So you’re going to get a tattoo! You’re excited, and your artist is excited to see your finished piece. But how much should you tip?
Tattoo artists are like any other creative professionals: they deserve their fair share of the profit (and in some cases, a percentage of the cost). But how much? Well, that depends on what kind of artist you’re getting inked by.
Some tattoo artists charge by the hour, so they make more money when they work faster or more efficiently. Others charge by the number of hours spent drawing out each tattoo—so if you take longer than an hour, your artist will make less money.
Keep in mind that if your artist is charging by the hour, he/she may also have an assistant who came along for the ride and helped create your design; this person should be tipped as well.
When you’re getting a new tattoo, you may be wondering how much to tip your artist.
It’s a good question—and the answer is: it depends!
How much should you tip your tattoo artist? It may seem hard to estimate an amount to give, but there are a number of factors that should be considered when tipping.
Tipping your tattoo artist is a great way to show your appreciation for the work they’ve done. It allows them to continue making art and supporting themselves as well as their families, so it’s important to be generous when tipping.
When should you tip your tattoo artist? You should tip your tattoo artist at the end of their session, just before they pack up and leave. This is a great time to thank them for their work and also let them know how much you appreciate what they’ve done. If you have any questions about their work or want to discuss changes that need to be made, this is a good time as well.
How much should you tip your tattoo artist? When it comes to tipping, there are no hard and fast rules. If the artist did a great job and you have the means, then a generous tip is always appreciated. Some people will only tip if they’re satisfied with their tattoo; others feel that they need to give something even if they don’t like how it came out.
Some people don’t tip at all. It can be a bit confusing to know exactly what is expected, but here are some general guidelines:
- It’s customary to tip 15 to 20 percent of the total price. A good rule of thumb is to tip at least 20 percent.
- How much you tip depends on the quality of the tattoo.
- Tip in cash instead of including it on your credit card payment.
- Consider splitting up your tip among the staff members.
- Apprentices work long hours, typically in a very low-paying position, and they are often discouraged from tattooing much while they are learning.
- If the artist has won an award or is highly acclaimed or respected in the tattoo world, it’s even more important to show your appreciation with a generous tip.
- Some artists will give you gift certificates or other discounts on your next tattoo if you refer someone who then books a session.
- Do they give you any extra care? If they clean up after themselves and make sure that your skin is looked after before they start working on you, then go ahead and bump up your tip a little bit.
- Did they have time for conversation? This can make or break the relationship between you and your artist. If there’s no time for conversation before work begins (which usually means there’s going to be a lot of work!), then make sure that when you leave satisfied with what was accomplished during your visit to the shop, you leave something extra in appreciation of all their hard work!
- The tattoo artist can be a significant part of your life, and you may want to show appreciation for your good experience.
If you don’t tip your tattoo artist, they’ll probably just be sad.
But… not you! You’re a good person, and you deserve to be rewarded for your kindness. So if you haven’t tipped yet, here’s what you can do:
1) Make sure that they’ve done an exceptional job on your tattoo. If it doesn’t look like they’ve put their heart and soul into it, then don’t give them any money—just tell them how much you appreciate what they did for you (and maybe add in some compliments). You might even want to take a picture of the finished product before leaving so that you can show them later on!
2) Ask them if there’s anything else that needs doing before leaving. Some artists will work on something extra for free (like adding a flower or drawing something else) just because they know how much time and effort it takes to create something beautiful.
3) Tell them that this was your first time getting a tattoo, so let them know what kind of questions you had about the process. They might have some tips or advice that could help make sure everything goes smoothly next time around!
