Tattoo Artists, Client Experience Matters -They May Forget Details, But They Won’t Forget How You Made Them Feel
- Mia Parziale
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Clients don’t talk about their tattoos the way we think they do...
They’re not analyzing line weight or talking about how the composition could’ve been tighter. Most of them don’t have the eye for that stuff anyway, and why would they? That’s your job, not theirs.
What they do remember is how they felt sitting in your chair. Whether you made them feel weird for being nervous. Whether you checked in when they were clearly struggling, or just kept going because you wanted to finish. They remember whether they felt like an actual person or just another body to get through before the next client.
I know you’re thinking about the technical stuff. And you should. You want the tattoo to be good of course, but that’s not all of it. If someone leaves feeling like shit, they’re not coming back. Even if the tattoo is perfect.
And if they felt good by making them laugh or talking them down from a panic spiral or just treating them like a human, they’ll book again. They’ll tell their friends and they’ll post about you.
That’s not me saying the work doesn’t matter. It does. But the experience matters just as much, maybe more.
What actually makes someone feel good with you?
It’s not complicated, and you don’t need to be a therapist or fake some overly sweet personality if that’s not you.
Just... let people know what’s happening. Tell them when you’re about to start, when you’re switching needles, when it’s going to hurt more. Ask if they need a break or snack. If someone’s clearly freaking out, acknowledge it instead of pretending everything’s fine.
Don’t make people feel stupid for asking questions. Don’t treat them like they’re wasting your time. And if someone’s quiet and doesn’t want to chat, don’t force it. Some people just want to sit there and breathe through it.
That’s it. Just treat people like people.
Tattoo Artists, client experience is important for your business!
Client retention is everything if you’re trying to build a solid book. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to get clients, and people don’t always refer artists just because the tattoo was technically good. They refer artists they had a good time with.
Plus, when clients feel good about their experience, they post about it. They tag you. They show off the work. That’s free marketing that really does work.
There are artists I’ve met that are not always the most technically skilled (though obviously skill matters), but they have a great personality. They’re the ones people want to sit with. The ones who make clients feel safe and excited instead of anxious or rushed.
Just take notice.
Some days are rough. You’re tired, you’ve been tattooing back-to-back, you’re dealing with your own shit. You don’t need to be “on” all the time or create a version of yourself that isn’t authentic.
You just need to be intentional. Checking in with yourself about the vibe you’re creating, even when it’s hard.
Because five years from now, your clients might not remember every single detail of the experience. But they’ll remember how you made them feel while you were doing it.
