etiquette in asking if a shop has certain flash?

I'd like to have a Dave Quiggle piece done and modified just a little bit. Is it impolite to call shops and ask if they have a certain artist's flash? If its not, is there a good way to ask?

you call them and say.."hey ink monkey, ya gots any quiggle flash? if you wanna make some coin, i suggest your ass go get some." do not be in awe of a tattoo shop. you're a customer, they should be bending over backwards to accommodate you. if they don't, fuck them.

You can ask, but I wouldn't hold my breath. JOE

I agree with (oh GOD NO!!! PUKE!!!) dez! You employ the tattoo artist, YOU pay their rent! As long as you ask for a design you want in a respectful manner you should get a respectful answer. If ya don't then go to the shop down the street.The days of abusing a client just because you are a tattoo artist are OVER!!! There is just too much competition to throw clients away by not trying to accomodate them.

choosing an artist because of the flash they have in the shop is a very poor choice in my opinion. I do agree that artists need to respect clients, but we wont kiss anyones ass really... and if someone went to the shop down the street cause we dont have that particular flash... well... you get the tattoo you deserve...

interesting to get the different responses anyways.. :) thanks. to me, it would probably be less trouble to order it myself and bring it in to an artist that would do a good job modifying it than seeing which of a few select places would be willing to get it.

While I don't see any harm in calling a shop to see if they have a particular piece of flash, I'd like to point out it is rather unrealistic to expect any shop to have every piece of flash that's available. It's also worth mentioning that just because they do have the flash, that does not automatically mean they could do the tattoo properly. As Gabe said, choosing a shop strictly by the flash they have is very unwise. I think the wisest choice would be to get the flash/design and take it to the artist, have them draw it up for you BEFORE you get it inked, far less chance of regrets later.

of course. you make excellent points.. there's no way i'd be calling a lower-quality shop... being in a bigger city it is nice to have the luxury of several quality places to go. it just seems like so much trouble.. almost.. insulting? that's not the right word, but i figure if i want a reference piece for what i want done, i should be the one to go to the trouble of getting it --- especially if its not a hugely popular item.. that's why i was wondering about the etiquette. thanks again. i think i've figured it out, and will probably just get the flash myself when i want this done.