Great Communication Leads to a Great Tattoo

 

 Knowing what you want in a tattoo can be the simplest or even sometimes the most difficult part of the entire process. Searching for inspiration can be endless. We see so many beautiful tattoos on so many beautiful people. Now we can see that their tattoo turned out wonderfully. We like the placement, we like the design, we like how it works with their body. It seems like a safe bet to request that an artist just copy it right onto them. No changes, nothing special or unique. This thought process is flawed, not to mention it can lead some to be too apprehensive to seek out a custom shop for custom art.  And there are plenty of "Copy Artists" out there. Willing to take somebody's work and capitalize on it. 

What Lucky Bamboo Tattoo offers is custom art, made specifically for you using your desires and requests, and putting all of that into a new piece. Now you don't have to be fully fluent in tattoo lingo to have good communication. A great place to start is saying what you mean, and not saying what you think someone wants to hear. If you don't want to give the artist full artistic freedom, it would be best to NOT agree to it beforehand. Some individuals take the time to research artists, know the kind of tattoos they do, prior to arranging a tattoo with them. They know they want to stick to a particular theme; they know how much skin they would like to cover, and whether they want color or black and grey. They leave the rest to the artist. When a client behaves in this way, they afford the opportunity to be absolutely blown away! For those who have booked their appointments far in advance, they have time to grow in excitement and anticipation. 

But those who feel they cannot give up control may turn that anticipation into anxiety. Now controlling general anxiety is a whole other conversation. But putting your mind at ease when it comes to a tattoo from Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, that I can do. Our artists genuinely care about each of our clients. They commit and set aside time for each and every tattoo and create a piece that you will undoubtedly be proud to wear.

  Now we also have the option to book a consultation. This way you can sit down with an artist and discuss the tattoo one-on-one. The artists are taking extensive notes and engaging in conversation with you to ensure the both of you are on the same page. Even booking after having a consultation still requires a bit of trust in the artist. But by allowing yourself to let go of worry and control, embracing trust and creativity, you are allowing yourself a very special experience. The excitement of seeing the completed work by any of our artists, is always rewarding for everyone involved. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose a Shop that Gives Back

 

 

There are a lot of options out there for tattoo shops. Each of them has a different setting, different artists, different pricing, and different scheduling. Faced with this many options, it may be difficult to know if you’ve found the place that is right for you. Let’s take a moment to examine your options.

What setting are you most drawn to? Some people love the lively environment, surrounded by other artists, and other clients in a communal tattooing space. You are all sharing in the same memory of getting a tattoo with those around you. Whether you are a social butterfly or are a fan of people-watching this may be the right setting for you. Now if this doesn’t sound like your scene, we’re here to offer a totally different experience. At Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, each artist has their own private room in a calm and welcoming environment. You can experience a little moment of Zen while art is being created on your body.

It's very important to have a level of trust in your artist. Each of our artists has a variety of specialties to meet a plethora of artistic needs. They give the option for a free 30-minute consultation. That time to sit and have a conversation is very valuable and is an option for each of our clients.  The accessibility to an artist, the artist who will be working on you, is such a treat.

Now where a lot of shops vary, in a multitude of ways is their pricing policy. I have been to shops where the first session was several hundred dollars, the second session was double that, and the third session was the same as the second, but I was worked on for a fraction of the time. There are few things that cause me anxiety, but one of those that do is sitting in the tattoo chair not knowing how long my session will be, not knowing what my tattoo will cost, and not knowing what their pricing was based on, and knowing they haven’t quite decided yet. Now I understand there is a margin for error as it pertains to time/pricing quotes. This means there is an understanding that this amount may differ but vary within an anticipated range. Here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, the front staff gathers all the details about the tattoo someone is wanting. They bring those details to the artist and the artist will tell them how much time they will need. Then the time needed is multiplied by the artist’s hourly rate to determine the pricing quote. Every client is treated the same, respectfully.

Previously we discussed how pricing quotes are handled, and that directly relates to how LBT conducts its scheduling. Because the artist knows how much time the tattoo will take, we know exactly where we can fit you into the schedule. And if your tattoo will take multiple sessions, we book out each and every one of those appointments. You know what each session is going to cost, you know when your next appointment is, and you know when your tattoo will be completed. No more half-done tattoos just waiting for the artist to agree to work on it again. In fact, here at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo, we have been known to complete half-finished projects for those who are fed up with the guesswork and are done with the waiting game.

What I’m most excited to share with you, is Lucky Bamboo Tattoo’s loyalty program. I have yet to encounter a tattoo shop that so enthusiastically shows how much their clients are appreciated. We have a variety of ways to earn what we call loyalty points. Each point is worth $1 and can be applied toward the cost of your tattoo. When you leave reviews, when you refer clients, when you download our app and play our spin-to-win daily game, you are rewarded! The best way to stay in the know is to follow us on social media and subscribe to our monthly newsletter! There are a lot of different deals, and a lot of different ways LBT can give back to you!

Do tattoos have to have meaning?

 

Has anyone ever commented on your tattoos? Did they immediately ask, "What do they mean?". That’s a lot of pressure at that moment to come up with a decent answer. The least interesting answers could be “I liked them” “They look cool” or a quick “I don’t know” and move along. But when family members, who may not approve, chide you into justifying a permanent mark on your body, you start to feel like they MUST have true sentiment otherwise the fear of regret sets in.

In the dawn of tattooing, many cultures used body modification to represent deep and substantial meanings. They told stories and were often earned. They could be recognized for their significance. The tattoo tells the story itself. In today’s day, you cannot infer intimate histories at a single glance. That’s considered problematic. Therefore, if someone is curious enough, they will ask about the story behind them.

When I was 18, just starting my journey of tattoo collecting, I had to find meaning to justify it in my mind. This way when my family had something to say, I had a rebuttal, ready and waiting. I look back and realize, that even the importance it held when I was 18, is no longer relevant. Today, I feel very untroubled about getting a tattoo that I didn’t ponder over for months or even years.

I don’t believe tattoos must have a meaning for you to get one. They can be something that brings you joy, or something that makes you laugh. It can be a collection of art from an artist you admire and respect. Now, there is something very heartwarming about getting a tattoo that holds special meaning, although it should not be a requirement. Don’t let that be an obstacle when you decide to get your next tattoo.  

Eventually, they begin to tell the story of you, your history, the things you were passionate about, the people you loved enough to tattoo their name, the dark times that may have brought on the urge for a tattoo. They are with us for life, watching us grow, evolve, and sometimes move on. And that’s okay.

 

 

 

Outlaw Organics Testimonials

 

Some of you may be familiar with Outlaw Organics if you have been tattooed at Lucky Bamboo Tattoo. It is known that this balm is amazing to use while tattooing, throughout the healing process, and to maintain the health of a healed tattooed. Our clients have been loving Outlaw for their tattoos. Some have even shared their success stories, while using this product for other various purposes. We would like to share some of those stories with you today.

 

Kessi C. is a 32-year-old female. She is currently 30-weeks pregnant and has been using Outlaw Organics on her abdomen daily since the day she found out she was pregnant. She reports smooth skin and not a single stretch mark. “I love this balm! It makes my skin feel so nice, it brightens my tattoos, and it has prevented stretchmarks throughout my pregnancy. I love the way it smells too. I have also been applying it to my chest on days I’m experiencing bad morning sickness. Once it’s applied the nausea subsides and I can go"

 

Jacob H. is a 35-year-old male that suffers from atopic dermatitis. He would often deal with dry, patchy, and even cracked skin. Especially during the colder drier months. “I was applying Outlaw to my freshly healed tattoo, and with the small amount that was left on my palms, I would just rub it into my hands. After only a few applications, I noticed the painful cracks in my hands were actually starting to heal. I’ve tried all the creams and ointments my doctor prescribed, but typically I just suffer with it until spring.”

 

Brock T. is a 25-year-old male that uses Outlaw Organics for many purposes. “I walk my dog every day and in the winter his ears get bad. He will itch his ears until he yelps. I didn’t know what to put on them to make him better. I got some Outlaw when I got my last tattoo, and I put a little on his ears. He quit scratching and his ears have stayed better. I order a jar just for him now”

 

We appreciate everyone who took the time to tell us about their Outlaw Organics experience. We hope everyone has an opportunity to try this product. We know you will love it.