The shop is named for custom work, and the name is older than any of us. Somebody walks in with an idea, or sends one through the form, and one of us draws it for them. Here’s what happens between the idea and the chair.
It starts with a conversation
Tell us the subject, where it’s going, how much of you it should cover, and show us anything you’ve collected. Do that at the counter or on the tattoo request form, which takes references, your budget and your dates. You don’t need a finished idea. “A panther on my forearm” or “a dragon sleeve” is plenty. Dave wrote up what the sit-down looks like: What to Expect at a Custom Tattoo Consultation.
Bring references. All of them.
Photos of what you like, colors, subjects, placement ideas. It all helps, and it’s faster than describing things from scratch. One thing we won’t do is copy another artist’s tattoo line for line. That one belongs to the person wearing it. Reference is where we start. The drawing is ours, and it’s built for your body.
You see the drawing on the day
That surprises people. Here’s why. The design is drawn for your placement, and the only way to check size and flow is on you, in the room, with the stencil in hand. The tiger on this page went from the outline above to the tattoo beside this paragraph that way. If something needs to change, we change it then. Nobody picks up a machine until you’re happy with what’s in front of you. If it’s big enough to need its own sit-down first, we book one and talk size, placement and cost before any needle comes out.
The deposit, and what it costs
Booking takes a $100 non-refundable cash deposit that comes off the tattoo. Bigger projects, bigger deposit, same deal. Move your date with 24 hours notice and it moves with you. Pricing is by the piece. Shop minimum is $100, and everything above that is quoted on the drawing. Big projects are quoted as a whole and paid session by session, so you know the full number before the first line goes on. The ranges we publish are on the FAQ, and the rest of what applies to any tattoo here is in How to Get Tattooed at The Custom Tattoo Company.
One sitting, or several
A single custom piece is usually one sitting, and you’ll get a time estimate with the quote. Sleeves, backs and legs are booked as full days a few weeks apart, so each session heals before we build on it, and before every appointment you’ll know exactly what that day is for. For the big Japanese work Dave does, his site lays out how many sessions a sleeve takes and why: How Long a Japanese Sleeve Tattoo Takes.
Who draws it
Whoever fits the idea. Lauren for American Traditional with the black laid in heavy, and for fine line and dotwork. Dave for large Japanese work and bold traditional. Cabot for birds, banners and script. It’s Glitter for bubblegum traditional and fine line. Name somebody on the form, or ask at the counter. Here’s who you’ll meet.
Rather skip all this and pick something off the wall today? That door’s open too: Flash Off the Wall. 12 to 7, seven days a week, 123 Roosevelt Blvd, Havelock.