Tattoo Drawing Deposits

I have a question to all custom artists and shop owners about how you handle custom drawing deposits. First I would like to mention that It has been my experience for the past 13 years that the deposit is paid to the artist in whole since many of us spend our off time working on the drawings at home. And in situations where the deposit is for an appointment then the deposit is split according to the artists percentage (if that is the arrangement instead of rent). Today, my off day, I get a call from one of the other artist from the shop I work at (3D Ink Tattoo). He tells me that the owner was giving him grief about a drawing he did for a client that was based off of a reference image. The owner told him that it didn't count as a custom drawing therefore he owed him his cut from the deposit. He went a little further and stated "this is gonna change, no more of this. You guys shouldn't be getting paid to do your job." Now I should mention we only ask for $20 for custom drawings, and we discount it from the tattoo if they show up on time. I have charged more in the past ($50), but we came to an agreement on that amount. How do all of you feel about this? This is something that I have wondered about from time to time. Thanx for any considerations and opinions offered to this subject. Jeremie Miller 3D Ink Tattoo Studio Pensacola, Fl

I also work in FL. We charge a $20 fee, then subtract it from the cost if they show up for the appointment. It's the only way to do it. So many shops (including us, I guess) don't charge extra, and with the shows on TV and what not, people are not expecting to pay extra for a custom tattoo. You have to at least charge $20 a deposit though, or else you'll waste hours drawing for appointments that no-show. If I do that, and they don't show up, I buy myself a steak, on them, and make the design available for walk in clients. It's win-win.

Oh, O forgot, since you are in FL, check out FloridaTattooGuild.com for important updates about upcoming legislation. We've been working hard with representatives in Tallahassee for a few years, and we need all the imput we can get! Help us protect our industry in FL!

I was a guild memeber for several years, but was unimpressed. The meeting were always in orlando, and for two years I never received any pamphlets or a peep from the reps. Not even when I worked for the chairmans shop!!! I will check again, but the last time I checked the website it wasn't even up anymore. Hopefully things have changed.