What should I expect during my appointment?
There won’t be any support puppies there unfortunately, but hopefully this guide can prepare you for your appointment!
I usually recommend giving yourself a little extra time before your appointment to account for possible traffic, coffee and snack stops, and parking downtown. The studio is located at White Whale Tattoo:
722 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
I usually park in the parking lot behind the studio, but it can be a pricier lot compared to other garages/street parking in the area. If you park there, I recommend paying for a full day versus a set amount of hours as sometimes our appointment may take longer than what I quote you. Parking there costs around $12 a day regardless of the amount of hours you put into the machine (as long as there’s no other events going on at the Arnoff or downtown), so I usually just pay the full day rate. That parking lot is monitored 24/7 with video cameras, and they will mail you an $80 ticket, even if your parking expired by only a few minutes. Sounds dramatic, but sometimes clients think they can get away with parking there since no one’s on duty, and I’d hate for you to get a ticket!
All that aside, it’s the closest parking to our studio and it’s where most of our artists and guests park. The address to that lot is:
705 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
If for any reason you’re running late, PLEASE email me and let me know when it’s safe for you to do so. Our studio does not have a phone, and my DM’s on Instagram are turned off, so emailing me is how I prefer to communicate with all my clients. I give everyone a 10-15 minute window, but if you’re running later than that, I need to know. If my appointment doesn’t show up within that 15 minute window, I assume they no-called/no-showed, and I may leave the studio. I have my day planned out to accommodate any design adjustments we may need, paperwork, lunch/bathroom breaks we may need, stenciling, set up/break down, daycare, etc. so if you’re running later than 15 minutes, I may not have enough time to fit in your appointment that day.
Before your appointment, I recommend eating a filling meal, and packing any snacks/beverages to keep your blood sugar up during your appointment. I will never be offended if you need a snack/lunch/bathroom break during your appointment (hell, I’ll probably take one if you do!) so don’t be afraid to ask. We also have snacks/water/tea in the studio, so if you forget to pack anything and are feeling peckish, let me know. Some clients like to take minimal breaks and I’m comfortable working that way as well, so just keep me in the loop on how you’re feeling.
Make sure you are dressed comfortably and in clothes that you may not mind getting ink on, and they are easy to work around (ex. if you’re getting a thigh tattoo, leggings may be tricky for me to work around). If you’re getting an arm tattoo, a tank top or short sleeve shirt is ideal. If you’re getting a leg tattoo, shorts, boxers, or a skirt are best (sometimes we can pull up pant legs if you’re getting a lower leg tattoo, but shorts tend to be easiest). I rarely work on backs, but I usually recommend bringing a low-back cut leotard/tank top, or a front opening jacket that you can button up and wear backwards when you get to the studio. We work really hard to create a safe space, and I’ll never ask you to completely remove an article of clothing unless it’s necessary (ex. removing a leg from your pants if you’re getting an upper thigh tattoo), but usually we can pull clothing just out of the way of the tattoo area and tape it in place while still keeping you covered. I don’t work on ribs or chests often, but if I do, I may ask you if you are comfortable removing your bra (if you wear one) when you get to the studio (while leaving your shirt on), and I can tape off the area we’re working on while keeping you covered. We also have barriers around the studio in case you’d like a little bit more privacy, so don’t be afraid to ask. On the other side of that, my coworkers and I work with the human form everyday and aren’t offended if you choose to wear minimal clothing, whatever makes you most comfortable!
I also recommend bringing a hoodie, jacket, or long sleeve shirt of some sort if you’re prone to being cold. Sounds strange, but when I get tattooed, I usually wear knee high socks and mittens to keep my lower legs/feet and hands warm, and those tend to be the areas you lose heat and blood circulation first! I personally also tent to run cold, and I usually have a space heater running in my station to keep us cozy, but if for some reason you’re running hot or it’s getting too toasty for my coworkers, having a jacket is a nice back up.
I can be a pretty chatty person at times and don’t mind hanging out and talking while I tattoo, but it may take me a little longer to finish the piece! If we’re working on a pretty large-scale piece or a portrait, it’s sometimes best if I hunker down and focus on tattooing so you’re not having to sit longer than you have to, but if I need to be quiet and focus, I’ll be sure to let you know as I’m working. I usually recommend bringing a fully charged phone, head phones, and maybe even a book in case I need to focus in on your piece, or if you prefer the silence and meditation aspect of being tattooed.
I think that pretty much covers the basics! If you have any other questions I didn’t cover here, you are also more than welcome to email me and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
