Proposing a Solution for Creative Control
I'd like to begin this article by expressing my gratitude for clients. They are the people who help pay our bills as artists, and we really couldn't do what we love without them. Clients invest their time and money into us, and I think that deserves some recognition.
Although clients are sometimes difficult, there are ways to get them to trust your creative vision for their tattoo. Oftentimes, clients have a specific image in mind that they're reluctant to let go of. However, this can disrupt the potential for an amazing tattoo. In this article, we'll discuss how you can persuade your clientele to give up some (or all) control and allow you to do what you do best--create beautiful art!
The Most Common Problem
Some clients know exactly what they want and make it easy for us. They come in, point at the wall, and sit down in the chair. However, other clients are more difficult because we have to take time to craft something specifically for them. These clients usually come with an idea or references of what they like and a general idea to work with, and these are what some tattooers would call the ideal client. But that's not who we're talking about here today.
The client’s that come in with a folder or a three ring binder and a stapled packet of back story of what’s supposed to go in their tattoo, that’s what we’re here to discuss…not to say that it isn’t thoughtful that they did all this legwork, but it can really make a mess of an idea sometimes. DON’T WORRY!! It doesn’t have to be disastrous because there are ways to really reign in that heap of ideas and sift through to find those gold nuggets.