Booking Policies.
Curious about the process of booking an appointment? You will find answers to all of your questions below. If anything is unclear or not covered, please contact us and we will get back to you ASAP.
At Mercy Seat Tattoo Company, we strive to provide a premier tattoo experience for our clients. Our mission is to create unique and meaningful tattoos that will last a lifetime. We value your trust in our artists and are dedicated to making your tattoo appointment a memorable one.
HOW THIS WORKS - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
If you have visited us before or are confident your idea fits within our scope, skip to point 5.
If you are a new client, visit our shop instagram, Jackson’s instagram, or scroll down to the ‘Preferred Projects’ section to get an idea of our preferred style and the projects we will/won’t do.
If you are still uncertain about whether your idea is one that fits with us, submit an inquiry through our contact form.
We will let you know ASAP whether we will be able to take your project on, or if not, we will gladly recommend you to another artist/studio.
If your project fits with us, feel free to use the calendar on the right to pick an appropriate time for your initial consultation. Please note, booking a consultation costs $100 + tax and this fee is applied towards your deposit if you book your tattoo. If you choose not to proceed, the fee is non refundable and goes towards covering the artist’s time - so please be sure before you book. If you have any uncertainty, you can always email us first.
Once you have successfully booked your consultation time and date, you will receive an invoice to pay for your consultation. Please, kindly pay this invoice within 48 hours, or we may cancel your consultation.
Once you are booked and paid, you will receive an email with the studio details. Please read these carefully.
Bring any reference material with you for the consultation.
After the consultation, should you wish to proceed, you will receive a link to book your appointment/s at a time that suits you best.
Phew, that was a lot! If you’ve made it this far, we salute you and you may as well just book!
We look forward to meeting with you.
AGAIN, PLEASE BE AWARE, ALL DEPOSITS/CONSULTATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
CHOOSING AN ARTIST
Mercy Seat has resident and guest artists cycling through regularly. The best way to choose an artist is to check the portfolio page, or an artists' instagram page to get a feel for their style and approach. We encourage you to do your research and pick an artist whose style matches what you are hoping to achieve. If it is not something we are willing to take on, we will gladly recommend alternatives for you to investigate.
CONSULTATIONS
In person consultations are required, as it is important to see the area we will be working on, get the correct measurements and ensure there is a good connection between artist and client. Occasionally, for smaller, simpler work, consultations are not necessary, but these are on a case by case basis. People unable to physcially come to the studio for a consultation (i.e. you live off Vancouver Island) can arrange consultations via Skype or Zoom. Consultations cost $100 + tax, are generally a 30-60 minute process, and ensure that artists and clients are on the same page as the process progresses. The cost of the consultation (minus tax) is applied to your deposit, should you wish to book the tattoo. If not, the $100 + tax is non-refundable and goes towards compensating the artist for their time.
TATTOO DESIGNS
We are a fully custom shop and take great pleasure in taking your ideas and turning them into unique, beautiful pieces of art you are proud to wear for life. References are always helpful to have and bring to your consultation, but please do not ask artists to replicate another tattoo exactly. It is disrespectful to the original artist and the person wearing that tattoo.
Additionally, we encourage you to be as thorough as you can be during your consultation, but once the design has been agreed upon, please do not harass artists to see drawings in advance or have them sent to you. All artwork is the property of Mercy Seat until it is tattooed on you, so we do not send out drawings under any circumstances.
On occasion, if schedules permit we can arrange a viewing in advance. Please talk to your artist if this is something you are interested in. Prices vary for this, depending on how many revisions are necessary. Each artist works differently but we all have a lot of work going at any given time, and can't guarantee this is something we can always accommodate.
We will always do our best to make sure you are 100% comfortable with the process, so please raise any concerns or hesitation you may have with your artist during your consultation. That's what they are for.
DEPOSITS
All appointments require a minimum $250 deposit and all deposits are non refundable. Cancellations and rescheduling without penalty are permissible with 48 hours notice or more. Any less than this will result in a portion, or all of your deposit being forfeited and we will not reschedule you until you replenish your deposit.
Consultations, sketching, refining, scheduling, etc all take your artists' time. Deposits hold your spot in the calendar, compensate your artist for their time and ensure you show up. Deposits are deducted from the final price of the tattoo once complete. In the case of multi session work, your deposit will stay in place until the final session is complete before it is deducted.
SHOP RATE
Hourly rate is currently $200 + tax per hour, with a 2 hour minimum required. Your initial drawing is included in this price, as are any small adjustments to the design. Any major deviations from the agreed design or complete changes in ideas will incur additional drawing fees to compensate your artist for the additional time required.
PREFERRED PROJECTS
Whilst we always do our best to accommodate every project we can, some projects do not always fit our skill set or current focus. In these circumstances, we will gladly recommend you to artists/shops who could accommodate you better. This is simply due to our preference towards focusing on and honing specific styles present in our folio. If you would like to ensure your appointment request is accepted, here are the styles/subject matter the resident artists prefer to work in/with;
‘Do whatever you want’
Pre-drawn flash
Japanese
Neo Traditional
Traditional
Blackwork
Ornamental/Geometric
Bio Organic/Dark Texture Work
Reapers'
Heads/Stylized Portraits
Skulls
Dragons
Snakes
Floral (especially colour)
Birds
Fishing/Fly Fishing
Cartoons/Comics/Pop Culture
Anything weird and wild
Dark Script
Traditional Flash pieces
We will usually stay away from;
Black and Grey Realism
Colour Realism
Watercolour
Tree Silhouettes/Tree Cuffs
Armbands
Birth Flowers
Partner’s names
Lots of writing
‘Ignorant Style’ Tattoos
Super fine line/delicate tattoos
These are not hard and fast rules, but should offer a good guideline for when you submit your inquiry. If your idea is not listed here, it’s always worth reaching out!
GENERAL RULES
We only tattoo people 18 years of age or older. No exceptions, even with parental consent.
We may ask for ID so please bring it with you.
We will not tattoo you if you are not sober or are high. No exceptions.
We ask that you attend your appointment alone, with the exception of people who need a support person for assistance with activities of daily living.
Make sure you eat and are well hydrated before your appointment.
Please wash before your appointment. It's just respectful.
As we are an 18+ facility. Please do not bring your infants or children to your appointment.
No animals allowed (except service animals)
Tattoo deposits, sessions and gift certificates are non-transferrable.
We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who does not abide by these rules.
While we are totally down for any and all kinds of wild tattoo ideas, we will not tattoo any racist/sexist/transphobic/homophobic/hateful imagery or words, gang symbols or bigotry of any kind.
HANDS, NECKS, FACES ETC
While we do perform tattoo procedures on these areas, we will often not agree to tattoo these areas unless you have lots of already visible tattoos with substantial coverage. Please don't come in asking us to tattoo your hands/fingers/face for a first tattoo. Trust us on this one. Whether or not an artist will tattoo these areas is at their discretion.
These areas have different skin consistencies, regenerate faster, are much thinner or don't hold pigment as well as other areas of the body and as such, make predicting the healing in these specific regions challenging at best. Your artist will discuss this with you in your consultation but if you choose to proceed with a tattoo in these areas, please be aware the artist cannot be held responsible for any inconsistencies in healing.
TOUCH UPS
You are a living, breathing, regenerating, moving canvas. Although we approach every tattoo experience with the utmost care and attention to detail, sometimes linework can heal light or colour can fade. As such Mercy Seat Tattoo Company offers a free touch up (if necessary) within 60 days of the tattoo being completed. This is generally a quick process and we will have you sorted out in no time. This is however, not an alternative to correct aftercare or a service we offer just to keep your tattoos looking fresh.
Correct aftercare is your best friend in these circumstances. If you need a reminder on healing your tattoo correctly or ensuring the longevity of your new piece, head over to our aftercare page for all the information you will need.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
We accept cash, credit, debit and etransfer.
WALK INS
As we are a fully private studio, we do not have the ability to accept walk ins. If you would like an appointment, you will need to contact the shop, or email in advance. The number is (778) 716-2776, which you can call or text, and the email address is hello@mercyseattattoocompany.com.