Jesus Christ

Depictions of faith are an essential part of life for many people. No matter the religion : God; money; violence; or something else entirely, people will get the most important things in their lives tattooed on them.

In a time where AGI poses a very real existential threat it is most important to find meaning where so many have lost it. Primitive though it may seem to some, especially of this most technologically influenced generation, it is evident that the goal will become finding primeval meaning if we are to maintain our sense of self in an ever-more-fast-paced world.

So turn your eyes to what matters most.

It’s called a ‘Walk-In’ for a reason.

We get a ton, and I mean a TON of calls about walk-ins. The term ‘walk-in’ means different things to different people, however, and we’d like to take some time to clear some things up here.

To tattoo shops the world over, ‘walk-in’ doesn’t mean that you can walk in and get tattooed immediately. It means you can get tattooed sometime THAT DAY. A walk-in may need to schedule an appointment for several hours after the time they come in. So it looks like this: A prospective client comes into the shop with a tattoo idea that can be drawn and tattooed that day, usually something small, and if the artist has time that day a walk-in appt in scheduled. That client will usually leave the shop for a time and either catch a quick movie, grab a bite to eat, maybe just go walk around the malls for a couple of hours, then return to get their tattoo once that artist has finished what they are working on and gotten their tattoo ready.

Another scenario is one where the artist can knock out a super-tiny, quick piece without much preparation time at all. In this scenario, if the artist isn’t already working on another client, the walk-in may be able to get tattooed immediately. This usually only happens at Lighthouse Tattoo in the event of a last-minute cancellation or if the client is willing to be tattooed by an apprentice.

Disclaimer for stupid people: If you call Lighthouse Tattoo and ask if we have time to do a walk-in, the answer will always be ‘yes’. This is because there is no possible way of knowing whether or not we will have the time to do a piece when we don’t have concrete answers to a lot of questions about the tattoo: size, color or black and grey, style of tattoo, subject matter, you know, things that require forethought, something that isn’t present with a walk-in tattoo. We have no way of knowing if the prospective client is just ‘window shopping’ or is serious, we don’t even know if they’ll show up! We also don’t know if all of our scheduled appointments will show up either, sometimes people can’t make it and we have extra time on our hands. Sometimes we get done early or an artist may be willing to stay late to fit someone in. Many times, if the client is nice and they want something small that doesn’t require prep work, they can get tattooed at the end of the night if they’re willing to leave a deposit and come back later that evening.

All of that being said, we want people to understand that it’s called a ‘Walk-In’ not a ‘Call-In’ for a reason. Tattoo shops don’t really take calls for walk-ins seriously, as it shows a lack of understanding about the process and a general lack of consideration for tattoo artists and what we do. But if you DO call us about a walk-in, we’ll tell you to come in! Then when you do and still can’t get tattooed because you have no understanding of how this works, you’ll leave pissed off and write us a 1-star review to try and destroy our business because that’s the only power you can wield in the world (behind a keyboard), and we’ll copy that shit into the Knucklehead of the Month or just clown you directly on the review reply itself, all when you could have just thought ahead a little bit and scheduled an appointment or booked something once you came in. You just ruined your best chance to get a great, affordable tattoo from one of the best places around all because you couldn’t plan a little in advance or understand that we can only do one tattoo at a time and there are other people in the world besides yourself that want bodyart? Sheesh. All that frustration so easily avoided.

If you want to get tattooed as a walk-in, please don’t call, please walk in and we’ll do our best to take care of you!

Don't Be Fooled By Scams

This person, calling themself Rajae Taylor, is hitting people up for deposits for cheap tattoo that will never get done. They say they work here, they don’t. This is NOT an uncommon scam folks. You pay a deposit over Cashapp and the money is gone forever. Instead of a tattoo artist, you’re really talking to some Nigerian prince who probably doesn’t even live in this country, much less perform tattoos. If you want to schedule with one of our artists, the only source you can trust is on this website, period. Hang in there guys, with Artificial Intelligence getting better at this rate, it’s gonna get worse before it gets better!

Hercules Healed

We posted this Hercules wearing the skin of the Nemean Lion a few weeks ago and we wanted to share this healed photo for those of you interested in seeing what a healed piece look like. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, you can click the ‘set an appointment’ tab and if you know which artist you’d like to use, you can even click the ‘Book With’ button on their respective portfolios to schedule with that specific artist.

American Psycho

They’re remaking American Psycho and our only question is ‘Why?’ It’s certainly going to be a tough act to follow. This portrait of Christian Bale as the titular character Patrick Bateman was performed by our resident realism artist Will Wood on our good friend Adam. Enjoy!

Tentaskull

We call this skull with tentacles the Tentaskull, ‘cause we’re creative and shit. We’ll be posting healed photos of it soon, so stay tuned to www.lighthousetattoo.net for updates!

Patriotic Work-in-Progress

With the impending 4th of July holiday, we just thought we’d leave this little patriotic Work-In-Progress here for your enjoyment. Love this country? We do too! Swing by Lighthouse Tattoo and get a permanent reminder of that love for the greatest nation on God’s green Earth! Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!

Swamp Things

We’ve known Jake for years. His dad went to elementary school with our owner, Will. So when you get a chance to tattoo someone you literally watched grow up, it’s a pretty big deal. Jake family hails from Louisiana and they’d take frequent trips there over the years. This piece is the start of a testament to his time spent there, with a little more dramatic flare to make it a bit more fun!

Little Hagrid

Happee Birthdae Harry! Everyone’s favorite half-giant, Hagrid, as portrayed by Scottish actor Robbie Coltrane (RIP) is as lovable as they come. Strong, gentle, loyal, and dependable, Hagrid was one of a kind and someone we should all aspire to be more like. This portrait was made in about 3 hours by artist Will Wood.

Spaceman

The title of this piece is ‘Feet on the Ground, Head in the Clouds.’ and unlike a recent trip to space which shall go unnamed, this tattoo is super cool. The Final Frontier, To Boldly Go, One Small Step were also considered for names of this piece, but we’re pretty stoked about the final product. This space sleeve WIP still has a ways to go, but we’ll keep you posted if you keep logging in to Lighthousetattoo.net. These two pieces were done by artist Will Wood in a session apiece. Click the Set an Appointment tab on this website to schedule a consultation or book an appointment with the artist of your choice!

Native Son

Chris’ family is Native American, or indigenous, or Indian, depending on who you ask. We just think it’s cool. How can you know who you are if you’ve never known where you come from, after all? As such, Mr. Jackson here is celebrating his cultural heritage with not only a sleeve, but a full backpiece, with this lovely gentleman here as the starting point. Done by artist Will Wood in a single sitting.

Lion

People love tattoos of animals. We identify with characteristics in them that we’d like to see in ourselves. Strength, bravery, loyalty. Countries, political parties, and even sports teams use images of animals to depict the ideal they want to convey to the viewer and it’s no different with tattoos.

WIP Original Sin Sleeve

This Work-In-Progress titled Original Sin by artist Will Wood is coming along nicely. Frequently people will rely on Will’s expertise by giving him a premise (such as original sin) and maybe a couple of focal points (the woman’s face and the hand holding an apple with a snake coiled around it, for example) then let him run wild! Will takes great pride in exceeding the expectations of his clients, which is why he has such a long and loyal list of repeat clientele.

This particular piece will be finished up by bolstering the transitions and with the addition of some graffiti-marker-style lettering over the top of the shoulder that simply says ‘Original Sin’.

If this or something like it is up your alley, feel free to send in a consultation form via the tab on this website, and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours! Thanks!

Poor Jimmy

We needed the site space so we discontinued our hilarious Knucklehead of the Month page, but sometimes people just take the cake and we feel the need to share with our adoring public the sheer hilarity that is THIS fucking dumbass.

If you can read, you already understand the problem: Jimmy here is a fucking moron. Not only did we serve an enormous number of happy clients, we went above and beyond by honoring everyone who had already signed up by scheduling them appointments for the next couple of weeks so they won’t feel like their time wasn’t important to us. We didn’t have to do that, no one else does that we know of does. Fact is, the response to this event was huge due to a tattoo convention going on in Nashville that meant many shops weren’t even offering Friday the 13th specials. Still, instead of just turning people away, we chose to go above and beyond in order to take care of people, something we pride ourselves on.

Something else we pride ourselves on is sticking up for ourselves, well, that and our sense of humor. So here goes.

To confirm our suspicions that Jimmy here is just doing the bidding of some other shop that he goes to, or is just plain stupid, we looked up his other reviews. It was telling, and funnier than we thought, so we’ve included some of them if you’re up for a belly laugh.

Three weeks ago Jimmy was at Biolife Plasma services donating plasma. We doubt it was out of the kindness of his heart and it would go quite a ways in explaining why he would wait 3 hours to save $40 on a tattoo (but not 4 hours, 4’s where he draws the line, Jimmy got shit to do), it’s because Jimmy’s broke. Read on, you’ll see what we mean.

It seems, due to no fault of his own, Jimmy here has difficulty getting or maintaining gainful employment. In this review he states that while his sister got a job day-of, they couldn’t find anything for Poor Jimmy. And it certainly had nothing to do with his attitude, lack of education, or poor communication skills. Nope, they’s just assholes yall. Notice the beginning of an apology from corporate, we feel that this is a mistake. The corporate response to these loudmouthed dickheads is creating a Karen-culture never before seen in the country and it’s giving all of us a headache (which we get from continually slamming our heads against the wall after dealing with these entitled shit heels.)
Wait, is shit heel two words? Or is it a compound word? Maybe a hyphenate? Turns out Grammarly doesn’t have all the answers, after all.

So three months ago Jimmy HAD a job, apparently ran a business. Can’t imagine why that didn’t go just swimmingly.

Another apology after Jimmy here has an attitude while most likely wasting the time of someone who actually HAS a job while seeing about his prepaid trac phone. Another apology from corporate. Stop it.

For our part, if someone has a complaint, address it here and we’ll take care of it. If we can’t find a solution to your liking, your request is most likely unreasonable and you should go someplace else. There will not. EVER. Be an apology. Don’t hold your breath.

Fuck you Jimmy, you suck. You should know that, it’s appears to be reflected generally in your life. Try to turn that around man, it’s not too late. Dick.

These are Desperate Times

First, a disclaimer: Lighthouse Tattoo is an apolitical organization, as a business we don’t have an opinion on politics, religion, social mores, etc. We just want to do good tattoos at a fair price. So please understand that what we are about to say isn’t intended to be a political commentary.

BUT IT’S TOO EXPENSIVE TO DO SHIT ANYMORE.

The cost of living has gone through the roof. Rent’s high, interest rates are high, inflation’s BEEN high; and all this after the gut punch that was Covid. These developments have a disproportionate impact on our typical demographic of 18-28 year-olds. In short: it’s hard out there right now and we are aware of that. Something must be done.

So, for our part, Lighthouse Tattoo is introducing a shop-wide (excluding Will Wood) sale. Every artist at Lighthouse Tattoo will be offering a 5 hour session for $300.

Let that sink in. That’s an hourly rate of $60 in a industry where typical hourly rates have climbed to be double that, and sometimes even more (Will, for instance, charges $160 per hour). Why? Well, because Math. If you can’t afford to get tattooed, you won’t. If you don’t, we can’t afford to live. It’s a symbiotic relationship, not a parasitic one. If we make it easier for you to AFFORD to get that next tattoo, and if we stay busy because of that, then you get that new tattoo you’ve been wanting and we get to pay our own high-ass rent.

This is not the way a lot of people do business. We see the price tattoo artists are charging climbing all the time, to keep up with the cost of living. We believe this to be a mistake financially and ethically. Lighthouse Tattoo is of one mind on this: as long as we are able to work consistently and serve our clients, the dollar-per-hour charged means so much less than our ability to work consistently. It’s the law of averages really.

How long will this sale last? It depends. If it doesn’t work the way we think it will, it isn’t sustainable and we will have to pivot. So if you want to pay less for your next tattoo, please share this with your friends and let’s see if we can’t make this change a lasting one.

What DOESN’T a $300/5 hour session mean? It doesn’t mean you can get a sleeve in a day; it doesn’t mean you can share the time with a friend; it doesn’t mean you can get a tiny tattoo for $60 an hour. It also doesn’t mean if your tattoo takes less than the full 5 hours that you won’t have to pay full price (people have asked all of these things, it’s why we’re explaining it here).

Well, what’s that last part mean? $300 for 5 hours means your session will take between 4 and 5 hours to complete, from the time you show up to your appointment to the time you are wrapped up at the end of your session. If you are getting a larger piece, you will likely get a little more bang for your buck. If you need any extra drawing prior to starting your session due to resizing or an artwork change, it will eat up some of that time, so be sure to communicate with your artist fully before the day of your appointment to avoid an confusion.

This deal is intended to give our clients, both existing and new, a break from some very difficult financial times. We need your active participation to make it work. So help us help you. Schedule that next tattoo session at Lighthouse Tattoo early, often, and tell your friends!

P.S. Will’s demographic tends to be a bit better off financially in the first place, but he is considering a way to provide an entry-level to a younger market with a similar deal, without putting pressure on his younger artists who aren’t booked out as far, so stay tuned to Lighthouse Tattoo for the details and announcements on Will’s Deal!

Medusa the Gorgon

This remarkable (and slightly out of focus, sorry) tattoo of the gorgon Medusa was applied by artist Will. Out of Greek myth tattoos, the story of Medusa is perhaps the most popular, followed closely by the labors of Hercules (especially slaying the Nemean Lion; Cerberus; and the Hydra), then images depicting the king of the gods, Zeus. With such good company, the fact that the story of Medusa resonates with so many people is impressive. Hers is the place of highest honor among the tattooed Greek myths.

Guarding Angel

Keep your eyes on the cross. A secular interpretation could be to pay attention to the cross you bear, or basically, your responsibilities. Whether religious or secular, the idea that people ought tend to their interests isn’t a new one. “Mind your business”; “Put your money where your mouth is”; and “Look before you leap” are all quotes that reflect a similar, if not the same sentiment.

Find your passion. Makes sure it’s something worthwhile, even if only to you. Set yourself on a path toward that goal or worldview and don’t look back. Heaven is an ideal we can all pursue.

Our artist Amanda is pursuing her dream of becoming your favorite tattooer. If you care to participate in her journey feel free to call or swing by the Lighthouse Tattoo, at 328 North Cumberland st in Lebanon TN between the hours of nnon and 10pm, seven days a week, or simply fill out a consultation form on this website and we’ll call you!

Friday the 13th Midnight Offering!!!

On Friday the 13th of June, Lighthouse Tattoo will be hosting another Midnight tattoo offering. At the stroke of midnight, June 13th, we will start our Friday the 13th deals! We will be taking appointments until the day-of and doing tattoos on a first-come, first-served basis for those without appointments and we’ll go until we run out of people to tattoo! Then, at noon on the same day, we will re-open for more Friday the 13th tattoo madness! We will be taking appointments in 30 minute increments starting at midnight that Thursday night/Friday morning, so if you have a preferred artist, be sure to call the shop and schedule your appointment early! We will post our Friday the 13th offerings on this events page, on our website homepage, as well as our social media, so you can pick what you want ahead of time.

Justice is Blind (not necessarily in a good way lately)

This excellent black and grey rendition of Lady Justice by Amanda brings to mind the honorable ideal that justice should be blind, so that it can be wielded equally across the population. Lately though, it seems that Lady Justice has been hijacked for political reasons, and by both sides.

Griping about it isn’t going to do any good. Complaining never has. You got a problem with it? Get up and do something about it, but maybe keep it shy of being a fucking nutter, okay? Two wrongs don’t make a right, after all.

Continuing our Artist Feature on young Amanda here, notice the delicateness of the work presented and the attention to detail contained therein. If you’d like to schedule an appointment or consultation with miss Amanda, or any of the other artists at Lighthouse Tattoo, click our Set an Appointment tab, fill out the requested info in as much detail you can muster, and we will contact you within 48 hours! Cheers!