Forum Discussion: Starting Your Own Body Art Business Without Prior Experience?
Sunday October 15, 2006
babybabbs86 writes: "I just wanted to ask a few questions. I am really into tattoos and piercings and I want to own a tattoo and piercing shop one day. But I won't tattoo because I know I wouldn't be great at it. I would love to pierce. I am researching as much as I can. But I would like some info on owning it and piercing. If anyone knows anything I could find on the internet or in books that would help."
Is it possible to own your own tattoo shop as long as you have business experience, even if you don't know that much about body art? See what our members have to say in response to this question and feel free to add your own two cents.
Comments
no. there are already too many tattoo shops owned by non tattooers. even if you want to pierce, you should at least work in the field forever to know all the ins and outs. no one in any profession should open a shop having no experience. not even a mechanic shop, much less doing something permanent. please leave this profession to professionals
Ditto on what Thomas says….I had responded to this young lady on the forum and expressed that we have too many people outside of our business trying to cash in….not like we don’t have enough tattooers doing the same!
I wouldn’t consider open up a dirt bike shop or a spa unless I was deeply into that business with experience and knowledge. Paying one’s dues is the best start to any life’s work.
This business ain’t the mall and cute to do. We deal with health issues and ignorance of such can kill ya..and others along the way. To run a shop takes a ballet of talent juggling (get a roomful of tattooers together and there is gonna be trouble!) tattoo sense and business aptitude. Best left to the professionals as Thomas says!
(and if I have one more ‘wannabe’ come into our shop and ask where to buy needles ’cause he ran out while carvin’ up his buddies….anyone got bail money for me??)
Maybe I should keep it zipped but, I can’t resisit commenting here. To be more direct and not at all defensive: Become an apprentice in piercing…at a shop with a verifiable reputation. Not only will you learn the trade, but also, you’ll learn valuable knowledge in how to and how not a shop should be run. Earning your dues consists doing your job well, treating your fellow artists and clients well, and well placed loyalty. What it doesn’t include is frat boy hazing nonsense, OR drinking and/or drug use. Keep your eyes and ears open! Observe and learn! Be respectful AND respected! You’ll be well on your way.
Ya know im a tattoo artist I have been for about 13 years and I have my own shop and im going to tell you if you want to do it go ahead I got so mad when I first started and no tattoo artist would help me or give me any advice tell me where to get exuipment or anything obviousley someone helped them or they wouldnt be a tattoo artist I try to help everyone I can cause I know how stuck up and bogus these guys can be even about answering questions so if you have any feel free to email me under_your_skin05@yahoo.com or tatt00guy@yahoo.com
I opened up a tattoo & piercing shop, without any experience. I am grateful to the 4 artists and three piercers. If it wasn’t for them I could not have done it. of course with any biz dues will be paid more than you know. Whether the owner wants to or not he or she will be subjected to alot of bullshit (but I needed it).Establishing a new shop will require artists to be on time, stay till their shift ends. Be prepared to go thru a grip of artists your first year. A new shop starts out like ghost town. The artists need to be professional and honest,etc, location, clean will attract the upper scale dollar, tattoos need to leave the shop detailed and minus the bloody mess, and so on and so on. We are going into our third year. Business is good and our clients are happy. There are no snobs at this shop, because when you screw up a tatt, you are quickly humbled.
I suggest you get the book entitled: The E-Myth Revisited : Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
by Michael E. Gerber
It is very encouraging. NOT being a tattoo artist is better. That leaves you to pursue the business as a business owner. You’ll love it.
The most annoying about the tattoo business is those tattoo artist that feel superior for some odd reason to beginners. This is an art form we all should be proud of and helping one another succeed in this field should be part of being successfull as well. So many judge tattoos as being negative influences and we shouldn’t go ahead a show them that are right. So many wanna keep the business to themselves and judge and tend to forget they started somewhere and wouldn’t have gotten there with out the help of someone some how.
Hey, the way I see it is give it a chance and see where it goes. I have been tattooing for 10 years and had to start on my own. You will have to find others to work with you in order too expand your business. Body piercing is all to common. Best of luck to you. You are welcome to email me at frank_n_trish_miles@yahoo.com if you ever need advice.
It is quite hard to open a tattoo and piercing studio unless you ahve the money for it. Otherwise, you need to approach banks or lenders and they will not lend you money for openning a tattoo buisness! I know because I have approches many of them and at the end the answer was always no, even with a great busyness plan and lots of experience in the feild. So be prepared for NOs! and try really hard. »Good luck to you.
what you need is an experienced artist and piercer such as my self iv wanted to run and work in a shop for some time now i have about 14 yrs. in tattooing and about 4 yrs. in piercing i own my own tatto equipment but not any piercing equipment. i love doing tattoos
if serious e mail me !!!
Hey there. Though I am a piercer, I do have to agree with most people here. Be in the business for a while then decide if thats really what you want to do!
I have been piercing both legally and illegally for 8 years.
Though I was just a teen, I still loved it, and new to make sure everything was completely sterile to begin. Why don’t you pierce as an apprentice when your 18, if your not already and decide from there if you really would like to own a shop.
I am building mine as I type!
Hi Everyone,
I have a carpet cleaning business in Houston,TX that was doing pretty good until the economy went bad, and with it my clientele. I have a website for the business but I dont
know what I have to do the get it to show up in a search. Right now it’s somewhere in the yahoo/google netherworld (LOL).
Is there someone on here that can give me some insight or know of anyone that coud give me insight on how I can get my local website on the front
page of a Yahoo or Google search to increase my business without it costing me 5 or 10k $$$? If so please share with me.
I thank you and my hungry over-eating children thank you.
thanks,