Private Studio – What it Means for Us?
Hello Everyone! In today’s blog I will write what does the term “Private Studio’’ mean for me, and in general in the case of Vadelma Tattoo. How it differs from traditional understanding of tattoo studios, why in my opinion we entered the times where we will have a parallel world of “private studios’’, and why it doesn’t mean that a tattooer works at home and does tattoos only as a side job. Curious? Let’s go!
Private in Vadelma’s understanding
When me and Natalie opened Vadelma Tattoo for the first time in 2021 in Finland, we wanted to create a place where we would love to come and get a tattoo by ourselves. By observing the tattoo industry, knowing our clients and personal preferences we noticed that more and more people are not willing to get a tattoo in a studio where 6 or 8 other artists work in a one room ( which together gives at least a double amount of people ). Even though I am a guy, when I got my first tattoos I chose an artist who works alone, in a clean little gabinet. The experience was very personal, and I was the only client then. I liked that a lot, I felt very taken care of, and since for me getting a tattoo is a big deal, I didn’t necessarily want to share it with random guys I don’t even know. I have also had two experiences of getting inked where 3 other tattooers were working simultaneously. Honestly, it felt more like a classroom for me with a teacher who could not quiet the students, everybody was talking, and the white noise of 4 machines wasn’t that white anymore. To give You full perspective, it was 7 years ago, so it is not so recent, but I believe that it might still be a pretty common case. Funny though, I got a tattoo from the same tattooer, but in a different, bigger place and my experience was way different, less personal in my opinion.
I was a customer back then, but it kind of shaped how Vadelma turned out to be. For me and Natalie, “Private” means something personal, where a customer can really feel that her/or his tattoo is really the most important subject on that day. That it is not about other tattooers, other clients, or random people walking by asking for a walk in. “Private” means customer-centric.
If you have already visited us in Amsterdam You know that our studio is similar in a way to a doctor’s office. Pretty small, in a building where many other businesses are based. Most of us are used to such a solution, where it goes to psychologists, dentists, coaches or physiotherapists, yet, still the old concept of a tattoo studio is pretty strong.
‘’Private’’ and ‘’traditional’’ in a parallel world
That’s why I believe that those two types of studio will coexist together, separately, but on the same market. And I am grateful that we live in the times where it is possible. It is good for both clients and tattooers. Those tattoo artists who love to work in a community in a bigger studio can still do that, and those more introverted, can choose to work on their own. I am happy about the development in that sense. On the other hand, all the customers, who were afraid ( and there is no surprise here, I would be personally scared to go to some placement as well, not to all, of course, but to some ) to visit a very typical tattoo studio, can choose an artist who works in a small, littly, cute private studio, and have a very personalized tattoo session. I think we will have both types, especially that more and more people are going to a specific artist rather than to a studio. That is the biggest change that we see. Since many great tattoo artists are specializing in a particular style, it is hard to go to a random studio and expect the same unique projects we saw in some other artist’s portfolio. 40-50 years ago, where the styles were limited, You could get a pretty much similar project here and there, especially if You go to a good studio. But now, the diversity of artists, styles, techniques is so massive, that it is hard to compromise on that end. I think it is pretty much obvious for You.
Little trick
Please don’t be misled by the term “Private” as well. It doesn’t mean that a person works at home to get tattoos as a side job. First of all, making tattoos, and being an artists it’s rather a commitment and sacrifice, rather than a way to make a quick money after work, by tracing the lines with a machine both on amazon, seeing few Youtube videos on “How to make a perfect Tattoo with no drawing skills” and reflecting ready-to-go drawings from Pinterest. That can be tricky, because I saw a few times guys who market themself as a “Private”, but they didn’t have a company, or approval from the official health inspector. In fact it is possible to work legally in an apartment under certain conditions, but there are certain rules to it. Anyway, the “basement’’ tattoos were, are and will be with us. I just wrote it to make You more aware of little tricks 🙂
I hope that after this reading You know even more about tattoos and tattoo studios! Soon, I will launch a Podcast – so we will talk about that, and similar topics a lot!
Thank You for Your time!
Much Love,
Simon
Hello Everyone! In today’s blog I will write what does the term “Private Studio’’ mean for me, and in general in the case of Vadelma Tattoo. How it differs from traditional understanding of tattoo studios, why in my opinion we entered the times where we will have a parallel world of “private studios’’, and why it doesn’t mean that a tattooer works at home and does tattoos only as a side job. Curious? Let’s go!
Private in Vadelma’s understanding
When me and Natalie opened Vadelma Tattoo for the first time in 2021 in Finland, we wanted to create a place where we would love to come and get a tattoo by ourselves. By observing the tattoo industry, knowing our clients and personal preferences we noticed that more and more people are not willing to get a tattoo in a studio where 6 or 8 other artists work in a one room ( which together gives at least a double amount of people ). Even though I am a guy, when I got my first tattoos I chose an artist who works alone, in a clean little gabinet. The experience was very personal, and I was the only client then. I liked that a lot, I felt very taken care of, and since for me getting a tattoo is a big deal, I didn’t necessarily want to share it with random guys I don’t even know. I have also had two experiences of getting inked where 3 other tattooers were working simultaneously. Honestly, it felt more like a classroom for me with a teacher who could not quiet the students, everybody was talking, and the white noise of 4 machines wasn’t that white anymore. To give You full perspective, it was 7 years ago, so it is not so recent, but I believe that it might still be a pretty common case. Funny though, I got a tattoo from the same tattooer, but in a different, bigger place and my experience was way different, less personal in my opinion.
I was a customer back then, but it kind of shaped how Vadelma turned out to be. For me and Natalie, “Private” means something personal, where a customer can really feel that her/or his tattoo is really the most important subject on that day. That it is not about other tattooers, other clients, or random people walking by asking for a walk in. “Private” means customer-centric.
If you have already visited us in Amsterdam You know that our studio is similar in a way to a doctor’s office. Pretty small, in a building where many other businesses are based. Most of us are used to such a solution, where it goes to psychologists, dentists, coaches or physiotherapists, yet, still the old concept of a tattoo studio is pretty strong.
‘’Private’’ and ‘’traditional’’ in a parallel world
That’s why I believe that those two types of studio will coexist together, separately, but on the same market. And I am grateful that we live in the times where it is possible. It is good for both clients and tattooers. Those tattoo artists who love to work in a community in a bigger studio can still do that, and those more introverted, can choose to work on their own. I am happy about the development in that sense. On the other hand, all the customers, who were afraid ( and there is no surprise here, I would be personally scared to go to some placement as well, not to all, of course, but to some ) to visit a very typical tattoo studio, can choose an artist who works in a small, littly, cute private studio, and have a very personalized tattoo session. I think we will have both types, especially that more and more people are going to a specific artist rather than to a studio. That is the biggest change that we see. Since many great tattoo artists are specializing in a particular style, it is hard to go to a random studio and expect the same unique projects we saw in some other artist’s portfolio. 40-50 years ago, where the styles were limited, You could get a pretty much similar project here and there, especially if You go to a good studio. But now, the diversity of artists, styles, techniques is so massive, that it is hard to compromise on that end. I think it is pretty much obvious for You.
Little trick
Please don’t be misled by the term “Private” as well. It doesn’t mean that a person works at home to get tattoos as a side job. First of all, making tattoos, and being an artists it’s rather a commitment and sacrifice, rather than a way to make a quick money after work, by tracing the lines with a machine both on amazon, seeing few Youtube videos on “How to make a perfect Tattoo with no drawing skills” and reflecting ready-to-go drawings from Pinterest. That can be tricky, because I saw a few times guys who market themself as a “Private”, but they didn’t have a company, or approval from the official health inspector. In fact it is possible to work legally in an apartment under certain conditions, but there are certain rules to it. Anyway, the “basement’’ tattoos were, are and will be with us. I just wrote it to make You more aware of little tricks 🙂
I hope that after this reading You know even more about tattoos and tattoo studios! Soon, I will launch a Podcast – so we will talk about that, and similar topics a lot!
Thank You for Your time!
Much Love,
Simon
