No doubt, BG employs some skilled artists, but is that enough? Here was my experience: 1. Emailed the shop, via their website, with a tattoo idea. Didn't hear back. 2. Went to shop. Person at front de... Read More
No doubt, BG employs some skilled artists, but is that enough? Here was my experience: 1. Emailed the shop, via their website, with a tattoo idea. Didn't hear back. 2. Went to shop. Person at front desk couldn't find my email so I shared the pic again. Set an appointment. 3. Sent an email to follow up with further details about the appointment.. No response. 4. Called the shop, told them I was having trouble reaching them through the website. Was told they 'never check that mailbox'. Without making any effort to address my issue, the person on the phone advised that I contact the artist directly. 5. Contacted the artist. No response. Frustrated, I chose a different shop. There, they took time to discuss with me the right artist for the job, printed out the piece so I could 'try it on' and make sure we were all on the same page. BG wins accolades from City Paper and other publications every year, thanks to their talented artists and a rabid fan base. However, in a market more saturated every year with talented artists, I don't believe it's enough to have *just* talent. Visit any city with renowned tattoo shops in every neighborhood (think NYC, Portland, Seattle...) and learn from them: in addition to possessing experience and craftsmanship, your shop also needs to understand customer service, and be detail-oriented. This is especially crucial when you're in the business of putting ink permanently into people's skin. Read Less