The Art of Competition Tattooing Part 2 | Client Management | EP 283
The Art of Competition Tattooing Part 2 | Client Management | EP 283
We’re back again for Part 2 of the 3 Part Series on Competition Tattooing!
In the first part of this series with Kurt, we dove into the challenges and rewards of competing in the tattoo industry. In this episode, Kurt delves into the crucial topic of pain and client management during tattoo sessions, highlighting the importance of combining client care with effective pain management strategies.
He shares valuable techniques for fostering honest communication, ensuring client comfort, and maximizing efficiency—all key elements for success in both competitive and regular tattooing. This discussion is packed with practical advice for tattoo artists looking to refine their approach to client interactions and elevate their craft.
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This episode was made possible thanks to:
Interview by By Jake Meeks —
Writing By Daniel Pushcarich —
Topics: Client management, Pain management, Honest communication, Disarming and humanizing, Client energy levels, Proactive management, Assessing client responses, Efficiency of holes, Stipple shading, Shading techniques, Value vs tone, Circular packing, Trauma reduction, Sleep, Eating, Hydration. Temperature management, Tattoo competitions
"The best thing you can do is disarm and humanize yourself to get to honest communication."
— Kurt Jacobsen
Kurt Jacobsen (@kjaketattoo) has been tattooing for 14+ years is an undeniable wealth of knowledge and an expertly skilled tattooer and draftsmen. Kurt has taken on many challenges including mentorship, running a shop, and 36+ hour marathon tattooing at conventions.
Kurt has a unique style of tattooing that blends beautiful painterly textures with soft bright and bold atmosphere. It’s a bit like staring at a gouache painting on someone’s skin.
Kurt is based in Rolling Meadows, IL and owns Unbreakable Ink.
Please enjoy!
INTERVIEW LINKS, MENTIONS, AND SHOW NOTES BELOW…
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Kurt Jacobsen:
SHOW NOTES
[00:00] Introduction to Client/Pain Management
[01:27] Importance of Client Management and Pain Management
[02:48] Honest Communication as The Top Priority
[04:48] Disarming and Humanizing Yourself
[06:38] Establishing Physical Comfort For The Client
[08:42] There Is NO Personal Space in Tattooing; Make Physical Contact ASAP
[09:36] Address the Uncomfortable to Disarm Discomfort
[11:35] Management is Proactive, Not Reactive; Everyone Has a Battery
[12:55] Sleep! Proactive Management of Client Energy Levels and Avoiding Recovery
[15:07] Assessing Client Language and Physiological Responses
[17:57] Simplify Ad Break
[18:52] Proactive Management is as Important as Any Technique or Equipment
[19:47] Efficiency of Holes; Don’t Use 12 Holes If Four Holes Will Do The Job
[22:37] Efficiency of Holes; Stipple Shading
[26:19] Efficiency of Holes; Shading Techniques and Value vs. Tone
[29:38] Efficiency of Holes; Avoiding Circular Packing for Reduced Trauma
[36:51] Importance of Sleep, Eating, and Hydration
[40:45] The Next Position is the Best Position; Importance of Movement and Stretching
[44:35] Temperature Management: Have Clients Plan for All Conditions
[46:31] Temperature Management: Check Your Surroundings During Breaks
[48:41] Temperature Management: Convention Centers Can be Tricky
[50:14] Temperature Management: Cold is a Death Sentence For Endurance
[52:22] Wrapping Up Part 2 and Teasing the Upcoming Live Drawing Event
Kurt Jacobsen’s Guide to Client/Pain Management Part 1
"Discouragement shouldn’t affect the action; whatever action was planned should still continue forward if that's your goal."
— Kurt Jacobsen
So, some particular aspects of this conversation that we think should be noted. One in particular is that even though the subject is about Competition Tattooing that doesn’t mean these methods can’t be applied to your everyday client.
The Second thing is that pain management and client management seem like a very similar thing, but Kurt makes it clear that they are separate. Kurt emphasizes that both aspects significantly influence a client's ability to endure lengthy sessions. Reliable and consistent attention to these areas is deemed critical for success in both competitive and regular tattooing.
His hierarchy of importance starts with the most critical element: honest communication. This may seem straightforward, but Jacobsen argues that it requires particular skill and approach. Clients often hesitate to express discomfort for fear of being perceived as weak or overly sensitive.
To facilitate better communication, Jacobsen suggests artists should work to disarm and humanize themselves. By sharing their own discomfort and fostering an environment where clients feel safe expressing their needs, artists can encourage a more open dialogue. This helps ensure that clients are actively communicating their comfort levels throughout the session.
Like last time we’re going to give Kurt’s direct and quick notes so you can keep this in mind for yourself as reference.
Notes
Also one quick thought before you go ahead. These are in order of IMPORTANCE based on KURT’S experience during the tattooing PROCESS. All are of equal value, but this is how he felt they showed up for him through trial and documentation.
Client/Pain Management
1) Honest Communication-
Can’t help if you can’t understand
Disarm & humanize yourself
Emphasize good to express discomfort
Don’t make the client feel judge for choices or decisions during the tattoo
2) Management is PROACTIVE ONLY!!
Neither you nor the client can recover past a certain point
Each person has a “battery”
A. Sleep charges best
B. Below 30% is EXPONENTIAL DRAINAGE
Re-emphasis on Limits and Language (Critical!)
KNOW YOUR LIMITS
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
You can’t lie to your doctor and hope to get better
1-10 Pain Scale
Constant Check-ins
Simultaneous body language check to see if their speech is congruent with what you see
3) Efficiency of Holes
Don’t Use 12 when 4 will do
Overworking skin will slow down process
“Shadow Cube Method”
Stipple Shade Technique for all parts of the tattoo
Make shapes for individual layers of value
A. Allows for space between punctures
Undamaged skin
B. True Values
Less fiddling with transitions
You don’t have to wait for values to “settle in” after healing
Color Packing
Use the already established values as a foundation
Change color TEMPERATURE, not color TONE
Since values are already in place you can make more dynamic shifts to create depth in the image
Never use Circular movements
A. 20% of a circle is actually a slicing motion on the skin
B. Small Sweeping motions
Precision is key
Don’t go deer hunting with a rocket launcher, use a pocket knife
C. Priority is to reduce skin trauma
4) Eating & Sleeping
This has been discussed several times, but it bares repeating
Often thought of as obvious, so also often neglected if not pointed at directly
Sleep WELL & OFTEN to charge
On long multi-day sessions do not go back to your room and binge watch late into the night
No heavy drinking
Sleep is priority and tantamount to success
Clients should pack for a day trip
Will be re-examined in next section
Eating SHOULD become a routine
Should feel a bit like a chore, due to its necessity
Snack for every break
5) Temperature
COLD IS THE DEATH SENTENCE FOR ENDURANCE
Cold is a death sentence for endurance
Did you get it?
Being cold intensifies all sensations
Increases pain by an order of magnitude
Can’t recover from being too cold
Client should pack for a Day Trip
Prepare for any and every condition
Convention Halls are notoriously unpredictable
Never know if it will be sweltering or frigid or fluctuating
Winter hats and blankets are recommended
Clients shouldn’t be afraid to swap between being almost naked and completely covered and then back again
Constantly check in with client temperature status
JAKE’S TIP: Put temp back on yourself as the artist
Mention that it feels a little cold immediately
Allow them to feel at ease about whether they might get uncomfortable and speaking about it
Thanks so much for watching and reading. See you in part 3 for the rest of the tips and notes from Kurt!
MORE Kurt QUOTES FROM THIS INTERVIEW
Efficiency of Holes; Stipple Shading
[22:37] "If you’re doing good value with a liner it will hold up as strongly as linework"
— Kurt Jacobsen
Efficiency of Holes; Avoiding Circular Packing for Reduced Trauma
[29:38] "I'm looking for fast with the least amount of trauma; for that reason, I choose to never use circles."
— Kurt Jacobsen
This episode was made possible thanks to:
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