been tattooing for roughly 3 years now and only work 4 days a week and find every spare minuet in my days off is taken up by drawing for clients or replying or changing ideas or organising materials or doing bookwork, this vid pretty much explains exactly what i should do next and how to get started with proper time management!! Thankyou
This was incredibly insightful, thank you so very much! For the past decade, I've spent 97% of my time on art commissions (4500 or so), and only in the past year have I realized how burned out I've been. And have a desperate need to focus on my own content for me, my comics. I just opened my own private tattooing space, and i'll be looking to use some of your mentions. I've done some of them already, (stopping a few services), and have definitely felt a positive change for me mentally. This video just verified I should definitely keep on that path (and you've given ways to that may even improve it further). Sorry for the long unsolicited sharing, just gotta thank you for sharing. So glad I found you in this early transitioning period of my career!
*3 things:* *1st* ; this vid just resuscitated my tattooing ambitions [thank you!] *2nd* , Your outlook on business is universally awesome. *3rd* , *COOLEST BOOK COLLECTION BACK THERE!!*
I regret I can’t like this video more than once. These are my current struggles as a beginner feeling completely overwhelmed and lost, not feeling like I get anything done like I know I should, and knowing I seriously needed a proven blueprint. It’s exactly what I need. Thank you!
Your commentary is so well done. They way you put to words ideas and ideals I've developed thru the years it's nice to know that I'm not alone in what I think and feel about certain subjects. It's also nice to know that I'm on the right path since I'm hearing my thoughts coming out of an artist's mouth that I have so much respect for. Keep'em coming. thanks
I am also a paramedic and the best thing ever said was a mentor of mine mike ohara...when boss said we are EMS (earn money sleeping) and cant get raises...mike responded we should get paid for what we may have to do...not what we do. lol.
This is what Ive been struggling with for over a year now, just hoping that I'll just fall into a rhythm. Constantly grinding through the day to day Sisyphus work model. Not improving or having the time to promote and grow as an artist. But this episode has elucidated precisely what Ive been thinking in the back of my mind but not addressing. I'll def rewatch this a few more times with a pen and pad. Thanks so much for this episode Jake! You Rock!!
i do that! 1hr drawing, 10 mins excercise, 1hr drawing, 10 mins excersise.... repeat. Could be some yoga or weights or whatever. just helps me on 'days off'
This episode is GOLD!!!!! I was just really sick for 3 weeks, & pretty much haven't been able to do much for a month. I really think it's because I felt pressure to get all these different things done to launch this business. Also feeling like, I'll never make it in the business if I don't run myself in to the ground. I just can't function if I'm just mass producing & merely marking off check lists. So this past week or two I've been re-evaluating the way I'm doing things, priorities l, etc. so this video came at the perfect time, & gives me a renewed hope, that I don't have to completely run myself into the ground to get things done. So thank you!
I always think about the years the tattooer spent in art school or a street shop or the 1000 Koi's they drew before your Koi as an example. Last couple tattoos I've got were pretty good size and done quickly by great tattooers and I was happy to pay what would appear to be a high hourly rate but really it's not.
Your a good dude Jake. I've been watching since day one and you and your crew gave me some great inside into this world. I'm professionaly a few months in now and my work has improved. Thank you guys for all of your hard work. Keep it coming! ps Timmy B. lol
That's why I never got into tattooing because of the job aspect of it...I don't want to be forced to do something ya know...thats why as a hobby I'm super happy
great stuff Jake! F.ocus I.ntent R.espect E.ducation S.upport I.nspiration D.iscipline E.ffort FIRESIDE!! thanx for all the great content and inspiration! Always worth the watch!
Working solo I found for me the best approach was to never let the gopher work have my attention twice, if I have to do paperwork I don't even look at it until iam going to sit down and do it, If I look and read it then put it down and come back later I just wasted a bunch of time. Never looking twice saves me a ton of time.
Hey Jake, Great episode as usual, lots of good information and insights. So, I have been having this discussion with other artists lately and it seems to be a real problem here locally anyways and not sure if you have had similar issues and how you approach them without chasing away or offending clients even though its kind of offensive to us that they do this. I am talking about Clients referring to everything after that first sitting as a "touch up" when the tattoo is nowhere near done and needs layering and tightening etc but they think it should be Free cause its a "touch up" in their eyes. Now don't get me wrong, I have no issue with doing free touch ups if thats truly what it is but I am tired of arguing with people about layering sessions being called free touch ups or the client tans the shit out of a tattoo over the summer and then expects a "free touch up" of the Entire tattoo. It has become a real issue for me and I want to really put a solid stop to it without offending anyone including my self worth as an artist. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks man! ~Ron Antonick
That's a common issue I know. I try to let people know on the front end how I work and that the effects that I get in my tattoos can't be achieved with a single pass. Normally if there is any issue with that, it will come up on the front end and can be addressed before the tattoo is even started.
Part of me wishes that you would have more of these helpful life tip videos. This is the same shit I'm dealing with at work. My only problem is I'm delegating to people I cant trust to do my old job. Like always dude, I'm so appreciative of your videos.
You can have a manager or desk person or assistant but most they can do is aid in organizing your schedule..Or social media. The tattooer does consult, design artwork, tattoo. You could waste your time commenting on useless videos that do no good for the tattoo community or posting useless social media selfies.. Reason why many of us struggle to make $150 is because of the deluge of noob tattooers and the fact that potential clients care more about how much the tattoo will cost.. If they only knew that the more experienced tattooer will do the job faster AND better. Hence cheaper. That should be the focus of tattooers jerking it on the web.. Educate the public not the rising new tattooer.. The new tattooer will get better or they won't .. But the ever ignorant client never learns shit.
Don't begrudge you at all. I know you are pimping your product. Man's gotta make a living. The message was good. People need to know not to undervalue their skill set.
Great video really helpful thank you so much. I have a quick question on the scheduler you use is it an app or off the internet where can I find this? I would love to use this sounds really helpful. Thank you
Just go to squareup.com. you'll find the calendar/scheduler there. It's a monthly subscription. I know there are other similar services out there as well
Dude running a tattoo shop is easy.. pay bills order supplies hire desk person to keep the toilet seat free of piss. Once a year update certs rinse and repeat. Social media is an option but Id just hire someone IF I GAVE ASHIT. but I don't. I love tattooing not pretending to be the coolest guy ever
I have a question about how You charge for tattoos. My artist was going to bill me for the 9 hours I was there, but only 4.5 hours out of that was needle to skin time. He mentioned time it took the stencil to be placed or marker to dry (2 hours before we began), and took long smoke breaks for 30 minutes to an hour while I waited on him. Is it normal for an artist to bill you for the time you’re in the shop or was he trying to pull money out of me
I think he was just trying to get more for it than effort put in. I don’t charge for prep time. Needle in skin only. Granted, I’m between $150-$200 per hour, but, at the same time, I do tattoos from top to bottom of the back in a days work, depending on the style (10 hours or less at times.) Most times I look at the final product at the end, determine value and shave$100 or 2 off the top just to assist my clients in affordability. I see a lot of artists not working that fast. In my personal opinion, if they have been tattooing for a while they should be that effective and efficient if they had self motivation to get to that point. I don’t expect every artist to be that fast, but at the same time I feel like I’ve seen a lot of laziness amongst my peers at times. At the end of the day, if you feel an artist isn’t putting their all into your tattoo, I would research more artists and don’t stop your artist search until you are completely comfortable with your artist regardless of price. If they’re expensive they should also be worth it for you.
Fireside Tattoo Network yeah I have it setup now but I am having a bit of a learning curve right now. I may try setting up a budget type appointment. And see how that works.
Hey brother y don't you start only responding the frist hour after an upload and after that answer the ones u feel needing answered that way u can stay involved makes ppl tune in early if they really have an important question I know I have a few
Auberon Wolf we have rebuilt our website and it screwed with all of our links. We’re in the process of getting it all corrected. Hopefully will be done by next week. Sorry for the trouble.
