Guides / Studio Haven
Booking a tattoo guest spot before you get there
A guest spot pays off when the chair is full before you've even packed. Here's how to fill it ahead of time, take deposits from people you've never met, and not mess up the time zone.
Fill it before you go
An empty day in another city costs you twice: the day of work and the trip. Post the dates a few weeks out. Make a flash sheet for the trip. Point everyone at one link, not a DM thread per city.
Deposits matter more on the road
At home, a no-show is a lost afternoon. On the road it's a lost afternoon in a city you paid to get to. Take a deposit on every guest-spot booking, and put your cancellation rules where they pay. Our deposit guide covers how much.
Time zones will catch you out
A client in Montreal booking you for a spot in Vancouver is reading a time on a screen. If the calendar shows your home time, somebody turns up three hours early. Every slot needs to show in the city where the tattoo's happening.
Sort things out with the host shop
Before you post dates, agree the basics with the shop: the split or chair fee, which days and hours you get, whether they take walk-ins for you, and who handles the aftercare questions after you leave. Get it in a message, not just a phone call.
How it works on Studio Haven
Add a guest spot with the dates, the city, the shop address, and its time zone. Clients book those days in local time, and the booking stays in the same calendar and client list as your home bookings. When the trip's over, the clients you met are still in your list for next time.
See it from the client side
Open the demo studio and book it the way a client would, deposit and all. You don't need an account. When you're ready, set up your own page.
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Questions artists ask
How far ahead should I announce a guest spot?
Three to six weeks is common. Far enough out that people can plan, but close enough that they don't forget.
Should I only offer flash on a guest spot?
Flash is simpler to fill and finish in one sitting. Small customs work if you do the design before you leave. Save big multi-session work for home.
How do I find clients in a city I don't live in?
Ask the host shop to share your post, tag the city, and post the flash sheet. Some people from home will travel too if you tell them.
$15 a month. No cut of your deposits.
14-day free trial starts when you sign up. No card needed. Flash, customs, deposits, calendar, aftercare.