If there is one thing I have learned in the last few years, it is that the vast majority of those who come to get tattooed or pierced enjoy the social interaction that is commonplace in most shops. Much like they do with their hairdressers, bartenders and even therapists, our clients want to be able to engage in conversation and have a positive experience. Whether it be a tattoo, piercing or any other form of body modification, we are performing painful procedures on every person who sits in our chair. Many people are nervous, anxious and in some cases truly scared before the procedure regardless if it is their first time, or 100th. Engaging in conversation with not only the person in your chair, but others around you does a great deal to help put them at ease and decrease their anxiety level. Social interaction helps to shift some of the focus away from the pain the client is being sujected to. Silence, on the other hand, creates an environment where the only thing they have is the pain.
Imagine how awkward and uncomfortable it would be to have someone inflicting pain upon you, for several hours in some cases with only an occasional word or two. It is our responsibility to ensure every person who walks out the door had a positive and enjoyable experience! Personally, I like to joke around and have fun with those I tattoo as well as others around me, and for each person who may not appreciate that approach, there are countless others who return because of it. You can never please everyone, but if they see that you enjoy what you are doing and making an effort to connect with them, the vast majority will do the same.
We DO NOT work in a funeral home or library, so it shouldn't sound and feel like one. With a shop on almost every corner these days, you need to create a positive and enjoyable experience for your clients....or someone else will!!!
