looking to open tattoo shop

First off i have been tattooing now for over 14 yrs and am looking to open up a tattoo shop in glassboro nj and cant believe the things they have in there ordinance. for example: section 490-51v states:The tattoo parlor or establishment and/or duly licensed tattooers therein shall not tattoo any person upon his or her initial presentation to said establishment. Said tattoo parlor or establishment and/or duly licensed tattooer may consult with said person and may otherwise advise his/her about the services it provides; however, said person shall wait 48 hours before returning to the tattoo parlor or establishment to have a tattoo thereafter affixed. The tattoo parlor or establishment shall maintain proper records of all dates of a person's initial presentation and subsequent return dates. Said forty-eight-hour waiting period shall be imposed for each tattoo a person receives. No more than one tattoo shall be issued at any time per person without waiting the afore-described forty-eight-hour waiting period.WTF IS THAT SHIT!!! so if anyone would like to read it and maybe give me some advice i would appreciate it thanks, come on taz what do you think? here is the link by the way to ordinance- http://www.e-codes.generalcode.com/codebook_frameset.asp?ep=fs&t=ws&cb=0316_A and scroll to section 490-45 AGAIN THANK S ALL

In all honesty, from what I read on your post, Idon't think it's such a bad policy, it cut's down on alot of the walk by get the kanji/name/armband just because there is a shop here at the moment to do it mentality. Anyone who is serious about getting tattooed wouldn't have any problems with this, and in theory, it sounds like you'd have much more of the serious clientelle and less of the "slap a star on my wrist" types. I prefer when my clients think about it for a while instead of deciding right there on the spot. Besides, when you start booking out for appointments, you won't be able to get them in on that day anyway, so it really won't affect you for the negative in the longrun.

Can i just ask what exaclty are in your opinion "the slap a star on the wrist types" ??

I worked in a college town where "the slap a star on the wrist types" were usually college kids wanting the same tattoo as most of their peers without putting much thought into a tattoo that meant something to them, yet they all thought they were being "different" or "original". I would overhear them saying things like "I want something unique, not the same thing everyone else has, I'm thinking of getting a star on my wrist right there", which coincidentally I would hear about 5 times a week at that particular shop from different clients, and even when I mentioned how I've done the same thing several times that month, they felt that they had to get something small and simple because they just turned 18 and they need a tattoo, etc. I'm not saying anything bad about these folks, just that from a tattoo artists point of view, we'd for the most part rather tattoo a beautiful piece of art and not the same black star that we've done over and over. Most of us got into this for the art end of it, not the monotony part of duplicate trendy symbols over and over.

I could understand completley where you were coming from until the very last line...."trendy symbols". So what would you say if i told you that i had a star for every struggle i went through, some are thicker than others from where the path was longer to overcome. Some are double lined, to show that i didnt overcome it on my own that someone helped me through. Stars have always guided me and shown me the light (as cleche as that may sound) When i look at a star i know that maybe one of those people who helped me through my troubles may be looking up at the stras at the exact point to, which makes me feel closer to them as alot of those people are now far away. So yeah i understand that you would much prefer to be doing something artistic than a black outline, but to some of us (as few as we are) they are the most meaningful symbols. That i perdonally connect entirely with. I know that they are thousands of people out there with the stars just like me, but mine are there for a reason. Please dont stereotype everyone who has stars, i put my hands up and say that alot of people have them but just think of those few who they mean something to.

Well, you obviously don't fall into the "slap a star on the wrist" type since you put thought into your stars more than the typical star recepient that I've dealt with in the past. People absolutely should be putting more thoughts into their tattoos, as you have, and not just getting them to have them. I guess my final disclaimer on my post should read "This in no way represents every person with a star tattoo".

I almost forgot, by trendy symbols, I wasn't meaning to lump stars only into that category, if you look up the post "Trendy Regrettables", you see more of what I mean by that one. No matter what the tattoo is, if it becomes trendy, theres always a few people that either had it first or it has alot of meaning to them, sometimes its true and sometimes it's the client convincing themselves and their friends that it has that meaning.

Thankyou, for understanding. :)

Tattitude....while I agree that the statute has its merit I do NOT think it should be an absolute rule...I believe that We, as professionals in the business should have the authority to decide when to tattoo someone...have you ever heard of a law thwt forces plastic surgery clients to wait 48 hours?....although I know some sugeons have that rule I don't believe that any authority has the righjt to decide when its time for a person to be tattooed unless of course that person is a minor.

walkins are what alot of shops need to scrape by during the dead seasons. this 48 hour waiting period is going to kill alot of shops financially. why is it just tattoos? if i wanted to get my hair dyed pink and have it look crazy. i can do that as a walk in... me being an apprentice would be fucked. cuz in the two shops ive worked in. apprentices can work on some/most walkins. Its how i Make gas money and its a big part of how i learn. The whole concept is stupid and i cant see how it can be validated. As long as the client is sober. I dont see any need for a waiting period. Its their job to keep from making bad decisions, not ours.

does anyone know of the quote "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Melissa, the trendy tattoo discussion is on another thread. we don't need to hear you have a fit every time someone mentions the trendiness of star tattoos. and to the person who made the analogy between pink hair and getting a tattoo, does someone really need to tell you why that analogy doesn't work at all? come on. I think that the 48 hour rule is a good practice. would save this world a lot of regrettable tattoos.

Nope I disagree Wo...No one has that right...Its taking rules that should only have to do with Safety and adding an almost censoring air....If someone wants a tattoo in a legal safe licensed studio they should be able to get it ...when they want///that is if they are of age!!!

Tattitude: I'm curious - what made you pick Glassboro? Where in glassboro are you thinking of opening up shop - on main street or high street? I know it's a college town, but in may the place clears out until the end of august. Be careful as to what building you go into as well, as a lot of them are very old, decrepit, and while they may LOOK well kept -- that's just a show. Trust me. I lived there (on 24 S. Main St.) for a while. However, I wish you the best of luck. I would've loved to have had a tattoo shop within walking distance of my home/apt. I would've been that pest that you would think "dammit. doesn't she have a life?" because I would be watching you're every move (no, i'm not creepy. honestly!) Can I ask what other shops have you worked at since you've so much experience?? Just curious if we've ever crossed paths. Keep us posted on how everything works out and where you end up opening shop -- there are quite a few people I know that I could send your way. Also my ex-landlord owns the Eleven East Cafe as well as that bookstore -- she allows free advertising etc. (Plus if you need furniture -- the whole basement between the cafe and bookstore is used furniture from non-paying tenants)

sure bee i started out at a shop called high voltage body art in 93 was there till 98 have worked in a shop in tabernacle now owned by illbacio, then lets see in deptford at a shop called forever ink tattoo which has now moved to wenonah and headlight harry moved in to his old shop from there i just did a guest spot in gus's tattoo studio in fredrick maryland now im presently in dover delaware at dougs tattoo and piercing hope that might help you out a bit thank you and i will be sure to update everyone on how things go in the matter!!

sorry by the way if anyone would like to see examples of my work please dont hesitate to check out my pics on inkednation and myspace: http://www.inkednation.com/tattitude http://www.myspace.com/engravedsoulztattooz

i think you should have to sign a paper 48 hours before you buy a beer since it can mean a life altering situation like driving thru a wall.Or maybe haveing sexual contact and becoming pregnant.While there at it maybe do the same thing with cigarettes they are life changing also.I dont want to fill this page up with examples but people are responsible for themselves not the state.Its all how you look at it but the state has a right to make sure that people are getting a safe tattoo.They are not guidiance officers the more they get the more they will take they have no right makeing rules like that. This art form is much to old to even be controlled in that way.

In response: I was not having a "fit", just sharing my opinion :)

Ok well I haven't read the law just what you've written and it seems like a grand idea really but kinda overwhelming to have that much control over one's business as well. I personally think it's a good idea for both the artist and the customer to spend a bit of consultation , you get a better feel for whta they want and they're usually a bit more comfortable thinking you've understood them. But the part that I could see really sucking is , how do they govern what ONE tattoo is? And what does it state about tattoos that require multiple settings? And well , fuck that dude plant shop elsewhere. I guess that's kinda like giving up in a way. At any rate it seems you've not only given alot to the industry but you continue too , right on man. Best of luck on the law

While it may be a "good idea" it certainly should NOT be a law>

Agreed. I know some artists are well known for their cover up work and it seems people go to them for that reason specifically and I'm sure that there's a lot of the spur of the moment people getting ink that keep these artists in business. But at the same time I think with a higher level of ethics and less of a need for money , more artists would gladly take that initial consultation on their own accord to insure that the customer wasn't jumping into the trend pool so to speak. But yeah a good idea bad law. Course america's full of them.

Hey Tattitude ...Good luck on opening the shop brother man...If I can help just yell!! And make sure to let us all know where you are gonna be....and thanks for all those "bulletins with a cause "on Myspace!...I think they may do a lot of good!...TAz