A Close Call! And Trust the Gut...
Maybe I didn't handle this in the most responsible way...but I know I made the right decision in the end.
I've been working on a new tattoo. I went to a new shop and talked for a bit with one of the artists. I had a general idea of what I wanted, and a few rough sketches of the main feature of the piece. This was a Thursday right before the week of the 4th of July holiday.
He said that because next week was a holiday that he would call me the following week to come in and look at what he came up with.
That week came and went, and so did the next week. I called the shop on the following Monday and left a message with the receptionist.
Friday I called back again (because he hadn't returned my call). I actually spoke to him this time and he said that he was done and that I should come check out the rough draft on Monday.
So I did. And talk about a rough draft... It looked pretty bad, but I assumed he would polish it up, and went ahead and made the appointment.
I show up for my appointment, sign the paperwork, and sit down in the chair. He applies the outline, and it's the same damn rough draft that I saw on Monday! He obviously hadn't done a damn thing with it!
So I'm sitting there looking at this shitty outline, and my mind starts talking to me. "Don't do it Scott". "This is a TATTOO Scott". "It will be on you FOREVER Scott". "It looks shitty Scott". "This guy's a hack - you need to do something Scott".
I am such a chicken shit when it comes to conflict. I avoid it at all costs. I did not want to tell this guy that his work sucked, but I could not let him ink that on me.
He went around the corner to get some more supplies, so I seized the opportunity, jumped out of the chair and high-tailed it outta there.
I half expected a phone call or something, but I think he knows he half-assed the whole project and doesn't even want to go there.
Moral of the story? ASK QUESTIONS and trust your gut feeling.
I've been working on a new tattoo. I went to a new shop and talked for a bit with one of the artists. I had a general idea of what I wanted, and a few rough sketches of the main feature of the piece. This was a Thursday right before the week of the 4th of July holiday.
He said that because next week was a holiday that he would call me the following week to come in and look at what he came up with.
That week came and went, and so did the next week. I called the shop on the following Monday and left a message with the receptionist.
Friday I called back again (because he hadn't returned my call). I actually spoke to him this time and he said that he was done and that I should come check out the rough draft on Monday.
So I did. And talk about a rough draft... It looked pretty bad, but I assumed he would polish it up, and went ahead and made the appointment.
I show up for my appointment, sign the paperwork, and sit down in the chair. He applies the outline, and it's the same damn rough draft that I saw on Monday! He obviously hadn't done a damn thing with it!
So I'm sitting there looking at this shitty outline, and my mind starts talking to me. "Don't do it Scott". "This is a TATTOO Scott". "It will be on you FOREVER Scott". "It looks shitty Scott". "This guy's a hack - you need to do something Scott".
I am such a chicken shit when it comes to conflict. I avoid it at all costs. I did not want to tell this guy that his work sucked, but I could not let him ink that on me.
He went around the corner to get some more supplies, so I seized the opportunity, jumped out of the chair and high-tailed it outta there.
I half expected a phone call or something, but I think he knows he half-assed the whole project and doesn't even want to go there.
Moral of the story? ASK QUESTIONS and trust your gut feeling.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chris Bishop on -
Smart move Scott. I understand that the picture that is sketched up and transfered to your skin will not look exactly like the finished product but it should give you a general idea of what the tattoo will look like. I am just like you, I hate conflict and would have a tough time telling someone that they are bad at their profession.
It doesn't really matter how you did it, but at least you don't have to look at a hack job tattoo for the rest of your life. I had a hack do one of my tattoos. The problem for me was that what he did on paper was not what he portrayed on my skin. So, luckily, I was able to have another artist fix it up a little bit and integrate it into my 1/2 sleeve. Its not perfect but I am happy with it now.
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Permalink Reply by Kathy on
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OMG Scott. With tattoos you can't put a "rough draft" on your skin. What a close call. Be careful.
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Permalink Reply by Caoilte Pickle on
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*Wow*..I'm so sorry you had to go through that! I received a bad tattoo from an artist at a shop that I had absolute trust in and not only is the colour uneven (it only has one--black!) but it has *cracks* in it. (I'm getting it fixed shortly). As soon as I saw the guy I didn't like him (he seemed...well, dirty and grimy) but I thought "Hey everyone has an off day now and then and I trust this studio"; it was the worst tattoo experience I've ever had. Yep, I always trust my gut nowdays and, much to my glee, that guy was canned and I think the studio learned their lesson.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on
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next time, ask one of your friends to draw it, or draw it yourself. you know you'll be getting quality outlines then!
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Permalink Reply by Robert on -
That is great! very good move by the way. take the time and find a artist that will work with you.
I have had people run out of the sho before, but not for the same reasons. most of the time it was my job to make them feel comfortable about being there, or at the same time, uncomfortable about being there. LOL
Thanks for shareing.
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Permalink Reply by Scott K. Johnson on
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LOL! Yeah, being comfortable while getting inked is quite the contradiction!
Is that what you do for a living ( or part time or whatever )? A tattoo artist?
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Permalink Reply by Robert on
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No, I work in retail at Sears in the tool department. It has been about 5 years since the tattoo shop closed. I dont have the eyesight to tattoo.
I almost wentto body pieceing school. Blind Guy Body pieceing woudl have went over better than Blind Guy tattoo's.
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Permalink Reply by Katrina on -
Scott, I am like you - hate conflict and avoid it at all costs. That being said...
glad you got up and got outta there. Tats are permanent and you did the right thing.
I'm getting another tatoo at the end of the month - I live in Dallas and we have no shortage of tatoo shops, but your experience will make me screen them much more carefully now.
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