*** The next schedule opening date will be November 25th. The process is email only and all emails must be sent to [email protected]. While clients may email for general questions at any time, new appointment submissions are only taken on schedule opening dates.***
How It Works 1. Your email must be sent on the book opening date, not before. The email must include specifics about the project such as style, content/theme, location on the body, size, photo references if applicable and your preferred day of the week for availability. 2. You will receive an email from myself or shop management confirming that the project has been added to the wait list. Be patient as sometimes it can take several days to work through the emails and to reply to everyone. 3. When I have worked down to your project on the wait list, you will receive a follow up email to confirm an appointment date. If you have a large multi-session project, you'll stay in a 3-4 week rotation until the project is completed. When the wait time reaches an estimated 4- 6 months, I will unfortunately have to decline new requests and designate the season closed for additional clients. Tips and Reminders
Best wishes, Summer ![]() Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash Youtube Version
You may be very excited for vacation season this year but also wondered how closely you can pair your swimming with your tattoo sessions. In this post, we'll go over some of the concerns you may have around getting tattooed in the summertime. Oceans, Lakes and Pools We can't discuss summer activities without discussing swimming. If you have a fresh tattoo and you're considering taking a dip, I highly recommend to postpone until the tattoo is fully healed. Fully healed can mean a minimum of 2 weeks have passed since you've been tattoo, the tattoo has been through the peeling phase and has no visible open wounds or scabs, and the skin is beginning to take on the texture of "normal" skin. If your tattoo still has a bit of a shiny, dry look to the skin, you may not be ready for swimming. Keep in mind that 2 weeks is generally the minimum amount for healing a tattoo and areas like feet and hands may take much longer. Aside from potentially sabotaging the look of your tattoo, swimming too early can also have serious repercussions to your health. Bodies of water are often filled with bacteria and pathogens that can use your tattoo as an entryway into your body. Take, for example, this 2017 case of a man contracting vibrio vulnificus, or flesh eating bacteria, through his fresh tattoo after swimming in the Gulf Coast. While this is obviously a worst-case scenario, it serves as a reminder that a preventable tragedy like this is within the realm of possibility. If you think that a pool may still be a safe option, think again. I'd like to present a quote from this CNN article: "The burn you feel in your eyes after a dip in the swimming pool is not because of chlorine. It is because pee, poop and sweat from fellow swimmers (and maybe you) react with chlorine and form chloramine compounds, and this combination is what really stings your peepers." The same article cites a 2010 CDC report stating that 1 in 10 pools do not maintain sufficient chlorine levels. If you're still interested in swimming after this post, then I think we can all agree that it's best to wait until your tattoo is healed. The Sun (I do have some product links in this section. As an Amazon Associate, I do earn from purchases made via these links. A lot of these products can be found in drugstores and supermarkets. As long as you are protecting your tattoos, I don't care where you buy from.) If you're hoping to get tattooed and soak up some vitamin D shortly after, then you may want to consider arranging your appointments in cooler months. New tattoos are highly sensitive to UV rays, so they tend to burn and accrue damage very easily. While your tattoo is healing, you are unable to apply sunscreen to it. During this time, you need to take other preventative measures to protect it. If you have outdoor events that you simply can't miss, I recommend considering a UV shielding umbrella like this G4Free model which provides UPF 50+ protection. If you're looking to protect your arms, even post-healing, these Amoray arm sleeves also serve up UPF 50+ protection. Once your tattoo has stopped peeling, it will still be sensitive for several weeks. However, at this stage you will be able to use sunscreen over it. This 2023 consumer report review of the best sunscreens recommends several quality options. Their best budget recommendations are Coppertone Water Babies Lotion SPF 50 and Everyday Humans Oh My Bod! Lotion SPF 50. If you're up to splurge for a higher end formula, consumer reports also recommends La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Body & Face Sunscreen SPF 60. If you prefer a spray sunscreen, Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Spray SPF 50 was also highly rated. This next product wasn't mentioned in the 2023 Consumer Report testing, however, we're a fan of it in my house: Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Protection Sunscreen Stick. These are super handy to throw in a purse, bag or even in your pocket. Lastly, I can't say I've tried this one but it did peek our interest at the shop, Sun Bum Premium Moisturizing Sunscreen Roll-On Lotion SPF 50. Travel Healing a fresh tattoo can be a hassle sometimes regardless of what your plans are, but healing while traveling can be especially taxing. If you're on the road or in the skies, make sure that you carve out time in your itinerary for your aftercare. Be sure to have your aftercare products accessible and check TSA Guidelines on what products you're allowed to carry with you. Lastly, of course... If you're able to schedule your tattoo appointments with ample healing time before vacation or travel, this is the ideal scenario. If you have any questions or concerns about upcoming travel, be sure to check with your artist. Your artist wants your tattoo to heal just as great as you do, so we're always glad to offer whatever assistance we can. Have a safe and happy summer! If you have an interest in learning more about tattoo topics, I have created a YouTube channel to act as a bit of a resource hub (in addition to the resources here). I cover a new topic each week and these talks are intended to help people feel more comfortable coming into a tattoo shop. These videos are meant for people who are interest in getting tattooed for the first time, folks that have tattoos but want to learn more and also new artists who want to learn about the nature of the business. These videos aren't just meant for my clients. I would like for these talks to benefit all client/artist relationships regardless of which shop someone prefers to visit. That said, I am far from being a natural on camera. If you're interested in the content, stick with me. I see small improvements with each one! Feel free to browse the channel here to see if there are any answers to tattoo questions that you might have wondered about. I aim to upload new talks on Mondays. Thanks for your interest and I hope this helps to expand your horizons in the tattooing community.
-Summer *Next Book Opening Date: May 6th
What is a book opening? Artists that have an established clientele may have more requests than they are able to handle. Because of this, an artist may choose to close off booking for a period of time in order to keep their work load to a manageable level. Most artists that use this system have a particular day or period of time every so often that they "open" booking and accept new clients. When can I book? Ahead of a book opening day, information will be posted on this website and my social media accounts (see Contact page). This information can also be emailed to you via the newsletter signup on the homepage of this website. The date posted will be designated to take on a new round of clients. Once all availability has been filled, booking will close until the next date is announced. Generally, all availability is filled within a 24 hour period so requests must come in promptly during this timeframe and contain all the necessary information below. Booking days sometimes fall seasonally, 3-4 times per year, but ultimately depends on the workload of the current season and how fast I anticipate to complete those projects. How does it work? Booking will be through email only. Emails must be sent [email protected] on the announced booking date. Each email must contain the following:
My system is a wait list format. I take a list of clients for the season ahead and pull small groups from that list to rotate frequently. This allows me to work through larger projects quickly with less downtime between appointments. This is an unconventional method but it allows us to maintain momentum and stay in a creative flow through the entire project. How soon in the season a client rotates in is based on the order that emails come in. Please be sure that you ask questions beforehand and that you are clear on how this process works. I find that the only time frustration arises is when someone does not understand the process and its benefits versus conventional booking. Deposits will be required for new clients and are non-refundable. What happens if all the availability is filled? If all of the availability has been filled by the time you email, you will need to submit a new request when booking reopens again. I will keep a short cancellation list, but this does not automatically add you to next season's lineup. Can you make exceptions? No. I do my best to accommodate as many clients as I can without compromising the creative process. If my system doesn't suit you, there are a lot of options out there. We have many talented artists in our area and I'm always glad to make referrals if I'm not able to accommodate someone. Final Thoughts If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or drop by the shop. I'm happy to do free consultations or offer any assistance in navigating the tattoo process. ![]() Photo by charley pangus on Unsplash I wanted to provide an update on booking. I will reopen for summer/early fall clients on Friday, May 27th at 10am. Requests will be email only and must go to [email protected].
For the summer season, I will take on 15 clients plus 5 additional cancellation spots. Of the 15 primary spots, I must limit Saturday requests to no more than 5 clients. This will be on a "first come, first serve" basis. The first 20 emails will be added to the summer client list, then booking will close. If you are requesting a summer spot on May 27th, your email must include the following information:
If you have any questions, please drop by the shop, call or email before May 27th. I do have an unconventional scheduling process that is tailored toward large scale projects. If you are unclear on how any of that works, please contact me beforehand. A few things to remember from my previous posts on booking:
I look forward to working with you and wish you all a happy spring! I wanted to touch on the next schedule opening to provide some information on when that might be and what it will look like.
First of all, if you’re looking to become a new client, you might be wonder why it’s difficult to get an appointment. Once an artist has been tattooing consistently for many years, we do sometimes get blessed with more work opportunities that we’re able to take on. Limiting booking does allow me to focus on a small number of clients to produce the best work possible. It also affords me more balance between work and family life. Work hours are spent almost exclusively tattooing, so research, drafting/design and correspondence usually has to happen at home after work hours. I have been working since the pandemic started to refine a booking system to opening seasonally and take on a set number of clients during each opening. The previous opening, I opened for 20 projects. I will reopen in late spring for the summer of 2022 and take on 20 new projects. I will however limit Saturday spots to only 5 clients. Often a backlog of Saturday requests contributes to a lag in moving forward to the next schedule opening. Having the flexibility to come in on weekdays will increase your chances of securing a spot for the summer 2022 lineup. I will also open 5 reserve spots. These will be available for clients that have flexible schedules and can fill cancellation/reschedule spots. I will be posting details on specifically when and how to book around the end of April. This information will be posted on Facebook and Instagram (links on contact page). You can also receive this information by signing up for a newsletter on the home page. In order to make the book opening run more smoothly, I would recommend viewing all the artist portfolios at nowornevergallery.com. I generally specialize in black & grey realism/illustrative pieces. There is sometimes a misconception that if an artist can produce a quality portrait, that they are equally capable in all styles. This is most certainly not the case. Be sure, no matter which artist or shop you’re looking at, that the tattoo you hope to get looks similar to the work in an artist’s portfolio. Choosing the appropriate artist can sometimes result in a shorter wait time and most certainly a tattoo that matches your vision. Also, if you are looking to get a smaller tattoo, such as lettering, walk-in artists may be better suited to meet your needs both in availability and skill set. If you have questions about your project, I would additionally recommend stopping by the shop before the booking open date. Booking will be done by email and, as we are all painfully aware, back and forth questions by email take a lot of time. Lastly, I would like to say that by summer of 2023, I hope to be an exclusively black & grey artist. This style has always been my favorite and I look forward to furthering my skills in this area. If you have unfinished color pieces that I have started, I encourage you to get with me over the next year to complete those. Once my color inks have reached their expiration date, my goal is to not repurchase them. I look forward to working with you guys on your upcoming summer projects. As always, if there are any questions, please feel free to stop in, call or email. -Summer If you’re a sticker fan, please consider dropping into Now or Never Gallery and picking up one (or a few) of these oh-so-shiny stickers. These are great quality 4-inch stickers with a protective laminate that makes them resistant to fading, water and tearing. I am asking for a $5 minimum cash donation per sticker (cash so that we aren’t tying up the shop’s credit processing). The design is in memory of our friend Joshua Moyers, aka "Mouse." In collaboration with Joshua’s family, we would like to honor him by providing funds to local groups and organizations that support individuals struggling with addiction. We are starting small, with these stickers, but we have great ambitions! The greatest of which is to encourage even one person to seek recovery and to feel less stigmatized in that process.
If you live out of the area and would like to place a sticker order, please contact me at [email protected] I will be adding 20 additional projects to my list on October 15th. I wish I could handle more, but I feel confident in my ability to produce my best work with this amount. A lot of time goes into researching, drawing and laying out large pieces. Any more than this and I feel my focus is too divided and the quality of the finished tattoos would suffer.
On October 15th, the first 20 clients to email will be added to my project list. All emails must go to [email protected] and must contain the following information: 1. Specific details about the project including subject/theme, size, location the body and, if available, reference photos. If you plan to get a large project, like a sleeve or back piece, you must mention this. 2. Name, phone number and which days of the week are best for you. Saturdays are always highly requested, so if you can do a weekday you wait time will be shorter. I start on projects incrementally. As one is completed, the next client is pulled from the list, contacted and scheduled. This allows me to fully focus on one project at a time and finish promptly so that large multi-session pieces age consistently. Projects will be started in the order that the emails are received. The first emails can expect to begin in late December. The last emails can expect to start in early spring. If you have any questions about the process, please email, call or visit the shop beforehand. I understand that it can be a bit confusing on the first go around. I appreciate everyone's patience. The stimulus checks have resulted in a tidal wave of business for all tattoo shops. We are grateful but also doing our very best that we can with the time and resources that we have. Thank you and stay safe, Summer It's been a while since I've updated so I thought I would type up a few thoughts for spring.
The Stimulus Rush If you've been with me for a while, you're aware that business has not been bad over the last few years. My cup truly runneth over and a lot of you have worked patiently with me in my attempts to manage my blessings effectively. What I would like tattoo seekers to know at this time is that this is the busiest season I have experienced in my 13 year career. It's likely a mix of tax/stimulus check season and pandemic boredom, but every tattooer I know is dealing with an unprecedented number of requests. If you are seeking a tattoo at this time, please know that this season is unbelievably busy, no matter which artist you're aiming to work with. Please be patient if you're choosing to get tattooed at this time. Booking My booking process has changed post-pandemic to accommodate scheduling uncertainties that remain with us even a year later. I will be keeping this process for the foreseeable future. Here's a rundown of how that works: 1. Email your project request to [email protected]. Email must include specifics about the project such as style, color vs grayscale, location, size, photo references and client availability. 2. Client will receive an email from myself or shop management confirming that the project has been added to the wait list and an expected wait time for follow up and appointment setting. 3. When I have worked down to the client's project on the wait list and there is an opening, the client will receive a follow up email to confirm an appointment date. If the client has a large multi-session project, the client stays in a 3-4 week rotation until the project is completed. 4. Upon completion of a project, this opens up a spot for the next project from the list to come into rotation. When the wait time exceeds 6 months, I will unfortunately have to decline new requests until the workload can be lowered to a 3-4 month wait. At this time, this is the case. I will resume taking on new projects in the fall of 2021. Masks Though many areas have allowed their mask mandates to expire, I will be requiring my clients to wear a mask while in the shop for the foreseeable future. It's to be worn over your nose the entire time. Look, I don't care about your thoughts on covid. When you're getting tattooed, I'm majorly in your personal space bubble. Pre-masks, I generally knew if you showered that day, what you had for lunch, if you have pets. If you had a cold, I was going to have a cold. And likewise for you, you were breathing in all my air too. Well, friends, times have changed and I'm not going back. I am in love with this barrier between us (no offense) and, for now, it stays. Also, keep washing your hands. I like that too. Vaccination While we're on the subject of Covid, for those who find peace of mind, I have had my first dose of the Covid vaccine and will be receiving the 2nd dose on April 30th. I've taken the pandemic seriously from the beginning and remain committed to being part of the solution. My proximity to others while I'm tattooing was a factor in the decision to get vaccinated, both for myself and my clients. Final Thoughts As we move into year two of this mess, I'd like to share a quote from the esteemed Bill S. Preston, "be excellent to each other." Everyone is so stressed. Everyone. ALL OF US. Do what you can to relieve it, not add to it. You don't know what the pandemic has done to another person. I know that I am not the person that I was in 2019. I find myself in need of grace daily now, and so do many others. Best wishes, Summer Now that we're in 2021, I wanted to make a simplified post on how to book an appointment. It's taken some trial and error to figure out what will work best during this time. Here's what I've settled on until the pandemic calms down: I will be keeping a wait list rather than booking months in advance.
How Does It Work? If you are interested in booking, simply contact me at [email protected]. Please include details about the tattoo you're planning (photo references, location, size approximations) and if you prefer a particular day or time for the appointment. I will add your information to the wait list. I'll confirm that I have you added to the list and when it's time to bring you into the schedule, I'll contact you back via email. Once you've been contacted to book, we'll set a date and time for your appointment. If you're starting a large, multi-session project (sleeve, backpiece, etc), we will keep this interval for our appointments and you will stay in rotation unless you choose to take a break or we finish the project. When I finish a project, that frees up space for someone else on the wait list to join in. I aim to only keep 2-3 weeks worth of appointments on my schedule at a time. At the current rate of requests, this puts the average wait time (from first email to booking) at 2-3 months. Pre-pandemic, the wait time was similar and also competitive as spots were limited. In a sense, a client is waiting the same amount of time that they would have prior to the pandemic. The main difference is that I'm just confirming the date and time later in the process. Why This System? I've been using this manner of booking for the last 4 months and it has offered a tremendous amount of flexibility in dealing with school schedule changes and quarantines. During the spring 2020 lockdown, I was forced to postpone over 40 appointments when tattoo shops were ordered to close. The pandemic is too unpredictable for me to continue business the way I did before, at least temporarily. In my personal experience of exposure and quarantine, it's much easier to postpone a only a couple of weeks' worth of appointments rather than 40+. Thanks For Your Patience While the process sounds complicated and intimidating, I assure you that it is not. If you have any questions about booking, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. These are strange times for all of us. We each need to find a way to move forward in a way that works well for our individual needs. This offers me a little bit of a safety net so that I can continue working with you guys in the best manner possible. Remember If you visit Now or Never Gallery, we are asking that you help us stay in compliance with local mandates and health department requirements by wearing a mask at all times, sanitizing at the door, limiting the guests you bring and distancing as much as possible around other clients. I wish you all peace and safety, Summer |
AuthorSummer Hamrick at Now or Never Gallery |