anomaly1964

Tons of people do want to know. And you know what? IT'S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS EITHER. I have close friends that I've known literally my entire life that I don't tell things like this. I also don't tell them why my machines run differently than one another, or what makes one type of pigment different from another, or anything else that's a part of my trade that is none of their business.

Drop the question, learn to know that some things aren't your business, and move on to the next topic. I'm sure it'll be enlightening and full of great contributions.

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And to quit being obtuse and give you an answer, the average tattooer charges between $50 and $500 an hour. After paying a shop cut of between 1% and 99%, they usually take home between $15.78 and $3,000,000,000,000 a year, before taxes.

Man, I have seen some pompous, self absorbed, self important forums before but this place definitely takes the cake...

I think I will go get a coy fish being caught by a dragon in traditional japanese style so you guys will find me worthy...geez.

If a tattooer charges $X per hour, he usually takes home $Y after paying a Z% shop cut. It's simple algebra, I'm sure you can extrapolate from there.

SMH, I'm sure TONS of people would like to know the breakdown of this...

Sorry I dare tread on holy ground...

You've not read this forum much, then, clearly. How about this, send me a full on break down of your fiscal year's bank statements, and I'll happily not read then and tell you nothing, because it's none of your business how much we make, and none of mine how much you make. Sound fair?

I'mm not asking for SPECIFIC numbers, I'm asking PERCENTAGES. So a tattooer makes $X per hour, what percentage of that is his and how much is the shops?

It's not REALLY that intrusive...

Wow you guys take yourself WAY too seriously around here...

It's a straight forward, legit question...

Get over your pompous ass selves...

*Edit - I also don't see anywhere were this is a forbidden topic...

So if a tattoo artist charges $150 per hour, how much of that goes to the artist and how much goes to the store where he/she works?

How many PAID hours a week does your typical tattoo artist work?

Curious to find out...

Thanks to everyone who gave me good pointers in this thread. I have learned that we all look at tattoos differently and that I, indeed, am in the minority on this site, where art is more important than personal meaning (that is NOT a slam on the site)...

I do find it a bit funny that those who keep commenting the thread won't die, keep posting in it...

Wicked grin...

I sincerely hope the 1% of doubt is because you're also thinking of getting this as a tattoo:

Awww, those ARE cute...

I understand that. But, isn't the point of a Rorschach image that it isn't actually anything, and is defined by the mental bias and psychological profile of the viewer? And doesn't making a Rorschach into a definable image sort of defeat the purpose of a Rorschach test card?

Well if you weren't quite sure what it was...?

This is the original image...

For my tastes, it's just a bit visually unexciting. The design isn't that readable to my eye, either. Took about five looks to realize it was something Batman related. That being said, that's just my taste in tattoos, or even visual art. I prefer Roy Lichtenstein and William Eggleston to Chuck Close or Ansel Adams.

Gotcha...

It's RORSCHACHish...it's Batman and The Joker combined...

You don't have to find the "best in the world" to get a great tattoo... My boss has been tattooing 18 years, is a local guy who hasn't done conventions in around a decade, and does tattoos that would hang with anything posted on here on a daily basis. And he's not expensive, either. People here post by folks that I've never heard of that are local guys, who kill it on a daily basis as well. There's no excuse anymore to get a bad tattoo in whatever style, other than laziness when it comes to learning about what you are trying to get.

If you want advice, take advice. If you want to work it out on your own, work it out on your own. But don't respond poorly to advice, then claim you're being treated like crap because people respond in kind. Also, not to be rude, but if you're happy with the quality of the tattoo you first posted, then insult Adam Hays' work like that (intentionally or not)... I don't know that there's a lot of room to talk there.

As far as everyone seeming like they're giving you the same advice, it's because we really do want you to get a good tattoo. But it's not good trying to shoehorn in a million meanings to every tattoo, or get things that may look cool on paper but will look like a mess when it's tattooed, let alone in 10 years, 20 years, or 30 years. Don't think so literally, and if you can't help but do that, find a tattooer you like, and let them be creative for you. It's their job.

p.s.- Did anyone else see how heavy handed I was trying to be with the red pill/blue pill thing earlier?

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Double post, my bad. But, as a personal example...

My roommate in college and one of my best friends in life and I really, really like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Wanted to get bro tats for the movie. Didn't get Hunter's face, or Ralph Steadman art. We got daggers with some elements themed to references from the book/movie, and half of the phrase we both liked the most. He got the lizard dagger, I got the bat dagger. He has since completed the set, I'm waiting to go see him in Arizona to get my lizard dagger. 5 years later, by the way, and they look just as like they did then, and the guy who did mine gave me the chance to work in this business and make a living.

(also, us goofing around midway through- https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/60231_781027023591_1119459_n.jpg?oh=d2c37e1947a7af9f4e64268e6b5805ac&oe=54727246)

For those who have not spoken down to me, I think I have listened well...

As I said earlier, you may think the guy who did the Star Wars tattoos is awesome, but me PERSONALLY, I don't like that style. That does not mean it's BAD, it means it's not for ME...

The more pics I see posted, the more I do realize that we ALL see things differently...

I am curious as to what you see wrong with my first tattoo, it's a year old now and holding up very well...

nothing wrong with getting special/meaningful tattoos. it is just odd to ask strangers for help finding something that is special and meaningful. most of us here are interested in tattoos as art so we seek out specific artists but many people just want a permanent personal symbol from the closest tattoo applicator.

I get what you are saying too Brian. But I could get a tattoo from the perceived best tattoo artist on the planet and pay $3000 for it. But if it is the coolest oriental dragon human eyes have ever seen but doesn't speak to me, then...

I know I asked for advice, and I REALLY do appreciate the positive comments (I just need to remember some folks are gonna be a smart ass on the internet because THEY CAN)...

In advice I guess I was thinking, here are my interests and that maybe someone had seen something that I hadn't yet discovered...

Thanks again for your advice Brian...

I wish this was true. Eight pages (so far!) of this thread says it isn't.

Yeah well, I have thicker skin than most. Maybe if you type in capital letters I will be more afraid of ya...grin.

I just said that Matrix tattoos aren't particularly special? You're not finding anything because tattoos like that rarely look good, which is why it's not a great idea.

But WHAT makes a tattoo special? Because it is a respected art form? Because someone famous did it? Or because it has meaning to the person wearing it?

You are right, you can find a million Batman and Star Wars references for tattoos and maybe TEN for The Matrix...

There is probably nothing special about this tattoo to you:

But it means a great deal to ME...

Dude, the Matrix is like the #1 movie for 30-something white dudes who think they're deep. There's no danger of people not "getting" it. People are trying to give you advice because you're sacrificing something that will look good for something that you perceive as meaningful and unique. Get whatever you want and what makes you feel good, but this shit ain't special.

Then show me something from The Matrix that would be special, cause I'm DYING to see something...

next time you ASK for ADVICE consider NOT asking if you already KNOW you won't LISTEN.

No...Brian, you gave some great advice, I guess I just had to work through what I really wanted...

I didn't mean to offend you...

You might be interested in Adam Hays' tattoos and art. He is located in NY and I'm not sure if he ever does guest spots in Florida but his Star Wars artwork is worth checking out:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/92646344/set-of-3-japanese-star-wars-prints-boba?ref=shop_home_active_14

https://www.etsy.com/listing/184901243/sticker-pack?ref=shop_home_active_3

https://www.etsy.com/listing/105835359/han-solo-in-carbonite-print?ref=shop_home_active_18

Those are all cool but I guess I'm trying to stay away from faces. I don't think they ever come out JUST how you THING they will...

While no one else may GET or LIKE the Matrix symbol, I know what it means to ME...

I am about 99% sure I am going to to with the symbol from The Matrix. The "Choice is an illusion..." quote by the Merovingian has always stood out to me. While some may see destiny, fate, WILL as a straight line, I see it as a flow chart. It may indeed be my DESTINY to get from point A to point B, but the path I CHOOSE to get there is my own (or is it?). The thinner lines that shoot off the main image represent...to me...the PATHS one can take to get to his/her destiny...

I have no idea what any of that means. But "thumbs up!"

As long as "I" know what it means...right? :)

Dude. All these ideas...you're killing us. Just go get tattooed. The more you get tattooed the less you worry about if each tattoo has some significance.

The more I think about it, the more I like it. To me, the thin lined off shoots from the main design remind me of a flowchart, "if_then" trees of CHOICE...

I guess I am really all over the place. I just found this image, it's from the opening of Matrix Revolutions, from the code, it's supposed to represent the mega city...

Same image, black and white...

Now this I am really into, maybe black with a green MATRIX glow around it...?

Or This...

Can I ask what about that 1 image is the most impressive to you? So I can get a better perspective.

EDIT: Personally, I lean towards the Frank Miller/ Alex Ross batman art. I am an enormous batman geek as per my name lol. I look forward to seeing what you do pick and end up with. Batman is the only hero I think I would get a tattoo of... not sure maybe Hellboy or punisher?

The two pics in this thread are Dustin Nguyen....

I like Frank Miller too, maybe Batman in the armor he fights superman in, you dont see that alot...

Do you have like a favorite batman frame or cover? Or a favorite batman artist? Something that really exemplifies that character for you?

I really like this picture ALOT...

would you be happy with a tattoo that isn't actually Batman? what if it was just a bat that did not resemble anything from actual Batman inspired artwork?

Hmmm, if the art was cool...yeah.

My family is saying since I have a Batman tattoo on my arm already, go Matrix or Star Wars. They also seem to want me to stay away from full figures or faces, so something SYMBOLIC would work...

Go talk to a tattooer about it.

Gotcha...

I know this is ROUGH, but how does some variation of this image work, where the yellow part of the cape would come around probably to the edge of the other tattoo...?