ok folks, i should explain a little more, i do not want to come across as trying to shut down the other artists business, thats i snot what i am about, i will not mention any names or the exact location to protect this….

ok, as i said, i am an enthusiast, and i do want to make a living from this venture, but, i am in it for the long haul, not just to make a buck and move on, to the next thing/opportunity….

now, i am not an artist, but i wish to use the opportunity to learn the skills of the industry at the same time.

now the reason i mention a monopoly, and more importantly, how a shop should be run, i have been into the other shop in town, and, have enquired about a thing or two as have many of my friends, and it laves nothing but a bad taste in the mouth, the whole attitude is all wrong, there is no advice on offer as to what would/could work for various different designs. all the response you receive is, “if you don’t know what you want i can’t help you”, now i get this to an extent, if you come in with a blank piece of paper, you aren’t gonna get helped, but i have been in with examples and asked whether this could be done, and that, and get the same repsonse….. so how are you meant to get an idea of what is possible, or indeed not poosible, if they aren’t willing to put some input in, and then, get work from it……

also, said shop is charging more than double the going rate across the country, which i feel is unfair, as there is no other shop n the town, he is getting away with it, and, he is choosey over what he does, a friend went in, with a full back piece, already drawn out, full size, he looked at it, and said, no i don’t want to do that, it was an intricate, but basic tribal design….. so right there, he turned down £2500-3000 worth of work, he also has a 4-6 month wait, which, lets be honest, you want it doing as soon as, not 6 months time, and to top it all off, the staff that work there, do not get any of their own ink done there….. what does this say to you? now, its not that there is a policy that they cannot…..

another friend of mine was booked in to the place, he knows the guy “well” he had 2 dragons put on either shoulder, and was having it done in sittings, so paying by the hour, or so he thought, original booking was for 4 two hour sittings, it was finished in just over two sittings, but he still took the full amount for four full sittings, does that not seem a little wrong?

now the town i live in is not small, and the nearest other places are a good 20+ miles away, the area is very affluent, so there is plenty of cash floating around the local economy to support another shop, and i feel if its done right, treating the customers with respect, offering advice, and not arrogance, so it will be a great place to be tattoo’d

i will be also maintaining my full time job and supporting my family through this, so its not something i am doing on a whim, its something i really want and want to do it right, and offer the best service i can

hope this helps folks, so i am not trying to ruin something for someone else, i just want a place thats does it well, and does it properly, for a good price.