Tattoos-Frequently Asked Questions
I'm not sure of what I want yet, or if you could do it.
Can we chat about it before I put in a request?
Of course! Just email me at september.reed@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
I messaged you yesterday but I haven't heard back yet? Did you get my request? Are you ignoring me?
I only answer messages one day a week, but I always get back to everyone. I juggle a lot of other work alongside tattoos, and some days must be spent entirely away from my inboxes.
Do be sure to check your SPAM folder in your email to make sure you didn't miss my message if you feel you haven't received one. If it's been over a week, please do feel free to reach out again, via the email address listed above.
Where can we discuss my tattoo ideas?
I only accept tattoo requests and discussions of the details via my website or email, and would ask that once I've sent a response to your request, that we continue to communicate through that back-and-forth thread alone. This helps me keep up with ALL of the details we discuss, and helps us both stay on the same page as we flesh out the design, your appointment, and any changes that pop up during the discussion process.
PLEASE don't send me photos or messages through any other platform if it relates to a design we are already discussing - send it to that same thread. Otherwise it will most certainly get lost in the hundreds of photos that go through my clouds each month.
If you prefer to discuss your design in person, you may reach out via email to set up a time that I can be at the shop. However, I will still ask that you send a written account of what we discuss once you leave, as I will not recall anything we discuss verbally.
I'm under 18 but I have permission from my parents,
can you tattoo me?
I'm afraid not, it's our shop policy to not tattoo anyone under the age of 18, even with a parent's permission.
I also personally
do not wish to tattoo anyone underage.
Can you do tattoos off-site from your tattoo studio?
No I cannot. I'm currently committed to taking clients only in the studio I've worked really hard to create, and to supporting the shop that trained me and gave me space to do this work. The sterile environment is crucial to keeping my clients and myself safe from potential infection, and my own health needs dictate that I need to be able to control the elements in my environment as much as possible. It would also put my license in jeopardy were I to be caught outside of my approved space.
I have a design that I really want that another Artist did.
Will you tattoo it on me?
Unless you have express permission from the Artist who created the design, a receipt showing that you've purchased the design from its creator, or you ARE the Artist who created the design, I will not tattoo anybody else's work besides my own on your body.
It is best to find an Artist locally whose style aligns with what you like about the design you're interested in, and then work
with them to create something custom for you.
Can I bring a friend with me for my appointment?
Certainly! While I do cap the number of people who can be in my studio at any given time at 3 people (including me), the shop is open Wed-Sun noon to six pm, and any extra guests can sit in the tattoo lobby or peruse the shop for our latest finds and oddities and art during those hours. I recommend only bringing one other person with you if you can, and coming alone is also encouraged, simply because it's a small shop and a small space. I also keep my space relatively quiet and serene so that I can do my best work for you, and more people = more noise and distraction.
When the shop is closed or if you have an after-hours appointment, there is a strict limit of one guest, for several security reasons. If you have questions about this policy, please don't hesitate to reach out.
I don't have anyone to keep my kid while I get tattooed,
can I bring them with me?
As a parent, I fully understand the struggle of finding a sitter. However, I would strongly encourage you to come to your appointment without them, for several reasons:
1. No one under 18 is allowed in my studio while the tattoo is in process. If they can't be in the room with us and are young enough to need supervision, you'll need another adult to watch them, even if they are staying in the shop. While our shop is family-friendly, it is still a business catered towards adults, and the studios cannot accommodate children while a procedure involving bodily fluids and blood is underway.
2. Keeping the space as clean as possible is super important to reduce your own risk of infection, and kids can struggle with not touching things in a new environment they're curious about. If you come into physical contact with them during your session, to comfort or accommodate them, that also increases the risk of contamination and infection, both of which can result in death. Yes, it's that serious. You always want to reduce the possibility of infections as much as possible when getting a tattoo.
3. You will be distracted during a session that is meant to be You Time, and it will be a more challenging and time-intensive (i.e. more expensive) session if you need to take repeated breaks to take care of your child. It is also more painful to start and stop multiple times during a session.
4. I will also be distracted by any extra noise and interruptions, and my utmost priority is giving you a clean design that you love. That is harder to do with adult distractions, even moreso with young children who might be vying for your attention during the session.
5. Touching anything in a tattoo studio puts your child at risk as well, because no matter how clean and disinfected things are, it is never 100% sterile. Ultimately, it's just not a place for kids.
Kids are great, and we love to see them,
especially during our Punk Rock Yard Sale events,
which fall on the first Sunday of each month!
But you'll find very few tattoo shops that allow children in the shop at all, and that's for similar reasons to what I've mentioned above. If you have any concerns or needs regarding this area, please reach out and we can see if there's a way to accommodate you.