Tattoo costs

stifz

Just wondering what prices people are paying per hour for their tat work? I was quoted 150per hr in Dublin city centre or 100per hr for another artist in the same studio. This was being charged for the freehand drawing on time also.. I have mauri / tribal work done already and looking to add on. Also who's the best for this type of work in dublin.

thanks:D

Raze_them_all

stifz wrote: »

Just wondering what prices people are paying per hour for their tat work? I was quoted 150per hr in Dublin city centre or 100per hr for another artist in the same studio. This was being charged for the freehand drawing on time also.. I have mauri / tribal work done already and looking to add on. Also who's the best for this type of work in dublin.

thanks:D

150? Thats the dearest I've heard of?

murdoc75

with the times that are in it dont be afraid to haggle, but no matter wat top artist thats steep

Star Lord

€150 seems way too steep to me to be honest, I'd try to negotiate with them on that!

Diceicle

€150 per hour?!! :eek: I didnt know Paul Booth was working in Dublin :rolleyes:
Thats too expensive for Dublin IMO, with the economic climate, standard of artist (in general) and all that. Hourly rates of that size are for genuine world class artists, who are very high in demand. Our local boys should cop themselves on.

Can we know who/where that is?

eeyore2502

Pluto on Dorset Street charges 150 for the first hour and 100 per hour afterthat. I got work done by him last year and hubby is hopingto get work by him soon.

Sweenox

Im paying 120 an hour for mine,150 is the most I heard of,and 150 for the first hour sounds like their trying to make as much as they can off people who might be only getting small work done,but then again if its worth 150 an hour I'd pay it but only if it was seriously worth it

eeyore2502

That rate of 150 for the first hour is for free handing the tattoo on around a pre-existing one.

The tattoo I got took just under 2 hours and only cost 160 from the same guy as he quoted for the picture he was given and this was transferred on.

Diceicle

I thought Pluto was closed down? Must of heard wrong I guess.
€150 to my mind is too much for tattooists in Ireland to be charging, €120 for the more well known and reputable places like JMD's for instance or if the artists portfolio is just awesome, but for a local ink shop where no one is booked out and is putting out average tattoos, I think they're chancing their arm and ripping people off.......that or they think very highly of themselves.

eeyore2502

Hope hes not gone, I wanted to go back and get another by him. When I got my tattoo from him in July last year I had to wait nearly 3 weeks for the appointment and that was for a weekday not even a Saturday!

stifz

Temple bar. Dublin Art tattoo.. Was charged 150 per hr for working around a previous tat. Just the same style really. I thought it was high alright but he did have talent for that style. Was my first tat in ireland. Others were Oz artist was cleaner but lacked imagination. Like pulling teeth to get something drawn up. Have to say id go back the temple bar but the price id hope would be less..

Lilliput69

€100 per hr would be average i would say. Personaly i get a fixed price for tat and not per hr.....

Molberts

Lilliput69, me too. I go to the same artist and he just tells me how much all in and I pay upfront...

Then I feel bad having paid in advance so bring cookies for subsequent sittings :cool:

Raze_them_all

Same here I just ask how much it'll be and pay up front, Thought 120 is the most i've heard of for the by the hour thing. i personally think by the hour is just a way to make more money

Diceicle

The €150 p/h (even €120) seems all the worse value for money when you consider Paul Naylor from Indigo tattoo in Cheshire charges less than €80 p/h (£70)! Here's some of his work. He won Tattoo artist of the year from Total Tattoo (I think its that mag anyway). And no, I'm not his publicist. :cool:

arybvtcw0eolkf

Raze_them_all wrote: »

i personally think by the hour is just a way to make more money

Surely not in Ireland :eek: [/SARCASM]

I haven't had a tattoo done in year's, I've one design in mind (I posted it here awhile back) - to me its simple but I'm half afraid to bring the design to a shop incase I'm priced out of it and left feeling like a stingy fecker.

.

hot2def

Diceicle wrote: »

The €150 p/h (even €120) seems all the worse value for money when you consider Paul Naylor from Indigo tattoo in Cheshire charges less than €80 p/h (£70)! Here's some of his work. He won Tattoo artist of the year from Total Tattoo (I think its that mag anyway). And no, I'm not his publicist. :cool:

I shouldn't have to say this again, but Irish tattoo artists have to spend their wages IN IRELAND, just like you.


I'm not saying people shouldn't go over seas to get tattooed - go for it. But its not ok to say Irish tattoo artists are ripping off people by comparing with england. Up until the recent weakness of the pound, 70 pounds was more like 110 euro. And cost of living is a bit lower in england.

vangoz

hot2def wrote: »

I shouldn't have to say this again, but Irish tattoo artists have to spend their wages IN IRELAND, just like you.


I'm not saying people shouldn't go over seas to get tattooed - go for it. But its not ok to say Irish tattoo artists are ripping off people by comparing with england. Up until the recent weakness of the pound, 70 pounds was more like 110 euro. And cost of living is a bit lower in england.

Same applies for any trade or service, you simply pay more for it here than elsewhere.

Diceicle

Well aware of the being in Ireland situation, however, my post was more so pointing out the fact that while in England there's an award winning tattoo artist charging £70, who if he was tattooing in Ireland could charge at least 50% more and our tattoo artists have the brass neck to charge someone twice Naylors rate without the level of equitable talent to back it up.
Besides which, the point of cost of living vs prices in uk/eire, the differential for retail stands around 10% higher to operate in the republic.
There is no way 150 squid can be justifed for the level of talent available in the ROI.

vangoz

Diceicle wrote: »

There is no way 150 squid can be justifed for the level of talent available in the ROI.

I completely agree with you in that regard.

So what is the average UK price if Naylors is 70? or is he charging standard rates which i'm assuming.

Diceicle

vangoz wrote: »

Same applies for any trade or service, you simply pay more for it here than elsewhere.

True enough, at the end of the day we're a small island and prices are going to be higher pretty much across the board. But a 90% difference between a top quality artist like Paul Naylor and Johnny Average Tattooist (that was very tabloid of me! :pac: Granted, that is the top end.) is a rip-off, or at the very least opportunism, plain and simple.
I've said in previous threads, 80 to 100, ok, I'll pay that. Relatively speaking, its worth the rate for now......
Just on the matter of the trades and services, its worth remembering, they're coming down in price.

Diceicle

vangoz wrote: »

I completely agree with you in that regard.

So what is the average UK price if Naylors is 70? or is he charging standard rates which i'm assuming.

To be honest, I don't know. I was actually a little shocked as I think he's undercharging at that price for his quality of work. I would guess that £70 is the norm or the studios have reduced prices in light of everyone having less spare cash.
I will say that Naylor tattoos out of Cheshire so doesnt have London rent rates to contend with but I stand by by statement that anything over €100 for the average tattooist over here is too much.

hot2def

I'm not saying 150 an hour is ok, I'm just saying that you can't make a direct comparison with the uk like that, it doesn't work.

And tattooists have to spend their wages here.

I pay twice the rent my friend in newcastle does.



Anyway, I'd like to make it clear that we charge per piece and not per hour.

Diceicle

hot2def wrote: »

I'm not saying 150 an hour is ok, I'm just saying that you can't make a direct comparison with the uk like that, it doesn't work.

And tattooists have to spend their wages here.

I pay twice the rent my friend in newcastle does.



Anyway, I'd like to make it clear that we charge per piece and not per hour.

I don't think anyone but the Paul Booths or Guy Aitchisons of the tattoo-world could justify that hourly rate in Ireland. I'm not saying that every artist in Irelands top-rate should be €80, I think that 80 to 100 is a very decent rate to charge, if you do 10 small tattoos in a week thats €800.......cash. Fair enough 50% will go to the studio, but thats still €400 for 10 kanji or whatever (if you take my point).
I would still contend, as a consumer, that if the cost of living falls so should the hourly rate, its the decent thing to do.

hot2def

Diceicle wrote: »

I don't think anyone but the Paul Booths or Guy Aitchisons of the tattoo-world could justify that hourly rate in Ireland. I'm not saying that every artist in Irelands top-rate should be €80, I think that 80 to 100 is a very decent rate to charge, if you do 10 small tattoos in a week thats €800.......cash. Fair enough 50% will go to the studio, but thats still €400 for 10 kanji or whatever (if you take my point).
I would still contend, as a consumer, that if the cost of living falls so should the hourly rate, its the decent thing to do.

Maybe not everyone gets 10 small tattoos a week. Maybe not every shop has an 80 minimum.

Hey, I think everyone in Ireland needs to take a pay cut. cool. Everyone. Tattooists, doctors, people on the dole, minimum wage. everyone.

What I resent here is the implication that we are gouging people. This is an issue for the whole country.


What pay cut have you taken so far?

Diceicle

hot2def wrote: »

Maybe not everyone gets 10 small tattoos a week. Maybe not every shop has an 80 minimum.

Hey, I think everyone in Ireland needs to take a pay cut. cool. Everyone. Tattooists, doctors, people on the dole, minimum wage. everyone.

What I resent here is the implication that we are gouging people. This is an issue for the whole country.


What pay cut have you taken so far?

I can only go by my experience, any shop I've been to has a minimum charge of €80, used to be €60 but prices went up and so did the minimum rate. I think a minimum charge is only proper, kind of like a call out fee a plumber charges in a way.

I agree with your assertation that everyone takes a cut to some degree, but thats not really what I'm arguing for. Firstly I think its only right that prices come down along with cost of living / operating costs. It makes ethical sense as a consumer.
As the spare dosh is less these days, it makes business sense for the artists to reduce their rates slightly to attract more people in. No point charging €100ph if no one is coming to your studio when you could charge €80ph and get at least some cutom.
I certainly dont think tattoo artists should work for a pittence, its a hard trade to get into and harder again to stick at. You should be paid for your talent for sure.
Now, I never said tattoo artists were gouging customers, though the 150 ph issue is pure profiteering by Art Tattoo, I can't think of any reason for that charge, other than the particular artist thinks quite highly of his own talent maybe. :rolleyes:
I've stated many times 80-100, I'm happy enough to pay while the money is there. When more of the taxes hit I will obviously be less happy.
As for my pay.........well, I have the 1% levy plus an 8% reduction hitting shortly, pay freeze, no promotions and no overtime. However my mortgage is coming down as are utilities and there are sales on everything........except tattoos ooooooh!
Could resist that. Sorry.

hot2def

Diceicle wrote: »

I agree with your assertation that everyone takes a cut to some degree, but thats not really what I'm arguing for. Firstly I think its only right that prices come down along with cost of living / operating costs. It makes ethical sense as a consumer.

i understand what you are saying, but you have to remember that a cut in prices is a direct cut in wages in tattooing. Operating costs haven't budged yet.

I'm all for prices coming down, and think 150 an hour is ludicrous. But I can tell you lots of artists are just getting by.

hot2def

Diceicle wrote: »

As for my pay.........well, I have the 1% levy plus an 8% reduction hitting shortly, pay freeze, no promotions and no overtime. However my mortgage is coming down as are utilities and there are sales on everything........except tattoos ooooooh!
Could resist that. Sorry.

So, no wage cut yet then.....

Will

I'm getting a tattoo in the near future, i don't have the cash at the minute but im saving money. Might be a bit alien to people, but get used to it haha

Diceicle

hot2def wrote: »

So, no wage cut yet then.....

If you dont count the 1% levy no, the larger cut kicks in at the months end as its into the 2nd qtr of the financial year.

I hear you about artists just getting by and I will continue to support the tattoo scene in Ireland for as long as I can, I'd love to see it thrive.
I'm hoping to start a sleeve around summer, but my spendable income going down and tattoo costs remaining the same arent going to help the situation. One thing is for sure though, if I go into any of the studios I regularly attend and they quote me 120 ph, I'll turn on my heals and visit aer lingus.com :pac:

IlikePostcards

Now, I know I'm new to boards, and to Ireland in general, but the prices that you guys have quoted seem pretty outta this world for some ink. (unless you are quoting for full sleeves) I'm planning on getting one soon, but at these prices, I might just till I go home (washington dc) again.

In general I would pay about 100 euro for a good one, and the one I want, but still...

Diceicle

IlikePostcards wrote: »

Now, I know I'm new to boards, and to Ireland in general, but the prices that you guys have quoted seem pretty outta this world for some ink. (unless you are quoting for full sleeves) I'm planning on getting one soon, but at these prices, I might just till I go home (washington dc) again.

In general I would pay about 100 euro for a good one, and the one I want, but still...

€80 - €100 (or $106 - $132) is probably about the average. Whats the average rate in DC? Any artist charging over €100 per hour in the current economy is either a moron or have a very high self-opinion, IMHO.
That €150 per hour is most likely someone taking advantage.

IlikePostcards

Oh gosh, now I have think in two different currencies again?! Well, there is one on my left shoulder that is about 2 in x 3 in in black and grey shading; a latin phrase on a scroll that coast me $ 40 US. I have a cross on my back and one on my ankle all about the same size. Can't remember what the other two cost. it sure wasn't 150 euro.

Dancor

eeyore2502 wrote: »

Pluto on Dorset Street charges 150 for the first hour and 100 per hour afterthat. I got work done by him last year and hubby is hopingto get work by him soon.

He didnt charge me that much. 250 for 3 hours work and im glad he didnt. Dont mean for this to turn into a hating thread, But he really cant justify that price or any price because the guy is a butcher. Im having his ''work'' fixed up right now and I know many people who need to aswell.

eeyore2502

dancor wrote: »

He didnt charge me that much. 250 for 3 hours work and im glad he didnt. Dont mean for this to turn into a hating thread, But he really cant justify that price or any price because the guy is a butcher. Im having his ''work'' fixed up right now and I know many people who need to aswell.

Sorry to hear you where not happy with your work, but I have to say I am very happy with my tattoo from him and would love to get another one but can't afford it at the moment. Everyone that has seen my tattoo also said the work was great.

Hope you get yours sorted nothing worse then paying for something and not being happy with it.

AmyTakesPhotos

Thats a complete and utter ripoff.
Ive 18 tattoos and have got them all done in "Oriental tattoo" in Bray. Yeah its a trek from where I live in Swords but there work is class and they charge you on how big ur design is.. none of them per hour ****e.
The most Ive paid for a big piece of work in there is 70 euro.
Theyre brillant artists and dont mind the fact its in bray.
Go have a look and talk to the artists about what u want

amazingemmet

To chime in on this one. At the end of the day you are paying an artist for their artwork, so they are entitled to charge what they feel their art is worth, you are also free to reject their price if you don't feel its worth that to you its a 50/50 thing. Its not the same as hiring a builder to put up a wall where there's 100's of other people who could do the exact same job at the same standard (unless we are talking about flash).

Personally if getting a piece done I'd go for the artist everytime and they can charge what they want as its something I'm gonna have forever so I'd prefer to know I spent that extra couple of hundred and got a quality piece of work rather then thinking in five years time, damn why was is so cheap back then.

Also as will pointed out you can save for these things, its yours for life once you get it does it really have to be done as soon as possible or can't you wait an extra year or two?

Diceicle

AmyTakesPhotos wrote: »

Thats a complete and utter ripoff.
Ive 18 tattoos and have got them all done in "Oriental tattoo" in Bray. Yeah its a trek from where I live in Swords but there work is class and they charge you on how big ur design is.. none of them per hour ****e.
The most Ive paid for a big piece of work in there is 70 euro.
Theyre brillant artists and dont mind the fact its in bray.
Go have a look and talk to the artists about what u want

€70 for a large piece?? Surely that can't be right? I suppose it depends on what "big" is defined as really, but for the sake of argument, if a large piece takes 3 hours, that means that the artist is only charging a little over €20!
Also, have you a link to this shops site? I'd be interested to take a look.

Diceicle

amazingemmet wrote: »

To chime in on this one. At the end of the day you are paying an artist for their artwork, so they are entitled to charge what they feel their art is worth, you are also free to reject their price if you don't feel its worth that to you its a 50/50 thing. Its not the same as hiring a builder to put up a wall where there's 100's of other people who could do the exact same job at the same standard (unless we are talking about flash).

Personally if getting a piece done I'd go for the artist everytime and they can charge what they want as its something I'm gonna have forever so I'd prefer to know I spent that extra couple of hundred and got a quality piece of work rather then thinking in five years time, damn why was is so cheap back then.

Also as will pointed out you can save for these things, its yours for life once you get it does it really have to be done as soon as possible or can't you wait an extra year or two?

I agree with you on some points, however I think its worth keeping in mind that a great many tattoo artists in Ireland (and over the world) do not necessarily give custom tattoos per se. They are provided with an image, stencil it and tattoo that image onto skin, thats not their art, it could possibly be described as a version but I think you get my point. Paying someone over the odds for a rendering of someone elses art has limits as to what is feasible to charge.

I dont think the issue is about being cheap either, its about paying a fair price for a job that you'd like done. In Ireland we don't have anybody of Guy Aitchisons calibre, who I hear charges $300 per hour, or Shige who only does very sizable (and costly) pieces now, but these guys are super-talented and can charge over the odds as their work is custom.

Many economic markets set upper, middle and lower price brackets for whatever product or service they offer, tattooing is no different. If an artist has the genuine skill to charge a premium rate for a premium tattoo then awesome, it means we've got a great artist not too far away, however I think that the talent currently on our fair isle is only worthy of the low to middle price bracket (some not even worth that), with a handful of notable exceptions.

For the size of our land I dont expect to be inundated with choice for world class artists but I do expect the artists we do have to be fair to the consumer.

AmyTakesPhotos

Large as in the top of my right arm about 15cm in length and 15cm in width. They dont have a website and I think thats why they are not charging alot. They arent really well known but they are in Bray and colse areas. Town charges way too much. Ive had a few pieces out there up to the point of 350 euro and i look at them and say WHY!!!!
Yes they are amazing and I love them but I cant believe I spent that much when this place I now go to would do exactly the same work.

Star Lord

Can you give us an example/photo of a piece that you've paid €70 for there?

Diceicle

AmyTakesPhotos wrote: »

Large as in the top of my right arm about 15cm in length and 15cm in width. They dont have a website and I think thats why they are not charging alot. They arent really well known but they are in Bray and colse areas. Town charges way too much. Ive had a few pieces out there up to the point of 350 euro and i look at them and say WHY!!!!
Yes they are amazing and I love them but I cant believe I spent that much when this place I now go to would do exactly the same work.

Unless you got a 15 x 15 square tattooed on your back, thats pretty cheap as tattoos go. Fair play to Oriental Tattoo if they are charging that rate and putting out quality work. Could this be the end of the old axiom 'Good tattoos arent cheap, cheap tattoos aren't good'?
To be honest though, I'm forever a skeptic, and I'll believe that this crews work is of a high a standard as you state when I see a portfolio. No offence intended.

amazingemmet

Diceicle wrote: »

I agree with you on some points, however I think its worth keeping in mind that a great many tattoo artists in Ireland (and over the world) do not necessarily give custom tattoos per se. They are provided with an image, stencil it and tattoo that image onto skin, thats not their art, it could possibly be described as a version but I think you get my point. Paying someone over the odds for a rendering of someone elses art has limits as to what is feasible to charge.

That comes under flash in my mind, when I said art I meant custom work.

Some other fyi's guy charges $400 an hour, paul booth the same, Shige will do normal sized pieces but has a long waiting list 10+months and is fully booked for his convention schedule already.

AmyTakesPhotos

<a href="http://s113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/ierogirl_2006/?action=view&current=nopb-camera.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n235/ierogirl_2006/nopb-camera.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
This was 30 euro jst for the outline.

Yeah theyre class.

Star Lord

Personally, I wouldn't be too pushed on that linework. What size is it? It doesn't look that big?

hot2def

you got exactly what you paid for with that tattoo. for real.


Is anyone in this country really charging over 100 an hour in the current climate? I am a commited capitalist (read american) and believe anyone can charge whatever they can get. But I can't imagine that it would make financial sense to do so, surely they would make more money with prices comparable to their competition.

AmyTakesPhotos

Ah lads you obviously dont know anything about tattooing.
Its scabby cuz its healing.. its an outline that has to be shaded in... Its my tattoo.. were not makin judgements about my tattoos here.
If you truely want to waste your money on tattoos in town where your paying ur artist to have a smoke break between tattooing you, go ahead.
Just because somethings cheap dosent mean its bad. I always get the ink I want, the friendly service and the honesty in my tattoo parlour.
If your interested go to bray and have a look for urself.
Dont judge on a scabby tattoo.
Ur choice.
Im out of this thread.

Gauge

AmyTakesPhotos wrote: »

Ah lads you obviously dont know anything about tattooing.
Its scabby cuz its healing.. its an outline that has to be shaded in... Its my tattoo.. were not makin judgements about my tattoos here.
If you truely want to waste your money on tattoos in town where your paying ur artist to have a smoke break between tattooing you, go ahead.
Just because somethings cheap dosent mean its bad. I always get the ink I want, the friendly service and the honesty in my tattoo parlour.
If your interested go to bray and have a look for urself.
Dont judge on a scabby tattoo.
Ur choice.
Im out of this thread.

You do realise that one of the people you're responding to is a professional tattoo artist?

Toots

and a damn good one at that!

Diceicle

AmyTakesPhotos wrote: »

Ah lads you obviously dont know anything about tattooing.
Its scabby cuz its healing.. its an outline that has to be shaded in... Its my tattoo.. were not makin judgements about my tattoos here.
If you truely want to waste your money on tattoos in town where your paying ur artist to have a smoke break between tattooing you, go ahead.
Just because somethings cheap dosent mean its bad. I always get the ink I want, the friendly service and the honesty in my tattoo parlour.
If your interested go to bray and have a look for urself.
Dont judge on a scabby tattoo.
Ur choice.
Im out of this thread.

I dont think anyone is dissin' (how street am I?) your tattoo. Personally I like what you have done there. €70 is, in my opinion, fair for what you got there. I would imagine your artist will want further payment for more work yes? So its kind of erronious to say you got a tattoo 15 x 15 for 70 squid, you got an outline alright but an outline does not a tattoo make. Still I think it looks good so far, do the artists not have a myspace or bebo page?

truthinwords

You've got a **** tattoo and <snip>No need for scaremongering like that! - Damo</snip>! That place is known for tattooing underage, bad tattooing, bad hygiene and just badness in general Just chiming in on the cost of living England Vs Ireland thing surely the cost of living in London must be the same if not more then in Dublin and Frith St/The Family Business etc all charge £70-£80 per hour.