Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Here's what you could say to your client:
That's
a very interesting design. I can see why you chose it. And I can tell that
it means a lot to you. Before we begin, there are a few important things I
need to discuss with you.
First, you've chosen a design that has
a lot of lines very close together. This means there is a very good chance
the lines will run together over time. As time goes by, you will probably
lose some of the detail. I can do the work, but I want to be absolutely clear
so you're not disappointed later.
Second, I recommend we use dark colors
because they don't fade as quickly as light colors.
Finally, we normally
advise against getting tattoos on feet. The skin on a foot sheds much more
quickly than most other parts of the body. This causes rapid fading. For this
reason, we don't guarantee the work we do on feet. You'll probably need a
touch up in as soon as six months. Normally, we do touch ups
at no charge but this doesn't apply to foot tattoos.
Do you have
any questions about what I've explained to you? Do you still want to go ahead?
As
tattooist Pat Sinatra explains, "Celtic design can have lines close together,
but if you don't trap enough skin, then those lines can run together. If you
don't leave enough of that negative space, then the black will encroach it.
"A
lot of times people think someone can do something extremely small with a
lot of detail, but what is that tattoo going to look like after it's healed,
in three years or 10 years? You have to figure out what it's going to look
like years from now."
Eric Gaudet, who manages a tattoo studio, says
communication skills are essential for tattooists. "If you can't communicate
with the client, what they want and what they need, you're going to have an
unhappy client. You have to get your point across to them, and be nice but
firm, so there are no crossed wires, no miscommunication."
Sinatra
agrees. "You have to have really good communication with the client. You have
to have really good social skills."