A shot in the arm
Anne Arundel tattoo shops are seeing a growth in business since the lockdown, adjust to influx and COVID-19
The pandemic has caused a surge in business for tattoo shops, which have adjusted to more first-time clients, online paperwork and COVID-19 protocols. Scott James, manager of Lucky Bird Tattoo in Annapolis, said they have been fortunate to have been busy before and after the pandemic. Tattoo shops in Anne Arundel County were able to reopen in June 2020.
He believes more people working from home gives them time to step out and make an appointment and some people have more income to get tattoos, which has caused a rise in the tattooing industry.
“Sitting around a lot and having more time to look at tattoos has been a good recipe for the uptick. It was a little stressful at first opening back up with not being used to wearing a mask while working and the phone ringing nonstop while doing tattoos and piercing nonstop.” — Justin Lahdelma, owner of Exotic Pleasures Tattoo shop
“I think people want to feel a sense of norm and I have noticed an influx,” James said.
He said they had to relearn how to operate to keep staff and clients feeling safe.
“Before the pandemic, it would be a slew of people coming in and touching every surface, now it is how do we stay busy and protected,” James said. “We try to not do too many clients in one day, so the artist doesn’t feel overwhelmed and to minimize faceto-face contact.”
Lucky Bird Tattoo is not allowing guests to accompany clients while getting tattooed or pierced unless they are a minor. They also went back to requiring masks to be worn by clients and artists while in the shop. Friday’s are walk-in days, so people don’t have to wait months for smaller tattoos,
James said. On Aug. 20, the shop had a line of 15 people waiting to get a walk-in tattoo.
During the pandemic, Sydney Contrino started working at the tattoo shop and can’t remember a dull moment since its opening. She said they had three months of backlogged appointments and a lot of people who were excited to get services again after the shutdown.
Contrino said a lot of people have been wanting septum and oral piercing, which they can’t offer currently due to COVID-19.
“It is exciting to have people in the shop again and we do want to help people achieve their body modification goals in a timely
manner while keeping people safe,” Contrino said.
James said that going virtual is starting to feel normal to the shop with consultations and waivers being through email or zoom.
“We have been trying to get back to more fun ideas for the artist, since the increase in demand for tattoos and we have felt some guys getting burnt out,” James said. “We are doing scheduled flash tattoo days and having people pick from their designs to make it more fun.”
Lucky Bird is looking forward to releasing more merch designed by the artist and having an art