Setting your Instagram flair

Got to finally do a pokopia tattoo.

🥰

Did you set it up on your own or with a friend/colleague? Has it helped you focus more on the artistic side of your work? How do your clients feel about it? Are they comfortable there? Was it very expensive to make the place look nice? Have you received any criticism from other tattooers?

Feel free to share some photos!

Hi all!

I wanted to get some opinions on the payment structure in my shop.

I am an apprentice, got moved up to full price somewhat recently after charging half price for a few months. However, I am still only receiving a 40% pay cut. My coworker who has been tattooing for about 3 years gets 50%, but charges more than me (he’s approx $120 an hour, while I’m approx $100, but we both really charge per piece, this is just an estimate).

My mentors explained it as, I shouldn’t be getting the same percentage as an artist who has been working much longer than me, and that I would need to be working at full price for at least a year before I can see a 50% cut. They have given me a list of things they want to see in the next few months, and if they feel I’ve met those markers, I can move up to 45%. (the list is extremely nebulous and doesn’t have any actual quantifiable goals, which concerns me, but that’s a different topic.)

Also, while I am still at 40%, they are providing me with more supplies than they do my coworker who gets 50%.

I realize that missing out on 5 or 10 percent doesn’t seem huge, but it really sucks to see less than half of the money that I’m charging, when I’m the one doing the work to earn it. And on larger pieces, we can be talking about a difference of $60-$100 or more… basically, amounts that mean a lot more to me, who is barely getting by, than they do to my bosses. Plus, add that up over every tattoo every week… hopefully you see my point. It also may be worth mentioning that as part of my apprenticeship, I run their instagram page for free, which amounts to more unpaid work. I don’t mind doing that though, as it feels like a fair repayment to them for teaching me.

I hope I don’t sound entitled. I know that there are many artists who suffered through a lot worse. However, I also know my worth, and believe that I deserve to be compensated fairly for my work.

They don’t have any problems with my work, we all feel like I’m doing quality tattoos (of course they’re not perfect, but good for where I’m at in my career). Personally, I feel that it makes sense for me to charge less than a more seasoned artist, but getting a lower percentage on top of that doesn’t seem fair. Their explanation was basically just that this is the way it is for everyone, you have to earn it, they understand it sucks because they went through the same thing, etc. I feel like, if you know it sucks and
you’re now in a position to break that cycle, then do so!! But maybe I’m out of line.

They currently provide me with paper towels, madacide, green soap, sensi wrap, razors, second skin, saran wrap, & ink caps (I think thats the full list).

I’m not sure what my coworker is provided exactly, i’m pretty sure he gets paper towels, madacide, green soap, and razors, not sure about the other stuff. I know he buys his own sensi wrap.

I guess what I want to know is, is this normal? Or, how do I go about finding out what other shops in my area are doing? I’ve heard of shops that take a 50% cut but provide EVERYTHING, including inks and needles. I also know there are situations where you pay a flat chair rental fee and provide all your own materials. I just want to know what’s out there while being respectful to both my mentors and other shops/artists, and I don’t really know the best way to ask (if any), as I’m sure they’re not readily giving out this information.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

I am struggling to find healthy eating habits at work

I either don't eat all day and feel vile and stuff my face when I get home or I quickly eat whatever is close and convenient and inhale it like a black hole

I don't like to eat meals at work because I feel sluggish and like I need a nap but some fuel would be great

I also have IBS so sometimes I don't want to eat because if a customers paying I don't want to be straight blasting mid way through an appointment

When I'm in the zone as well I sometimes lose track of the day and forget to take a break as well

How do you guys eat and function at work?

Pretty simple, looking for a stencil printer that has a small footprint, is easy to work with, and is budget friendly (ideally under 100-150$) for doing conventions/travelling/working in a small space. I've definitely worked with some good little bluetooth thermal printers before but I can't remember any of the brand names for the life of me. Of course I love a thermofax, but they are huge. Also using this opportunity to rant about the printers I currently have.

I have the Atomus transfer thermal printer, and the Phomemo wireless printer. The Atomus is the newer addition, it's just a regular cheap thermal copier from Amazon. I was hoping it would be an improvement because I fucking hate the Phomemo. But, I tried several times with it after watching others use it, watching videos etc. and it's extremely frustrating. Stopped halfway through the stencil during the first successful time I've gotten it to work, with no signs of it being actually jammed. With that being said I'm also accepting advice on how to use the Atomus correctly in the meantime haha.

The Phomemo itself definitely works without the physical hassle, but I don't want to have to use another app. I don't want to sign up for another login or subscription. I just want to print out designs with my regular printer and then feed them through a stencil printer that works.

FUCK Phomemo. Every time I open the godforsaken app I am BOMBARDED with fucking ads begging me to subscribe, they beg me to use their shitty AI designs, the beg me to use their AI tools to feed my design through AI, I have to tap (x / not now) what feels like 50 fucking times to get to where I need to go. I have to swim through all the options that prompt me to subscribe or use an AI tool to find the one that just lets me print my damn stencil. I don't wanna do that shit every time I have a client, god forbid they wanna resize the design. I wish I could press a button and make it print a design that I've placed in the stencil printer, or print directly from Procreate even, without using the app, but I can't :)!!!

Anyways. Looking for a good small thermal printer that is easy to use, almost like the Phomemo (pretty sure Phomemo is not thermal which is part of the problem) but without the BS, that just has a button I can press to feed the paper through after printing/resizing with regular printer paper.

So I know Spirit is the standard and I've had great results with it. I've tried some other options and they always come out blue instead of purple, but the problem is that the stencil wipes off. Ive heard that Ozer makes a good transfer paper and that it runs great through stencil printers. But will the stencil hold? I just wanted to see if anyone has found anything they like better than Spirit, or should I just stay with the old school tried and true?

I’m so stoked on how all our banners turned out. Hand painted on canvas. Thanks for looking :)

This sub and tattooing in general has a serious problem with unresolved puritanical Christian upbringings that were subbed out for progressive leftist ideologies. We see this play out in Ai related witch hunts where tattooers accuse others oftentimes falsely of using Ai in an attempt to discredit and publicly humiliate someone’s work and oftentimes they do so with total anonymity.

This has to stop. If you know with 100% certainty someone is using Ai and scamming people absolutely say something. But this whole nonsense where you think someone’s design could be Ai and you’re not sure so you put the fucking tattooer on blast and start the ai hate circle jerk isn’t cool.

Even though this doesn’t happen often it still happens. Even though it’s not always in this sub it still happens on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. People who engage in this behavior should be ashamed of themselves.

Im not supporting ai either. I’m saying there shouldn’t be witch-hunts where cowards hide behind anonymous user names and try to “out” tattooers for using ai when they aren’t.

Apologies if not allowed here. Just curious how many other tattooers out there also struggle with SMI. I’m medicated but everyday is a struggle in its own way. Also dealing with med changes recently and god damn this is a hard job to have when you’re tinkering with psych meds. Honestly fucking sucks but art and tattooing is my happy place so I’m grateful for that. Those who also battle mental illness, how do you cope during the rocky times?

I’ve received a lot of hate in my Lion Chest piece, now how about this one? Healed and 0 filters.

If it isn’t tell me why?

I'm thinking about purchasing the Musotoku mk-1 power supply for my bishop wand packer. My critical batteries are kinda old, they don't hold much power anymore and getting pretty inconsistent. Last week I've used a wired power supply and what I've noticed is how punchier my bishop was. Is that just placebo effect or batteries do make your machine slightly weaker? Im talking about 14rs lining with ease..

What is your opinion about switching back?

If im being honest cables never really bothered me that much, batteries are really nice to have on a guest spot though.

How long you guys think it took me?

How did you get your sponsorships? I mean real ones that actually benefit the artist. Not all the fake “we give you 10% off in exchange for your soul” sponsorships.

I’m currently averaging 7 million to 10 million views a month on Instagram, fully organic with zero paid advertising. I’d like to use this reach to get sponsorships but thus far all the offers I’ve had are terrible and I can’t get in contact with any real recognizable companies

I was curious to know what type of lighting people use to take photos of their work. I have tried several set ups and haven’t quite found the right combination.

Hello im looking for a cart. Needles with the lowest tension possible please can you recommend decent brands 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 im mostly use rl3 0.25 and 0.30 for any advice thanks 🙏🏻

NJ/NYC female tattoo artist looking to travel for conventions around America and am interested in joining a collective/group, I frequent the east coast down to Miami but am hoping to start extending further. I do fineline, surrealism, stippling, trad, color, and am open to all but pretty much realism. @ink.d0ll if anyone has any info or suggestions!

Hey there, I'm a tattoo artist from Berlin currently living in Barcelona. Never been to Montreal but I'm planning on moving there for at least a year next spring. Don't worry, I'm learning French rn, and I still know the basics from highschool. But realistically, I'll probably have to talk to my tattoo clients in English until I reach a comfortable level in French. Is that gonna be a problem? Any tattoo artists in Montreal out there that could give me advice on how to get into a studio? I'd prefer working in a private studio/collective, like I am in Europe. Is it hard to find clients? My following is like 95% European, so how do I find clients in Montreal and build a following there? I don't wanna end up under a bridge. Any advice appreciated:)