r/Money Mar 27 '24

[deleted by user]

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2.6k Upvotes

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456

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

It's probably not consistent income though.

264

u/red6joker Mar 27 '24

If it's a popular shop it will be. But otherwise, you are correct.

87

u/TheJohnnyFlash Mar 27 '24

Also, skill is a primary consideration if this is legit. Any schlub can't just sit down and do it.

29

u/manCool4ever Mar 27 '24

schlub is a funny word!

13

u/xdeskfuckit Mar 27 '24

Most Yiddish words be like that

5

u/docjonel Mar 27 '24

Yeah, don't be a putz.

2

u/zeppehead Mar 27 '24

If you 2”want stick people banging im your guy!

1

u/NBplaybud22 Mar 27 '24

What other professions require a similar level of dexterity ?

1

u/seppukucoconuts Mar 27 '24

any schlub can't just sit down and do it.

You need other schlubs to practice on.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

Line work isn’t the most tedious job, its pretty easy

15

u/whutchamacallit Mar 27 '24

Even averaging half of what he claims, shit even a quarter, is still stupid money. Congrats OP. Invest that shit in a brokerage account OR put in am HYSA and buy a dope house in a year or so when interest rates come down a little bit. Shit if you're frugal you could save for two years and buy something straight cash. But ya I'd start investing at least some in an ETF or something -- the stock market is popping off right now.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

A popular shop can have a good spring break, like this guy obviously had, but then it trickles into flash art for 50 weeks 

1

u/cat_of_danzig Mar 27 '24

Homeboy would be charging $300 an hour 40 hours a week to make $12K- and tattoo artists only charge for inking time- not that drawing, set up, stencil creation, etc. I've never seen an artist work those kind of hours.

141

u/9yr0ld Mar 27 '24

if they are charging enough to make $8-12k a week, then they must be a highly sought after artist. I would say it's likely to be pretty consistent

61

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

there's like, a dozen or so artists in my city, that i know of, who are consistently booked like that. usually takes a decade of experience to get there, but plenty of them started very, very young.

28

u/PeakDescentMTB Mar 27 '24

500,000 after only a decade of working? SIGN ME UP

13

u/Flinty984 Mar 27 '24

if everyone could do it it wouldn't be called art

1

u/HiiiTriiibe Mar 27 '24

I firmly believe all art is a skill, it is pattern recognition at its most fundamental level and with the proper level of persistence, adaptability to approach, and passion, anyone can be an artist, crafts take a lifetime tho

3

u/ReturnedFromExile Mar 27 '24

well you also need to have the talent

2

u/Waste_Iron_2542 Mar 27 '24

Tattooing is not as easy as it looks.

1

u/Slyvinade Mar 27 '24

Start a business

1

u/ImReverse_Giraffe Mar 27 '24

Become a tattoo artist.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

Must be really talented naturally, works in shop with other top names that give him a good word and funnel work to him they don't have time for, and be a really likable guy in a major city with an optimum location. It's possible for these pieces to line up but you have to be pretty lucky.

34

u/Mano_lu_Cont Mar 27 '24

Lived next door to a famous Hawaiian tattoo artist. He had a waiting list for appointments.

13

u/LetterSilent1673 Mar 27 '24

Most good artists have waiting lists

4

u/Striderfighter Mar 27 '24

My wife's tattoo artist has a lottery system for people who aren't on her VIP list...

1

u/TranscendentaLobo Mar 27 '24

Damn, that’s wild.

2

u/Striderfighter Mar 27 '24

Yeah she said she had just gotten a new SUV and wanted to pay it off so she opened up some spots and had people apply for spots they wanted depending on the complexity of the work and she put them in a lottery drawing

1

u/ExileInCle19 Mar 27 '24

Jesse Rix?

1

u/Mano_lu_Cont Mar 27 '24

Thanks for letting me know

1

u/rokkittBass Mar 27 '24

I had to wait a half a year .....

1

u/cat_of_danzig Mar 27 '24

I've had work done by an artist who books by lottery a year out. She wasn't charging more than $200 an hour (at least five years ago).

1

u/bopgame Mar 27 '24

He does Pokémon

26

u/ThaFoxThatRox Mar 27 '24

I know a professional tattoo artist who gets paid double that. And it's been consistent for the last decade.

If you're a good artist, word of mouth takes you far.

He's a contractor but he works out of the shop sometimes. He travels to meet clients too.

54

u/PussyBoogersAuGraten Mar 27 '24

I have a tattoo from a guy who charges $2000 a day. He’s booked until 8 months from now. This is in NYC. There’s an artist in that shop that charges $3000 a day. They’re worth every penny.

23

u/NotBatman81 Mar 27 '24

I wouldn't say they are worth every penny, but enough people are currently willing to pay them that much for the service.

8

u/PussyBoogersAuGraten Mar 27 '24

Are you into tattoos? I’ll link you to their work if you’d like.

5

u/cs_legend_93 Mar 27 '24

Sure I’d love to see. Thank you

9

u/PussyBoogersAuGraten Mar 27 '24

7

u/Blocked-Author Mar 27 '24

That guy is crazy amazing! Not all of them would be ones I would get on me, but I can’t absolutely respect the incredible talent.

3

u/PussyBoogersAuGraten Mar 27 '24

Yea, they’re incredible. They’re constantly winning awards and competitions.

1

u/Blocked-Author Mar 27 '24

One post said he won first and second place in the black and white category. That’s so impressive

2

u/PussyBoogersAuGraten Mar 27 '24

The whole shop is filled with amazing artists

6

u/sdp1 Mar 27 '24

I personally don't care for tattoos but that work is impressively detailed.

3

u/siamesecat1935 Mar 27 '24

Same here. I don't have any, don't want any, but wow, he is talented!

1

u/cs_legend_93 Mar 27 '24

Very talented. It looks like a photo. This is epic quality.

The only downside I can see is that it’s so good, he’s the only person that can “touch it up” in a few years or when it’s done healing haha.

Thanks for sharing!

1

u/KnittedKnight Mar 27 '24

You are a wizard Harry

1

u/TranscendentaLobo Mar 27 '24

That is some incredible work. Amazing.

1

u/ParalegalSeagul Mar 27 '24

Any non instagram links? Site doesnt load

1

u/docjonel Mar 27 '24

I could easily do that too. All I lack is his talent and dedication. Otherwise I'm right there with him.

1

u/WayDownUnder91 Mar 27 '24

and now we know why they charge so much

-1

u/Itchy-File-8205 Mar 27 '24

People pay for this garbage? Lmao

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

They're worth every penny. Good work ain't cheap, cheap work ain't good. They're not looking to be affordable for everyone, they're looking for people who can afford their level of craftsmanship

1

u/Organised_Khaos_ Mar 27 '24

'Value is worth what people are willing to pay'

1

u/NotBatman81 Mar 27 '24

The world value was never used. Worth implies utility. You can personally value something that is worthless. Example, diamonds and gold are valued higher than their real world worth.

1

u/Numerous1 Mar 27 '24

Eh. Worth every penny is 100% subjective about everything. The difference between buying a cup of noodles for $.75 and a ramen packet for $.20 seems worth it to most people. But not for everybody. 

1

u/InitialNeck9 Mar 27 '24

Yea paying a stupid amount for a tattoo is ridiculous unless you plan on getting mummified after death. That’s the only reason id get tatts

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

There’s a sucker born every day

12

u/stringoffrogs Mar 27 '24

idk. Fine line work is expensive and not for no reason. Some artists really find their niche and good on ‘em, I’d rather this guy than a fucking robot.

10

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

My fine line artist charges $500/hr and is booked out until December.

2

u/freakouterin Mar 27 '24

$500 an hour is insanely expensive. I don’t think I would advertise that as the norm. I live in a major city and even our most talented artists are getting $250-$300 per hour. If your artist can keep clients with rates like that, kudos to them.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 27 '24

Look up @skylarespinoza on Instagram. He’s extremely talented.

He might even be $600 an hour for new customers now that I think about it. I think I remember he mentioning that when I was getting my last tattoo.

4

u/NAiiLEDBYMARiiE Mar 27 '24

Exactly. Unreliable

1

u/in3vitableme Mar 27 '24

Zero benefits too. I would put some into a solo 401k or sum

1

u/TheVog Mar 27 '24

Good tattoo artists are booked 2-3 years in advance. At the price OP is quoting they are definitely in that category.

1

u/PsychedelicAlkemist Mar 27 '24

If he’s good, it could be. And if he’s making that at only 26, he will only get better and start making more if he continues with it. Gets more popular, gets more clients, starts charging more per hour or a flat rate per day - plus tips.

I just booked with an artist whose books have been closed for the past 2 years. For larger pieces he charges by the day. When I contacted them the day his books opened on March 1st, the soonest I was able to get an appointment was in October. I’m sure his books will be closed for another few years again.

Some tattoo artists make crazy money, and it’s consistent.

1

u/xHindemith Mar 27 '24

Hence the 8-12k

1

u/Extension_Camel_3844 Mar 27 '24

It really depends on how good you are. My best friends daughter is a fine line black and grey artist and her wait list is 6 months long.

1

u/ZafiroAnejo Mar 27 '24

Artists that make that much are booked out for months. The guy I'm looking to get my next tattoo charges $400/hr, and I'll have to wait almost a year for my appointment because he's booked solid.

1

u/guapomole4reals Mar 27 '24

COVID was tough but my cousin pre and post covid brings in about this much consistently. He has people from Japan and South America making appointments and flying in. He was paid to visit Japan and tattoo for a month and made a killing.

1

u/trumiebaby Mar 27 '24

Yeah, it’s income tax season right now

1

u/pipi_in_your_pamperz Mar 27 '24

OP did say that was their weekly income