When Hans Deslauriers is not tattooing customers in his study twice a week, he is painting to help scratching his creative itching and paying his bills while it is a great fall in customers.
It was not always like that for the Montrealer who has been tattooing professionally for more than a decade.
“I used to do six days a week of tattoos, but if I still trusted that … and I waited for customers, it would have depression,” he said.
For the first time in his career, he says that there is a great deceleration For artists.
For those who seek to make tattoos, Montreal is often considered a superior destination. The city attracts some of the best artists in the country, and there are tons of studies to choose from.
But some tattoo professionals have noticed too many artists and there is not enough skin for everyone, in recent times. In a supersaturated tattoo market, the growing costs of managing a business are forcing some professionals to adapt or even get away from the profession.
“I see people who leave the industry, which have been [tattooing] For years and years because it is no longer viable, “said Deslauriers.
“It is the first time in 12 years that I see a slowdown like that in the industry.”
Too many artists, not enough customers
The industry was thriving just before the world closed, says David Côté, who passes through David Peyote. He has been tattooing for 14 years.
“Pre-pandemic, the tattoos were at its peak,” Peyote said.
The blockade put everyone’s life in pause, but also gave people the opportunity to try new hobbies: bread manufacturing, gardening. Some tattooed, he says.
“He simply became a little more about his vocation, questioning his life choices such as: ‘Hey, am I really happy at work? I think I can stop working to pursue full -time tattoos,” Peyote said. “It led to an increase … of artists as part of the scene.”
In Quebec, the tattoo industry is not regulated. There is no formal training, barriers to buy specific health equipment or regulations to follow, although some stores have individual requirements.
This wave of new artists proved to be useful at the beginning, because when the blockade finished, there was no shortage of people looking for tattoos.
But after a couple of years, the demand began to decrease. People obtained their tattoo solution, and the increase in the cost of living away people from these purchases, says Peyote.
“Demand and supply are fulfilled a bit,” he said. “There are too many artists.”
Duplication costs of tattoo materials, they say artists
The increase in competition is not the only factor that contributes to this change, says Deslauriers.
The cost of living has increased significantly. In Montreal, Ask rentals have increased almost 71 percent since 2019.
“Being tattooed is a safe luxury. So, if you have to cut somewhere, it will be in tattoos,” said Deslauriers.
For artists, materials alone cost much more, he says. Before the pandemic, he says the gloves were $ 7 per box. Then, it rose to $ 30 during the pandemic. At this time, they cost around $ 12, says Deslauriers.
“That is almost double, and that is just the gloves,” he said. “The ink doubled, everything has doubled.”
And there is a limit in the number of artists who can increase their prices to compensate for it, he says.
‘It is more difficult to reach people’
Social networks became a great tool for tattoo artists to connect and reach possible clients, Peyote said. But over time, people were less interested in investigating tattoo artists. Where you once had to find them through magazines, blogs or conventions, he says they are now in one place.
“We are no longer investigating much. We are no longer trying to find things. We are only being fed with things,” he said.
For Peyote, it’s about adapting to this new reality. Those who love the trade will find a way to continue, he says.
“It is important to go with the times and discover what its strategy is to overcome this puzzle that is happening at this time,” he said.
Staying up to social networks has also become your own work. Most studies cannot hire a content creator, says Deslauriers. Five years ago, he says that algorithms used to be easy to work, but now they have to fight for a place in People’s Explore Page.
“No one sees your things, it is more difficult to reach people,” he said. “Before, you didn’t need to put [in] Any money, without effort, nothing. You put a photo, it was established. But now, you must put money, you must put into advertising. “
Although the industry is evolving at this time, Deslauriers says it is not dying.
“The tattoo … will never die,” he said.
