Why getting a tattoo is a lot like buying a car.
Okay, getting a tattoo is actually a lot better than getting a car, but stick with me through this post!
One thing people might not understand about tattoos is the price. More than once, I have been asked, “How much for a sleeve?” or “How much for this tattoo?” (With a picture off Pinterest) You might think this isn’t that wild of a question, especially when you are a tattoo artist and deal with tattoos daily. Let me explain why this is almost impossible to answer directly by observing a conversation between a customer and a car salesman.
Imagine you are in the market for a new car. You make your way to the car lot of your choice and ask this question of the first salesman you come to: “How much would it be to buy a car?”
The salesman looks at you stunned and says, “Well, that depends…”
You respond, “I just want to know how much it would be for a car.”
The salesman stands there perplexed, he asks “Well what kind of car would you like?”
You say, “Any car really, doesn’t matter, is it that difficult to give me a quote on a car?”
“It’s not that simple.” the salesman responds, “We have hundreds of cars on the lot. Big ones, small ones, trucks, vans, minivans, SUVs, and more. Not only that, but once you decide on which type of car, you then have to decide on the color, tires, and options you want added to the car. Each decision you make impacts the price of the vehicle.”
“Oh”, you respond, “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I guess there is more to this than I thought. Can we sit down and talk about this a little bit more and figure out what would work with our budget?”
“Of course!” the salesman says, “Follow me, let’s sit down and talk!”
Now, this may seem like a silly example, but let me explain….
There really is so much that goes into giving a quote for a tattoo. Here are some of the things that I have to consider:
How big is the design?
How complex is the design?
Will the design include shading?
Will the design include extensive linework?
Will the tattoo be black and grey only, or will it include colors?
If color, how many colors will it include?
Where on the body will the tattoo be?
What is the texture and consistency of the client’s skin?
Will this tattoo take more than one session?
How many hours will I need to dedicate to preparing this design before the appointment?
How many different-sized needles will I need to use while tattooing this design?
How many supplies will be used up during this session?
How long will this tattoo take me to complete?
Will I be able to get any other clients in on this day, or will this take all my time?
How is my client’s pain tolerance, and will they sit well or need to take breaks?
Will this client change the design on the day of the appointment?
What add-ons or changes to the design will be made at the appointment?
How much consultation will I need to give for this tattoo?
Will this client need more supplies for aftercare than I normally provide?
Will I need to provide post-appointment aftercare help?
How much time have I spent and will I spend communicating with the client?
What is my client’s tattoo budget, and what must I do to make that work?
Not to mention the cost of rent, insurance, utilities, and basic business overhead.
These are just some of the things I have to consider when I am giving a quote for a tattoo.
Now imagine that I have to quote a sleeve.
My arm sleeve is made up of 14 individual tattoos.
Imagine having to consider all of the above questions multiplied by 14 tattoos (that you don’t know any details about). If you can appreciate where I am coming from, it is almost impossible to quote a sleeve.
Like the car salesman, 100 questions must be answered before a clear price can be given. Do you want powered windows? A nice Bluetooth radio with a screen? Heated seats? Remote Start? Many questions need to be answered before a price can be given. Sometimes it can be easier to start with your budget first, so you can get an idea of what is available in your price range.
Getting a clearer picture of how much your tattoo will cost.
If you have read my previous posts, I am sure you can guess where I am headed. The best way to know how much your tattoo will cost is to schedule a consultation with your tattoo artist. Your artist can help you plan out a single tattoo or tattoo sleeve with you, and trust me, there is nothing more exciting for a tattoo artist than to start with a blank canvas and plan out how to cover it. Know that you will still not get a rock-solid price for an entire sleeve, but your artist might be able to give you a better idea of how much each tattoo will cost as you go.
