Getting Started as a Guest Tattoo Artist │Painful Pleasures (2024)

You’ve been working at your homebase tattoo shop for a while, but the opportunity to be a guest tattoo artist is calling your name. A guest tattoo spot experience is a unique challenge that tests your skillset and mettle as an artist. If you’re considering this opportunity, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s break down all the best guest tattoo artist tips for getting the most out of your experience.

Pros of Being a Guest Tattoo Artist

Stepping into the guest tattoo artist role may seem new and intimidating, but there are many real advantages to doing so.

Get More Experience

Traveling to different studios introduces you to new artists, styles, and ways of doing things. This kind of experience is invaluable to your artistic growth. Guest spotting as a tattoo artist also introduces you to a new potential client pool—that means stepping out of your comfort zone and building experiences with new people outside of your hometown. You’ll emerge a more experienced artist… and you’ll potentially have new clients, too!

Gain More Exposure + Network with Artists

Exposure and networking are key to your growth! What’s the point of being an awesome tattoo artist if nobody knows you? As we mentioned above, working as a guest tattoo artist in a new area exposes you and your work to tons of artists and potential new clients. This gives you more than just valuable experiences with new people… it gives you exposure and clout while raising awareness about your style, so you can grow from a business perspective.

Besides, it’s not always what you know—it’s who you know. Linking up with artists in different shops not only introduces you to new clients, but opportunities too. You never know who the next artist or client knows, so making yourself known to others as you travel could score you potential opportunities in the future.

Learn New Techniques

Ever heard the saying “Iron sharpens iron?” Well, you are bound to learn something while working alongside other tattoo artists. Whether it’s improving your linework, color packing skills, or shading methods, working in different shops exposes you to different work habits and other tidbits you’ll carry with you throughout your career. And it doesn’t end with tattooing techniques. You might learn different ways to enhance your workflow or encounter new supplies that change your whole game.

Travel the World

Time to get your passport ready! Aside from all of the above benefits, traveling the world is just fun. So guest spotting overall introduces you to new, life-changing experiences that broaden your horizons.

Earn More Money

It isn’t all about clout and life-changing experiences. It’s about your wallet, too! With time and experience, working as a guest tattoo artist can make you a substantial amount of money… particularly when you start growing that client list!

Finding the Right Guest Tattoo Artist Opportunity

Finding the right shop in the right city as a guest tattoo artist takes some leg work in the beginning. After all, you’ll want to get the most bang for your buck. You’ll also want to find the shop that’s right for you. Here are the most important things to research before choosing your guest tattooing spot.

Where Do You WANT to Go?

While your trip is primarily work-related, you won’t be working the entire time. Make a short list of the places you want to visit for fun, then look for tattoo shops in those areas. After that, create another list of activities or locales you’d like to visit while you’re there. This will ensure you have things to do when you are finished tattooing clients for the day

Check Out the Area’s Tattoo Scene

It’s important to make sure the area you choose has some tattoo activity.

• Does your chosen city host tattoo conventions?
• Is it a melting pot of different people and cultures?
• Do the people who live in the city even have tattoos?

If you’re looking in a more conservative or rural area, these questions are especially important. If you guest spot at a place with a small client pool, you’ll miss out on exposure, cash, and more.

Find the Right Shop

Searching for the right tattoo shop as a guest tattoo artist involves doing thorough research —not only on the city or region but also on the tattoo shops themselves. Let’s say you found a tattoo shop in a culturally diverse city, but it hardly has any clients—or worse, it’s losing clients.

A tattoo shop’s social media or website is a great way to gauge its popularity and quality. Also, objective review databases like Google and Yelp show you what the shop owners want—and don’t want—you to see.

For instance, social media and artist profiles present a distinguished artist with lots of clientele. However, the comments—on both social media and databases—tell a different story. You don’t want to end up working in a toxic, unclean, or unprofessional work environment, so researching shops you’re interested in before you book is your best bet.

Get Your Business in Order

It isn’t enough to make sure you’re financially ready to travel and support yourself during your guest spot tattooing appointment. You also need to know how much your prospective shop charges their guest tattoo artist to work during their stay—if they charge at all.

On average, tattoo shops can charge a flat rate of $100–$150 or 20% of your earnings per day, whichever is cheaper. However, some shops charge more than that. You’ll want to be absolutely sure about what your guest shop will charge you to work. Stepping into a guest spot experience without a thorough understanding of how much of your take-home pay you’ll actually be taking home can lead to a stickier (less profitable) experience than you may have hoped for.

Advertise! Advertise!

Chances of you making money while at a guest tattoo shop engagement are low if potential clientele don’t know you’re coming. Therefore, you must advertise yourself. It’s a good idea to announce your guest tattoo engagement at least two weeks to a month before the event. Make your announcement on Instagram, TikTok, or whatever social platforms you favor.

Going into your guest tattooing spot with booked clients ensures you make money. However, having no clients can cost you and your guest shop money. It’s also a good idea to leave some space on your schedule for walk-ins should they be available.

Things to Remember about Guest Spot Tattooing

Reach Out to Tattoo Shop Managers

Securing a guest tattoo spot involves more than just showing up on the first day. You must officially apply and accept the position offered. How do you know what shops have guest tattooing vacancies? Checking out social media or websites is a great first step for checking availability. You can also contact a shop directly via phone or email.

If a tattoo shop requires an application, you can find them on their website or social media. Be sure to follow the application directions carefully—incomplete or inaccurate applications may not be considered.

Also, make sure to read and fully understand the tattoo shop’s requirements for their guest tattoo artists. You’ll want to know the shop’s rules, what to bring, and what supplies the shop will have available for your during your appointment.

You’re a Guest!

Remember you’re a guest in the host tattoo artists’ home. Humility and hard work go a long way. Even if you don’t pick up many clients during your stay—you could be invited to the guest spot again if you pass the vibe check.

Live and Learn

You’re likely to make mistakes before and during your guest spot tattooing opportunity. Maybe you won’t book any clients—that’s ok! Reflect on what worked during your stay and what didn’t. Apply what worked to your next guest tattooing opportunity.

Keep trying! Practice Makes Perfect

Eventually, you’ll learn your likes, dislikes and best practices when booking guest tattooing opportunities. The more opportunities and experience you get under your belt, the more well-rounded of a tattoo artist you will be.

Go Score a Guest Spot!

That’s it! You’re ready to begin your new side quest of guest spot tattooing. Who knows, conducting thorough research, honing your creative skills, and working on the right opportunities could turn your side quest into a full-on lucrative adventure!