Lesson Two
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Lesson Two
Most of society still has a very old school, backwards view on tattoos. For the most part, tattoos are still very much taboo. Especially in more formal environments. However, we’re slowly starting to see that change.
Some workplaces are allowing employees to have visible tattoos.
I find many South Africans are price sensitive. This can leave a bitter taste in your mouth when dealing with client’s day to day. Often people try to negotiate discounts. This may feel as though your services are constantly being undervalued. Supplies in South Africa are also very expensive relative to first world countries. This is because most of the supplies are being imported. It ends up being very costly to run a sustainable operation.
It takes years to build a client list that can sustain your business. In the beginning you will do a lot of free or discounted work to build your portfolio and prove yourself. The industry is very competitive, with a lot of tattoo artists to compete with, especially in cities like Johannesburg and Cape Town. You won’t get much help from other artists. However, there are some really helpful people, you just have to find them.
The entire process of creating a tattoo for a client is rewarding. From brainstorming the design to revealing and wrapping up the final product. The artist is challenged throughout. You cannot simply be a tattoo artist by having good visual art skills. You have to be extremely disciplined, empathetic and goal driven.
Discipline assists in carrying out the process consistently.
Empathy allows you to tap into the client’s way of thinking. Thus, you’re more likely to please them with the design composition, having compassion throughout the grueling session. Being goal-oriented allows you to have foresight when building the tattoo from stencil into beautiful body art. Overall, the process leaves you with more than you have given. It makes you a better human being. Eventually, when your client list is big enough, you are able to make a good living off of something that ends up feeling effortless.
What characteristic helps you understand your clients needs?
