When people choose a tattoo shop and artist to get work from, I’ve notice a trend as of late I feel needs to be addressed. The public has a fixation with visuals. The bigger the better. The more neon lights the greater they must be. The bigger the sign, the bigger their artistic ability, right? Wrong! Let’s face reality folks, bigger is not always better.

Going to a large shop with lots of colored lights and big signs won’t guarantee you better work. It will however, most likely guarantee you’ll pay more for it! In any business there is overhead. How much electricity do they pay each month for that pretty neon? How much more rent do you think they pay for that big shop? Lots and that extra money comes out of your pocket!

Lets break it down so you can see what you’re getting for you hard earned money. In any tattoo or piercing you have the cost of the needles, ink and other supplies and they have to add the shop’s overhead. If the cost of materials is $30 and the time is say 40 minutes a fair price (depending on the detail) might be $75. Now add the overhead cost of those bigger is better shops and your $75 tattoo in now $180! (Give or take.)

For the first four years I was in business I had a big shop. I had the big signs, the bright neon and all the rest. Do you know why I moved to my smaller, no neon light shop? Lower overhead. I had to charge $50 sometimes $100 more for a tattoo just to cover costs. I now have a lower overhead so I don’t have to and in turn you save money!
And lets not forget with my experience (I’ve been tattooing since 1990) my work speaks for itself. (See gallery.)
So don’t be fooled by the illusion that a bigger shop is better. Go where you feel comfortable. Go to the artist you like but you owe it to yourself to check out my prices, compare my work and don’t be surprised if you get your work done by me!