Are Tattoo Consultations Free – Discussing Misconceptions

Tattoo consultations are a wonderful way to get acquainted with your tattoo artist before the upcoming big day of getting a tattoo. It is a one-on-one sit-down with a tattoo artist where you can ask anything related to the tattoo you want to get. You would obviously have to pay for the actual tattoo appointment, but most people are hesitant about tattoo consultation. They might think these are paid consultations.

So are tattoo consultations free? Many shops and tattoo artists offer consultation free of charge. But people still think that these have to be paid in order to get a consultation. That is why I am here to dispel some of these misconceptions about tattoo consultations and why people think you have to pay for them!

Key Takeaways

• There are 3 main reasons why people think all tattoo consultations are paid.
• To get to know if a tattoo artist charges for their consultation, you should ask them directly via email or calling them beforehand.
• During your tattoo consultation, you can expect to go over many different things that will all be related to your specific tattoo and tattooing in general.

3 Misconceptions About Free Tattoo Consultations

First and foremost, MOST tattoo artists and tattoo shops will give tattoo consultations free of charge. However, there are many reasons why people would think that they are not free. So let’s look at some of the reasons why.

Deposit for the tattoo APPOINTMENT

This is one of the main reasons why people think that tattoo consultations are not free. Many potential clients hit it off with their tattoo artists during their consultations and can start the booking process right then and there. Most if not all tattoo shops and artists require that the client pay a non-refundable deposit for the tattoo appointment. This is to ensure that the artist gets paid for the stencil drawing of the tattoo and any other preparation that they make for the appointment. The tattoo industry is such that tattoo artists get paid when they get clients, not because they went to work.

This non-refundable deposit is what most people think is the price of the tattoo consultation. It is merely a standard practice to book the artist for a specific time of the day and in the event that you can’t come, the artist is still paid. This is where the misconception about the tattoo consultation fee comes from! You will have to pay for both the drawing (ranging from 40$ to 400$ depending on the size of the tattoo) and their hourly rate (ranging from 150$ to 700$). This will be added to the total cost of the tattoo once the tattoo is finished.

Having to pay for the consultation

Very few, famous and busy tattoo artists and tattoo shops do have you paying for the consultation! A tattoo artist’s time is very precious and they will average 2 to 3 clients a day or even be booked for a tapout session for the whole day! That is why some shops do require you to actually pay for the consultation.

Because certain shops ask for payment before the consultation, most people think that a tattoo consultation is not free. This is why it is important to talk to the tattoo artist or shop and tell them that you are coming in so you can get to hear about their consultation policies.

Multiple consultations

Many tattoo shops would love for you to come back to the shop again and talk with the artist if you are not sure after the first consultation. While the first one might be free, many shops do ask for payment in the case of a second or third consultation. Think of it like this. A consultation can last anywhere from 10 minutes to 45 minutes. You are taking up the artist’s time when they could be working on a client’s tattoo. That is why very few shops will ask to be paid for the artists’ time after the first visit.

With all that said, I hope that you are more clear about tattoo consultations than before!

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Telling if a Tattoo Consultation is Free or Not

The best way to know if a tattoo consultation is free is by calling up the tattoo artist or shop and asking them if they are free for a tattoo consultation. In the flow of the conversation, you can bring up the fee for the consultation. Right then and there, you can get a definitive answer if the consultation is free or not. They will more than likely tell you to bring some cash in the chance that you want to book an appointment at a later date. Otherwise, there is a high chance that they will say the consultation itself is free of charge.

Or the other way that you can ask the artist or shop is by emailing them. Here, you can ask any sort of question and can easily bring up meeting the shop for a consultation and if they have a fee involved. Here is what a sample email could look like:

Subject: Asking for a Tattoo Consultation

Remember to be cordial in your email and be patient for a reply. Tattoo artists are swamped with such requests and there could be times that they might have missed your email. You could also visit the shop and wait around to talk to an artist when they are free as well! Just make sure that you are polite and don’t cause a disturbance in the shop.

During the Tattoo Consultation

I have already gone over the expectations and preparation for a tattoo consultation here  in more detail so I will quickly go over what you can expect the discussion to be like

FAQs

How long does a tattoo consultation last?

The consultation can last anywhere from 10 minutes to 40 minutes, or however much time the tattoo artist can give you.

Can I get a tattoo on the day of the consultation?

You could get one on the same day! But it will depend on the size of the tattoo and if it is a custom design. If you select a design that the tattoo artist has already done before from their portfolio, chances are high for a same-day tattoo as the consultation.

Can I just walk in and get a tattoo?

There is a possibility of getting a walk-in tattoo. However, it depends on the artists’ availability and if the design is small. Also, a custom design will require more time than it is possible for a walk in client.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully from this, you have dispelled any misconceptions and myths about the fee of tattoo consultation. Do note that it is completely up to the tattoo artist and the shop if they decide to charge for the consultation. Most if not all tattoo consultations are free of charge but there will be some artists that will charge you for their time. It is important you understand their practices and respect them. An artist’s time is valuable and their giving it for free is a courtesy that they are extending. Don’t haggle for prices and be respectful of your tattoo artist. They are creating art on your body.

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