What advice can I give not only the students at Aberration Pro Custom Tattoo and other shops that have recognized the need for our industry to get away from the Rock Star Prices as well as the Rock Star image? A student of mine found out first hand how fast a person in this industry can go from being a friend to a foe. He was posting advertisements on Craigslist for people to come in and get tattooed for a certain amount of money. After all you cannot ask a person to drive in and tattoo someone without making money back for his supplies or gas now can you? Anyways I had an artist come in from another shop to teach a class or two at our school. Everything was great and he actually made some extra money by giving some tattoos to the staff.
Fast forward a few months and now that all the apprentices are basically on skin and charging what they are suppose to charge this particular person who has a shop 40 minutes North of us is starting to bash their work as scratchers and trying to discredit them by throwing out that "Good Tattoos are not Cheap and Cheap Tattoos are not Good" crap we've heard in the industry for well over 20 years now. Actually thats the saying the industry came up with so everyone would fix prices. It was an unwritten rule that everyone would charge a minimum of at least $40 for anything coming through the door. Well now that tattoos have become main stream these same people are furious that consumers are actually smarter then they are and know that they can get good art for better pricing. Lets face it because it happens everyday. People would rather have Cousin Bill do their name tattoo for a few bucks rather then go to shop and get raped.
Time to evolve people who run shops. Time to see the trend!!! You people can go out of your way trying that old tired line on people and it won't matter a bit. Economics is what drives every business. Tattoo Kits are sold to everyone these days. I rather see people go to a shop with good prices and work over someone going to a house for one. No matter how much you boneheads try to preserve the minimums your destined to fail. Not only must you depend on return clients, you have to get new ones as well. So call us a street shop, I'm actually happy with the compliment. I will never and I hope either does my students ever conform with the popular image of the Tattooist. You guys can keep your Rockstar Image and Prices and I'll watch your doors shut. I on the other hand prefer to be more customer friendly. I'm in business for me and no one else. I believe in no alliances here or there, with this person or that person.
Oh yea. By the way guys you'll be hearing our commercials on a major Rock Station that concentrates right around ol boys shop. One thing that you have to learn about competition is don't worry about defending yourselves. Always go on the attack and stay on the attack when someone engages you in this business. The whole point of them going after you in the first place is jealous childish crap wanting to put you out of business. If they start it the saying goes woop that ass. Well in business thats called going after the jugular. You better believe now that ol boy started you can bet all advertisement will be going his general direction.