Huh... I don't have tattoos but have always wanted one. I completely understand why an artist would have these policies in place. Time is money..

You’re CRUSHING it on the videos! Very detailed explanations. Keep em’ coming! You’re explaining the unknown questions that a lot of us have. Thanks James! -Joe (Jesus piece half sleeve in progress)

All of this seems common sense to me. These days if someone misses a doctor's appointment without giving a 24-hour cancellation has to pay for the visit.

You're very informative and down-to-earth. The content is educational, but still gives great Vibes like I'm talking to a friend

My artists made me put a deposit when I got my first tattoo. Now I dont have to as I'm on a personal level with her

Can you do a video on black skin and the best type of tattoes and styles for person of a dark brown or darker skin tone? Like can he still get japanese style tattoos or other patterns etc

Thanks for this video James! It was perfecting timing for me to see this video which helped me out a lot with understanding tattoo deposits. Thanks again! Hope you have a good one

The explanation is always spot on and straight to the point.

All those policies that you have listed made perfect sense.

This is all great advice. Never thought so much goes into a deposit. I don't think I've ever had to make a deposit before the pandemic, but seeing that I just got hired again, and that I'm eyeing a tattoo design, putting a deposit down for an appointment would make sense to me. Before the pandemic, I mostly did the walk-in thing. But since the pandemic, I see the sense of scheduling an appointment. So glad I found this video before I made a deposit for my next tattoo.

Always on point and always well spoken and explained straight to the point and with much honesty,,,,I always play youre videos while the client waits for the set up and all that yada yada...but it's good cause its our job to educate the client as well especialy new b's clients,,,,love youre videos brother ...Most concrete info I've seen in 13yrs ....this guy is on point fellas with all his videos on topics check the rest of his videos out and play them while you have a client waiting for you to start the session and it helps spread the word to make the artist job easier in the future ...and definitely enjoyed the video brother ..

Loving your videos. I'm a 'Brit' living in Austria and am halfway through getting my chest piece done. Your video that featured black and grey tattoos helped me make up my mind. I have nothing but praise for you and your videos. Many thanks (and keep up the good work).

All your videos are straight forward, down to earth and very informative. Keeping it real and professional. Subscribing now. Thanks again.

Your videos are AWESOME. Anything a client would ever want to know or need to know but were afraid to ask. Thank you.

I didn’t even know about this but you did so good explaining it. I understand everything now, thanks 👌🏼👌🏼good ass examples too 😭👍🏼

Just want to say that I love your shop! I really enjoy the fact that you are a custom shop and don’t have flash plastered all over. I’m getting work done by Matt. I originally wanted work done by you but you were not available.... but I do want some work done by you eventually, But Matt is absolutely awesome. Keep up the great work.

Well said! I totally agree with your very informative video on tattoo deposits.

It's funny how what you say reminds me of my job. I'm from a totally different field (i'm a psychologist) and even if there's no deposit, each time somebody doesn't come even if that person had an appointment, we can't do anything but still make them pay for the missed appointment. I don't like doing that but at the same time, we can sometime have up to 4 hours where we just do nothing and we know that some other people still have to wait 3 months before meeting us. As you said, you spend time drawing etc a tattoo for somebody and i also recognize myself in that because (knowing the misconception one has about psychologists "they are just listening to your problems") we are our own "tool" and to make it "better" we also need to be continuously formed in our field and those formations can be quite expensive (i've seen once, 200 euros per day for 3 days). I'm not saying it's not worth it but it is hard to try to have a decent "salary" when they are many people that don't come even if they took an appointment. Recently, i had 8 appointments (it was tuesday). Only 3 people showed up and just 1 woman called 1 hour before her appointment because i called her to know if she wanted to come earlier. She didnt want to so she just cancelled it asking me if she had to pay. So i stayed from 9 am till 6pm to see 3 people because i didn't know if the others were going to come... Ps: i'm truly sorry for my broken english ^^"

Always looking forward to your vids. Can't wait until the topics gets more advanced

Great video, thanks. It's really helpful to get insights on how things work. Getting a tattoo can be stressful enough without worrying about all this. It really helps give confidence when going for tattoo

Man. . I tried paying a deposit for my artist and he didnt want one. He better not flake on me next week, lol

Love these videos man, keep em coming!

dope video man said every point possible i could or have ever had to have with a client keep going man @SMOOTHINK

I wish I had known about your shop when I was visiting my family in Gilbert. Now I'm stuck back in Arkansas. Guess I need to plan a trip back to AZ. 😄

Nahh after watching some of your content, im doin my second session with my artist. Kudos❤️❤️

Dude, nice and concise explanation. Very clear with no BS. Nothing unreasonable that I heard as long as that was made clear to me before making a deposit I couldn’t see any issue. Sh*t happens sometimes and I may have to eat the deposit but I don’t think it would stop me rescheduling. Just out of curiosity what do you do if it is due to an issue with the artist or store? Or something wider like a power cut, not your fault but definitely not the clients either.

Awesome job bro, keep it up 💪🏼

Fucking love the black and grey work you do keep it up

Nice video, awesome explanation

Dude much respect, Like your approach!

New Subscriber here. Thank you for your honesty. Love your commentary🙂

James, thanks so much for explaining. The whole deposit thing is new to me. When I got my first 4 tattoos, they were all from the same guy, and the deposit thing didn't exist. We made appointments, and I kept all of them and was on time.

I'd def see you for a tat! You're so far and I'm broke! 😤😭.... For now(I been getting more clients) I had to start charging deposits for my jewelry I make. I made a whole beaded glass lingerie set for this girl then once I was ready to mail to her suddenly I can't get a hold of her. 😒 I write workouts and meal plans as well. Run me my money first cuz.

Love your channel, just subbed!

Very smart and informative. Great for people starting out or someone who is trying to better themselves. Very clear and easy to understand. Love your vids bro keep up the good work! SUBSCRIBED

Good vid. You definitely know your chit. My tattoo guy doesn't ask for deposits but he is also a buddy of mine. Just had both of my hand work touched up today and voila a new vid from you popped up.

Just saw your Girl With A Pearl Earring painting on your website. It made me emotional even though I have been aware of the original for years. Weird.

the informative sounds great thank you for the help about this your the man

I’m a vinyl wrapper and I’ve also run into these same situations. Great video 👏🏽

Super helpful bro thank you for your content

I’m trying to get the courage up for my first tattoo. I’ve seen most of your videos explaining the basics. I’ve dreamed of vines on my back for a year now. It would also be a memorial tattoo. I would start with a hip or lower back piece to start to see how I handle it. I hope I can find a good artist. Thank you for your videos.

Great video and well explained. I can't wait to get my first tattoo possibly next month in Arizona.

Awesome honesty 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

I totally agree... you were spot on I personally feel like if u don't get asked for a deposit u might jus wanna keep moving to the next shop. that's jus me tho and with tattoos you get what you pay for. if you wanna cheap tattoo thats what it's gonna look like trying to haggle over the price for a tattoo are not considering that ur not jus paying them for the finished product itself there's a lot of time prior to the actual tattoo that is put into every tattoo, and if people are willing to spend their money on a phone or shoes why not pay more for a tattoo, that is gonna last u 20 times longer than a phone or whatever it s people waste all their money on the days but yeah deposits are a must

You’re Tripping bro!!Make your deposits higher!!A ton of shop owners start at 200 here in Vegas an it seems you’re more passionate and hard working then them..Dj Tambes is 400 here but he is one of our top artists in town!!Of coarse it went up tho after his ink master win though!!Worth it!!

Tattoo deposits are cool with me because I’m a very on the fly person and not good at planing so when I pay a deposit it encourages me to actually get it done so a huge thank you to artests who chanrge a deposit

I'm new here & new to this KZfaq Channel. I just subscribed as well just gathering information up b4 I get tatted up n don't wanna waste this new n first tattoo artist tyme n money bcus tyme is money.💯

Thanks for this thoroughly explained video. Question: I put down a deposit but would now like a different tattoo than the one discussed at consult. Might the artist require a new deposit?

At what point in the process do you put the deposit down? Say like I want to go into a shop and look at portfolios, I find a artist I like and want to discuss my design ideas with them and get a price quote. Do I have to put down the deposit before they will be willing to do that or do I wait till after that before they sketch something up for me?

Great information. Deposit is like insurance to make sure one will keep appointments. Good review for even seasoned clients. Be well. 👩‍🎨🎨🖌💗🤗🍀🌺🦓 Liz

the only gripe I have with the deposit is when like James mentioned the times he didn't believe he was up for the task or bit off more than he could chew, I don't believe many artists would let their ego get in the way of that. An artist would whip something up the customer would come in unimpressed and now has to choose between losing a deposit or a subpar tattoo.

Very informative video. Thanks:)

What payment processor do you use for your deposits? I've heard many stories about Artists loosing to disputes

I definitely understand why it's needed , but a question that popped in my head. What if someone puts the deposit down and looking forward to their appointment, but suddenly a family member passes. If they call the tattoo shop and says " I'm not in the condition to get a tattoo I just lost someone is there a way I can get my deposit to pay for funeral arrangements" would they receive that deposit back or would the tattoo artist void the deposit?

What are expectations on tips for the tattoo artist? Based on time vs price? Also do you tip the owner if they are the one doing the tattoo? Is it a touchy subject? Is it a standard percent like in the restaurant world?

I didn't know that you could put a deposit down, this gives me a lot more options

Hi James, I would like your thoughts on this scenario. I was planning on going to a tattoo convention and placed a deposit down with an artist that I had no issues with. Now the deposit was made over 4 months beforehand when the convention started I came down with a cold so I had to cancel the day before. I was willing to reschedule for the next year’s convention but the the artist would not reschedule for that time. Now since the artist was not will to work with me should they not refund the deposit?

Very informative - it does mean that if I put a deposit but have to cancel at the last minute (illness for instance) I will at least show that I mean to get it done. I also think that deposit also pays for artists IP post payment wrt to concepts and stencils etc.

How do you deal with someone getting their first tattoo that has a low pain tolerance?

What do you do if your tattoo artist keeps on pushing the date of the tattoo for a few months already

My artist didn't ask me for a deposit 😂 Now I'm worried I'm going to rock up on Wednesday with no appointment

Wish I would have watched your videos before getting my first tattoo, would have been a lot less nervous about the process!

Is there a situation in which say the client calls a week or two before the appointment and asks to reschedule for the back of the line or something like that where the deposit wouldn't get voided?

Its like tattoo bail money lol i thought you were going to describe some type of phenomenon where certain types of ink might leave deposits behind in your skin or something lol. Love your videos bro!!!

Guess my artist liked and trusted me. He's not new and it wasn't my 1st. Did the consult, waited for him to suggest a deposit. Was a big piece, near half my forearm. He just said "Awesome, I'll see you Friday."

I've been being watching since I subscribed ☺😁. All I'm doing is getting myself all anxious for my sleeve that I'm starting in the winter 😫.

My dude is cool as fuck. He's never asked for a deposit for 4 sessions. The first time he tattooed me for like 3.5 hours, he only charged me for 3 hours, and when I went to pay with my debit card afterwards, he said that I would be charged $3 and he would get a $12 fee from the credit card company or whatever. He said that my bank was right down the street if I wanted to withdraw some cash. He was so trusting that he let me leave with a huge tattoo without paying yet, and didn't even know my last name. I could have just dissapeared without paying... but I would never do that. He's a great artist, and a great guy, I want him to continue tattooing me.

df is this you playing outside of spiderman kevin 😂😂😂

My deposit was $600 .. two week to go before my first session . I can’t wait for the pain !!!!!!!

I feel like also having a good relationship with tattoo artist helps with not having to put down a deposit. Once you show up on time for 3 tattoos they pretty much trust you. My guy never asks for one cuz he knows im gunna show up

I just made my deposit this week. Getting a full sleeve from Jeff Gogue next year. So yeah after that deposit I’m not missing my appointment I can tell you that

As a consultation appointment the same as the appointment you are covering? If a tattoo artists drafts up a piece and if I don’t like it, will I be charged for draft or to make the changes? (What about 3rd or 4 times?)

I like how all your videos don't have excessive music playing in the background while you're talking. We can actually HEAR what you're saying!

I love this video

My artists dont take deposits from me, but I always show up early for my appointments and always have enough for the tattoo and a $100 tip unless it’s a big piece, then the tip would go higher.

I've been getting tattooed by the same couple of tattooers for a while now and they no longer ask or require deposits from me when I ask them for some new stuff.

Hey, James love your videos and content! What does your hat mean or say?

What about kill-fees? What if a client taps out and can't continue? Do your clients have to pay for a lining day for a large tattoo and then pay again for the color day, etc? How do those things factor into your pricing?? Thanks! Great videos, bro. Awesome info.

Seems like a reasonable, ethical business owner to me. I’d gladly do business with a guy like this.

Hi, i am tryung to get a sleeve with a hard to book artist, his wait list is over a year, if he says it takes 20-25 hrs to complete sleeve, should i leave deposit for all sessions in advance so i wouldnt have to wait another year to book?

I respect Sir Twice because he returned my deposit fee. He was having traveling issues and we couldn't reschedule. Still going to wait for the day to come when it happens tho!!

Good information.

GOT YOU ON THE 1000th LIKE FAM

I have a question that doesn't really matter but I'm curious: When you do a tattoo, obviously a portion of the price goes to the shop. But when you take, say, a $100 deposit and the client doesn't show up, do you keep the full $100 or does part of it still go to the shop?

so can you specifically ask for an artist to do a mock sketch for your tattoo so you can have it for later? Like what i thought tattoo appointments were was you first scheduled a consultation, where they sit you down, you tell them what you want, and they say what your price range would be for your idea, then they schedule your appointment once they get everything done and it will probably be anywhere from a week to 2 months away, then they might email you a mock sketch of what they might be thinking for your tattoo, something done in maybe 10 minutes, very quick with a pencil to make sure all the pieces are there. And that way you can go in and change anything you might need changed before you sit down for your appointment and get it tattooed. but since this doesn't seem to be the case anymore am i allowed to get a mock sketch or is that something that isn't allowed in the tattoo world?

I didnt know you had a channel? I subscribed. Hopefully i see you again soon

I did an $185 deposit on my forearm piece, so it comes down im 2 days from tattoo day and my grandma died. I called and canceled and the artist said i can't have my deposit back and if i wanted the tattoo id have to pay full price again. Ended up getting the tattoo from a different guy. Btw the $185 deposit was for a $375 tattoo.

What about someone that’s new? I got a wedding ring tattoo last week but I’ve never gotten an actual tattoo that is going to take time/drawing. Is it taboo to go in and get a quote kinda so I can save up? I don’t have any bearing on what it’ll normally cost so I’m kind of in the dark. Lol

Why do some artists only book full day sessions with set prices, vs hourly, or piece by piece pricing? The artist I go to only does full days and I'm not sure what the advantages and disadvantages of this really are. Thanks!

I wish I could visit your shop! But I am in the midwest.😳

Question: What if I make a deposit, ($300 on a $800 tattoo quote) then the artist designs something that I don't like. (Keep in mind the artist didn't ask me/but in regard what I wanted). Do I void my deposit or I'm well within my rights to ask for better art?

I put a deposit down for my first session on my half sleeve, but the artist didn't make me leave one for the second session a month later.

The shop I go to they refund the deposit if you announce with at least 48 hours ahead the cancellation or reprogram for a different day with 48 hours in advance

what are your thoughts about if an artist cancelled an appointment? our time is valuable and i have been waiting for months?

My artist wasn't honest about his abilities and drew directly on my skin so I was only able to see the conceptual idea not the actual work. My gut was telling me to walk away, but I was afraid of losing my $150 deposit. Lessoned learned the hard way. I didn't bother to go back for the second session, but now I'm looking to get it covered.

What does your cap say? Thank you:)

Thank god I watched this video about deposit cuz I’m planning about using my deposit for cover up tattoo...

I work as a hair stylist/nail tech and our policy is a $25 deposit. You’d think we were asking people for their first born child. It goes towards the price of the service! It’s not an additional fee lol. My tattoo artist doesn’t take a deposit from me anymore cause she knows I’d never do her dirty especially working in a similar service industry myself

So, it sounds like maybe the date is getting closer and I don’t have the money but still want the tattoo eventually, it’s okay to reschedule based on that as long as it’s at least 24 hours in advance? Because that’s really my biggest worry since I’m just a broke college kid

I always wondered why some tattoo artist just do flash, you just answered that question, your here that's the image you want here is the money get busy