Hi All,
I’m new here, and have been reading the forum for some time and enjoying it thoroughly. Thanks for the great resource! I was hoping to get some opinions on something that’s been bugging me…
I’ll be getting a large tattoo done soon by a very popular (and backlogged) artist I’ve worked with several times. I’ve been very happy with the finished product so far. However, when I attend each session, he has a tendency to talk… a lot. With me, with a shop partner – with friends that accompany me. Each session usually lasts about 2 hours on average. I really don’t mind conversation, but it feels like the actual amount of tattooing versus talking is out of balance. I’ve tried going alone, or just hanging back on chatting… I’m an artist too, for a living. I know more than anyone that great work gets done in different ways – art just, well, comes out of people differently. I want him on his game and to feel comfortable to do his best work!
Two questions:
– Is it appropriate to address the issue? I feel like if I do, I’m a bad guy and will breach some sort of etiquette. I don’t want my artist to not dig working with me too… on the other hand, at this pace, we’re looking at a long road to completion.
– How long should I expect my sessions to be, minimally? I have a large piece to accomplish, and at the two hour pace (1.5 at best including chat, prep etc…), we’re looking a long way off to completion. It seems like a 3-4 hour session would get me there in a reasonable amount of time. Am I just being too impatient? This is a busy artist, so I tend to have a month and a half in between sessions minimum. Part of that is for healing time – but it’s been differing areas (not the same areas) getting worked on – so it’s more about his schedule being packed to get me in again.
Any input appreciated. There is another local artist I like who does 3-4+ hour sittings… two sessions and I would be done. He’s also good, though I’ve worked with and grown to like my current artist. I’d like to keep going!
Best,
-Nick
Hi Nick
Well it really is an issue of how you approach the subject – some ppl are naturally chatty others not so. Some are very sensitive or have rhino skin to comments.
A 3-4 hrs session is not unreasonable from an artist.
My advice is broach it along these lines, state that you really enjoy the conversation but because of work/life/family committments is it possible to extend the sessions to 3-4 hrs so that you can get more work done. This will in turn free up the artist to do other work as you will not need to keep coming for shorter sessions.
Or maybe suggets that you would like a long session of 6 hrs (if you can stand that long) and maybe he could fit you in at a quieter time. Again due to time committments.
It is all about approach and positive spin on it – been polite never hurts.
My artist rarely speaks (doesn’t bother me) and I sat through a 6.5 hrs (incl smoke breaks) sitting on my wife portrait which was a session but glad to get it done in one.
Take Care
Matthew
My artist is a chatting Cathy too; of course, he’s also the shop owner, so the other artists and piercer are constantly coming in with “emergencies”, or just because they bored since I tend to come in for 4-8 hour sessions at a time on slow days.
Me, dude, I just tolerate it because he’s human, and it’s not really a problem as long as you don’t get charged more.
But since it’s obviously a problem for you, go with what Matthew said–he’s right on the money, as usual.
Love. Peace. Metallica.
if you explain to your artist how you feel then he should understand your predicament, tell him that you like his work but you feel it is taking too long…. if he gets uptight about it then he is only thinking of the money.
sometimes its worth going to a more expensive artist as their work might be quicker..
personally i am a chatty type and have a good laugh and a bit of banter with my clients, i give them breaks when they need them, i dont smoke so not stopping isnt an issue with me… i work 4, 5 or 6 hrs a time with no gaps, its down to the client when they stop.
personally i would just tell them how you are feelingabout things, we are all human at the end of the day 😉
I chatt away to my clients , but this is WHILE IM STILL WORKING ON THEM lol, some people like to talk others dont, like the others have said, just approach it in the right manner and im sure you’ll get your work done alot quickker, and he may even dig that needle in deeper just for the hell of it lmao:D
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