Tattoo experience in Kansas City, KS

[Nessa 23]

Long story...

I was refered to this place by 2 people, being one of them my co-worker. I waited for her to go with me because she knew the tattoo artist and we went there, I spoke to him, explained to him what I wanted and he told me to exchange e-mails so I wouldn't have to drive there see the tattoo design I asked him to make for me. I also asked if he could change one of my left arm tattoos to something else he said that wasn't possible, he could make it look better but not make it into something else. I was ok with that, I always thought great tattoo artists could do anything, I doubted that back then, but now I think I'm right...

I wanted a dragon on my back, and by e-mail during almost a month, me asking super nice, I got him to draw 3 different ''positions'' of the pretty much same design, after explaining to him exactly what I wanted over and over. I tried to ask him to color the second one he sent me (which was the one I decided to make) so I could see how it would look like colored. He gave me a hard time coloring, but he did, that was the second drawing, and it was very bright and I tried to explain I want those colors but very dark. He bitched about it and said he wouldn't color again he just played with the hue, saturation so I could see it darker... Then the third drawing when I asked him he refused to color and told me to use my imagination. By then he wasn't being rude, just denying in a almost polite way.

Since I have pretty good idea of what I want and I thought maybe I was asking him too much, maybe they work different here in the States, I scheduled to have the tattoo done today. I thought maybe that was an american thing you know? You go there, you explain and you don't have to actually see the drawing in the exact color it'll be on you.

But today when I was there he was putting his gloves on, I said: ''I know we'll be only doing the black ink today, but after this could we look at some pictures so I could give you an idea of the color I want, cuz the one you have printed is not quite it.'' He said: "This is what I have, red ink, green ink, I'll put some red and use some orange... '' and I made a ''no'' sign with my head and he just looked at me, started to take his gloves off and said ''you know, this is getting way too complicated, I don't wanna do this anymore'' and he turned his back and left the room.

I grabbed my purse and left. Obviously I wouldn't try to convince him, who knows how it would turn up if he decided he just hates the world, or himself or is PMSing (wait, guys don't PMS, nvm ). I was really shocked. I have never heard of anything like that. In Brazil all my tattoos experience I'd have the artist constantly talking to me until we would create the final design, and they were always doing their best to help and have the best done.

And then I realized, that can't be an american thing, the guy is plain rude. Period. He passed on a $ 500 job, maybe he has too many jobs schedule and he makes lots of money he can just say no when he doesn't feel like, or maybe he can only tattoo those hillbillies that show up, look at the catalogue and have one of those tattoos everybody else have. Maybe I'm asking too much for having a tattoo artist creating a design just for myself, for something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life, or maybe I was too much of a chalenge for him, he thought he couldn't do it.

Just venting...'I'm really frustrated. I was really upset when I left the tattoo shop. It's a long drive, a waste of time and energy

Edited October 20, 2007 by Nessa

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I wouldn't hire a plumber that acted that way.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It sounds like he let his ego get in the way of demonstrating the tattoo as you would want it. It's a good thing that he didn't go through with the inking because it sounds like he either can't achieve the tint you wanted or doesn't want to bother. His loss. I'd go to several different tattoo artists, perhaps look online for info on colors before committing to having it done, especially if you want it done right.

[archie07 0]

You can get a tattoo covered with another one. I have a big tigers head on my arm that was a cover up. May be a good idea to find yourself another tattoo artist that will work with you.

[Welshcookie 17]

Sounds to me like he wasn't confident enough....think you had a lucky escape

[Toshtishtash 1]

:o

I think you had a lucky escape too!!! Jesus... How f*ckin rude!!! Serious attitude problem..

There is no way I would have been happy with that either... When you have a tattoo, you have to get exactly what you want... You have to live with it for the rest of your life afterall, he should know that!!

Yep, I would do a bit more research, there will definitely be ones out there that will take the time and do exactly what YOU want rather than what THEY think you should have.. I don't think it's an America thing, I just think he was a complete a*s hole!

[Caladan 19]

I wouldn't hire a plumber that acted that way.

Indeed. Nessa, I think you lucked out, as an artist that isn't willing to respect what you want on your body is not someone I'd trust generally. I don't have tattoos, just a couple piercings, but a good artist puts you first and does everything she can to make you comfortable.

[L_n_O 3]

I think it was for the best!

might have turned out awful!!!

[Drew and Tik 0]

I think you made the right decision in bailing out because you and this tattoo artist don't seem to be on the same page.

At the same time I don't believe he was being completely unreasonable and rude. It's really pretty rare to have that type of correspondence with a tattoo artist in America, he was already going out of his way quite a bit with the e-mail thing. Of course you are going to want to see the exact design beforehand, but to have them color it in, even once, is asking a lot I believe.

When I got my tattoo, which I'm still very happy with more than half a decade later, I showed him a [crappy] drawing I made, he said he would design something cool based off that. After about 20 - 30 minutes of drawing he showed me pretty much an exact sketch of what would be on my back. It wasn't colored in, but I knew it would be fine. I understand you may have been particular about the coloring though, you could try to find a tattoo artist that will work with you on that, but I believe it will be hard to find someone who will go out of their way too much when they have many other customers.

[L_n_O 3]

Go to LA!

L.A. Ink does pretty good with their colorings, I've noticed!

[Toshtishtash 1]

At the same time I don't believe he was being completely unreasonable and rude.It's really pretty rare to have that type of correspondence with a tattoo artist in America, he was already going out of his way quite a bit with the e-mail thing. Of course you are going to want to see the exact design beforehand, but to have them color it in, even once, is asking a lot I believe.

For $500 I would expect to get exactly what I asked for and 'most' tattoo artists would be willing to do that.

My soon to be step son has loads of tattoos that he has had done in America... The way that Nessa was treated is definitely not the 'norm'

[almaty 19]

he was a pompous azz...thought his autistic talents were being questioned...hey, 500 bucks..chopf##k//

[L_n_O 3]

he was a pompous azz...thought his autistic talents were being questioned...hey, 500 bucks..chopf##k//

=) bad typo

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

he was a pompous azz...thought his autistic talents were being questioned...hey, 500 bucks..chopf##k//

=) bad typo

maybe naught

[L_n_O 3]

Go to LA!

L.A. Ink does pretty good with their colorings, I've noticed!

I still think you should go on the show

AND WE'LL ALL WATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!