Tattoo Forum with Gallery: ask your tattoo questions, upload your own tattoo pictures or rate and comment other member’s tattoos!

mommabird · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:05 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum!

Nice design, but there's no way we can give you a cost online. Many factors go into the pricing of your tattoo. First, it would make a difference on how large you plan to make it, and where you plan to put it. It will also matter what country you are in, what city you are in, and in some cases, even what part of town you are in. Most importantly, two artists in the same area might charge drastically different, so your choice of artist is the biggest factor.

Your best bet is to look through profiles of artists in your area (many are posted on-line now) and find a couple that you like the quality and style. Then go visit each one and see which one suits you. Make sure they are using proper sterilization, etc, as well. They can give you a price when you talk to them.

Just remember, I wouldn't recommend going for the cheapest price - you often get what you pay for. I think it's worth more money to be pleased with what you get as it will be on you for the rest of your life.

Good luck!

devilduckie523 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

I agree with mommabird your best bet is to pick your artist and have them give you an idea Very Happy

Good Luck with it

Jamie · Tattoo lover Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 44

ok,...you haven't got the answers you want probably so i'll give it a shot.
Like the others said,...it's almost impossible to say for sure,..so i can only tell you what I would charge. I don't know why so many artist are afraid to even make close guesstimates Laughing

if it was 3" x 3" i'd be thinking $60-75

if it was about 4" x 4" like for an upper arm I'd be around $100 u.s

if it was say 6" x 6" like for a shoulder or chest/breast,..I'd be around $150

bigger like around 8" x 8" you'll be $200 or better.

like I say,..VERY hard to say on the internet,....but at first glance,..a simple 2 -dimensional tat,,,only 2 colors,.......I think I'd be pretty close in line with most shops.

devilduckie523 · Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:32 am Post subject:

And to give you an idea..here in Pa most of the shops I know of and have gone to charge flat rates usually $100-$300/hr...but I also live close to NYC

rickenbacker13 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject:

Depending on how big you get it, it could be anywhere from 80 to 200 max. That one looks like a pretty simple design; I wouldn't expect it to run too high.

But remember: "A good tattoo isn't cheap, and a cheap tattoo isn't good."

mommabird · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

[quote="rickenbacker13"]"A good tattoo isn't cheap, and a cheap tattoo isn't good."[/quote]

Good saying - will have to tuck that one away for the future!

rickenbacker13 · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

[quote="mommabird"]

Good saying - will have to tuck that one away for the future![/quote]

I know isn't that a good one? It was on a sign at the place I got my first tattoo.

yorvo · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

There's also...

The thrill of a good deal doesn't last as long as a bad tattoo.

mommabird · Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:35 pm Post subject:

[quote="yorvo"]The thrill of a good deal doesn't last as long as a bad tattoo.[/quote]

Ha! Like that one, too!

devilduckie523 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

There both really good sayings lol people should listen to them more Very Happy

Jamie · Tattoo lover Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 44

oh please man gimme a break,..ya'll sound like if you miss out from gouging somebody for a few extra bucks,....it's gonna be the end of the world Laughing

no matter WHAT I charge someone,..I'm still gonna give them the best tat I possibly can. It's not like an artist is thinking,..hmm,...I'm gonna charge this person less,..therefore,..I will do a crappy job.

ya'll sound like a buncha whiney asses trying to justify some outrageous prices.......... Laughing

Jamie · Tattoo lover Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 44

look,..the way I see it,......

I got into tattooing because I was fed up with artists not answering my questions,..and didn't want to share any knowledge whatsoever about how to get started ,..pricing,..what's involved,...etc. So I contacted a friend who runs a shop and got him to train me.

Artists always try to make it sound like NO ONE should EVER attempt to be a tattoo artist! it's too dangerous,,,and complicated,...and there's all kinds of secrets about it,...and you're just not smart enough to be able to understand how to do it..........well i call B.S.

with some time,..and someone to show you how to get started,....and a little bit of knowledge,.....anyone can get the proper training,..and certification,....and become an artist.

When someone asks for an approximate price,...if you've been doing this for awhile,..you SHOULD be able to give them a pretty good idea. Telling them,.."oh,..that depends,..or oh..I don't know,..or well lets see how many colors it is"...all that is just B.S for lack of knowledge.

find out what the design is,....and how big it is,..and where it will be located,...and if you're an artist,..you should be able to tell them,...IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.

the only reason things are like they are in the tat community,...is because other artists don't want the competition.....whether or not you like hearing that,..it's the truth.

I don't depend on tattooing for my sole income,...so it doesn't make a bit of difference to me. I'll help somebody in any way possible I can when it comes to getting a tat.

I just think it's pathetic little inscure miami-ink wannabees give people the run around when they ask a simple question.

This ain't directed to anybody in particular in here,..it's just my observations.

that's some of the DUMMEST crap I've ever heard "a good tattoo isn't cheap and a cheap tattoo isn't good" ,..OMG ya'll sound like kindergardeners....

I've done some of my best work on friends,..FOR FREE! just because they were a friend. So am I to assume that as an artist,..you can consciously make a decision to do poor quality work?

I have the funny feeling it's mostly teenagers,..or children in here that won't understand a word of what I just typed.

Ed Sr · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:29 pm Post subject:

Hi Jamie,
I have to give you three cheers for most of what you said.
You are right when you say how no one should ever attempt to be an artist unless you have been apprenticed for so many years and spent thousands of dollars and wiped the dog crap off their feet etc etc etc.

You are also absolutely right about the competition thing too. But not ALL artists are like that. Heres my take for whatever its worth...

The tattoo world WAS no matter what anyone says part of a very closed society and in part I believe because it was looked down upon for so very long. So the ones that really loved the art and those that thought it was good to be part of the bad boy society built up this mysterious closed society of tattooing. You had to be accepted but not just for your talent. There have been a lot of people trained that way and naturally brainwashed into the same way of thinking. There are unfortunately also many of the "Bad Boys" also that just get a head trip out of being the powerful all knowing wizard of Ink.

Here is my experince....
I ALWAYS have been interested in art and drawing and painting and received awards in my elementry school days. But life takes you in different directions and not being a family with money I had to go to work. You have to survive and put your heart asside in life.

Years later as life slowed down, the kids had grown and money and time became a little more available things changed. My oldest son actually was apprenticing as a tattoo artist. Seeing my son, who also was a very good artist on paper, was following what he loved, I decided to also start down this road as I had ALWAYS loved peoples tattoos especially as a means of self expression. I had him show me every single step that he had ben taught, the drawing exercises and equpment knowledge, I read books and spent hours looking at tattoo art and technique, went to shows and watched the artists and talked with them and watched evry step of the process as I was getting inked.

I took my wife aside and told her I wanted to take our savings and open a studio. Not licensed I didnt care I wanted to be part of it knowing I would be an artist. 15 thousand dollars I took and opened our studio. I advertised for an artist with the stipulation that I wanted to continue my education as an artist.

An artist that actually had tattooed me years prior answered my ad.
Unfortunately I never did a background check on this person who will remain nameless as I was so excited my better judgement was clouded by the dream that was coming true.

I idolized this guy and watched and learned and listened but there was someone that had said to me be very careful in whom you trust.

I noticed a change starting to take place in him. At times he seemed happy and full of life then he would come in and be like he just was about to pass out all the time. There were quiet conversations in his booth and no tattooing would happen. You get the picture here.

I confronted him as this was a studio I wanted in todays light. Safe and open to all someplace ANYONE could come in and feel comfortable. Thats when the change started. He started with the .... you arent good enough to be an artist, your drawings are Sh*t, and I laugh when you say Miami Ink Wannabies because he kept saying Yoji could never get away with this or that or what do you think they would do to Yoji etc etc.

I told him I didnt give a flying you know what about Yoji that this was real life. He started insulting me and my boys and my wife and THIS WAS MY STUDIO! Finally I had enough and told him that I wanted him to leave that we could not work together. Thats when the threats started and the leaving of threatening letters at my home and following us into stores for humiliation sake. We went to the police and had him removed under the assistance of the police.

After wards we found hi criminal record and it was a mile long with drug arrestes and violence arrests and restraining orders etc.

He and his girlfriend blasted lies all over the internet and around town on boards like this and even false calls to the board of health Which they dismissed because they dont have the balls to give their real names trying to destroy me because who was I to fire HIM the "tattoo artist" that was part of the old tattoo way.

Well I closed my studio and we moved. We have been back open again for several months not a lot of hours a week but doing well as I have people that come in from seeing what I have done on people to get their ink from me and many say they will ONLY get their ink from me. I wont say here where it is because he and his girlfriend STILL to this day try to make my name bad. Many other artists have seen my work and say I am a good artist. No not GREAT and maybe never will but I keep working towards it.

Now I will say that apprenticeships are definately worth their weight in gold providing they are with an artist that truly wants to teach. But you are right thats not the only way but you HAVE to have talent too.

Three cheers to you for sticking to your passion.

Jamie · Tattoo lover Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 44

lol,..Ed Sr,...glad somebody "got it"

if there was ever a business where you get what you pay for DOES NOT APPLY,...it's the tattoo market.

If seen some dinky little shops do amazing work for really low prices.

and I've seen some mediocre artist charge an arm and a leg,..because they had to pay for their post ultra-modern beachfront boutique. Laughing

I guess if people don't know,..then it's their own ignorance that'll get the best of them Wink