Would you get a tattoo from someone who didn’t have any themselves?
I have a really steady hand from doing lots and lots of henna, and a very good eye for color and placement of design. People keep asking me if I tattoo as well. I’ve thought about it, but I don’t really want a tattoo myself., and I’m concerned that this might make a difference to potential clients.
I’m comparing it to a friend of mine who is studying midwifery without having a baby or ever intending to do so herself. I wouldn’t hire her, no matter how many births she’s been at. If you haven’t done it yourself, you’ll never understand.
What do you all think? Would it make a difference to you?
I would want to see examples of your work, and since most people don’t tattoo themselves…
Your line work and the cleanliness of your shop are the two most important determinants as to whether or not I’d go to you.
Sorry, I am sure you are talented, but no, if you didn’t have one, you wouldn’t be putting one on me. It’s more of a culture than just art, and you have to have one to part of that culture…
Depends… If you had photos of your actual work. Previous tattoos you have done. I would consider it. Then again I’d wonder why you didn’t have a tat. Besides just because I can’t see a tat on you doesn’t mean you dont have one. I have 4 tats. 1 on the back of my neck. I have long hair to my waist. The other 3, well, lets say you have to know me really well to get to see them. Just take lots of photos of your actual tattoo work.
I don’t have one yet, but I plan to get one fairly soon. Frankly, I’d go to someone who had no ink themselves but a portfolio of beautifully done work long before I’d even consider going to someone who had tons of badly done tattoos (if someone is willing to tolerate shitty tats on themselves, what does that say for their standards for your tattoo?) or a portfolio of mediocre or bad work. I don’t give a rat’s ass about someone understanding what it’s like to get a tattoo/have a baby/undergo physical therapy/anything else, as long as I’m going to get the best possible job from them.
Sure would. The quality of their porfolio matters more than what’s on their body.
I have 2 tattoos, BTW.
I’d hire her too. Hell, I’ve had male gynos/OBs before, and they were fab! Dedication, empathy, and skill matter more than the dangley bits or personal experiences, IMHO.
I’m not trying to be rude, but:
That seems al ittle close-minded to me. What if you suffered a ruptured appendix, and as you were beign wheeled into the OR, you stopped and asked the doctor,“Excuse me, do you still have your appendix?” He says yes, so you say ,“Well, I must decline the surgery then. It’s a culture thing, you still have yours so how can you know what it’s liek to lose one I will say good day to you, sir.”
I know it’s not that good of an example, but I’m just trying to convey how foolish that statement sounds to me. Would you go to the doctor who’s had fifteen malpractice suits filed against him, but has no appendix, and therefore undertands the culture? Of course not, so why go to a tattoo artist jsut because he is convered in bad, cliche, fading tattoos when there is another up the street who does good work, but jsut doesn’t feel the need to get it herself? Or maybe doesn’t trust anyone else on her body?
I’m not trying to be rude, but:
That seems al ittle close-minded to me. What if you suffered a ruptured appendix, and as you were beign wheeled into the OR, you stopped and asked the doctor,“Excuse me, do you still have your appendix?” He says yes, so you say ,“Well, I must decline the surgery then. It’s a culture thing, you still have yours so how can you know what it’s liek to lose one I will say good day to you, sir.”
I know it’s not that good of an example, but I’m just trying to convey how foolish that statement sounds to me. Would you go to the doctor who’s had fifteen malpractice suits filed against him, but has no appendix, and therefore undertands the culture? Of course not, so why go to a tattoo artist jsut because he is convered in bad, cliche, fading tattoos when there is another up the street who does good work, but jsut doesn’t feel the need to get it herself? Or maybe doesn’t trust anyone else on her body?
This is correct.
If you were not trying to be rude, why did you say it twice?
Seriously, your points are valid, even though I think your analogy is a stretch, a big one. OTOH, the question asked was “Would you…?” I answered for me. Others have said they would, that’s great too. Tattoos are a very personal choice.
To each his or her own…
I have two tattoos, and agree with those who say that they would get one from you if your portfolio were good. But I wouldn’t agree to be your first customer, and I imagine that few others would … so there’s a bit of a Catch-22 there. But it’s the same catch that’s true for anyone trying to break into a field where people like to see at least a little experience, and it works out for others all of the time. Go for it! 
Being tattooed makes you part of a culture. The tattoo itself, however, is just art. I can’t see how not having a tattoo would make anyone less capable of creating a beautiful work of art on someone else. Like you say, though, to each their own…
Sure I would, with no hesitation. I base my opinion entirely on samples of previous work (which is a bit of a catch-22 in itself for a beginning artist). I don’t see tattoos as a culture – it may be a good conversation starter, but if someone else has one, that doesn’t mean we share anything in common beyond the fact that we both have ink.
I might find it a little unusual, but not off-putting. It would be kind of like finding a woodworker who makes beautiful hand-carved chess sets but mentions they don’t play chess.
I used to work in a tattoo shop with one of my best friends from college (who still does), and of the dozens of artists I know or know of, exactly one has no tattoos. She’s apparently a great artist and does great work, but just never really cared about getting any herself. She’s considered a bit of an anomaly and we’ve ofetn talked about how odd it would be to get a tattoo from somebody who’d never had one, but nobody I know would refuse to get a tattoo from her or have her work in their shop just because of that. So, my answer is no, as long as I liked your portfolio, I wouldn’t care about whether you had any tattoos any more than I would care about whether the guy making my cabinets or writing my will had tattoos. Why should I care who has tattoos and who doesn’t? It’s just ink.
If someone comes to you for a tattoo and asks why you don’t have one yourself, say “Because tattoos are for creepy weirdos, man”. 
[QUOTE=Misnomer]
I have two tattoos, and agree with those who say that they would get one from you if your portfolio were good. But I wouldn’t agree to be your first customer, and I imagine that few others would … so there’s a bit of a Catch-22 there. But it’s the same catch that’s true for anyone trying to break into a field where people like to see at least a little experience, and it works out for others all of the time. Go for it! QUOTE]
If you have friends who are wanting tats & willing to let you give them one go for it. You might have to do it for free, but at least you’ll have some work to show. Getting your foot in the door is the first step.
Like others said, I would have no problem with having a tattoo done by a tattooless artist as long as they did good work.
Random anecdote:
The hardest part would be finding a willing victim – or, uh, friend – to practice on as you’re getting started. One of my tattoos was done by a good friend who was JUST getting started and all he had to show me of his work was his own arm and leg (mine turned out good, for the record). I don’t know if it’s standard for people to practice on themselves, but it seems at least somewhat common.
Sure, I’d consider it. Building a portfolio would be important, but I’d even consider being your first customer, if we were friendly enough. If you freaked out as soon as the needle hit the skin and couldn’t finish it, I’d have a freckle; if you botched it up, I’d ask you to stop, and I’d get the job finished somewhere else. (I’d probably be watching your progress pretty closely if you were doing your first tattoo on me.)
I believe many artists practice on themselves, or on friends. Or practice on a balloon–no wait, that’s for barbers practicing shaving, right? Some tattooists do practice on potatoes, but they say it isn’t the same. Potatoes don’t flinch like some people do, and they don’t bleed and stretch the way skin does. But you might check out this site, or do a search for “tattoo practice skins.” I have no idea how well they work, but they do exist.
Absolutely. As long as you have a nice portfolio, it’s fine. I actually got a new tat last weekend who can’t have tats because it’s against his religion. Go figure.
And people who tattoo themselves end up with wings that look like onions
My friend used mostly oranges to practice on at first. Then she did do one on her own ankle, and two on other friends. Mine was her fourth tattoo on actual human skin, and I love it lots. It’s not quite as technically perfect as some work, but it was done with a lot of love and good vibes. (And it was free!)
It wouldn’t even occur to me to ask to see your own tattoos before I let you tattoo me. See your work, sure. But given the ackwardness of tattooing yourself, I wouldn’t assume that any tatts you have are done by you anyway.