How to Manage Guest Tattoo Artists at Your Studio
Guest artists bring fresh energy, new styles, and new clients to your shop. When done right, hosting guest artists is a win-win: they get a place to work while traveling, and you earn commission revenue while exposing your shop to a new audience.
When done wrong, it’s a logistics nightmare. Miscommunication about splits, no clients booked, station conflicts, and supplies burned through with nothing to show for it.
Here’s how to run a smooth guest artist program.
Why Host Guest Artists?
Revenue: 30-40% commission on everything a guest artist earns during their stay. A guest artist doing $3,000-5,000 in a week generates $900-2,000 for your shop.
Exposure: Guest artists bring their followers. When they tag your shop in Instagram posts, their audience discovers you. This cross-pollination is incredibly valuable marketing you can’t buy.
Fresh styles: If your resident artists all do similar work, a guest artist who specializes in something different (Japanese, realism, geometric) attracts clients you wouldn’t normally reach.
Community: Hosting guest artists builds your reputation in the broader tattoo community. Artists talk. A shop known for welcoming, well-organized guest spots attracts better talent.
The Guest Artist Agreement
Get everything in writing before the guest artist arrives. A simple one-page agreement covering:
Commission split:
- Standard: 30% to shop, 70% to guest artist
- If the shop is providing clients (walk-ins, shop marketing): 35-40% to shop
- All commission calculated on gross tattoo revenue
What the shop provides:
- Station space (fully set up)
- Shared supplies (gloves, barriers, cleaning products, paper towels)
- Booking support (listing on your booking page, promoting to your clients)
- Payment processing
- Consent forms
What the guest artist provides:
- Their own machines and personal equipment
- Their own ink and needles (or agree to use shop stock — specify)
- Their own clients (pre-booked before arriving)
- Valid licensing and certifications for your state
- Proof of insurance (professional liability)
Duration: Exact dates, arrival time, last client day
Payment: When and how they’ll be paid (end of each day, end of the week, etc.)
Cancellation: What happens if the guest artist cancels or if the shop needs to cancel
Licensing and Insurance (Don’t Skip This)
The biggest legal risk with guest artists: They may not be licensed to tattoo in your state. Many states don’t have reciprocity — a license from California doesn’t automatically work in Texas.
Before confirming a guest spot:
- Verify their licensing is valid in your state (or they’ve obtained a temporary permit if your state offers one)
- Confirm they have current BBP certification
- Confirm they have professional liability insurance (their own — your shop insurance may not cover independent guest artists)
- Make copies of all certifications
If they can’t get proper licensing, you can’t host them. Period. The legal and health department risk isn’t worth any amount of commission revenue.
Promoting the Guest Spot
4 Weeks Before
Announce the guest spot on all channels:
Instagram post:
“Excited to announce [@guestartist] is joining us for a guest spot [dates]! They specialize in [style] and spots are limited. Head to their page to see their incredible work and book through [link].”
Include: Guest artist photos, portfolio samples, dates, and booking link.
Email blast to your client list:
“Guest artist alert! We’re hosting [name] for a [style] guest spot on [dates]. If you’ve been wanting [style] work, this is your chance. Limited spots available.”
2 Weeks Before
Follow-up post with updated availability:
“Only [X] spots left for [@guestartist]‘s guest spot next week! Book now before they’re gone.”
Instagram stories showcasing the guest artist’s best work.
During the Visit
Daily stories showing the guest artist at work in your shop. Tag them in everything. This content reaches both your audience and theirs.
Post finished pieces from the guest spot sessions. Tag the guest artist and your shop location.
After the Visit
Thank you post:
“What an incredible week with [@guestartist]! Check out some of the amazing pieces they created during their guest spot. Until next time! 🤘”
This leaves the door open for future visits and shows your shop as a welcoming, collaborative space.
Booking Logistics
Who Handles Bookings?
Option A: Guest artist handles their own bookings. They promote to their followers, collect deposits through their own system, and bring pre-booked clients. Your shop just provides the space.
Pros: Less work for you. Guest artist is motivated to fill their schedule. Cons: You have less control. Deposit and consent form processes might not match yours.
Option B: Bookings go through your shop’s system. Guest artist directs inquiries to your booking page where they have their own profile/calendar.
Pros: Consistent deposit collection, consent forms, and communication. You see the full schedule. Cons: More setup work. Guest artist needs to be added to your booking platform.
My recommendation: Option B for recurring guest artists (set them up in your system once). Option A for one-time guests.
Pre-Booking Targets
| Duration | Target Bookings | Revenue Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 days | 4-6 pre-booked clients | $1,500-3,000 |
| 1 week | 8-12 pre-booked clients | $3,000-6,000 |
| 2 weeks | 15-20 pre-booked clients | $5,000-10,000 |
If a guest artist can’t pre-book at least 50% of their available time, the guest spot may not be profitable for either party. Discuss booking expectations upfront.
Station Setup for Guest Artists
Prepare the station before they arrive:
- Clean and fully barrier-wrapped
- Stocked with shared supplies (gloves, paper towels, green soap, ink caps, barrier film)
- Adjustable task lighting
- Working outlets
- Fresh stencil paper in the thermal printer
- WiFi password posted
- Your shop’s consent form process explained (iPad location, workflow)
First-day orientation (15 minutes):
- Station tour and supply locations
- Sterilization room and protocol
- Bathroom, break area, parking
- Payment processing (how you handle checkout)
- WiFi, music system, any house rules
- Emergency procedures
- Your contact number for any questions
Financial Management
Track guest artist revenue separately. In your booking/POS system, attribute all guest artist sessions to their profile so commission calculations are clean.
Payment timing: Most guest artists prefer daily or end-of-visit payment. Waiting weeks to process payment strains the relationship.
Method: Direct deposit, check, or Zelle/Venmo. Have this agreed upon before they arrive.
Tax implications: If a guest artist earns over $600 during their visit(s) within a calendar year, you need to issue a 1099 at year-end. Collect their legal name, address, and SSN/EIN at the first visit.
When Guest Spots Go Wrong
Guest artist cancels last minute: Your promotion went out, clients expected them. Communicate honestly with booked clients, offer rescheduling or refund deposits.
Guest artist doesn’t bring enough clients: If they only have 2 pre-booked clients for a week-long guest spot, fill gaps with your shop’s walk-ins (at a higher commission rate — 40% — since you’re providing the clients).
Quality concerns: If a guest artist’s work quality doesn’t match their portfolio, it’s your shop’s reputation on the line. Address it privately and directly.
Supply abuse: Some guest artists burn through supplies excessively. Set reasonable expectations upfront: “We provide standard shared supplies. Specialty items should be brought by the guest artist.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What commission should I charge guest artists?
30-40% to the shop. 30% for established artists who bring their own clients; 40% for artists relying on your walk-in traffic.
How do I find guest artists for my shop?
Instagram outreach to traveling artists, convention networking, artist referrals, and guest artist platforms. Look for artists with complementary styles.