tiping you artist

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mbtileguy64
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:39 pm

what is a good tip for 150.00 tattoo ? i dont want to over tip what is the going rate? 20% ?
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dreamer5
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:55 pm

i think this has been covered a dozen times or more......as far as "tiping" your artist, do what feels right.....if you get a piece that you love, why would you be worried about over tipping?? :roll:
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CxCx
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:56 pm

really depends. On a $150 tattoo? Most of the time, the client in question will hand me $160 and just say keep it. On occassion they'll hand me $180 and say the same, but that's not so often. I'd say a $10-$20 tip for a $150 piece would be fine.
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Aivanne
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:17 pm

from 0 to 150.

see when i price stuff i kinda feel the person. i know the tippers. so i quote less.
mbtileguy64
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:51 pm

thanks
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suzridesahog
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:08 pm

I'm kinda new to this forum, so I haven't seen this question yet.
I don't know what the industry standard is, but I have tipped with cash and sometimes I also bring a present. Last time I gave my artist the really cool hoodie sweatshirt. I have also brought in donuts for the shop if I am the first appointment of the day.
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imnotatfault
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:40 pm

suzridesahog wrote:I'm kinda new to this forum, so I haven't seen this question yet.
I don't know what the industry standard is, but I have tipped with cash and sometimes I also bring a present. Last time I gave my artist the really cool hoodie sweatshirt. I have also brought in donuts for the shop if I am the first appointment of the day.
That's what I try to do. I get Paul horror reference books and also got him a subscription to Netflix so he can get all those random J-Horror b-movies, etc.

Got Gunn a nice ass Timbuk2 bag cause his traveling bag looked pretty ragged.

Instead of a $100 tip, every time Paul gets movies in the mail or Gunn packs up his bag to travel, they'll say, "That Michael sure can pick out a good gift." and when I call, I get treated just a bit nicer. And I feel much better karmically.
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irateirish
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Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:57 pm

Your not buying a manufactured product so the tip is going to be different depending on not only the art work, but the whole experience. Not many people actually suffer from over tipping and it doesn't sound like you need to worry either. :oops:
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MattCrunk
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:45 am

A $10 or $20 is the most common tip for the "average" tattoo. For large custom work or multi-sitting pieces, anything from a small meaningful gift to an extra hundred or two is cool.

Basically, you tip what YOU feel is fair. Your artist will appreciate the gesture, whatever it is.

Just don't leave an obviously lousy tip - like anything under $5. That'd probably be taken as an insult - like leaving your waitress a few pennies underneath an inverted glass of water.
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Aivanne
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 5:34 am

MattCrunk wrote: Just don't leave an obviously lousy tip - like anything under $5. That'd probably be taken as an insult - like leaving your waitress a few pennies underneath an inverted glass of water.
hahaha got 3 bucks in change the other so i could "drink a beer"

it made me laugh more than it offended me.
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yorvo
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:04 am

Aivanne wrote:from 0 to 150.

see when i price stuff i kinda feel the person. i know the tippers. so i quote less.


My mentor taught me that trick. Quote a tipper a hundred bucks. When the tattoo's done charge them $80. You won't have to split the extra twenty with the shop. Of course now that he's an owner he frowns upon it.
BostonJoeHamilton
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:35 pm

Around 10 -30% is great ..Anything more can get the artst in trouble ,lol,,,yeah seems wierd rite ...But I got a chewin once cause a guy tipped me like 55 % ,,the NON INDDUSTRY OWNER thought I must have worked a DEAL with the guy..........
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MattCrunk
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:22 pm

BostonJoeHamilton wrote:Around 10 -30% is great ..Anything more can get the artst in trouble ,lol,,,yeah seems wierd rite ...But I got a chewin once cause a guy tipped me like 55 % ,,the NON INDDUSTRY OWNER thought I must have worked a DEAL with the guy..........
That's the problem with non-industry owners. I don't know why anyone would work for them.

If you're gonna work for someone who doesn't know tattooing, so you're not gonna benefit from his knowledge or reputation, why not just open your own shop?
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hgiles
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:28 pm

Image
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Fire_Thief
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Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:33 pm

You shouldnt bring in donuts, the artists shouldnt be eating in the shop. Thats unsanitary.
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