[QUOTE=Asimovian]
I just got my first tattoo a couple of weeks ago, and reading this thread has suddenly made me feel VERY guilty about not tipping the artist. I had no idea, and the thought didn’t even occur to me. I’m talking to the friend I went with about this right now, and she said she didn’t know either.
:smack:
[/QUOTE]
Are you happy with the work that was done? Was it anything special? It is nice to stop by and show the artist how everything healed up. If it is especially nice, (s)he might wanna snap a pic for his album. Bringing a bottle of wine as a thank you is nice, especially if you are contemplating further work.
[QUOTE=vetbridge]
Are you happy with the work that was done? Was it anything special? It is nice to stop by and show the artist how everything healed up. If it is especially nice, (s)he might wanna snap a pic for his album. Bringing a bottle of wine as a thank you is nice, especially if you are contemplating further work.
[/QUOTE]
Unfortunately, I live in LA, and the artist is in Maryland. I got my tattoo done during a weekend visit with a friend on opposite coast.
The work itself was very simple for her – the whole thing took maybe 15 minutes. Still, I wish I’d shown a little more appreciation other than my enthusiastic thank you.
[QUOTE=Asimovian]
the whole thing took maybe 15 minutes. Still, I wish I’d shown a little more appreciation other than my enthusiastic thank you.
[/QUOTE]
Enthusiastic appreciation is probably enough for 15 minutes worth of work. Most of my pieces have taken a minimum of 3 hours per sitting; I usually tip $20, but mine are done by friends who do not charge. For a tattoo I got a few years ago, I tipped a guinea pig castration. Long story.
[QUOTE=vetbridge]
For a tattoo I got a few years ago, I tipped a guinea pig castration. Long story.
[/QUOTE]
I’m thinking my artist got off easy with a thank you…
Well, it isn’t an *interesting * story. My tattoo artist and his wife (a piercer) are both highly allergic to dogs and cats. So allergic, that I always shower after work before visiting them. They found that they could tolerate a hairless guinea pig (aka skinny pig). They really loved the little guy. I mentioned that he would be more pleasant once he sexually matured if he were neutered. So I did it.
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
<snip>Nope, I want a place as sterile (more, probably) as my doctor’s office with a guy who’s done a gazillion of these and has a dozen of his own, using a nice sharp needle. With a surgical steel post and ball, so there’s literally no maintenance required other than to keep my grubby hands off it and rinse it with warm water once a day - skin and body parts don’t adhere to surgical steel like they do other metals, so there’s none of this alcohol/soap/triple antibiotic ointment wiggle the thing thrice daily and delay the healing process nonsense that I dealt with for my lobe piercings. He also, like **11811 **says, recommended placement and discussed what type of jewelry I ultimately want to ensure it will look good and sit right in that place with my anatomy.
The fact that it hurt for about 30 seconds, and now three days later I’m already *sleeping *on that side with no discomfort and no lymphatic drainage, bleeding or redness tells me he done good. I don’t feel ripped off in the slightest, even if I probably could have saved a few bucks driving out to the 'burbs.
[/QUOTE]
The standard aftercare folder I get at Infinite (Professional Piercing & Body Jewelry - Infinite Body Piercing, Inc.) says to soak for 5 minutes daily (for the duration of the healing period) in 8 oz hot water mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of noniodized sea salt. I’ve been doing soaks with my septum ever since, in part because I keep getting stretched (going up to 6 ga at the end of October) and in part because it helps keep the nasal passages clean.
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
I bet I can guess the guinea pig’s version: “Chitter chitter chitter chit—SQUEEEE SQUEEEE SQUEEEEEEEE!”
[/QUOTE]
You’re not well. Please don’t change.
[QUOTE=11811]
The standard aftercare folder I get at Infinite (Professional Piercing & Body Jewelry - Infinite Body Piercing, Inc.) says to soak for 5 minutes daily (for the duration of the healing period) in 8 oz hot water mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of noniodized sea salt.
[/QUOTE]
That’s a long time to get a guinea pig to hold still.
[QUOTE=vetbridge]
Actually, if you read the guinea pig’s lines as written, very loudly, that would be very accurate.
[/QUOTE]
I know, that’s why it took me so long to post it! My son’s friend is over working on homework, and he used to raise guinea pigs. “Nick, how would you spell the sound a guinea pig makes when it’s happy?” I asked. “Well, they sort of chitter sometimes,” he replied. “What about when they’re pissed off?” “Squee.” “Surprised?” “Squee.” “Sad?” “Squee. It’s always squee.”
See? I did research ‘n’ everything. That there was a finely crafted post that only LOOKED like a smart ass off the cuff one liner!
*ETA: Words cannot adequately express the hillariosity that is a 14 year old emo boy blandly saying “It’s always squee.”
[QUOTE=WhyNot]
Check the fine print. The hourly wage may be $10 an hour, but then they often have to pay “stage fees” of $50 or more a night, as well as something for the DJ, something for the bartenders and something for the guy that walks her out to her car after close.
My college roommate was a dancer. Still is, in several clubs in three states, and that’s pretty standard, from what she tells me.
[/QUOTE]
Since I last responded to this thread, I have learned through other sources that you are right. SO I stand corrected. And I am now VERY surprised there are women out there willing to be strippers. It also explains why I have felt hustled in some of these places-they’re just passing it on.
