What it is and why it works
A guest spot is when a tattoo artist from another town works out of your shop for a few days. They bring their own clients, their own style, and their own followers. You give them a clean station, a place in your book, and your front desk.
It works both ways. Collectors who have followed that artist for years finally get a chance to book them close to home. Their followers see your shop's name and walls in every post. Your own artists meet someone new, and your regular clients see there is always something happening at your shop.
A good guest spot takes planning: the right artist, a clear written deal, a guest license if your area requires one, and a booking plan so the days are full before they arrive.
Who to contact
| Who | How to reach them | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Artists whose work you admire | A direct message or email, after you've followed their work a while | Pick someone whose style you don't already have in your shop |
| Artists you met at conventions | The contact they gave you, or their booking email | You've already met; a guest spot is a natural next step |
| Your own artists | A shop meeting | They may know good people, and they need to agree on the station and schedule |
| Your county or city health department | Body art licensing office | Ask what a visiting artist needs: a temporary or guest license, bloodborne-pathogen training proof, fees, how far ahead to apply |
| Your insurance agent | Your agent | Ask whether a visiting artist is covered, or needs their own coverage |
Guest artist rules are different in every state and county. Some areas need a separate license for each visiting artist, applied for weeks ahead. Call before you announce anything.
What to prepare
- The guest's license or permit for your area, approved before they tattoo
- Proof of their bloodborne-pathogen training, if your health department asks for it
- A short written agreement (outline below)
- A clean, fully stocked station, and a list of what you supply and what they bring
- Your consent and release forms and written aftercare, and a walk-through of your sterilization steps
- A booking plan: who takes deposits, how, and the cancellation rule
- Photos of their work and a short bio (with their OK) for your posts
- A place to stay nearby, if you are helping them find one
Step by step
- Pick the artist two to four months ahead. Look for a style that fills a gap in your shop.
- Reach out with a short, friendly message (script below). Be clear about the dates and what you offer.
- Check the guest license rules and start the paperwork with them right away.
- Write down the deal: dates, hours, station, the money split, who takes deposits, what supplies you cover, and what happens if a client cancels.
- Open booking six to eight weeks out. Use your booking form with a reference photo and deposit. See C4 and C5.
- Announce together. You post, they post, and you tag each other. Send it to your list too. See C10.
- Get them set up the day they arrive: station, forms, aftercare, sterilization, where everything is, who to ask.
- Treat their clients like yours. ID check, signed release, written aftercare, same as every client.
- Post the work only with each client's written OK, and credit the guest by name.
- Settle up on the last day, in writing. Ask if they'd like to come back.
Scripts
First message to the artist
Hi [artist name], I'm [name], owner of [shop name] in [town]. I've followed your [style] work for a while, and [one real thing you like about it].
We'd love to host you for a guest spot, maybe [dates or month]. We have a clean private station, a front desk that handles booking and deposits, and [local collectors / no one doing your style nearby].
If you're interested, I can send over the details and how guest licensing works here. No pressure either way.
Agreement outline
GUEST SPOT AGREEMENT: [SHOP NAME] AND [ARTIST NAME]
Dates and hours:
Station and what the shop provides:
What the artist brings:
Money split: [__]% shop / [__]% artist (example only; fill in your own)
Deposits: taken by [shop / artist], held by [__]
Cancellations and no-shows: [rule]
Guest license: applied for on [date], approved on [date]
Photos: posted only with the client's written OK; artist credited by name
Signed: [shop owner], [artist], [date]
Announcement post
GUEST ARTIST: [artist name] is coming to [shop name].
[Dates]. [Artist] does [style], and this is your chance to get tattooed without the trip to [their town].
Books open now: [booking link]. Send your idea, placement, size and a reference photo. A deposit holds your spot.
All clients must be [age]+ with a government photo ID.
Email to your list
Subject: [Artist name] is guesting at [shop name]
Hi [first name],
[Artist name] is joining us [dates]. Here's a look at their work: [link].
Spots are limited. Book here: [booking link].
See you soon,
[shop name]
You're getting this because you signed up at [shop name]. Unsubscribe: [link]
What it can lead to (and what to charge)
| Follow-on | Example (example only) |
|---|---|
| The guest's bookings | Example: the guest sets their price; your share follows the written split |
| New clients for your resident artists | Example: your normal rate and deposit |
| A return visit | Example: same deal, booked earlier, with a waiting list from this visit |
| A spot for your artist at their shop | Example: a trade, on terms you both write down |
These are only examples. Every guest deal is different. Write yours down.
Timing
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 to 4 months before | Pick and invite the artist; check guest license rules |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Agreement signed; license applied for; booking opens |
| 2 to 4 weeks before | Reminder posts; send to your list; fill cancellations from the waiting list |
| Arrival day | Set-up and walk-through |
| Last day | Settle up; ask about next time |
A guest spot the week before or after a nearby convention can work well, since artists are already traveling. See C8.
Checklist
- Guest license or permit approved
- Written agreement signed
- Station ready; supply list agreed
- Booking link and deposit rule live
- Announcement posted by both of you
- List email sent (with unsubscribe)
- Forms, aftercare and sterilization walk-through done
- Photo consent from every client before posting
- Settled up in writing
Mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the guest license. An unlicensed artist tattooing in your shop can put your own license at risk.
- A handshake deal. Money splits and deposits cause most guest-spot fights. Write it down before anyone books.
- Different rules for the guest. Every client gets an ID check, a signed release, and written aftercare, no matter whose client they are.
- Posting their clients without a yes. Get each client's written OK, and credit the artist by name.
- Promising a full book. Say you'll help fill it, not that it will be full.
- Using their art as your flash. The guest's designs are theirs. Don't reuse them after they leave.
- Leaving your own artists out. Talk to them first. A guest should feel like a visit, not a threat.
Making guest spots a habit
- Keep a short list of artists you'd like to host, and invite one or two a year.
- Keep a waiting list from each visit, with permission, so the next one starts ahead.
- Show the guests on your site. A "past guests" page shows your shop is part of a wider scene. See C9.
Want Annie's to do this for you? We can write the invite and the guest agreement outline, set up the booking page with reference photos and deposits, and post the announcement and email to your list.