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!