Fall and Winter Booking During Covid

Photo credit Nick Bolton

First of all, I hope 2020 is treating you all kindly. It's been a roller coaster, hasn't it? At Now or Never, we are adapting to pandemic life. Masks and temperature checks feel oddly normal now. I know that a lot of folks just want to get back to "normal." That sounds wonderful, but we're not quite there yet. My friends and family have been hit by Covid. It's real and it snatches people from us way too early. Thus, I will continue to take it very seriously.

For those of you that keep up with my newsletters and social media posts, you know that I have severely restricted booking over the last few months. It took several weeks to catch up on all the appointments that we postponed from spring. After that, I made the call to only finish up pre-pandemic projects. It always hurts to turn away new clients, but at this time, this was the right move. To my in-progress clients, you guys have been so wonderful. I greatly appreciate your flexibility and patience. I could not have managed without that level of familiarity and understanding that you guys brought to the table. As we begin to wrap up on some of these projects, I have contemplated on how to move forward. My top 3 pandemic concerns from my previous newsletter are still very much with us:

• The Kingsport City School Covid Plans - When schools go virtual, hybrid, or in-person, there isn't much notice. As a parent, all of my weekday appointments are affected by these decisions.
• The availability of critical tattooing, protective and disinfectant supplies - The supply situation is still dicey and is expected to be as long as Covid continues to be a global issue.
• The health and safety of the artists - So far, we've all managed to stay healthy. To every client that rescheduled due to suspected exposure or not feeling well, THANK YOU. You guys have to been so great and careful to not bring anything into the shop and we're so grateful. The second Covid hits the shop, everything will have to grind to a halt. We'll do whatever we have to in order to protect our clients and artists, but if we can prevent the scenario entirely, even better.

So, what I've decided to do is keep limited booking to 2 weeks at a time. This has been insanely helpful, especially since the school system is only able to give 4 days of notice when they transition between virtual and in-person. I will begin a wait list, similar to cancellation lists that I have kept in the past. As I wrap up pre-pandemic clients, I will go down this list in order and invite clients into this 2 week rotation. Some things to consider if you think you might want to join this list:

• How flexible is your schedule? 2 weeks in advance does not give you much time if you need to arrange childcare or request time off work. Please be aware before committing your name. Also, any of the 3 concerns listed above could cause your appointment date or time to change. If patience isn't your thing, either now is not the time to start a project, or I am not the artist (It's ok, We have 6 more and they're amazing!)
• Are you willing to wait? Those of you who have worked with me before won't have too much issue here as there typically was a wait pre-pandemic. To accommodate my family's needs at this time, I have reduced my hours at the shop. This means that I'm moving through appointments slower than in the past.
• Have you reviewed the Covid guidelines are Nowornevergallery.com? All guidelines must be met to get tattooed at Now or Never Gallery at this time. 
• How's your attitude? No, really. We're all tired of the pandemic. Everyone's mask gets humid. Everyone misses "The Before Times." It is what it is, though, and how we deal with it is entirely within our control. In making the best of this situation, there just isn't room for anger and bitterness. 

So, how does one get on this list? Since the shop isn't open to the public (appointment only), everything will be done by email. What you'll do is send an email to [email protected]. Please note the following things when you send your email:

1. Do not reply to this newsletter. Replies to this newsletter do not come to my inbox, so if you're trying to contact me in that way I'm not likely to receive it.
2. Please include adequate details of the tattoo you're looking to get and make sure you're committed to that idea. Send any photo references that you want to use and be very specific about what you like about the photo, especially if you are sending multiple photos. Include approximate size and location on the body that we'll be working on. 
3. Be specific about the style you're interested in. For example, New School and Photo Realism are extremely different styles of tattooing. We have an array of artists that specialize in different styles. If another artist is better suited for you, then there's no reason to be on a wait list. 
4. Include your availability. Let me know if a.m. or p.m. appointments work better for you and if there are certain days of the week that are best for you. Most people request a Saturday. Know that if this is your preferred day, that you may experience a longer wait than those that are available on weekdays. 
5. I will reply to confirm that I have you on the list. There will be no need to send follow-up emails unless you wish to request that your name be removed from the list. As availability opens up, I will go down the list and reach out via email to you to set an appointment date.
6. It's difficult to give very specific prices by email. A bicep tattoo can vary immensely in size from person to person. If requested, I'll give as accurate a range as I can. Pricing for large projects is done by the hour. It is generally not possible to estimate how many hours will go into sleeves, backpieces, etc. 

Okay, so it ended up being a book, but I think that covers everything. If this whole thing seems like too much for a tattoo, Now or Never Gallery has many talented artists. You can view their portfolios and contact them directly from nowornevergallery.com. I appreciate everyone who has been able to hang with me in these crazy times, but I'm equally as glad when you guys get to meet and work with my friends at the shop. Lastly, I look forward to more stable times when we can operate a little smoother, but until then, we will continue on in the best way we can. Best wishes to you and your families,

Summer Hamrick

P.S. This went out as a newsletter. If you would like to receive these updates by email, head back to the Home page, scroll down and add your email to the "Subscribe" box.