tattoo people- tipping question

Since I don't have a tat, I wouldn't know if there's a different protocol for tipping in the tat world that is different from other service type places, such as restaraunts. In a restaraunt, I always tip at least 20% based on the original bill, even if I have a coupon. Case in point, for DW's birthday, we went to Red Lobster and a friend had given us a coupon. I still tipped 20 % on the original bill and the waiter basically got the value of the coupon in the difference.

So, let's say your DH's tat was $300 but the artist did it for $250. I would still tip $60, which brings the total bill up to $310. I don't know if tat artists pay stall lease like cosmetologists but, in any case, the artist has cleared a profit. Unless other things are taken in trade. A cosmetologist friend has trimmed my hair for free but I helped her move to her new place. So, giving me a $20 trim cost her less than the $200 - 300 she would have paid movers.

 Do you think there would be a difference in what you tip if the artist was independant, or worked for a company?  I mean an independant artist would only need to pay for his time and his supplies out of the cost of the tattoo.  One working for someone else, would likely have to pay a percentage to the employer as well right?  At least in rent or something along those lines.

Personally no matter if I rented a chair or if I worked on my own, I would inclued the price of materials, my time, my chair rental and extra to make a profit.

I would probably tip the same to both. I'm not big on figuring out percentages I just kind of give what I can afford. When tipping at resturants I always tip based on the waiter/waitress. I have friends that have tat's and I'll probably see if they tipped or not before I get my own tattoo.

I asked my son who has a few tattoo's. He said he tips 20%, there was one tattoo that he got that really took a lot of time and he tipped the guy the 20% and then added another $25.00.

This has nothing to do with tipping but, when ds's  girlfriend wanted a tattoo, he brought her to the same guy that did his, the guy did a good job on 2 of his. When Ds and his girlfriend walked in the place, this guy was totally wasted, ds said he was a mess. He took his girlfriend elsewhere and pulled the couple of teenage girls that were there waiting to get done aside and told them they should go elsewhere, he doesn't know if they took his advice. I told him he should have gone to the police station and reported the guy.

dubilpie

 this guy was totally wasted, ds said he was a mess.

That's a real shame.  Good call by your son to beat it out of there.

I usually tip around 30%.  The last tattoo that I got turned out better than I ever could have hoped for.  It was also pretty complicated, so I tipped around 50%.  It was well worth it.