Effects Of Tattoos In Society

    

There have been periods in history when tattoos were deemed a “fad” that would pass in time but that has been proven different. There is now a vast majority of people who have at least one tattoo. Many actors, actresses and models proudly display their beautiful work for the world to see, yet most Americans cave under the pressure of society telling us to cover up. A slew of restaurants and retail jobs require all tattoos to be covered while on the clock. With the number of tattooed individuals rising each year, why is society still deeming the ink ‘unacceptable’?

    Tattoos have truly held a prominent place in history – from tattooed sailors and pirates, Nazi’s tattooing those in camps, gang member initiation rituals, to tribe members in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand using tattoos for protection against evil and to increase luck, the history of the art is quite remarkable. More often than not, companies will explain to employees that their tattoos, no matter what they’re of, will be offensive to consumers and patrons, again begging the question why? The numbers speak for themselves; a crowded elevator is likely to hold three or more tattoos so who are we really offending? Eleven percent of the older generation (50-64 year olds) fall under ‘tattooed’ and are the main culprits behind the offensive line. Although they may be offended current-day, back in the 1960s cosmetic tattooing became very popular (tattooed blush, lipstick, eyeliner) and in the later portion of the decade, tattoos were largely featured in magazines, TV shows, and film.

    Americans have made tattooing very mainstream as television shows like Miami Ink, Ink Master, and Best Ink have become hits across the country
. Society raises us to believe that tattoos are a form of rebellion – a fact that has also been proven with studies showing 50% of people associating tattoos to rebellious behavior – but what we don’t grow up hearing about is the beauty of body art along with it’s history. As the years pass and the percentage of those with tattoos continues to grow, it’ll be hard to argue their offensiveness. After all, most of our ancestors were the ones to create different forms of tattooing!

Tattoo Shop Etiquette

    While thousands of people get one every single day, not many realize there is an unwritten code in tattoo studios. By following some of the tattoo etiquette tips you will be able to enjoy your tattoo experience as much as possible, while keeping yourself and your artist happy. If you are accessing the tattoo studio for the first time or looking for inspiration and advice, it is still a good idea to have a rough concept or idea of the tattoo you want, where you want it, size, and the style of the design. The more specific you can be, the easier your artist can understand what you are expecting and the quicker the design can be drawn up for you.

    Now let's go over a few etiquette components to keep in mind.  Don't ask for their inspirations and professional advice and completely ignore it. An artist tends not to like it when the customer fails to trust their professional views. Don't get offended if your artist requests that you change certain aspects of your desired tattoo idea. Most experienced artists can make good judgment as to whether a certain idea/design will or will not work when transformed into ink on the body. Do ensure you’re nice and clean before entering the studio. Not only will your skin be easier to tattoo if it’s free from oils and dirt, but your artist will also appreciate that you smell at least a little nicer. Don't get a tattoo if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Not only will it be an unpleasant experience for the tattooist having to deal with the behavior of this individual, but you are much more likely to bleed heavily, which in return will affect the result of the tattoo. Not to mention, your own judgment will be clouded. Do tip your tattoo artist if you feel inclined to do so. They earn commission from the tattoos they create on you and by tipping, you are showing your appreciation for the customer service you have received.

    While many points are pretty obvious, tattoo etiquette traditions are broken each and every day. An initiative and some common sense can contribute to making your whole tattoo experience a pleasant one. Tattooing culture may seem 'rock-and-roll' from the outside, but on the inside of it is a team of amazing and highly-experienced artists who take pride in their artwork and working environment. Once you understand the basics of good tattoo etiquette, you should have absolutely no problem each time you decide to get some new ink done.

Why Tattoo Shops Require Deposits

    A fair amount of the time when we ask someone to leave deposits on a tattoo appointment they say something crafty like; “I’ll stop back Friday”, or “I don’t have any cash on me” and they walk out never to be seen again. Sometimes people want to debate the reasoning behind the deposit, but do finally break down and leave one to book an appointment. Most people happily leave a deposit… because they get it! Tattoo deposits work as a way of you financially committing and investing towards your tattoo appointment. Without this monetary protection, artists and shops could lose a significant amount of money due to clients cancelling or pulling out of the commitment. Artists are not paid by the hour, they are paid for the piece they are creating for you and the time they spend with you. When a customer agrees to pay the deposit fee, it acts as proof that they are interested in following through with their tattoo ideas and agreement. 

    Deposits allow a tattoo studio to run their operations efficiently, with each client allocated enough time and attention to get their tattoo right. When the scheduling of clients can be maintained with regularity, it greatly boosts the efficiency of the business and the quality of the work of the artists. The amount that shops charge for their deposit fee doesn’t begin to cover the total income at stake if a client doesn’t show up. By charging this fee, studios can continue to tick along, even when they face non-responsive customers. This minor transaction has a considerable impact on the long-term financials of the tattoo parlor and the stability of the business.

   Tattoo artists can spend a great amount of time preparing a design or in the case of larger projects like sleeves can mean dozens of hours spent. This is a big part of why we require a deposit and why they aren't refundable. Please respect your artists time and commitment to take your project on. 

    Tattoo deposits are used to encourage clients to show up for their appointments and as a way for tattoo artists to cover their costs if a client cancels. Tattoo deposits are forfeited if clients cancel or do not show up for their appointments. You will not be able to get your tattoo deposit back unless the studio decided for various reasons to do this but in general they are non refundable which means non refundable. Deposit policies vary, so make sure to ask about your artist’s or studio’s policy before booking a tattoo appointment.  

"We The People" Tattoos

    We The People tattoos are right up there near the top of the list as far as patriotic text tattoos go. The words tell people exactly how you feel and, you can have this type of tattoo designed any way that you want it without altering the meaning at all. Those looking for a tattoo that clearly shows their love for their country will often look into getting a We the People tattoo since just about every American recognizes that those are the first three words found in the United States Constitution. It’s incredible that you can get such a meaningful tattoo in just three words, especially a patriotic one. They are for anyone who wants to show their pride in being American citizens and what America stands for at its core. 

    Another reason why We The People tattoos are so popular is because there are so many ways for them to be designed. You can get one that stretches across your chest, one that fits perfectly with another patriotic image that you want tattooed on your skin, or you can even shrink the words down so they fit on your wrist or ankle. Many people choose to include the American flag somewhere in or around the We the People tattoo designs. Even though you only need the words to make it clear that you are showing your pride in being an American, some people find that the flag takes the tattoo to another level.

    One of the most important parts of designing a We The People tattoo is figuring out which font you want to use. Many people want to use the exact font that was used in the actual Constitution, in which case they would choose a similar calligraphy font. This is especially great if you want to put the words on paper in your tattoo, though that isn’t totally necessary. There are many reasons why people choose to get We the People tattoos, as they are usually very easy to design yet they hold a world of meaning to those who get them.