Customizing the Body (PDF file) - Print My Tattoo

148 The Tattoo Relationship
the tattoo establishment in the company of supportive associates.
Should they come to regret the consequences of their tattoo purchase.
tattooees can simply chalk it up to experience or they may
deal more directly with the negative outcome by having the offending
product removed. covered. or redone.
Concerned with minimizing conflict while maximizing economic
and interpersonal rewards. the tattooist has a clear interest
in understanding the client and channeling his or her intentions
and behavior. The tattooisUservice worker's understanding of and
consequent interaction with the client are facilitated by the use of
a basic typological system. which allows the differentiation between
good and bad recipients. Customers are categorized. and
interactional strategies are employed based on the tattooist's evaluation
of whether or not the client will facilitate the tattooist's
work. cede appropriate control, proVide suffiCient gain for the
time and energy expended. present danger. and/or demonstrate an
acceptable level of taste and morality. By means of overt instruction
and symbolic representation of competence. the tattooist
communicates behavioral expectations and exercises control over
the service delivery interaction. The quality of this emergent relationship
has considerable impact on the experience of both the
tattooist and his or her customer. The smoother and more coordinated
the commercial "dance" of the tattoo event, the greater the
likelihood that the tattooee will receive a serVice/product that will
meet his or her defined needs and not be a significant source of
remorse. In turn. easy and predictable interaction with tattooees
improves tattooists' ongOing occupational experience. maximizes
their ability to reap financial gain. and reinforces their pos1t1ve
self-evaluations as creative workers providing a valued and technically
proficient aesthetic product.