After conducting a poll from people on the street about what comes to mind when asked about a tattoo parlor, were interesting designs throughout the store, unorganized and dirty. I noticed that a common response is that tattoo shops are viewed as a hang out. The space that I analyzed for this photo essay is a tattoo parlor located on 4th avenue in Tucson not far from the University of Arizona campus. Being someone that has never been to a tattoo shop, I wanted to see what a real shop looked like not what I thought it looked like. Tattoo shops are known for their laid back lifestyles, this photo essay is going to talk about why creating a comfortable vibe throughout the shop is important.
The placement and look of a tattoo shop is key in the amount of business the shop is going to generate. This tattoo shop is located on 4th avenue where large amounts of traffic flow every day. Also several bars are located here where college students gather and have a few drinks which can result in the spontaneous behavior of getting a tattoo. By looking at this photo it shows that the tattoo shop is pretty big and attracts attention to it, compared to the surrounding buildings. The placement of the wildcat signs shows their support of the local university which has a positive effect on the people in the surrounding area, considering a large part of their market will be college students. The color scheme of how the building is painted was well planned. By having a black background it allows for the red tattoo sign to stick on the black background. The color red is a very emotional color it represents strength, power, desire, and love just to name a few. The color red is designed to appeal to peoples’ emotional senses and is very inviting. The flames are an interesting addition; it really catches the eye of the passing pedestrian which makes them think about the shop and draws attention to it. Having the flames on the front of the store makes it look “bad ass” and lures customers to see what is inside. The contrast of the black background, red lettering, and the flames are all designed to attract customers into the shop. The location of the shop and appearance are well thought out tactics in how they are going to pull in clients.
At the entrance of the tattoo parlor is a fish tank to greet guests as they enter. This fish tank is strategically placed at the front of the store so it is the first thing that is seen, because the shop wants their customers to come and be relaxed. The shop does not want patrons to come in and see people getting tattoos right away. For someone that is nervous about getting a tattoo walking in and seeing tattoo guns and ink right away could cause the customer to have second thoughts. Having the fish tank here helps take people’s minds off the life changing experience that is about to take place as they watch the fish swim back and forth through the tank. As well as creating a positive influence on the customers already getting tattoos it can be inspirational to the people just walking in to see what the place is all about. These people walk into the parlor and see how laid back it is to have a fish tank. It could inspire them to take a leap of faith and get a tattoo. By having a fish tank in the front of the parlor, it makes the client feel as if they are not trying to be rushed into getting on the chair and getting the tattoo over with. In this photo there are no tattoo artists giving people tattoos. Without me saying it is a tattoo parlor, most would have never known. This is what the shop is trying to do by creating a stress free environment where customers are not pressured into getting tattoos.
This area of the tattoo parlor is the second area viewed after entering the shop; it is the lounge area where people hang out. Guests are welcome to come in and play a game of pool or sit on the couch and think about the possibility of getting a tattoo. From visiting this location and looking at this photo, it shows that many customers and people come and hang out and are welcome to. This relaxed atmosphere is placed here to allow patrons to feel comfortable coming in and hanging out. The reason is because the Tattoo shop wants them to come back in and get a tattoo here or maybe even while their hanging out. They want customers to feel at ease and not rushed into a situation of getting a tattoo. It allows for people to think carefully about their decision in a stress-free environment. Sometimes the relaxed environment can be inspirational to people thinking about getting a tattoo.
What is not seen in this picture is a wall filled with sketches and different ideas in the same lounge room to inspire people who do not know what to get or even people who had no intention of getting a tattoo. This wall of sketches is deliberately placed here to generate people to think about and potentially getting tattoos. Another purpose of this room is for friends and family of the customer that’s getting the tattoo. The shop wants them to feel they have a place to hang out because tattoos can take a large amount of time. The parlor wants them to also feel at ease while they’re there because everyone that walks in that door is a potential customer and they want individuals to think about coming back to their shop to get a tattoo. The lounge is strategically placed here to go along with the vibe of keeping guests comfortable along with gaining the trust of potential customers to come back and select their shop.
This photo is of a tattoo chair at a work station this chair is located towards the back of the shop. The chair is placed in the back because the shop wants the customer to feel completely comfortable with the shop before undergoing the process of getting a tattoo. By looking at this chair and the work station it brings to mind a great sense of professionalism. Guests are going to feel at ease by seeing this area. The perception I had of tattoo shop chairs are old, uncomfortable, and worn down chairs. This image refutes that claim. This chair is almost like a recliner, big and luxurious. Chairs are not even this nice at dentists’ offices. The leather on the chair shines in the light as does the steel. This work station is well kept, organized, and looks brand new. A customer entering this atmosphere is going to be very pleased compared to entering an area in disarray, causing stress and second thoughts. By looking at this station I would compare it to a doctor’s office, people come to get work done and the tattoo artists are professionals like doctors and take it very seriously. By looking at this photo, they follow a strict code of professionalism. The tattoo chair ties in with the whole theme of getting guests to feel comfortable in this shop.
The wall in this photo looks newly painted and shines as if a new coat had just been put on. The paintings and pictures on the wall add a fresh look to the building and allow the customer to view these paintings while getting a tattoo instead of staring at the wall. It takes their mind off the painful and repetitive marks of the tattoo gun going in their skin. By having nice, clean tile floor in the area, it helps add to the overall theme of professionalism.
Being someone that has never been to a tattoo parlor, I had preconceived notions of how it would look. These predictions I had going in were completely false. Before conducting this photo essay I would have never thought this tattoo parlor would go to such great lengths to keep their customers comfortable. After viewing this space I have a newly found sense of respect for the tattoo industry. Tattoo artists are professionals in the way they conduct business and the shop reflects that. The professionalism and comfort of the customers was felt as soon as I walked up to the parlor and felt throughout my whole experience if I were to get a tattoo I would feel completely comfortable getting a tattoo there.
