There’s been tons of times I’ve walked into a tattoo shop, to be met with signs plastered all over the walls about whining and pain. Smells of cigarettes and marijuana throughout the building. Obvious signs of people under varying influences working and being worked on alike. Sanitation questionable , questions disliked, and generally the air is thick with the idea that as a client you’re small and should be thankful to be there. It’s no surprise this environment breeds discomfort, misinformation, and in many cases abuse. In this blog I wanna talk about the importance of fostering a safe environment for clients but also artists / employees. Discuss the seemingly infinite benefits it offers and some of the things that others may gloss over in their own expectations.
Blurred Lines
As a piercer it would be remiss of me to speak on these things without explaining some basics of working in the industry. We explicitly work in and with arbitrary areas. Lots of room for guessing and interpretation, little pushback from clients (we’re seen as the “professional”), and just a general entitlement and freedom that lets us create an image that others have to accept to work with us. Despite my efforts , I’m no different and have crafted my own little world in my room. I like to imagine it’s for the best and I don’t do anything harmful or negligent, I don’t put people down or make anyone uncomfortable ever. However that’s a big reach when it comes to the reality that it’s almost impossible to keep every client happy and comfortable. All that to say , as a client more often than not, you’re walking into an illusion, a crafted space, and are expected to make all the right choices with the assistance of whoever you meet that day. It’s important to remember that we are , at the end of the day, sales people. We want you to buy our services and our products, and that creates a wide range of practices. I like to joke it’s like buying a car or going to a mechanic, but the general public doesn’t view it as negatively as those situations.
Benefits of Transparency
As time goes on and the world progresses, so do business models and consumer knowledge. One thing people subconsciously know about tattoos and piercings is that they don’t know much about them. The industry bred artists to walk into appointments nose up, confidence high, and no task impossible. The transparent reason for this being , it’s faster and easier to soothe your anxiety or doubts with blanket confidence than to educate ourselves and give you long term benefits as a client. After decades of this it makes it hard to change tracks and admit your shortcomings as a professional. Expose the things you don’t know and what you want to change. Meet your clients with compassion and understanding of their past experiences and offer them a new take on what our industry can be. It’s easy enough to type, it’s hard to do in practice. There are safe places to start though , beginning with things like price transparency, material quality and sourcing, and overall just a more pleasant attitude towards your clients aspirations and ideas. One of my favorite parts of this approach is the trust and acceptance you get back. I don’t fear making mistakes in the same ways I used to, because my clients trust me enough to tell me and let me find them a solution. I’m met everyday with an honestly thought out faith and compassion , and I get to give it back in a beautiful circle. I never have to struggle with my clients telling me the truth because they know I’d never berate them. I don’t have to dance around admitting my mistakes when it comes to troubleshooting problems, and they don’t either. Genuinely it makes the job a pleasure , even during the hardest days. The list goes on and on , as you begin to foster an environment so open, your clientele increases , you get more access to fun projects and opportunities, you spend less time doing the same thing over and over, and more time developing your interest and skills. It really is a domino effect , and that’s just my perspective as a piercer. I’ve heard countless votes of confidence from clients who in one word describe the feeling as safe/comfortable. It’s actually kind of ironic that eventually it just morphs into a safer way of blanket fixing those fears and anxiety , after enough time has passed and people know what to expect of your studio.
A Final Note
This obviously is extremely anecdotal, and my personal opinion. To fellow artists, I don’t mean to infer that if we don’t share identical business models , you don’t care or are negligent. To clients , don’t expect everyone to show their knowledge and passion in the same ways I choose to. Going back to the beginning , this is an industry of nuance and individuality. We get to create these places in the same ways you get to choose which ones you enter. I never want to put down on anyone for being different than me, especially as much as I change regularly. The main take away from this is trying to preach the benefits of transparency in our workplaces and interactions. It’s a gradual process, that takes years to change , but even little efforts show and make everyone more comfortable. As I continue to grow and practice blogging , I want to leave some doors open on these topics so I can come back to them and foster the conversations more. Just like with my short post on jewelry , I have a massive interest in client focused topics and intend to expand on these ideas more in the future!
Dupree Piercings 