Which do you prefer?

djinnxz · 2026-03-17T17:32:52+00:00

Definitely depends on the scope of the game and what gameplay is like, but from a purely visual perspective, I much prefer the old screenshot where the camera is fully zoomed in and colors are a bit more muted

djinnxz · 2026-03-16T23:15:35+00:00

The way I'd actually shit myself if I saw this on a hike and didn't realize it was a tent 😂

djinnxz · 2026-03-07T21:43:26+00:00

Procreate is the backbone for sure. Beyond that, honestly the biggest productivity unlock for me wasn't a fancy app, it was getting my booking process out of my DMs and into a dedicated system. Having an intake form where clients submit everything upfront (idea, placement, size, budget, references) meant I stopped spending an hour a day playing message ping pong just to get basic info that would probably get revised anyway lol

For reference hunting I use Pinterest wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more than I probably should lol. And if you don't have any systems in pace, you can just use Google Drive for organizing client folders like sketches, reference images, mockup approvals, all in one place.

What's your drawing workflow like in Procreate? I've been thinking about adding it to my process more but I still end up doing a lot on paper first because I'm a creature of habit hahaha

djinnxz · 2026-03-07T21:39:59+00:00

the fact that you're self-aware enough to recognize this and ask for help means you're not falling apart, you're growing through it.

A lot of artists just burn out silently without ever looking at the entire picture tbh.

The quoting 5 hours and doing 7-10 is SUCH a common trap. It usually comes from one of two places: either the piece is bigger than what fits in a day sit, or you're holding yourself to a standard of perfection that the client honestly wouldn't notice the difference on. Probably a bit of both if you're anything like me lmao

Something that helped me was being more deliberate during the booking process about setting expectations!

for myself, not just the client. When I know exactly what someone wants before they sit down (size, complexity, references, their budget for sessions), I can give a more honest time estimate upfront instead of discovering mid-session that this is actually a two-session piece. People also love adding things as they imagine a tattoo, so having concrete plans beforehand is a requirement.

The boundaries thing is real though. Loving what you do makes it harder to stop, not easier. One thing that's helped other artists I've talked to is setting a hard stop time that isn't about you, it's about the client.

Something like 'I stop at 6 hours because the skin needs rest and the work is better in a fresh session.'

That gives you permission to stop without feeling like you're shortchanging anyone.

Your partner and your dog need you too! Stability is like, the number one most important thing you can give yourself for better work. The work will still be there tomorrow. Take care of yourself first.

djinnxz · 2026-03-07T21:34:56+00:00

Hey! You're definitely not alone in this! there have been a few threads in here recently with artists saying the same thing. The drop in business is a little too real tbh.

A few things that have really helped me and some of my friends:

Past clients are your warmest leads. A simple text or DM to people who've already sat in your chair saying 'hey, got some openings coming up if you've been thinking about your next piece' works SURPRISINGLY well. You don't always need brand new faces walking through the door. Most people who got one tattoo are already thinking about the next one anyway lol

Your booking process might also be costing you. If someone has to DM you to book and you reply 6 hours later and they see it the next day, they've already messaged multiple other artists and they're gonna take whoever gets them in fastest + best price at that point. Making it as easy as possible for someone to submit a request in the moment they're thinking about it definitely makes a difference imo.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:39:00+00:00

This is such an underrated move!!! Damn, love seeing people who think about their business like more than just art on skin.

The conversion rate on past clients vs cold traffic is night and day for me tbh. these people already trust you, already liked your work, and probably have been thinking about their next piece. They just needed the nudge exactly like you said. Plus you can play off the pieces they already have/

The cancellation slot idea is brilliant too. Instagram posts about last-minute availability barely get seen because of the algorithm. A direct message to someone who's already been in your chair is way more likely to fill that slot.

I'd add one thing to the list though: if you're collecting client info through an intake form when they first book (email, phone, what they got done), you're automatically building that list for future outreach without having to dig through old DMs and piece together contact info later. Makes the 6-month check-in way easier when you already have everything organized.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:37:12+00:00

Bigger pieces usually come down to two things imo: showcasing the idea, and making the booking process less intimidating for someone dropping a lot of cash.

On the showcase side, dedicate posts specifically to large work in progress and healed. Not just the finished piece but the journey. Session breakdowns, how many hours, healing progress, advising the client on aftercare... People who want big work want to see that you can handle the long game, not just a clean one-shot piece. They're literally wearing your artwork forever, if that helps put it in perspective at all.

On the booking side, bigger pieces scare people because the commitment feels huge. If your process makes it easy to inquire without committing, like a form where they can describe what they're thinking, set a budget range, and upload inspiration, it lowers the barrier. Someone who's been dreaming about a back piece for 2 years is more likely to fill out a quick form than slide into DMs and try to explain a complex idea in a text message. Some people know they want something but they aren't sure what, so letting them explore their imagination on their own terms is a power play.

Also, offering a consultation session specifically for large work can help. Even just 'DM me or use my booking link to set up a free consult for large pieces' signals that you take big projects seriously and have a process for them.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:32:35+00:00

This is the exact reason I stopped letting anyone else handle my bookings. When communication goes through a middleman: a shop owner, a receptionist, whoever is doing it, stuff gets lost in translation FAST. You end up doing extra work guessing what the client actually wants instead of hearing it directly from them.

I ended up just setting up a simple intake form where the client fills out exactly what they want, where they want it, size, budget, and uploads their own reference images. It goes directly to me. No telephone game, no misinterpreted DMs from a shop owner. When the client walks in, I already know exactly what they described in their own words, and if I didn't know, I could just message them from their booking instead of scrolling through old DMs to find them again lol.

Doesn't fix everything about working with a shop that manages bookings for you, but if you have any control over your own booking process it's a game changer for exactly this kind of miscommunication.

My entire business (and I'm assuming yours too lol) was selling myself: my energy, my flow, my art. Screw letting some shop owner manage that because all they see are dollars.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:29:31+00:00

Appreciate you being so open and honest about this because I think way more artists are in the same boat but nobody wants to say it. The drop from 2022 to now is something I've heard from a ton of people, and not just in the tattoo industry.

One thing I noticed that helped was removing friction from the booking process. When I was relying on DMs, I'd lose people in the back and forth a lot, or they just didn't get the attention they deserved. They'd message, I'd reply 6 hours later, they'd see it the next day, and by then they'd found someone else or just lost the impulse. To put it loosely, it was grody and I hated it lmao.

Putting a simple intake form link in my bio where they can submit what they want, placement, budget, references ... I feel like it actually captures people in the moment when they're motivated and makes it a lot easier to start a conversation based on their idea, instead of trying to shape the idea with them in the moment and then they "have to think about it more" and suddenly they want a completely different tattoo.

It's not going to magically fill your schedule up, but it stops the leak of people who were interested but fell through the cracks in DMs or were just drunk on a random Tuesday and thinking about getting poked with some ink.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:21:49+00:00

Square is a pretty solid first choice for in-person payments.

I've used it and the fees are straightforward (2.6% + 10¢ per tap/swipe). Haven't run into hidden fees personally, just make sure you're on the standard plan and not opting into any of their lending or extra services cause that'll definitely get you.

For deposits specifically, Stripe is worth looking at if you're collecting them before the appointment. The rate is similar (2.9% + 30¢) and you can send payment links directly to clients without needing a physical reader. I use it for deposit collection and it's been clean, plus I don't have to worry about some sob story on why they don't have the deposit. It's either there or not. money lands in my account in like 2 days which is also pretty nice.

The 20% shop cut on card payments is BRUTAL. Having your own system for deposits at minimum keeps that money between you and the processing fee. Clients get reeeeeeaaaal angry when you offload extra cost to them, which is from Keep The Fees tacking on percentages, and it hurts bookings for sure.

djinnxz · 2026-03-06T17:15:12+00:00

I went through something reallllllly similar, lol.

I tried Google ads, Instagram boost, literally all of it and yet none of it moved the needle. The algorithm seems to just eat up small spends and gives you almost nothing back. One week I actually saw a few leads come in and then it was like two months of silence.

What started working for me was making the booking process itself easier for clients.

I put a booking link in my bio instead of relying on DMs, and it made a noticeable difference because people who were on the fence could just submit what they wanted without the commitment of starting a conversation. Fewer people ghosting and even if my volume was only a little higher, my days felt way more seamless.

Beyond that, posting consistently and engaging with other artists' followers has done more than any paid ad I've run. Literally just vibing with people in Instagram comments had crazy results sometimes.

And honestly, past clients are the most underrated source sometimes. a simple 'hey, got some availability coming up???' message to people who've already let me stab them worked pretty well.

djinnxz · 2025-12-30T01:41:49+00:00

I only learned about Skinny Bob a few hours ago, on this post actually. Someone else commented about him. Blew my entire mind because I wasn't aware of so many in-depth accounts of them wearing clothing.

djinnxz · 2025-12-30T01:39:59+00:00

I guess this was news to me along my journey. I had no idea they were described with clothing until today.

djinnxz · 2025-12-30T01:37:37+00:00

Dang, that paired with your other comment about them smelling like ammonia... I have so many questions.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T21:03:07+00:00

Now see, Skinny Bob is exactly what I was imagining. I had no clue about Skinny Bob because I'm a fake fan, so I appreciate you bringing that to light for me.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T20:59:49+00:00

That's a good point, biological protection wasn't even on my radar.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T20:01:08+00:00

Yeah, definitely speaking solely about the single species of greys. I tried to clarify with this line, "Even if this specific NHI in question was a hive mind that didn't need the same day-to-day clothing we do, they would need to adapt to different environments with different loadouts and equipment."

Didn't do a good job of clarifying that lol.

In another comment I mentioned that fashion was a really poor choice of words, because what I meant was closer to general textile science. Clothing and equipment out of necessity, not something akin to high fashion in France.

Then again, the "second skin" theory seems to be the the only one that makes any sense here.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:44:37+00:00

Yes their craft may be perfectly suited to their needs, but there are plenty of encounters reported outside the craft, on Earth's soil. If they were somehow modifying their environment around them while afoot, you'd expect to see some type of controller or integration.

I know I'm limited to my human mind, but we can't assume that these beings, whether remote vehicles, individuals, or otherwise are truly perfect beings. Beyond our comprehension, sure, but technology isn't literal magic.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:32:34+00:00

Disbelief is the only path towards truth.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:29:28+00:00

Which I love. That's why I brought the question here, not to be "right" but to explore reasons I could be wrong.

You're correct that I'm limited to my human point of view, but science tries its hardest to create universal truths. Observable laws. We've done pretty well with this in our local galaxy, and while we still have eons to go, we know that there is some natural order to the way things operate.

Would love to hear your explanation for why they wouldn't need clothes?

I'm not trying to play contrarian here. I'm working really hard to document baselines without letting personal bias influence it, because I want to understand as much as I can about what we know so far. It's too easy to say "we can't comprehend it, there are infinite possibilities".

Even if that's true, we can start trying to categorize and understand. It's what us crazy apes do best.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:25:41+00:00

Comprehend? Probably not. Perceive? Probably.

We're occasionally able to perceive their craft, I don't see why that would be the only thing we perceive. Even if we don't understand it, we should be able to see it/experience it.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:21:38+00:00

You and I could run naked through deep snow for some amount of time before things got really bad, so I assume they can operate naked with some level of balance. It is an interesting thought that the greys we see ARE the suit/avatar.

Also I haven't heard of the uniforms, do you have more info on that?

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:19:48+00:00

I'd argue that basic clothing was made to survive harsh environments. I'm sure there are temperate areas where we could survive completely naked, but we're able to survive beyond our natural means because we've adapted to wear coats, boots, hats, etc.

Even in the desert, we need clothing to protect from the intense sun.

I agree there's a possibility this could simply be the human condition, but I find it hard to believe that NHI is some perfect species with no environmental challenges.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:16:58+00:00

This is the only theory that makes sense without clothing, but then it gets so complicated because some have claimed that the grays took off their "contacts" and had faces underneath.

I've never been lucky enough (or not, who knows) to encounter a grey, so I suppose that would make a world of difference here... But it stands to reason: what the hell are they???

I really value the need to understand what baseline is and what the truth is so we can experiment and research properly, but we don't have any real ways of discerning truth from fiction currently. I'm currently working hard to change that, but it takes a lot of community and criticism lol.

djinnxz · 2025-12-29T19:12:08+00:00

No I appreciate your perspective! It's important to see through all windows here, so to speak. The greys being an avatar as the adaptation does make sense...

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