My latest tattoo experience
I'm on mobile so this won't be put in a read more for a while, soz.
So for those that know me or follow me on here or Instagram or w.e may have seen my tattoos that I’ve posted. Usually I have had great experiences in shops, as I’ve been to a few. I hate that I feel the need to post this, but this experience was the worst I’ve had.
Recently I won a competition for a free, full colour tattoo - YASS - free tattoo of a pre drawn design by the artist, cool (its a red panda riding a jet ski, incase you were wondering) - I was stoked to not only win but to get a red panda tattoo as I love them and have been looking into getting one.
I was buzzing, I booked in and got my apt a few days later.
Now I should mention I have severe social anxiety (and depression but that didnt affect me that day, no more than usual) so I was incredibly anxious to go into a shop I hadnt been to, to be tattooed by an artist I don’t know. I felt anxiously sick, my palms were sweaty, the joys of anxiety. Thats fine.
In the shop I was offered coffee and refreshments, everyone was nice.
Eventually got my stencil on, dried, we were ready to tattoo.
As this tattoo was on my thigh, I felt exposed and was unconfortable so the artist had put up a divider to give us some privacy, not that it mattered the other artists kept coming to see how the tattoo was going and asking why the divider was up..
The tattoo started fine, my leg started twitching (as it would with needles stabbing you loads of times..) The artist laughed it off said “its fine it happens, but you need to try and stop” - okay sure of course, not like I’m doing it on purpose but I’ll do my best. It didnt last, he started making jokes, saying I was and I quote “worse than Michael j fox” and proceeded to shout this across the studio to the other artists while mimicking a full body shake.
He did this a few times throughout the appointment. They all had a good laugh. I didnt. I had a break to go for a pee (I had a massive can of redbull okay it was gonna happen eventually) the receptionist asked if I was done already, I replied no I had to pee. Fast forward, more of the tattoo is done, he still mocks my twitching, but is getting seriously annoyed now, visibly holding back his annoyance he says through gritted teeth “you’re gonna have to stop doing that if you want straight lines” - yes I know I’m sorry but I physically cannot stop it. I continue for another while and we stop for lunch. Again the receptionist asks if I’m finished. I’m still a little on edge by this point cause well I’m sitting with joggies on one leg, and the other leg bare and bleeding because of the fresh ink IN THE RECEPTION..
Afterwards we continue, we haven’t done a lot, outline and now we’re on colour.
Twitching, annoyance, embarrassment, leg cramp its all happening.
So I ask to stand and the receptionist comes in and says, yeah you guessed it “are you finished then?” - now I was stretching my legs, she turns to the artist and says “too many breaks” - straight faced, no hint of a joke, he laughed and agreed.
I then began asking how long it would take etc just for some chat, a full day session, so probably 7 hours, I’d been there for 4 but had been tattooed for 2 ½, I’ve not been tattooed longer than 3 ½ so I told him that probably wouldn’t happen (in the post for the competition, it said it would take as long as it takes, or until he is satisfied) he said he would like to knock it out that day and that he didnt want it eating into his time (for his paying customers).
Disheartened, I told him id sit for as long as I could but I could guarantee I would not be able to sit for 7 hours. This annoyed him, he started repeating himself and then tried guilting me into sitting longer, by telling me it was a piece he loved and really wanted to finish it, that we hadn’t done alot.
He kept insisting I sit longer and kept putting the guilt on me for not being able to sit for a full day (apparently I should have mentioned that - even tho it wasnt mentioned anywhere that it was to be finished in one day, if it was I wouldn’t have entered). I felt trapped, I was there myself and being guilted into sitting longer and feeling like I was letting the artist down. I went to the bathroom, I could feel an anxiety attack coming on, I went to the bathroom, while texting my friend. I cried. I couldnt breathe. I don’t get emotional easily and I definetly dont cry in front of people, especially people I don’t know.
I sat outside the shop on the stairs, I needed air (we’re in a big building, on the top floor) so I’m sitting there, trying to breathe, crying, bloody leg, yeah its not looking good..
On of the other artists comes out to go for a break and asks me if I’m okay, he took the time to sit with me, ask if I was okay, offered me water, coffee, even a cigarette,l and to come out for fresh air. He was nice but I declined. I was affronted. He told me it wasnt my fault and not to feel guilty, and that he would talk to the artist. I just wanted to be left alone to clear my head and be able to breathe!
The artist who is tattooing me comes out looking for me, cause I’ve been gone what.. 15/20 mins, asks what’s wrong, chuckles at how I’m acting saying its not so bad, to come in we’ve got more to do, cause yknow we haven’t done much and he doesn’t want it eating into his time..
I told him I was having an anxiety attack because of how he made me feel, he kept putting it down to pain in my leg and brushing off whatever I said. THEN the receptionist came out and asked me to come inside because “they don’t want people to see me and give the shop a bad name” - I went back into the toilet, still crying and text my dad to come get me. I couldnt stay there. I needed out. I needed to be away from the people making me feel like this.
Back in the shop, I sit down and tell him, still somewhat crying (keeping it together as much as I could because PEOPLE WERE LOOKING and clearly talking)
He tried putting on the guilt trip again, ignoring what I was saying. So I said I felt sick, so he would stop. He did but was definitely not happy about it, the receptionist was standing next to us, listening, leering at me. I felt like a child being ganged up on. I just wanted to go home. He wrapped me up, still complaining about not being able to do more. I ignored him. He went through the aftercare info, while laughing off my reaction. I got ready and walked out. The receptionist followed me out and shouted bye, I replied but she clearly never heard me and then shouted out the door “when someone says bye its polite to say it back”. I wasn’t given a new apt, I’ve to message the artist and go through him again.
I was walking down the stairs when my dad appeared.
Tear stricken, I left with him and retold him everything. I have never had an experience like that on my life, I’ve never felt so belittled for having anxiety and I’ve never been made to cry in a fucking shop. The tattoo isn’t finished. I need to go back once its healed, I’m dreading it, rest assured I won’t be going back by myself. Mamas on the war path.
I left that shop crying, embarrassed, humiliated and feeling like shit. 0/10 would not recommend.
*I have not included the name of the artist or shop because the tattoo isn’t finished yet and I don’t need more shit to come my way*
