VALLEY TATTOO SLIDING SCALE POLICY
This privilege-based sliding scale model was adapted from Nasrene Kordani LMT, Little Red Bird Botanicals, and Pronia Coaching.
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Why Sliding Scale?
Before discussing the actual cost of services, Iβd like to let you know what sliding scale means to me. My personal moral and ethical compass includes challenging classist and capitalistic structures that are deeply ingrained in our society. A sliding scale rate of payment for services is one small way to take into account for the layered opportunities and oppressions we all encounter. This is also geared toward economic justice on a personal and local level. Please take into account the factors below when considering your budget; I will not quiz you or ask you to prove anything, I trust you to have authority of your own complicated needs.
Other things to consider:
When I pay more, I know that I am helping the artist support themselves. When I pay in the middle, I know I am helping the artist cover costs. And when I pay at the bottom, I know I am letting my community hold me and support me. All of these are acceptable ways of participating. I recognize that some folks may not be able to afford the low end of the scale. Please let me know and we can work something out.
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Scale range- $175-250 per hour. I ask for your ideal budget so I can design a tattoo for you that reflects what you can afford & want to pay- the final cost of your tattoo will, ideally, not exceed your stated βideal budgetβ unless I discuss otherwise with you (ie, changes in detail level, size, placement to alter the cost.) Freehand work is less predictable- Throughout the the process, I will verbally check in about the level of completion desired to make sure not to confront you with a final price that is significantly outside of your preferred price range.
For freehand work, I also charge an additional flat rate of $150 for the time it takes to draw on your design before tattooing- so the drawing time is not included into the hourly tattooing time.
Consider paying less on the scale if you:
β’ are a person who experiences racism directed at you, and/or via systemic oppression
β’ identify as Black, Indigenous, First Nations, and/or a person of color
β’ are transgender and experience trans related discrimination and/or violence regularly
β’ are gay/queer and experience related discrimination and/or violence regularly
β’ have medical expenses not covered by insurance
β’ have medical expenses, been denied work, or experience discrimination related to ableism
β’ are eligible for public assistance
β’ have immigration-related expenses
β’ are a sex worker who experiences occupational discrimination (personal and/or legislative)
β’ are an unpaid community organizer
β’ are a returning citizen who has been denied work due to incarceration history
β’ are supporting children or have other dependents
β’ are an elder with limited financial support
Consider paying more on the scale if you:
β’ own the home you live in
β’ have investments, retirement accounts, or inherited money
β’ travel recreationally, or are traveling out of state for this tattoo
β’ have access to family money and resources in times of need
β’ work part time by choice
β’ have a relatively high degree of earning power due to level of education, gender privilege, racial privilege, class background, etc. Even if you are not currently exercising your earning power, I ask you to recognize this as a choice.