time. Not a crazy amount but always an extra 100 or so.

How much do tattoos cost, that an extra $100 is considered "not a crazy amount?"

[driveway]

I figure the going rate on tattoo is about $100/hr for a fairly new artist, while established artists can get really really pricey. I bet a guy like Peter Aurisch can pretty much charge what he wants.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

How much do tattoos cost, that an extra $100 is considered "not a crazy amount?"

My recent one was $1,100 plus tax. It was $150 an hour, but she discounted me a little. I tipped $100 but wasn't sure it was normal to.

[lazypucker]

My take is that if it is a service where the providers set their own price, then tipping is not necessary, like a plumber or a house painter. A waiter I would tip because he doesn't set the price on the food.

Next thing people here are going to ask if we should give extra tips to an escort after the session....

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

My recent one was $1,100 plus tax. It was $150 an hour, but she discounted me a little. I tipped $100 but wasn't sure it was normal to.

I guess I never really thought about what it would cost - or how long it would take. How big of a tattoo would that be?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

I guess I never really thought about what it would cost - or how long it would take. How big of a tattoo would that be?

Top of shoulder to the elbow and halfway around my arm. A lot of detail and stuff going on as well.

[saXon]

If you want a happy tattoo artist who'll pay a little bit more attention to detail, it's a good idea to tip.

My 3/4 sleeve will finish around just above $4 k.

The shop rate is $175 per hour at Steveston Tattoo - Miles Kanne.

Day rate is $800 (average 6 hour sit) if you are wanting more work done in a bigger session.

I usually tip $100 per session.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

What's the going rate for tipping your homebuilder these days?

I'm pretty sure during a recession your tip is included since a lot of the labour for them is half the price but you ain't getting half off the house

[speede5]

$150 an hour average rate around here and never thought to tip before, but I only have 2 and not really connected with any particular artist.

If the artist knows you by name and you have a more personal connection I think a tip makes sense, or if they can put a beautiful design to paper based only on your ideas, but if your just a drop in getting flash I'd say not required.

On another note, how the heck do you get through 6 hours in the chair, I was dying after 2! haha

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by speede5

On another note, how the heck do you get through 6 hours in the chair, I was dying after 2! haha

It probably really also depends on where you are getting it and the mindframe you are in. When I got my 7 hour one, the guy had to keep waking me up, 'cause the only time I could make it work was after I'd worked a 12 hour shift and then waited 3 hours for the shop to open. It was on a low pain zone, and the buzzing drone of the gun kept helping me nod off.

The 5 hour one was also in a low pain zone, and I was awake through the whole thing and getting bored, honestly.

I'd think that it has a lot to do with where the tattoo is being placed.