It saddens me to write this review because I typically love to come on here and be a hype person for business. Especially small and local businesses!
I'm not here to be a Karen, or to ruin anyone's career and reputation, but I thought it wise to share my experience with the Dancing Goat Tattoo. If you value fairness in business practices, maybe this is something to take note of.
First and I want to be clear: the art is great! This is not about Duffy's artistic skill or tattoo practice. He is talented and creative and is skilled in lots of different styles which is awesome.
The issue lies within the business practices. I found Duffy (well, mostly his wife Ashley through whom all communication was done) to be chill, kind people. The business practice is strange that all questions, appts, etc go through her and not the artist. It can get somewhat uncomfortable but hey, to each their own and I'm glad they have found what works for them. It just wasn't my favorite way to go through this process.
My situation was unique in that I had decided I really wanted to continue work on my arm to have a full sleeve WHILE I was pregnant. So I was really excited to get going on that after I had my sweet baby. I contacted Dancing Goat about 3 weeks postpartum to start the process in JUNE. I explained I just had a baby and it wasn't a secret at all. I paid 100$ as a deposit (which is legit and understandable cause people are rude and flaky). We then scheduled for a consult in September and tattoo on October. Long wait but not a problem to work with schedules and to get good art. I text the morning of my tattoo to ask about pumping accommodations and was told that my appointment would have to be canceled and my deposit would be forfeited because TN state law states that you can't tattoo someone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. She was apologetic and said she didn't have any idea that this was the law. I didn't know it was the law either but had obviously researched the safety of tattooing and breastfeeding and found not medical literature to support that there posed any risk outside of uncleanliness. Dancing Goat is reputable and cleanly (and I have always kept my tattoos very clean) so that wasn't a concern of mine. However, how was I to know that this was law? Especially if those running the business didn't even know it was law? I'm not versed in tattooing laws, especially specific to the state of Tennessee.
Still, not a problem, life is unpredictable and we can move forward. I asked if there was a way to transfer my deposit to my husband, and if he could get tattooed in my place, as to not lose our 100$. I said he could come instead and was told no, because Duffy didn't have anything prepared. Okay, I get that but I did see that Duffy solicited time to get tattooed the same day on his Instagram so why my husband couldn't come in and pay to get something I addition to my 100$ deposit (even something pre drawn) doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Anyways, I was told they would get back to me Saturday or Sunday. Monday rolls around, no response. Then I texted them and I get a response that my deposit is forfeited and it should have been my responsibility to disclose that information.
How? How is that my responsibility when Ashley wasn't even aware that was law? Isn't it YOUR responsibility to know the laws in the business in which you practice? Wouldn't it be responsible for one to go through the consent process to make sure one is eligible to be tattooed before collecting 100$ of a deposit that non refundable even in special circumstances.
Like I said, these things happen and I can be flexible. I don't want them out of time or money, I just wished they would offer me the same grace and be flexible with options to make this right. Especially since it seems like something that both parties were ignorant to, not just me. Seems pretty unfair for the customer to be held fully accountable for something like this. read more
