Blog Post

If you are the winning bidder on a custom tattoo design request, congratulations! Now that you're hired, how do you move forward? There are some very important steps to take. This Tatboard Artist Protocol can save lots of work and turmoil if followed correctly. Once hired, please take these steps:

1. Submit a very rough sketch. Do not spend hours on this first round because chances are, the buyer will want changes. If you're lucky, it'll only be one or two, but it may be more. 

2. Get the buyer's approval. Because your first sketch was very rough, you may have gone a few rounds back and forth. Once the buyer is happy with it...

3. Submit a refined black and white outline. This will be helpful in solidifying the final design to the client. This will also form the tattoo stencil if approved. If your particular tattoo does not need a black and white outline, you can skip this step.

4. Get the buyer's approval for the black and white outline. If the buyer wants changes, make them. Remember, this is your customer. Your best bet at repeat business and completing the sale is to make your customer happy.

5. Submit the final sketch with edits and final details.

6. Get the buyer approval. The buyer should approve the final drawing at this stage before you move forward.

7. Add color if needed and again, get the buyer's approval.

8. Once the buyer approves, you can send him final art files. Once he confirms that he recieved them, you will get paid!

The moral of the story? Start with a rough concept and get the buyer's approval before moving to the next stage. If you get the buyer's approval before every step, you won't be stuck working hours towards a final piece that the buyer has not seen in progress. Chances are, you'll think it's perfect; that it's a masterpiece. The buyer may love it, but want multiple changes. Worst case scenario, it's totally different than he wanted. It's a lot harder to change a final drawing than it is to rework a rough concept sketch.

Image credit: Itz230