Guest Spots: How to Book Them and What to Charge
Guest spots are how careers level up. A week in a new city means new clientele, new work on your feed, new artists to learn from, and — if you do it right — an open invitation to come back. For shops, a good guest fills a chair and introduces their clients to an artist they couldn't book locally.
But most artists pitch them all wrong: a vague DM, a huge photo dump, and no dates, then they wonder why nobody replies. The artists who get booked make it easy to say yes. Here's how.
Start with research, not a DM
Know the shop before you reach out. Look at who works there, what styles they cover, and where your work fits. Pitch shops where your style adds something they don't already have, or where there's clear demand for what you do.
Check the basics, too: Does the shop host guests regularly? Do they promote them? When is a chair likely to be open? An informed pitch stands out because most pitches aren't.
Send a tight pitch
Your first message should answer four questions in a few lines: who you are, what you tattoo, when you want to come, and why you want their shop.
Then send a tight portfolio — 10 to 15 of your best healed pieces, not a 60-photo dump. Healed work is what shops trust, because anyone can make a fresh tattoo look good in a photo. Lead with the style you're pitching, and link to where they can see more.
Be specific about dates, but show a little flexibility if you have it. And be genuine about why you chose them — a piece of theirs you admired, a connection to the city. Flattery works when it's true; flattery that could have been sent to 40 shops gets ignored.
Follow up once, politely and briefly. Then let it breathe. Pestering turns a "not right now" into a "not ever."
Have your paperwork ready before anyone asks
Nothing kills a guest spot faster than scrambling for documents after a shop says yes. Before you pitch, have these ready to send:
- Your tattoo license or permit, current and in good standing
- Bloodborne pathogens certification
- Insurance, if you carry your own
- Identification and any paperwork the shop needs for its own records
Licensing rules also change from state to state, and sometimes city to city. Some places require a temporary guest license, and that can take time. Ask the host shop early what its area requires — handling it without drama is part of being a professional guest.
What to charge — and what you'll pay
There's no single guest-spot rate, because there's no single arrangement. Most shops use one of two models, and sometimes offer both:
A commission split is common when the shop promotes you and helps fill your book with its clients. Splits vary by how much the shop does for you — promotion, booking, front-desk support, and supplies all have value. A lower-looking split can be the better deal if the shop keeps you busy all week.
Flat booth rent — a day rate, a weekly rate, or both — is common when you bring most of your own clients. You pay for the chair whether you're busy or not, and keep the rest. It works best when you already have demand in that city.
Whichever model you're offered, get clear on what's included before you agree:
- Who supplies ink, needles, and disposables?
- Who handles booking, deposits, and no-shows?
- How much promotion will the shop actually do, and what do you need to post yourself?
- When and how do you get paid, and how are tips and deposits handled?
For your own pricing, charge your normal rate unless there's a clear reason not to. Traveling to tattoo people who can't travel to you has value — don't discount yourself out of habit. And get the whole arrangement in writing, even for a shop you know. Clear terms protect both sides.
Earn the return invitation
Once you're booked, promote the spot early and communicate your schedule to the shop. While you're there, learn their system before you suggest yours: how they book, how walk-ins are split, how the day closes. Be early, be stocked, keep a clean station, and be easy to be around when it gets busy.
That is what shops remember. They rebook — and recommend — the guests who made the week easy and profitable for everyone.
The bottom line
A good guest spot isn't luck. It's research, a specific pitch, a tight healed portfolio, paperwork ready to go, and terms you both understand before you travel. Do those five things and you stop being another DM in the inbox — you become an easy yes.
Looking for your next spot? Browse current openings on the Job Board, and make sure shops can find you through Get Listed. Running a shop and hosting guests or hiring? Post a Job for $1 and put your opening in front of working artists looking for their next chair.
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