Tipping the Tattoo Artist

I have a few ideas for tattoos, so it's time to discuss prices with studios. I want to include the tip in my budget, so about how much should I figure in? I have NO IDEA what makes a "good tip".

For reference, my first piece will probably be something small (3x3"-ish) on my shoulder blade.

Thanks!

i always give 20 or 30$ more

everytime i go to the shop, even if it's just for a touch up, i give a 20.

Cool question!!
I wasn't sure if tipping was done to tattoo artists. I was thinking about giving the guy who just did a piece for me a book on Hot Rods( the guy's a big fan) as a thank you. Probably still will but I'll make sure I slip him some cash too.

Wait a minute... So, you go to this person and BOTH OF YOU agree on a price to apply some art to your skin. Then after the artist gets done, you give him or her extra money on top of what you already BOTH agreed was fair? I must be missing somehting here, cause that sounds strange to me.
I'm working on getting some major work done, and I never even dreamed that I should tip the artist, so please, explain to me why this would be done.


BTW, my artist has agreed to do a piece that will cover most of my back for $80 an hour, which I am told is quite cheap.

[Edited on May 01, 2004 by ViolenceJack]

My piercer and tattoo artist are incredible and have given me some really good discounts on stuff so I figure I will at least pay them what I would have paid anywhere else. Then we both feel good because he gave me a deal and I gave him a tip.

$20 is the universal standard, unless what you are getting is over, i'd say, $400 or $500, at which point i'd give him $30 or $40

I tip 20% on top of the agreed upon price.
I've even given tickets to shows with that tip also.
My guy is cool with me,so I try to hook him up even when I'm not getting stuff done!

I wasn't sure what to tip so I tipped $60 for my tattoo.

That is pretty good...my work was 100 an hour. I normally tip 20, but if the work was 400 or more I always tipped 30 and up.

~MG

Even a small tip of five dollars is usually appreciated by them!

Something fun to think about is if you know the artist personally and know what kind of stuff they are into - you could buy them something personal (like a dvd they want but haven't bought yet, or a comic, etc).

That being said, the smallest amount I paid at one time for a tip was probably $10.
The biggest amount paid at one time for a tip was $150.

I am sure the Hot Rod book would be appreciated by your artist.
Thoughful gifts are the best!

It's go t to depend on whether you think you got a god deal. 10% unless they totally are the best.

Thanks, everyone!

shit....I didn't tip my guy...but it only took him a few minutes...and i didn't have any extra cash i don't have a lot of tats. i didn't even think of tipping.

Even though I don't have many tattoos -- that's something I wouldn't mind spending money on, and giving a tip to an artist for a job well done.

Its going to be with you for the rest of your life -- I'd rather spend the extra money and make sure that its a really nice piece of work, rather than have a piece that's not as good as i would have liked because I didn't want to spend the extra money.

Well, thank you sorcha for bringing this up, as I would have been clueless otherwise.

I pay $20-$40 depending on the size... At the same time, if they put in the extra mile for something that will be on me forever, I'm absolutely going to throw in a few bucks more.

Piercers/tattoo artists are doing things that mark your body permanently, I am sure as hell gonna give em a tip when they do a good job and I don't come out looking like a freak

ya I never thought of it..I feel like an ass now for not tipping my guy...and he moved away
next time

you are talking about having an artist put something permanent on your body,
without fucking it up on the first try..........if they do a good job, tip them what you think it's worth. plus if you tip em good, and you get more work done, they will most likely remember you......

a handjob

does it depend on whether they own their own shop or not? it seems like it's pointless to tip the owner, as the full fee is going straight to them.. if they're an employee, that's a different story.

I gave him $20, handed out his business card, and bought him a pepsi.