Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Walk-Ins in Winter?




I have had this convo with many shop owners about their staff not focusing on booking appointments and waiting around for "walk-ins" customers. I grew up around hustlers, my mom being the #1 hustla I know....she taught me to never WAIT for money but to go after it... As a tattoo artist I honestly don't believe in walk-ins... I feel they are only for artists who are lazy and don't have a "business" sense...if summer time is busy with walk-in traffic then the winter will be slow.... So it's common sense to book all your winter appointments in the summer time....I have watched tattoo artist sit on their ass (even my own) without hustlin...I heard a million excuses "I haven't been tattooing as long as you or Tuki" that's ALL bullshit to me... I didn't have a full appointment book until City of Ink was open....the same amount time WE as a team opened the shop TOGETHER... The name is hot so I rode the wave...the same way everyone else should be riding the wave...when you wait around for walk-ins you are waiting on other people to FEED you...take destiny in your own hands, get deposits, build your own clientele, make them respect your rules and your grind, and book appointments in the winter or you will be BROKE... This is a peep talk to ALL tattoo artists who do NOT have any appointments today reading this blog.... If you have enough time in your hands to be reading blogs then after you finish reading this... Go to my facebook page, to my Twitter page, YouTube page, even myspace and STUDY how I market myself and connect with my clients and future clients... I don't feel I'm the best in the world.. I just feel I have written a blue print for fellow artists to follow... Burger King is not the best food in the world BUT I'm sure they marketed themselves so much that the people have to know they exist.... You get the message? The tattoo business is just like the music business 10% talent and 90% HUSTLE.... And if you have the talent to match the hustle you will be RICH....stay focused young artist, brand your name.... The path is there so follow the trail us older artists made for you... It's fool proof...


Posted from my iphone

6 comments:

aminx said...

Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap

Unknown said...

This is true for everybody, not just tattoo artists! People need to start getting they hustle on!

License 2 ILL said...

dope read and very necessary!

mr.soul:216 said...

righteous.

ivan said...

preach

Sin(ere said...

Personally, I think you hit the nail right on the head. Yes, tattooing is a business, but I felt where you were coming from when you said hustle. As a lot of people use that word to describe their job.

I totally agree with what you said bro. If people aren't booked up then what are they doing. This is a digital era we're living in. We have the Internet, Myspace, facebook, twitter, and a host of other social networking sites. So getting your name out there shouldn't be difficult, YET I know more about COI than I do about the shop that's less than a mile down the road. That tells me that you are on your grind and taking care of your business, and they aren't. And the shop down the road may be better than COI but they aren't marketing themselves, so I'd rather travel 7 hours to get tatted by you than to walk a few yards, because I know what kind of work you all do.

That's just like a barber who isn't booked up for the day. I think the better barbers are booked up, and personally I'd rather have an appointment than just walk-in into a shop.

Business is business, art is art, but through it all we all need money to survive. Food, clothing, and shelter is a must! F' that starving artist shyt. That's for the birds. I've looked at Miami Ink and L.A. Ink on tv, and yeah they nice with it, but I also feel COI should be on tv too. Y'all are nice with it dude! 2nd to none!