Hogrider

Work up some case studies, put them in your book, and I guarantee people will do a lot less haggling.

I'm not a tattoo artist, but I do have a strong marketing background and you have to not only know who your market is, but who your market isn't. It is people who want a quality tattoo and it's not people who only care about price. You'll never really get that market because there is always someone who will do it cheaper. I think hgiles has a great idea. Why not put together a portfolio of really bad tattoo and mediocre tattoos and then when people try to haggle show them the portfolio and say something like, "This is what you can get for the price you are trying to pay. If you want quality work, this is what I charge." You'll lose some, but you'll keep others. I would also talk about the time, pain and expense of cover-ups.

Good luck. It's too bad people don't appreciate art. I looked for over a year for my artist when I finally decided to get a tattoo and I never asked about price.

I'm a liitle creeped out everytime Dave sez '' canvases''.........''It puts the lotion on.....''

I know. When they are talking about the people on the show, they are canvases, every other time they are referred to as clients. I guess that's their "hook."

I really expected Lea to go before Bili, but these old-schoolers really appreciate Traditional Americana. So Bili got the boot. i was really surprised to see what Josh did this week.

I'm sure Billy's constant arguing, eye rolling, head shaking, and excuses didn't help. He did get some sucky clients, I mean canvases, but you play the hand you're dealt.

I got my first tattoo yesterday. Sat from 11:00 to 3:00 (he drew it on freehand first) and we just did the outline. It's the first part of a Japanese themed sleeve. It's a Koi with a dragon head. I go back for color and the outline for the next piece the first of April. Unfortunately my artist is booked about 6-8 weeks in advance. I guess it just gives my old skin more time to heal between sittings.

At the Philly tattoo convention yesterday, they made sure to announce over the PA system that Al Fliction was in the house.

All the amazing tattooers there this weekend, and Al gets a shoutout.

Did they give a shout out for the guy who's tattoo idea Al Fuction stole?

Would love to see a Japanese Challenge.

+1

I was laughing when Heather kept saying she does killer tattoos - note to loser, when you're REALLY good, you don't have to tell anyone.

You got it!

There were so many to choose from but these are some of my favorites!

The first skull just makes me cringe at how badly the skin is chewed up and the lines are literally sliced in. The second and third are cover ups where the poor victim would have probably been happier with their original crappy tattoo. Normally I wouldn't just make fun of someone like this, but not only should this kid be nowhere near peoples skin, he also has an awful rockstar attitude.

If what he is doing isn't illegal, it should be.

I did a little research and it looks like about 17% of Americans have tattoos, although the number for under 30 is significantly higher.

My question - does a sleeve count as one tattoo!!! :-)

Oh Al Fliction... no.

How would you like to be the poor slob sporting someone else's tattoo? He's probably on the phone to his lawyer the minute he sees this.

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits - Mark Twain

On-topic: No more Al-Fucktard, he's gone

Thank God, he gives ass-holes a bad name.

So much for land of the free and home of the brave. Now the government wets itself like a scared little girl over a couple of tweets.

@Hogrider this was discussed under the post: Good client behavior. The advice given was to NOT shave and let the artist do it. The purpose would be to reduce the risks of cuts and scrapes and making the area difficult to work on....

Thanks. I must have missed that.

Is there any benefit to shaving the area you are going to have tattooed a few days ahead?

Interesting thread. So if you exercise in your home you should be OK?

I seen half that show the other night drunk. Im just glad I never sighened up fer shit like that,tattoo game shows? wtf?

Most reality shows are crap. Why should tattoo themed reality shows be any different.

don't care to debate slavery and the civil war but whenever people tell me that flying the rebel flag is some sort of heritage thing i just have think it's complete bullshit.

Sometimes a confederate flag is just a flag. Far more racist things have been done under the Union flag, but no one bitches about that. The slaughter of Native Americans for one. Just the opinion of some guy on the internet.

Welcome Hog...That's a long time to be thinking about getting a tattoo.But once you start,it's hard to stop.The most important thing is to find a good tattooer.You can have a good idea,but take it to the wrong artist,and you'll end up with a bad tattoo.What were you thinking of getting?

I've done a lot of research on artists. I was referred to him by friends and had my wife, who is an artist, look at his work. I've visited the shop a couple of times and watched him work and had a chance to see a massive back piece in progress and one forearm finished. I'm looking at getting a Japanese themed sleeve with Koi, Dragon, Samurai mask.

I've decide to finally get my first tattoo at 50 something! I've been thinking about it since I was 18 and realized that I'm not getting any younger. At least this way I don't need to worry about what it will look like when I'm old :) I'm in the Winchester, VA area. I haven't decided on an artist yet, but will post in the main forum looking for recommendations.