Electrum's tattoo culture blog
Electrum's Tattoo Culture Blog
Beginner Tattoo Gear Picks: What You Actually Need to Start Tattooing
A no-BS guide to getting your station together—without wasting money or pissing off your mentor. If you’re just starting out as a tattoo apprentice (or prepping to go pro), the internet will try to convince you that you need a $2,000 machine, 48 ink bottles, and a ring light the size of the moon. But real ones know: the best artists start with clean fundamentals, not flashy extras.
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The Business of Tattooing - Book Tattoos in 2025 Without Ever Posting on Instagram
In today’s world, social media is often the go-to for attracting clients, but it’s not the only way to build a successful tattoo business. In fact, choosing to avoid social media means you’ll need to work smarter, and harder. You will need to invest more time in networking, and put consistent effort into offline strategies. While this route will be challenging, it’s entirely possible to create a strong client base without a single post or profile. Here’s how to do it:
The Business of Tattooing - The Future of Tattoo Ink - Science or Fiction?!
Tattoos have always been a powerful form of self-expression, reflecting our identity, culture, and individuality. But imagine tattoos that not only look visually stunning but also interact dynamically with the body's chemistry, monitor health, or even communicate with a smartphone. Welcome to the cutting-edge world of bio-ink and interactive tattoos—the potential future of body art that MAY be beginning to capture imaginations around the globe.
The Business of Tattooing: Tattooing through chaos: what’s working in 2025
LET’S NAME WHAT’S HAPPENING:Booking is slower across the board - even for talented, established artists. Clients are canceling more often (money’s tight everywhere). Costs of ink, rent, and supplies have all gone up. Social media isn’t hitting the way it used to. And on top of that, you’re supposed to be an artist, a therapist, a business owner, and a content creator? Let’s take a breath.
The Business of Tattooing - AI Tools for Tattoo Artists That Are Not Creating Art
As a tattoo artist, you already juggle many tasks—from managing appointments to creating content and engaging with clients. While you’re deeply rooted in the creative process, some operational aspects can be time-consuming. Enter AI! Leveraging AI tools for business management, social media, scheduling, and more can free up time to focus on your art and your clients. Here’s a rundown of how to make AI work for you without it touching your creative process.
The Business of Tattooing - That’s Not ADHD — That’s Just Poor Shop Systems (And How to Actually Fix It)
You’re not a mess.You’re not bad at being organized.And babe, you don’t need to “just focus harder.”You need better systems that actually work with your brain. Tattooing demands insane levels of mental load every day:✅ Hygiene and bloodborne safety✅ Design focus✅ Client conversations✅ Time management✅ Physical stamina If you don’t have good systems in place, it’s not if you’ll burn out, it’s when.
The Business of Tattooing - How to take care of your body so you can continue taking care of your business
Tattooing requires patience, precision and often hours of sitting and standing in uncomfortable positions, this over time, can lead to physical pain, discomfort and even long term damage. You can try to prevent this in a few ways, but thinking about ergonomics is very important and the good news is that this is actually quiet simple.
The Business of Tattooing - Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Selling Out — It’s Buying In (to Your Worth)
If you flinched a little when you heard “affiliate marketing,” you’re not alone. Tattoo artists have been taught that making money outside of sessions is "cringe" or "selling out." Like if you’re not dying behind the chair 60 hours a week, you’re not legit. Babe, that’s a lie. Affiliate marketing done right isn’t about being fake, pushing junk, or selling your soul. It’s about getting paid for the influence, trust, and expertise you already share, every single day.
The Business of Tattooing - How to Protect Your Clients From Scams
Keep it simple! Don't overcomplicate it by having a million different ways to book. We recommend not booking through social media, but encouraging clients to email or complete an official form. The more options you give, the more opportunity there is for scammers to take advantage of.
The Business of Tattooing - How To Set Up An Engaged Instagram Account For Your Tattooing
YOUR ACCOUNT USERNAME, NAME AND BIO Your username should be your name or business name, as short as possible and if your name alone is not available; try adding a word for context "tattoo, tattoos, ink" for example if your name is Joey Smith, @joeysmith, @joeysmithtattoos, @inkbyjoey @joeytattoos etc. in your bio, your name should be your name or business name and then the city you work in and your profession. for example, Joey Smith | Tattoo Artist in Elkhart IN or Joey Smith Tattoos | Elkhart IN
The Business of Tattooing - Beyond Instagram: Using TikTok and Twitch to Build Your Tattoo Business
Instagram has long been a go-to platform for tattoo artists showcasing their portfolios, but if you're looking to grow your client base further and stand out from the crowd, it's time to explore less conventional, yet highly engaging platforms like TikTok and Twitch. Here's how artists are successfully expanding their businesses through these innovative channels.
The Business of Tattooing - You’re Not Just a Tattoo Artist — You’re a Business Owner.
Being good at tattooing is one thing.Running a sustainable, profitable, life-supporting business is another. If you’re living appointment to appointment, burning out, forgetting your taxes, and wondering why you're still struggling financially; It’s not because you’re not talented.It’s because no one ever taught you how to actually build your business. Let’s change that.
The Business of Tattooing - Tax Tips for Tattoo Artists
Here are some essential tips to help you stop leaving money on the table and start treating your tattoo income like the business it absolutely is:
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.
