We recently asked tattoo artists in the BuzzFeed Community to share behind-the-scenes secrets that come with their job. Here’s what they had to say:
1. “Artists are in a ton of pain from the job. They’re also under a lot of pressure to be perfect with every needle stroke. We spend all day holding awkward positions and gripping a vibrating machine. We have a ton of back pain, elbow pain, and hand pain. If there’s a spot we’re tattooing that requires us to stand for hours at a time, we get leg and foot pain. Artists regularly have to take a month off just to rest their bodies, but the moment we go back to work, we’re exacerbating things all over again.”
—Emily from Raleigh, North Carolina
2. “It’s not for everyone, but it is a commitment. Once you’re done at the shop, you’re at home drawing for tomorrow, which means sleep is going to come sparingly. You’re going to be criticized and push yourself to a point that breaks a lot of artists. Not to mention you’re going to have to apprentice and work your regular job to pay the bills (usually one to two years, could be longer). It will take a few years to get your name out there and pop the algorithm. If you can stomach all this, you can’t imagine how good it feels when you put a good piece on someone, and they walk out stoked about your art being on their body forever. It’s incomparable, and you’ll move from there.”
Ben Cohen / © Oxygen Network / Courtesy Everett Collection
—u/musiciankidd
3. “Sometimes the places are a bit *ahem* unconventional, and I’ll feel uncomfortable, so I’ll just get someone else to do it.”
—Lia from Arizona
4. “Tattooing is 100% one of those things you HAVE to want. You will resent the job and hate it if it’s just a last resort. It’s a good amount of dedication, but once you get to a point where you’re bringing in clientele and are your own business, it’s rewarding IMO. You’ll probably spend a lot of your free time drawing, but you also have complete control over your schedule, which is hard to come by for a full-time job that you expect to keep for the majority of your life.”
5. “Tasmanian devils and Yosemite Sam are my least favorite to do.”
6. “Draw all the time. Work on your fundamentals and fill up your sketchbook. As you move forward in your career, your drawing demand will increase and you’ll have less time to draw outside of your tattoos. Take advantage of the time you have now.”
7. “It takes a huge toll on your body. If you aren’t super passionate about the job it’ll get tiring fast.”
8. “Spend the money on a good quality machine. It makes a world of difference, and saves you a lot of frustration.”
9. “Take a stretch break every hour! You might think, oh I’m fresh and eager! I can tattoo for three or four hours straight without standing, eating, or drinking water, and maybe you can right now, but you really shouldn’t. If you want your tattoo career to be a long one, understand that it’s physically demanding, and make sure to take care of your body!”
10. “Charge based on supply and demand. I kept my prices super low for ages even though I was getting booked out. Raise your prices if you’re getting booked out. I feel like lots of us tattooers downplay making money but we all have to retire someday, and it would be cool if I could help pay for my kid’s college, etc. I’d also like to be able to retire before my tattoos suck because my hands are shaky.”
Tony Rivetti Jr. / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
—u/[deleted]
11. “If your main interest isn’t inherently drawing, tattooing isn’t for you. You’re marking people for life and you really need to love art to do tattoos worthy of that.”
12. “Tattooing is very fickle. When recessions hit, this is the first industry to get a slowdown. Some seasons, like winter, are always slow. And in some towns, additional seasons are also slow. I’m in a college town, so summer and winter are both slow. You have to aggressively save your money to be prepared for the slow season or have a backup plan for income. Tattooing is not a financially secure career, so keep that in mind when making your future plans!”
John Castillo / © Indomina Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection
—u/ekbellatrix
13. “When I apprenticed, the shop was next door to a Salvation Army food kitchen. The tattoo shop owner would have apprentices go to the kitchen to see if anyone wanted a free tattoo, that way we could graduate from practicing on fruit and pig skin to actual people. He didn’t make me do it, because I was a woman and some of the guys at the shelter were a little off, but my friend apprenticing at the same time did. He had to clean a volunteer’s armpits with green soap (the soap tattooers use to clean your skin before a tattoo). He smelled pretty ripe, but he got an awesome tattoo for free!”
—Amy from Florida
14. “Hard to sustain yourself while apprenticing? F—k yeah it is. Up to luck? I wouldn’t say so. It’s all about calibration. You have to figure out your style, find a market for it, and know how to market yourself. Luck will only make that process faster. Security is the LAST word that I would use to describe tattooing.”
15. “Pricing is determined by what kind of car you pull up in, how much I like you, and if I like your tattoo design. We don’t care why you’re getting your tattoo or what it means.”
16. “Don’t specialize too early. Doing a little of everything will help you perfect your technical skills. If you don’t have many tattooing weaknesses, you’ll be able to develop your style based on desire and not constrained by technical shortcomings.”
© Fox Searchlight / Courtesy Everett Collection
—u/[deleted]
17. “You can say no to clients. Whether it’s a style you’re not comfortable with, or a client has crossed boundaries with you, you’re allowed to tell people no.”
18. “When we advise you to reconsider a design, or flat out refuse to tattoo something on you, it’s nine times out of 10 to protect you, not just to be an asshole. I have many younger clients who come in requesting a crown, and I let them know I am uncomfortable tattooing that, as it is symbolic of a local gang. Most of the time they say, ‘Oh, I don’t care,’ but I do. I refuse to permanently mark your body with something that could get you or me hurt (or even worse).”
© Relativity Media / Courtesy Everett Collection
—Ina
