FAQ
(frequently asked questions)
WHERE ARE YOU!!!!
What do you do?
How risky is this whole tattooing thing?
How much does tattooing cost?
What will my family and friends think about my tattoo?
drinking, drugs...? i'm scared :(
How much does it hurt to get tattooed?
What about my tattoo design?
How about tattoo conventions?
I like your tattoos, but do I really have to listen to your godless hippy crap?
WHERE ARE YOU!!!!
Tuesday and Wednesday,
Cicada Tattoo
Northgate and Aurora Ave in Seattle
Seattle
call my cell
206 245 7664
www.cicadatattoo.com
Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun
Spider Monkey Tattoos
4th Avenue Olympia Friday and Saturday Cell (858)337-1710.
www.spidermonkeytattoos.com
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What do you do?
Among other things, I am a professional custom tattoo artist, working in Seattle and Olympia, Washington. I design and apply tattoos for people based on their individual needs. I'm not a cookie-cutter tattooist and put a lot of heart into me tattoo work.
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How risky is this whole tattooing thing?
Tattooing is perfectly safe when done by a knowledgeable, trained, and professional tattooist. There are a few things you can check to insure that this is the case. 1... Ask to see a tattoo portfolio. This is a collection of photographs of finished tattoo work. If you choose to bypass this one very major detail, you have no assurance of the skill level of the tattooist, and you deserve the tattoo you get. Also, a tattoo artist's portfolio presentation speaks volumes about his or her professionalism. 2... Ask to see an autoclave. An autoclave is an instrument that sterilizes the tattooing instruments by exposing them to steam and pressure for a period of time (generally 250 deg, 15 psi, and 20 minutes AT temp and pressue). Tattoo equipment to be sterilized should be idividually packaged with a new, sterilized set-up being used for every customer. 3... Also check the following; new tattoo needles (duh!), disposable gloves, barrier films, hard surface disinfectant, handwashing areas with antibacterial soap, and general cleanliness of the tattoo studio. Remember it's your tattoo, your health, your life, and therefore YOUR responsibility. Getting tattooed by someone who does not practice safe tattooing methods can get you sick. Hepatitis, TB, staph and fungal infections...the list goes on... are all possible risks associated with improper sterlization and cross-contamination prevention.
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How much does tattooing cost?
Tattoo pricing has much to do with the type of work your getting. Generally, small tattoos are priced up front, based on the amount of work the tattoo design will take to complete. Large-scale custom tattoo work gets what I call "The Cool Shit Discount"... that's $120 per hour for the application of the tattoo. I say "Discount", because You get much more for your money this way. First, the tattoo design is yours and yours alone. This in itself is priceless. Secondly, you only pay for the time it takes to apply the tattoo. The drawing time (which often takes longer than the tattoo itself) is on me. All I require is a $60 nonrefundable deposit that is applied to the final price of your tattoo. I do this because large-scale custom tattoo work is what I enjoy most and the more of it I have in my tattooing portfolio, the more I get to do. Granted, this process often takes time, but it's well worth the wait.
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What will my family and friends think about my tattoo?
F*ck 'em. It's your skin. Your life. Your conscience. YOUR tattoo! Ask yourself what YOU think about being tattooed. Don't let others dictate what you find regrettable.
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drinking, drugs...? i'm scared :(
I have a hard and fast rule... one that eleviates all need for decision making on my part and has served me well. If I can smell you, I won't tattoo you. I don't care if you smell like booze or butt :). People don't make the best tattoo decisions when intoxicated... And tattooing drunks sucks...really... They smell bad. They bleed. They won't sit still. They like to vomit. I don't like vomit. Please do me the favor of being straight, level-headed, and well-fed before coming in to get tattooed. This will make the whole tattooing process go more smoothly.
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How much does it hurt to get tattooed?
The answer is different for everyone, but getting tattooed is never as bad as people expect... not with a good tattooist. The sensation of being tattooed is similar to a cat scratch, and the tattoo feels kinda bruised and burned for a few days afterward. It generally hurts most in the first 15-20 minutes, then you get used to it. Honestly, the more you relax, the easier it is. It's just a tattoo.
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What about my tattoo design?
I can design your tattoo from any reference you bring me, or that we have on hand at the tattoo shop. The internet, library, greeting cards, t-shirts, fabric and wallpaper patterns are all good places to look for tattoo reference. Or give me a sketch (no matter how sketchy), talk to me about size, area, style, budget, and turn me loose. I pride myself in giving people exactly what they never knew they always wanted. Good tattoo artists put alot of effort into developing our styles and we all prefer to "do our thing". The most important thing is that you get a tattoo you'll be happy with. You're gonna have to wear it.
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How about tattoo conventions?
The last couple years I've attended Physical Graffiti, Philladelphia Eddie's, Tattoo Tour, and Inkslinger's Ball, Pomona, and Long Beach. Always down for more, and I love to tattoo at shows, so if you've got a booth you'd like to split, just let me know. Call my cell# 206 245 7664.
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I like your tattoos, but do I really have to listen to your godless hippy crap?
Of course not. In fact, my former bosses and co-workers were was as offended by my views as you may be (hence the "former" part) You are paying me for my time, not my opinions. Just tell me to shut up. Now... if anyone wants to pay me for my opinions, I'm cool with that, too.
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