Minors and procedures
Allen county law requires that all clients under the age of 18 be accompanied by the parent or legal gaurdian
at the time of the procedure. BOTH parties must provide 2 forms of I.D. For the minor we would need a photo I.D. with their name which can include the following:
state issued driver's license
state issued photo I.D.
Military issued photo I.D.
school issued photo I.D.
we would also need a secondary I.D. for the minor which can include the following:
birth certificate
social security card
Insurance card
temporary driver's permit
current yearbook with photo
some report cards
Remember, this protects ALL parties involved and helps maintain a legal and safe body art practice!
we would also need a secondary I.D. for the minor which can include the following:
Remember, this protects ALL parties involved and helps maintain a legal and safe body art practice!
TATTOO ETTIQUETTE
BEFORE COMING IN…
Have an idea
*You need to have some idea about what you want to get.
*Be creative. Face it…armbands suck! Don’t be trendy. It’s your body. Put some real art on it! If you are going to a custom shop they may or may not have any flash (pictures) on the walls to choose from but they will be able to draw you anything you could desire.
Do some research
Like they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” If you can, bring in some kind of reference to show the artist. You can’t bring too much. Your artist will take that reference and turn it into a tattoo-able image. Not all types of art can effectively be reproduced as tattoos. Some can, but may require a certain size. It is often wise to familiarize oneself with other tattoos to see what sizes they are and how much detail they have in them.
*If you want to get words tattooed then do your home work and bring exactly what you want. Spelling and grammar are up to you! That includes foreign languages. Some studios have basic Chinese or Japanese kanji, but the accuracy of translation can be difficult from languages that are based on ideograms and not phonetic spelling. Research!
*Portraits of people and animals are strictly a reproductive job. There is nothing to “draw”. The image is simply duplicated. So the larger the picture, the more detail it has. A wallet-sized photo cannot be reproduced as a full size tattoo portrait.
You should also do some research on the artist and/or shops in your area
*Can they execute the preferred style of tattooing?
*Do they like doing that style?
*How much experience does the artist have?
*Have you seen their work before?
If you are open to style ideas, or are unsure about what you want…talk to an artist! A good tattoo artist would refer you to someone else if they feel another artist could do it better.
COMING TO THE SHOP
Plan to have a consultation first.
*It is best to schedule a consultation. “Walking in” does not always guarantee that someone will have time to talk about your idea.
*Have your reference with you.
*Meet your potential artist.
*Discuss image ideas and plan to book an appointment for a later date.
*Feel free to ask questions about safety precautions and sterilization techniques.
*Be clear about your goals. Are you wanting to be tattooed A.S.A.P.? Or are you only gathering information? This aids the communication process and helps the artist prioritize jobs. A client who only wants to see a potential image as a sketch may come after one who wants a tattoo.
*Listen to what your artist says about size, placement and other important factors of the tattoo.
They are professionals!!! You wouldn’t tell your doctor or plumber how to do their jobs, so please respect what your artist has to say. One of the biggest problems we see with clients is regarding the size of the tattoo. Small tattoos are not better. They age poorly and do not allow for color or detail. If you get a tiny tattoo or a tattoo of the correct size, you are still going to have a tattoo. It might as well look good forever.
GETTING TATTOOED
Be ready for your appointment
That means:
*Be on time.
*Make sure you’ve had something to eat within the last 4 hours.
*Bring your ID. (No matter how old you are.)
*Be sure you have the correct form of payment.
*…and leave your “posse” at home. (You do not need an entourage to get tattooed. You can bring someone with you. Just don’t bring everyone.)
*Skip the play by play – your tattoo artist knows what getting tattooed feels like. They don’t need a moment by moment update on how it feels. Pain management is worth learning about. Discussing sensation only brings attention to it.
*However, DO NOT hesitate to say something if you begin to feel dizzy, nauseated or suddenly feel hot or cold.
Payment and Pricing
At this point you have probably discussed price with your artist. Generally speaking - the better artist- the more expensive the tattoo will be. It’s kind of like buying a car. Do you want a car that cost $3,000 or one that cost $30,000? If someone sells their art cheap, it means they think their art is worth little. If an artist is too expensive for your budget, save your money! Who really wants a “bargain” tattoo on them forever?
