“ I’ve received a quote from an artist and it’s more than I expected - what should I do? ”
If you’re new to being tattooed you might not know what to expect when it comes to quotes for your design idea and so you could end up shocked by what your artist comes back with. We’re here to help you navigate the etiquette around quotes and pricing with your artist and answer some frequently asked questions!
DON’T ASK FOR IT CHEAPER
Haggling the cost of your tattoo is disrespectful. What this says to your artist is that you don’t think their art is worth the investment. There are ways to communicate if something is out of your budget - but this isn’t it.
LET YOUR ARTIST KNOW YOUR BUDGET BEFOREHAND
It is completely understandable if you have a specific budget in mind for a tattoo - especially in the current economic climate. If this is the case - let your artist know in your initial requests. This means they have the chance to work with you to design something that fits your budget, or they can let you know if they’re the right fit for your project before too much time has been spent going back and forth on the design.
The economic climate is also making it hard for tattoo artists at the moment as most people aren’t prioritising getting tattooed - so it’s a high chance they’ll be happy to work with you to come up with something that keeps you both happy! As long as you’re upfront and respectful when discussing your request, it’s always worth asking if they’re able to work within your budget. It may mean compromising on size or the level of detail but can still mean you get to work with the artist you want to.
MINIMUM CHARGES
Most artists or studios will have a minimum charge. This is the lowest price you’ll be quoted - no matter how small the tattoo might be. Minimum charges are used to ensure the artist is able to cover the cost of any supplies used. Even if you’re only getting a small dot, your artist will still need to use a needle, ink and other disposable supplies - all things that cost money.
DEPOSITS
Deposits are required to secure your appointment and are usually non-refundable. If you can’t afford to pay a deposit - hold off on booking until you are able to. Deposits should be paid as soon as possible to ensure your slot is booked and to avoid your artist holding a date for you that you never end up confirming.
Deposits also give an artist security in case you end up cancelling your appointment last minute or not showing up altogether. When this happens, your artist loses out on a day's work and because they’re self employed they don’t get paid if you don’t show up. For more information on Cancellations and Reschedules you can read our last blog post HERE.
BY HOUR OR BY PIECE
Tattoo artists will usually charge by piece or by hour. By hour, they’ll have a set rate and the final cost of your tattoo will then depend on how long the tattoo takes. By piece, means your artist will decide a set rate for that individual tattoo. Sometimes you might be given a range of prices - if this is the case you should always budget for it to be the higher end of that range.
DAY RATES
For larger pieces you might be given an artist’s day rate. This is the amount required to set aside an entire work day with your artist and is usually a flat rate. More than one full day may be quoted for you if you’re booking in larger projects such as sleeves or back pieces. Some artists might also quote you a full day if you’re planning to get lots of tattoos in the same appointment.
