09/24/2026
A little business housekeeping because, clearly, it needs to be said…again.
I’ve had numerous cancellations this week after already spending substantial time drawing, preparing, and planning for confirmed appointments. In several cases, I reached out the night before with the final artwork, only to be told that the client was no longer coming.
I understand that life happens. Emergencies happen. Things genuinely come up, and I’m always willing to work with people when there is a legitimate circumstance.
However, last-minute cancellations have a real impact on my business. When you book an appointment, I set that time aside specifically for you. I also often spend hours outside of the appointment designing your piece, preparing stencils, organizing my schedule, and turning away other potential clients for that time slot.
That appointment time is also part of my income, and I count on that income to pay my own bills. When an appointment is cancelled at the last minute, I usually don’t have enough time to fill the opening, which means I lose both the appointment and the time I spent preparing for it.
So moving forward, I’m going to be more consistent about protecting my time.
New clients will be required to pay a $50 deposit when scheduling. This helps ensure that appointments are being made with the intention of keeping them, and it will remain in place until I have a better sense of your appointment history.
For new clients who have not yet established a track record with me, no-showing your first appointment or cancelling at the last minute without a legitimate reason may mean that I’m unable to book with you again. I’m not trying to push anyone away, but I do need to work with clients who understand that my time and preparation have value.
Please also do not take an appointment that I’ve opened because another client cancelled, only to cancel that appointment yourself at the last minute. Those openings are offered because I’m actively trying to fill time that would otherwise be lost. Taking that spot and then cancelling it again makes it extremely difficult for me to fill.
If you know you cannot commit to an appointment, please don’t book one.
I would genuinely rather have you tell me upfront that you aren’t ready, need more time, or need to wait until your schedule or budget is more stable than have me spend hours preparing for an appointment you ultimately decide not to keep.
I love what I do, I love creating tattoos for you guys, and I want to continue being flexible and understanding. But that flexibility has to go both ways.
Please respect my time the same way I respect yours. 🖤
