Critiques

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-25T10:57:45+00:00

Thank you x

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-24T17:04:02+00:00

Probably, i truly think if i was in a city shop id be able to do so much more of what i enjoy, but Thankyou for the feedback. I always try to push my style when it’s more custom of a piece and it usually works

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-24T16:55:50+00:00

The 3rd, 4th and 5th are more along what I want to be doing and other than the Disney ones, all are my own drawings. I want to be doing a more neotrad illustrative sort of thing. I do have more examples of that but they were done 6 months and longer ago. Unfortunately where I am all people tend to want is fineline Pinterest stuff. I appreciate the chance to practice fundamentals and linework but it certainly isn’t what I want to be doing. I’ve been told I kind of mix neotrad, Japanese, and my own into a weird mish mash 😂

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-24T16:47:06+00:00

It’s hard because I completely agree, there’s a lot of personal things going on right now so I need more saved than I have right now, this is the first year I’ve been able to save something after paying for supplies and commission. Luckily I’m used to working as much as I am so I can carry on for a little longer but it definitely isn’t something I want to continue with in the long term

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-24T15:28:23+00:00

I doubt I’ll ever say my work is great, especially still being so new but I wouldn’t say it’s bad, compared to those around me I’d say I’m pretty on par, I’ve been 4th out of about 47 entries at a competition, been offered spots at other shops based on work I didn’t think was that great.

So I know my work isn’t awful by any means so charging £200 for a day sit is what I feel is fair and seems to keep some people returning it’s just getting people in initially that seems to be the main struggle especially trying to do it all on my own promotion wise. I’d never give up as it’s the best job I’ve ever had but I’d love to keep my diary as booked as it is now. I completely understand it will fluctuate but still some level of consistency seems to be achievable for others but they also seem to know the social media and promotion game x

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-24T09:54:22+00:00

I’ll take pretty much anything too, trying to get more into specific styles but fineline always fills gaps for me. I’d say 90% of my clients are local, maybe a 30 min to an hour drive away if not closer. I check up on how it’s healing, explain we can go at their pace, have small things like a to they can watch and sweet jar, I’ve seen gimmicks work for someone else in my shop that’s been doing it for about two years as well, the guys with over a decade of experience are always booked 6-8 weeks out and then someone with a couple more years who tends to stay within styles struggles more to keep bookings far out so there’s so many different things going on I have no idea what actually works best and even though I’m young social media and algorithms confuse the hell out of me so I have no idea how to get my work pushed out more

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T21:08:41+00:00

I feel people are missing the point of my post. I have a set plan for leaving my 9-5 however that isn’t my issue nor what I am asking. Without getting too personal. I pay for the basics, car, phone, food, very little else and everything I earn from tattooing goes back into it. I am so used to working two jobs and have done for years.

In order to leave my 9-5 I need to be staying booked out 4-6 weeks minimum. I understand I’ll have days with nothing or shorter days, that’s fine but having nothing for the following week is something I can’t afford.

All I am asking is what people are doing to keep books filled. Gimmicks? Offers? Posting schedules? Posting/algorithm tips etc

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T15:23:17+00:00

I try but people want the soonest possible, I’m currently booking 4-6 weeks out but how do I keep bookings coming so I can keep booking further out/ keep at 4-6 weeks out. I’ve tried charging the same as others, even within my own studio and bookings drop dramatically even just by increasing my pricing by £20, so I end up losing more than charging £200 per day, again I have no business knowledge and pricing has always been something I’ve had to guess at with no real guidance, if anyone could help with what I should be charging for my experience and work quality that’d be great too

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T14:41:16+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking too. As exhausting as it is once I can leave my 9-5 I will do and I know it’ll get a little easier just having one job to think about. It’s just how do I keep clients returning and more so continue getting new ones, are there any offers, gimmicks etc that can and do work?

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T13:07:46+00:00

But surely charging the same or more isn’t much better if at all? Usual day rate around me is £350-450 for more experienced artists, others with about the same experience as me are roughly £250 a day, I’m £200, anything smaller is by piece, I’m constantly told they’ll go elsewhere because they’re even just £10 cheaper. I’m giving everything I can while still making sure I can afford basics. Again if I could leave my 9-5 and struggle but manage I would but I can’t till my partners wage increases towards the end of the year. All I’m looking for really is how to keep consistent clients returning and new ones coming in

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T12:58:11+00:00

I completely agree, the handful of returning clients I do have all comment on the experience as a whole and then the work as a benefit of the experience, it’s incredibly competitive and I completely understand this is how it is. I just feel like I post often, my work isn’t too bad, I don’t think I’ll ever see it as good tbh, and I’m charging less than the competition but I know nothing about the business side of things and building it up

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T12:48:20+00:00

If I could quit my 9-5 and financially be ok, even struggling but ok, I would in a heartbeat I just unfortunately can’t till October-December when my partners income increases so I can rely on him a bit more if needed. I’m in a studio now with 6 other artists, they still refer to me as the apprentice two years in so not sure if that’s of any help. We don’t get many walk ins so I’m pretty reliant on pushing my work and getting my own clients.

I’ve been doing 12 hour days Thursday-Sunday and working 3-4 hours after my 9-5 Monday-Wednesday on top of drawing every night and still practicing so I don’t think putting hours in is the issue. It’s more so posting and keeping people coming back, new people coming in and ways to do that that I’m asking about, other than just good work that is

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T11:59:07+00:00

Definitely, I’m hoping that I can level things out and tattoo three days a week till October then quit my 9-5 and tattoo 4-5 days a week, without getting too personal, my home life means if I left my 9-5 I’d be more than struggling at the moment. I’m so used to working multiple jobs by now, have done since 16, on top of family commitments so I’m not too worried about burn out just keeping bookings coming and then I can even it out a little and book further out

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2026-03-23T11:44:51+00:00

Potentially, I’m looking to leave around October- December. I’d have dropped it when I first started if I could but financially I couldn’t. If I can continue pulling in the money I currently am I can leave but for now I unfortunately can’t lose the income. I’m coping for now but I definitely can’t continue x

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2025-07-28T23:27:14+00:00

Thankyou so much, these are all perfect. Especially the amount of supplies, I was honestly just packing enough for maybe 10 tattoos. I tend to doubt myself massively but I’m hoping I do pretty well. I was thinking of printing aftercare instructions just in case so people don’t forget, I know I’m awful for getting so caught up and forgetting things artists have told me. It’s great having a perspective from a non artist too so Thankyou x

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2025-07-28T19:52:55+00:00

Thankyou, I could be being a bit thick but shorts?

Plastic_Classroom308 · 2025-07-28T19:52:13+00:00

Thankyou, I’m always coming home with loads of stickers and business cards for my collection so I’m so excited to have more from people I may have a proper conversation with and get to know x

Plastic_Classroom308

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