oboogie

You know what.... TIME shows you either know how to get it done, and you do, or you don't... Oliver is a fast tattooer, he was taught that way. besides a time limit also shows who does stuff out of the comfy zone well and who doesn't...
like the dude that could draw the Fu dog but couldn't tattoo it... I'll watch it, Oliver is family. I'm proud...
side note: pointing out problems with the tattoos educates everyones future clients.... my two cents

Another one (I'm sure a few more will come to me); I find it semi-annoying when someone really wants to know what the tattoos you have "symbolize" or what meaning they have. I guess the old saying is applicable... "I liked the look of this (insert tattoo type), so I got it tattooed". That's usually responded to with "do you think you'll regret that when you're older?" Holy geez. I'm in my 30s, I am a big boy now and my mom told me that I can do anything that I want. She also tells me I'm handsome and special.
But all kidding aside, I've done many other things along the way that I'll regret forever and FAR more than being an inked up grandpa.
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I noticed this weekend at the convention that people with tiny tattoos on their wrist or a small black tattoo outline on their ankle consider themselves tattoo experts. I know they are excited, and they feel part of a club, but dude. You are not an expert because you have an infinity symbol on your wrist or your kid's name written on your ankle. They know EVERYTHING because they have a five-minute $50 tattoo of their sorority name on their wrist or inside of their fingers.  It was hilarious and also very weird. I like that they refer to people without tiny tattoos on their wrists as plainskins. Um, no. Just no.
Also, as an aside, I hate the term "plainskins." I don't judge anyone for not having tattoos. They aren't plainskins. They are just people who don't have tattoos.

I love giving gifts and they've always been well received (Since I'm in the USA I'll tip on top of the gift). Typically I'll only give gifts to tattooers I've seen a few times and have a good rapport with, or if I have a pretty good handle on what they'd like. Things I've given:
-Lots of records
-Documentary on the underground music scene in my area
-Prints that weren't tattoo related but would be up their alley (Haida stuff from western Canada...the real-deal stuff, not the tourist-trap stuff)
-Booze
-Food: my wife and I have brought home-made pies, cookies, even chili once...
As they say, it's the thought that counts. If it's genuine and you're stoked on it, chances are they will be too even if it's not a perfect match. Don't overthink it. If it gets too convoluted, remember that Cash is King. 

The sharpies sound like a nice idea since they are useful and hard to find as you say. I would plan to cash tip on top though.....i have given a gift once but my standard large tip was also offered and accepted at the same time. My gift was maple syrup, since I live where it is made and cheaply available but costs a fortune where the tattoo was done.

I've usually given a cash tip.
Only one artist I've seen more than once I gave a gift.  To which I've given him 2 tattoo machines, custom made business cards with his info on it and a personalized zippo on different occasions.
With regards to to gifts, how bout a bottle of alcohol or business cards custom made with his info on it?

c'mon what about smallest tattoos? LOL

Makes me want to spin Frank Turner's song "Tattoos"! Think that I will...

Yeah, so this 100%: oh - and people who constantly talk about getting tattooed but never do. I look at it as a couple of types of people. First, those who most likely will get a tattoo but haven't figured out what they want yet and those who are attention seekers. I have a friend who falls into the later category. She posted a check-in on FB at a shop with the caption "getting ink". A bunch of us were excited for her and asked for details...she never responded. At this point, I don't give a ** if she did or not. She'd respond with a passive aggressive comment. Totally not worth it. @marley mission

no real pet peeves i think - i really dont care what other people do with regards to their tattoos
maybe people expecting their tattoos to be perfect and obsessing about minor imperfections
oh - and people who constantly talk about getting tattooed but never do
guess i do have pet peeves :)

I have 2 full sleeves, a full pectoral done, the back of my calf done, and a couple of other small random regrettable pieces (that will eventually be covered), and I still know next to nothing about tattoos and tattooing.
When I give advice or an opinion, I try to make sure that I preface it with "for me, with my tattoos..."
I really can't stand "know it alls", especially on something that is as permanent as a tattoo.
When the artists in the shop talk about tattooing, there are so many things that we (not professional tattoo artists) don't even think to think about. Everything from passing the epidermis and keeping the ink in the dermis, to coil and rotary and pneumatic tattoo machines, to needle speeds and depths, to bloodlines, to colour blending.... But yeah, please share your in depth knowledge and never ending bank of advice with me!
It's all good though, my favourite is when I'm wearing long sleeves and someone with about an hour of experience under the tattoo needle is counselling me about tattoos. Then I pull up my sleeve to check the time
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And it's now hanging in his shop in Tulsa.

I've never seen a tattoo artist decline a tip. Ever. Give him a tip. He has to pay his bills.

Hello All,
Finally got my first tattoo, and it was a blast. I just wanted to share it; got it done at Last Rites Tattoo in NYC. I am going to expand it (forearm, and to the chest) next year, but i am glad with the result so far.

nice work man
not my style but fine tattooing nonetheless

my name is Luke I'm a tattoo artist. i've been tattooing professionally for 2 1/2 years.... yeah that's it. signed up to browse around the forum and read some tattoo talk! here's some of my work.

I know what you mean about people being instant experts. My tattoo was 5 hours and I still would be wary giving advice or acting like I know it all. 
I especially hate people with tiny tattoos who say tattooing doesn't hurt, like they are really tough. Mine didn't hurt for the first hour either, try sitting there for the whole day tho!

Hi! I came here looking for some advice regarding a tattoo I received recently. Thanks for having me!
-Nolan

My appointment for Koeplinger's 50 state tour finally came!
I cannot say enough good things about Chad and my experience. He was open to my ideas and excited to make some changes to his original drawing to give me exactly what I wanted.  We talked about all sorts of things (from our travels in the Middle East to vintage TV shows) and time just flew by.
And he is ridiculously fast!!  This 8x10" piece on my thigh took 1 1/2 hours from stencil to finish.
I would definitely get another tattoo from him and will be watching his schedule to see when he is next near me.
Wildcat
 
 
 

whadya get? whadya get?

@SStu, NOTHING! All the artists I wanted to get tattooed by were far too busy, and Richard didn't feel like tattooing at the convention. I have to drive back over in a few days/couple of weeks, and he'll tattoo me then. I saw him right before he left, and he was game—he just didn't want to do it there.
That said, I was way too busy to take the time to get tattooed. We had lines of people waiting to fill out their health department paperwork to get tattooed at times. So it worked out OK.

@SStu, NOTHING! All the artists I wanted to get tattooed by were far too busy, and Richard didn't feel like tattooing at the convention. I have to drive back over in a few days/couple of weeks, and he'll tattoo me then. I saw him right before he left, and he was game—he just didn't want to do it there.
That said, I was way too busy to take the time to get tattooed. We had lines of people waiting to fill out their health department paperwork to get tattooed at times. So it worked out OK.

I noticed this weekend at the convention that people with tiny tattoos on their wrist or a small black tattoo outline on their ankle consider themselves tattoo experts. I know they are excited, and they feel part of a club, but dude. You are not an expert because you have an infinity symbol on your wrist or your kid's name written on your ankle. They know EVERYTHING because they have a five-minute $50 tattoo of their sorority name on their wrist or inside of their fingers.  It was hilarious and also very weird. I like that they refer to people without tiny tattoos on their wrists as plainskins. Um, no. Just no.
Also, as an aside, I hate the term "plainskins." I don't judge anyone for not having tattoos. They aren't plainskins. They are just people who don't have tattoos.

I think that's a great point and I wholly agree.

I noticed this weekend at the convention that people with tiny tattoos on their wrist or a small black tattoo outline on their ankle consider themselves tattoo experts. I know they are excited, and they feel part of a club, but dude. You are not an expert because you have an infinity symbol on your wrist or your kid's name written on your ankle. They know EVERYTHING because they have a five-minute $50 tattoo of their sorority name on their wrist or inside of their fingers.  It was hilarious and also very weird. I like that they refer to people without tiny tattoos on their wrists as plainskins. Um, no. Just no.
Also, as an aside, I hate the term "plainskins." I don't judge anyone for not having tattoos. They aren't plainskins. They are just people who don't have tattoos.