RNK
12th May 2006, 04:36
Thought I'd post this, as it falls under art... sorta.
Here's a few pointers about getting tattoos... first of all, 90% of the time you will be ripped off. Either you will be overcharged terribly by an artist, or you wil be overcharged terribly by an artist who does absolutely jack-shit work. When you go to the tattoo parlour, look around, see what kind of work they have available; if they have only a couple dozen selections, walk out. If the shop also does piercings, walk out -- it means they don't make enough business doing tattoos (because they suck) and they have to do piercings too. Ask to see artists portfolios. It may piss them off, but if they don't have one, walk out. Ask about the tattoo shop's history; how long it's been in business, etc. If possible research the shop as some shop owners will lie. If the guy looks under 25, ask him about how long he's been tattooing, ask him how good he is, etc. Try and look at the tattoos on the artists in the shop, to see if they're any good or they're garbage. If the place doesn't smell clean, walk out. If it looks cheap and dark and dreary it probably is, walk out. Ask to see the artist prepare. Ask if he re-uses needles -- if he does, walk out, even if he says they are "sterilized" -- artists should never re-use a needle in any circumstance (they cost like 50 cents each, if they're re-using, they're dirt-cheap). Make sure everything is either sterilized or covered in a plastic bag, even the tattoo machine, the tattoo machine wires, the bottle of soap, etc. Make sure he wears rubber gloves. Make sure he puts a stencil of the tattoo on first -- don't let some guy do it by eye. After he puts the stencil on, check it closely -- don't be afraid to ask him to change if it isn't right -- it may piss him off, but fuck him, tattoos are permanent and you don't want a permanent crooked tattoo. If possible, watch him tattoo. A good tattoo will look like almost normal skin, just coloured. If while being tattooed you can see that your skin texture is changing, it means he's chewing you up and you'll have a scar -- ask him to stop and ask him about it.
After you get your tattoo, wait 2-3 weeks and then go visit other tattoo shops. Show other artists the work you got done, to get their opinions on it. Most artists will immediately say "oh that's garbage". If an artist actually picks out specific problems with it, then that means it probably does have problems. If an artist simply asks how much you paid, it means the tattoo is good (but you may have been ripped off). But don't worry. Being ripped off is better than getting a shitty tattoo. Probably 3/4ths of the people that come into the shop I work at have gotten shitty tattoos at other shops, and also got ripped off and paid let's say $100 for a $50 tattoo. Now, not only have they paid $100 but they'll have to pay another $100 more to get it re-touched at another shop. Use the tips I've given you, hunt out good artists -- do NOT get an impulse tattoo because you happen to walk by a tattoo shop with your friends on a Saturday and decide on the fly to get one -- and you should be fine.
And don't worry about being tattooed by someone who hates Communism. Artists will rarely "agree" with a tattoo someone wants but they'll do their absolute best to make it look good, as they take pride in their art and won't have a shitty piece of theirs walking around reguardless of if they actually like the theme or not.
I posted this as I have for the past couple of months been apprenticing as a tattoo artist in my Uncle's shop here in Montreal. Currently I'm only doing small-ish things of low detail, but the other three who work there (including my uncle) have years of experience (my uncle has been doing it for 35 years). Recently a Russian kid came in for a touch-up on his Hammer & Sickle (a nice big one on his back shoulder) and it got me thinking about Communist and Revolutionary Tattoos. If anyone who lives in the Montreal area is interested and has access to downtown, send me a PM. I don't want to advertise the shop name and location in the open for obvious reasons.
Here's a few pointers about getting tattoos... first of all, 90% of the time you will be ripped off. Either you will be overcharged terribly by an artist, or you wil be overcharged terribly by an artist who does absolutely jack-shit work. When you go to the tattoo parlour, look around, see what kind of work they have available; if they have only a couple dozen selections, walk out. If the shop also does piercings, walk out -- it means they don't make enough business doing tattoos (because they suck) and they have to do piercings too. Ask to see artists portfolios. It may piss them off, but if they don't have one, walk out. Ask about the tattoo shop's history; how long it's been in business, etc. If possible research the shop as some shop owners will lie. If the guy looks under 25, ask him about how long he's been tattooing, ask him how good he is, etc. Try and look at the tattoos on the artists in the shop, to see if they're any good or they're garbage. If the place doesn't smell clean, walk out. If it looks cheap and dark and dreary it probably is, walk out. Ask to see the artist prepare. Ask if he re-uses needles -- if he does, walk out, even if he says they are "sterilized" -- artists should never re-use a needle in any circumstance (they cost like 50 cents each, if they're re-using, they're dirt-cheap). Make sure everything is either sterilized or covered in a plastic bag, even the tattoo machine, the tattoo machine wires, the bottle of soap, etc. Make sure he wears rubber gloves. Make sure he puts a stencil of the tattoo on first -- don't let some guy do it by eye. After he puts the stencil on, check it closely -- don't be afraid to ask him to change if it isn't right -- it may piss him off, but fuck him, tattoos are permanent and you don't want a permanent crooked tattoo. If possible, watch him tattoo. A good tattoo will look like almost normal skin, just coloured. If while being tattooed you can see that your skin texture is changing, it means he's chewing you up and you'll have a scar -- ask him to stop and ask him about it.
After you get your tattoo, wait 2-3 weeks and then go visit other tattoo shops. Show other artists the work you got done, to get their opinions on it. Most artists will immediately say "oh that's garbage". If an artist actually picks out specific problems with it, then that means it probably does have problems. If an artist simply asks how much you paid, it means the tattoo is good (but you may have been ripped off). But don't worry. Being ripped off is better than getting a shitty tattoo. Probably 3/4ths of the people that come into the shop I work at have gotten shitty tattoos at other shops, and also got ripped off and paid let's say $100 for a $50 tattoo. Now, not only have they paid $100 but they'll have to pay another $100 more to get it re-touched at another shop. Use the tips I've given you, hunt out good artists -- do NOT get an impulse tattoo because you happen to walk by a tattoo shop with your friends on a Saturday and decide on the fly to get one -- and you should be fine.
And don't worry about being tattooed by someone who hates Communism. Artists will rarely "agree" with a tattoo someone wants but they'll do their absolute best to make it look good, as they take pride in their art and won't have a shitty piece of theirs walking around reguardless of if they actually like the theme or not.
I posted this as I have for the past couple of months been apprenticing as a tattoo artist in my Uncle's shop here in Montreal. Currently I'm only doing small-ish things of low detail, but the other three who work there (including my uncle) have years of experience (my uncle has been doing it for 35 years). Recently a Russian kid came in for a touch-up on his Hammer & Sickle (a nice big one on his back shoulder) and it got me thinking about Communist and Revolutionary Tattoos. If anyone who lives in the Montreal area is interested and has access to downtown, send me a PM. I don't want to advertise the shop name and location in the open for obvious reasons.