Electrum's tattoo culture blog
Electrum's Tattoo Culture Blog
The Business of Tattooing - How to Attract Your Dream Tattoo Clients: A Step-by-Step Guide
Every tattoo artist dreams of a steady stream of clients who love their work, respect their time, and align perfectly with their artistic style. But attracting your dream clients doesn’t happen by chance - it’s all about intentional branding, marketing, and building relationships. Here’s how to make it happen:
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The Business of Tattooing - The Death of Walk-Ins? Or the Beginning of a Comeback?
Walk-ins are one of the most iconic parts of tattoo history. For decades, they defined shop culture: neon “Tattoo” signs glowing, clients flipping through flash, and spontaneous choices made in the moment. It was fast, accessible, and social—tattooing as part of the street. But today’s industry looks different. Between Instagram portfolios, booking apps, and specialized styles, most artists are booked weeks (sometimes months) in advance. The romantic idea of strolling in for a quick piece feels almost like a relic.
The Business of Tattooing - A practical guide for Dealing with difficult clients
As a tattoo artist, you’ll work with clients from all walks of life. While most are respectful and excited about their tattoo journey, you’ll occasionally encounter clients who can be *challenging*. Whether they’re indecisive, overly critical, or difficult to manage, handling these situations with professionalism is crucial for maintaining your reputation and creating a positive experience for everyone involved.
The Business of Tattooing - 8 Good habits for better mental health as a tattoo artist
Being a tattoo artist is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be mentally and physically demanding. Long hours, high-pressure creative expectations, and constant interaction with clients can take a toll on your mental health if you’re not careful. Prioritizing self-care and establishing healthy habits isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about ensuring you can continue creating amazing art while maintaining your well-being. Here are the best habits for tattoo artists to support mental health
The Business of Tattooing - The Ultimate Guide for Tattoo Artists: Creating Viral Content for Instagram Reels & TikTok
Creating engaging, professional-grade content is essential for tattoo artists looking to boost their visibility and attract more clients. Here’s your ultimate guide, complete with gear recommendations and specific filming techniques.
The Business of Tattooing - How branding can set you apart as a tattoo artist
As a tattoo artist, creating a cohesive brand goes far beyond simply showcasing your tattoo style. Your brand is the unique, memorable experience clients associate with you, from the way you interact to your studio's atmosphere and even the aftercare you provide. In 2025, clients are seeking artists who not only create great tattoos but also deliver an experience that reflects their own personalities, values, and aesthetics. Here’s how to build a cohesive brand that makes your work unforgettable and helps you attract more clients.
The Business of Tattooing - The Psychology of Repeat Clients: Why They Come Back (or Don’t)
Every tattooer knows the thrill of a getting a new client - but repeat clients?! They’re the backbone of a sustainable career, returning clients not only bring steady income, they also become your biggest advocates, sending you referrals and posting your work on social media. So why do some clients stay in a long term relationship with one artist for years while others bounce? The answer is partially customer service and the other part: psychology.
The Business of Tattooing: How to Raise Your Prices Without Losing Clients or Your Mind
Raising your tattoo prices doesn’t have to mean alienating your regulars or sparking a DM riot. It’s about communicating clearly, honoring your growth, and remembering you’re a business owner—not a vending machine.
What Tattoo Suppies to Upgrade First When You Can’t Afford to Upgrade Everything
Every artist hits that point: your setup works… but barely. Your back hurts, your stencils slide off, your ink looks like it came from a gas station. You want to level up—but your bank account said, “be serious.” Here’s the realistic, not-sponsored, artist-approved guide to what you should actually upgrade first when money’s tight.Prioritized by: Client safety → Tattoo quality → Artist health.
The Business of Tattooing - Stop Letting Instagram Control Your Income
Instagram is a great tool—but it should never be your only one. If every time the algorithm shifts your bookings slow down, your business is too dependent on a platform that you don’t own.
The Business of Tattooing - 4 tips for Dealing with Difficult Consultations
As a tattoo artist, consultations can either pave the way to amazing artwork or lead to frustrating dead ends. Difficult consultations often arise due to mismatched expectations, communication barriers, or clients unsure of what they truly want. Here's how you can expertly navigate these tricky interactions, ensuring your client leaves confident and your bookings stay full.
Tattoo Shop Etiquette: What Every Apprentice Should Know (But Is Too Scared to Ask)
Because “just clean stuff” isn’t exactly a job description. Getting into a tattoo shop as an apprentice is exciting—and terrifying. You’re surrounded by experienced artists, intimidating tools, and a million unwritten rules no one explained. If you’re constantly wondering “Am I doing this right?” or “Are they mad at me?”, you’re not alone. So here it is: the etiquette guide you wish someone handed you on day one. Straightforward, respectful, and based on real shop experience—not TikTok myths. 1. Don’t Wait to Be Told to Clean—Just Clean If there’s dust on a baseboard, wipe it. If the garbage is 60% full, take it out. Tattoo shops need to be sterile, and nobody wants to ask you to do what’s obviously gross. Pro Tip: Re-cleaning something that already looks clean is part of the job. Get used to it. 2. Learn Everyone’s Routine Without Asking Watch how the artists set up their stations. See what grip tape they use. How many rinse cups they pour. When they like their coffee. Learn to anticipate. Don’t ask “Need help?”—just quietly do what you know they need. 3. Say “Good Morning” and “Good Night” It’s basic, but you'd be shocked how many apprentices treat the shop like a side quest. Greet everyone when you arrive. Say goodbye when you leave. You’re part of the team now. 4. Stay Off Your Phone (Unless You’re Filming Content They Asked For) Scrolling Instagram while your mentor is scrubbing tubes? Bad look. If you're not actively working or learning, ask what you should be doing. Use your downtime to restock gloves, refill paper towel, clean flash frames—anything. If you’re filming content for the shop, great! But ask before posting. 5. Don’t Touch Someone’s Station Without Permission Even if you think it’s just a towel. Even if it looks abandoned. Tattoo stations are treated like sterile zones. If you touch something while it’s being set up, you might’ve just cost that artist 20 minutes of rewrapping and re-cleaning. 6. Your Job Is to Learn—but Also to Watch, Listen, and Shut Up Sometimes You’ll have questions. That’s good. But there’s a time and place. Don’t interrupt a stencil application to ask what kind of liner someone’s using. Take notes and ask when there’s a break. ✍️ Keep a notebook. Write things down. Refer to it before asking the same question twice. 7. Know That Every Artist Teaches Differently Some mentors will micromanage you. Others will throw you into the deep end. Neither is wrong. Your job is to adapt, stay respectful, and show up with a good attitude—even if you’re washing tubes for the fifth time today. 8. If You Don’t Know—Ask. If You Mess Up—Own It. Mistakes happen. What matters is how you respond. Don’t lie. Don’t hide it. Be honest, fix what you can, and show that you’re paying attention. That builds trust faster than trying to act perfect. 9. Be Useful—Even If No One’s Watching Clean the bathroom. Mop behind the door. Restock the stencil paper before it runs out. When your mentor sees that you’re thinking ahead, that’s when real responsibility follows. 10. Don’t Tattoo at Home. Don’t Tattoo Without Permission. Period. This one is sacred. No kitchen tattoos. No scratching on friends. No “just practicing” on yourself. Your mentor is investing in your growth. Respect that. 🔥 Tattooing before you’re ready is not only dangerous—it’s a fast way to lose your apprenticeship. 🙏 TL;DR: Tattoo shop etiquette isn’t just about being polite. It’s about being aware, proactive, and humble. The best apprentices become the best artists—not because they knew everything, but because they knew how to listen, show up, and earn trust. Looking for supplies that won’t embarrass you in front of your mentor?👉 Check out Electrum's beginner gear picks here
The Business of Tattooing - The Client Education Shift: Why 2025 Clients Aren’t the Same as 2015 Clients
If you’ve been tattooing long enough, you’ve seen it.Ten years ago, a client might walk in and say: “I want a tattoo. What do you think would look cool?” Now?They walk in with a Pinterest board, three TikToks, an AI mockup, and a 20-minute lecture on ink migration they got from a YouTube comment section. This isn’t a bad thing—it’s just different. And the way we educate and work with clients has to evolve to match it. 1. Informed… But Not Always Accurate Social media has made tattoo knowledge accessible to anyone with a phone.Some of it’s solid.Some of it… could make a dermal anchor reject from sheer bad vibes alone. Your job now isn’t just to teach—it’s to un-teach before you teach. Correct myths about healing, color longevity, and style limitations Show actual healed work in your portfolio to set realistic expectations Share why you do things a certain way so clients understand it’s not arbitrary 2. Passive Education Saves You Time If you’re answering the same questions over and over, you’re bleeding time you could be tattooing.Instead: Turn FAQs into Instagram carousel posts Make short “myth-busting” videos for TikTok Create a shop “Start Here” page with prep guides, aftercare, and policy explanations Educate once. Repurpose forever. 3. Education Is Marketing Every time you share knowledge, you’re marketing your expertise. Healed tattoo reels show your long-term quality Aftercare guides build trust Explainers about trends (like fine-line or color realism) position you as the authority Informed clients are more confident, less micromanaging, and more likely to rebook. 4. Re-Educate Without the “Actually…” Tone matters. No one likes being corrected like they’re in trouble. Instead of: “Actually, that’s wrong.” Try: “That’s a common belief, but here’s how it works in practice.” Validate → Redirect → Educate.They leave feeling informed, not embarrassed. 5. Streamline Your Process Use the Client Education Shift to make your workflow smoother: Pre-send prep instructions and aftercare guides Build a highlight reel on Instagram for common questions Keep a library of healed photos for different skin tones and tattoo styles The more educated your clients are (with your info), the smoother your day will run. The Client Education Shift isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity.Your knowledge is a value-add that keeps clients coming back, sends referrals your way, and protects the integrity of your work. Teach often. Teach well. And teach everywhere your clients hang out online.
About the Electrum Blog:
From tattooing's past to the future, the team of artists and shop owners at Electrum share their perspectives and knowledge on everything tattoo industry.
A few of the things you'll find in our blog posts:
- Business and Industry Insights: advice and ideas for tattoo business growth, current industry trends and strategies for attracting clients, whilst managing a full schedule.
- Compliance and Safety: Information regarding regulatory compliance and our mission to produce safe, compliant inks.
- Product Information: Details about our specific products.
- Interviews and Events: Discussions and recaps from industry events.
