Where are you located?
We can be found at 156 Hardgrave Rd, West End QLD. A short 10 minute walk from the centre of West End and an easy drive/bus from the CBD and Southbank. In fact, bus route #199 goes right through the centre of town, stops a handy 50 metres from our front door, and runs approximately every 10 mins. What more could you want?

I hate catching public transport. Is there parking available at the studio?
There’s plenty of free street parking around the studio and you’ll usually have no troubles finding something within a block or two. Keep in mind however that we are not the local council, parking inspectors nor law enforcement. We can’t and don’t guarantee you a park within a certain distance of the studio. West End is a very busy area, increasingly more so every day, so please allow a little extra time to find parking and make your way to your appointment.

What are the shop hours?
Our opening hours are 10am to 5pm, Tuesday through Saturday and there’s always someone available to talk to you about your tattoo ideas during these times. The first and last hours of the day can get a little busy however, as we get clients ready for the first sessions of the day and finalise the last, so after 12 noon and before 5pm are ideal times to talk over all aspects of your tattoo.

How old do you have to be to get tattooed?
You must be at least 18 years of age. Valid ID (license, passport etc) is required to get tattooed.

I’m not 18 yet but my mum said it’s ok. Will you tattoo me if she gives consent?
Nope, sorry. We can only tattoo you if you’re 18 or over. Full stop. Period. We will however tattoo your mum.

Do you guys do any piercing?
None at all. We are a tattoo studio only.

My jewellery has fallen out though . Can’t you guys just help me put it back in?
Hmmm…no, we’re a tattoo studio. You’ll need to see a professional piercer for such a task.

What’s the minimum price for a tattoo?
The studio minimum is $150.

How do you price tattoos?
We price based on the piece being tattooed. The studio minimum is $150. Everything starts there and goes up depending on size, style, location and detail. Larger work of 5 or more hours in total, including pieces requiring multiple sessions are booked and priced at either an hourly rate, or as half/full day sessions,  STARTING AT $600 and $1000 respectively, however this is dependent on the parameters of the work and the individual artists’ rate.

Smaller work will be quoted by the counter staff in consultation with the tattooists, and are NOT priced at an hourly rate. All sessions are ultimately priced on an individual basis on the day of the tattoo in order to take into consideration any changes to design/size/location/detail etc. This guide however, will give you an idea of what to expect.

Do you have to have an appointment to get tattooed?
We work by appointment but gladly accept walk-ins if our schedule allows. If you don’t have an appointment we do recommend calling ahead to check availability. If you are seeking larger work, we always start with an initial consultation prior to the date of the tattoo in order to fully establish design requirements, location, restrictions etc.

How do I make an appointment?
To book an appointment with any of our artists, we prefer you to call, email, or visit the studio first to discuss the work with our counter staff. They’ll be able to advise you of suitability/availability of artists, and walk you through the initial stages of the tattoo design process.  It’s at this point that we’ll book a consultation/tattoo with the relevant tattooist.

If it’s difficult for you to drop past to chat, or maybe you just don’t really like people that much, feel free to complete our Enquiry Form and our bookings manager will contact you ASAP to book a consult and/or tattoo appointments.

I want my whole back tattooed and know what I want, can I come in today and get it started?
No. Larger pieces require careful consideration, thought and design on the part of the tattooist and it’s just not possible to start large scale work on a client without proper consultation and appropriate time to design and draw the piece.

My mate has drawn up a design for me, it looks bloody awesome. Can you tattoo it for me?
The majority of work done by our tattooists is drawn by them for the client. We can certainly have a look at your design to evaluate its suitability for tattooing but can’t promise we’ll be able to tattoo the design exactly as it’s drawn. Generally in these instances, our tattooists will look at using the original piece of art as a starting reference point and draw you a custom piece to tattoo.

I work most days and it’s hard for me to get to the studio during opening hours. Can I just book online?
While we do prefer to talk to you in person at the studio about your tattoo ideas, it is possible to book consults and in some cases tattoo appointments online. Simply complete the Enquiry Form or email us with a detailed written description of what you’re after, including style, desired size and location, preferred artists, as well as reference images that help illustrate what sort of work you’d like. Please note however that we do NOT make any bookings or give quotes of any kind via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social media platforms.

I sent an email/inquiry last night and still haven’t heard back. Are you ignoring me? Why don’t you like me? I like me?
No. We’re a very busy studio and receive a large number of emails and messages all day, every day. We aim to reply to each within 24hrs of receiving but we’re only human and every now and then have other work that needs to be done (crazy, but true). Please be patient. Emails are generally a time consuming method of communicating. If you want more immediate attention, give us a buzz or come into the studio and talk to us in person. Also, please allow for a delay if you email during our closing times (IE: if you email us on Saturday night, it may not be read until we open the studio again the following Tuesday).

…so anyway,  I sent you a message on Facebook and haven’t heard back? What gives bro?
More than possible. Facebook and Instagram are great ways for us to show you our work and keep you involved in the process of getting tattooed. They’re not, however, where we spend our day. It’s quite likely that any message sent on Facebook may simply be missed by our very busy staff or get buried under an avalanche of comment/like notifications, posts to timelines, shares etc. We simply don’t have the time to sit and check social media all day every day.

I want to get tattooed by a specific artist. Will they answer my emails personally?
No. All requests are filtered through the studio manager who will liaise with each artist until a job has been fully booked. If our tattooists answered all email enquiries they’d be lucky to start a single tattoo each day. It’s not that they don’t like you, they’d just rather be tattooing than typing.

How can I pay my deposit?
We accept cash, credit/debit card and eftpos payments when in the studio, or eftpos payments by phone. If you can’t get in to see us, we do accept online PayPal transactions. Contact the studio staff for details.

Deposit? Whad’ya mean? I’m good for it brah!
To make any bookings beyond the initial consult we require a deposit to set up and hold the appointment. The price of the deposit will depend on the size and design requirements of the piece being tattooed. A small piece will require $100 deposit (our minimum deposit), a half day $250, and a full day will require $250-$500. This deposit amount comes off the total price of the tattoo and is held until the final session. A great deal of work goes into setting up and preparing for an appointment. Taking a deposit gives us security to begin research and prep work and gives us more assurance that a client is serious.

If I cancel my appointment or change my mind, can I just get my deposit back?
If you can’t make your appointment we require at least 2 trading days notice by phone, email, in person or you will forfeit the deposit. If you don’t show up for your appointment, you forfeit the deposit. If you cancel with more than 2 trading days notice, we can roll the deposit over to a new appointment time. Please give us as much notice as possible if you need to cancel. Please note that we’re unable to accept cancellations by Facebook or via messages left on our service outside of hours.

I’ve already had my consultation but have changed my idea. Can I just come in on the day and get the new design done?
If you change your idea, you need to contact the studio as far in advance as possible. It takes a lot of time and work to prepare for a tattoo and it’s possible that either the tattooist won’t be able to get the new idea ready at such short notice, the tattooist doesn’t work in the style you’ve now chosen or of course, the new idea simply won’t work. Yep, it’s true, not everything works.

How do I look after my tattoo?
We’ll provide you with complete aftercare advice on the day of your appointment. You can view the same advice online here at any time. The more well versed you are and the more serious you are about looking after your tattoo, the better it will heal and last.

I’ve heard tattoos can be removed using laser? Does that mean if I get sick of my tattoo, I can just have it removed?
While laser tattoo removal is now available readily across Brisbane and throughout Australia, in NO WAY do we treat our tattooing as anything other than permanent. We highly recommend being very certain about getting your tattoo before proceeding. Laser should not be viewed as a way to ease the decision making process for clients or infer that a tattoo is a temporary bit of fun. We do however, now offer laser tattoo removal and lightening through The Laser Company, if that’s the path you wish to take. RIP.

Do your artists do coverups?
Absolutely. We will, of course, need to see your existing tattoo before we can advise you of the best approach to achieve your desired outcome. Some tattoos can be covered up quite simply, while others may need to be lightened first.

Can you rework/finish my old tattoo?
Possibly. We’re often very limited in what we can do with an existing tattoo, whether it be from a design perspective, or due to poor condition. We’ll need to see exactly what you have before we can say yes or no. If we feel we’re unable to make it a better tattoo, we’ll certainly let you know and may choose not to take on the job.

Can I bring my child into the studio?
Children are more than welcome at the studio, but are not permitted to come with you into the work areas. We also do not offer baby sitting or child care. Looking after 10 tattooists is basically the same thing.

Will you tattoo my neck?
As a general rule, we won’t tattoo your neck, hands or face unless you are VERY heavily tattooed already and no, those few pieces of script on your left arm do not constitute “heavily tattooed”.

Hey you don’t need to worry, like I fully know I want my face tattooed and don’t care about jobs and shit like that. FTW!!
Awesome. We respect your right to have any part of your body tattooed with whatever you want tattooed there and ask that you respect our right to choose what we tattoo and where.

What about just on the inside of my little finger or like maybe under my foot or like inside my lip?
We aim to only do tattoos that will hold up well over time. Some areas of the body simply won’t allow that and for that reason most of our artists choose not to tattoo them. In some instances, exceptions are made and will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. Feel free to request it but please don’t be offended or surprised if we choose not to take on a job of this nature.

What about all white tattoos?
For much the same reason, most of our artists choose not to do all white tattoos. Again, feel free to talk to our counter staff about your ideas but please understand that your job may not be undertaken.

So what about that fully sick UV ink then?
Nope. That one’s a definite. Nobody here at the studio will tattoo you using UV ink.

Sheesh, all these rules! How about vegan inks?
Now we’re getting somewhere. We can certainly accommodate your request for vegan inks and in fact a large amount of the ink used at the studio contains no animal products. You will need to understand however that in some instances the inks required for a particular job or chosen by your tattooist as those that will achieve the best result may not be guaranteed vegan by your artist and they may choose to pass on the job rather than compromise the confidence in their work by using alternatives. A good number of our tattooists and staff are vego/vegan and this is an area of tattooing they have had to research intensively for themselves and come to their own ethical conclusions with regards to. Feel free to discuss it with them to help form your own.

OK, so I want to get a tattoo, but it has to be super tiny? Can I get this highly detailed piece done small enough so that nobody can see it with the naked eye?
Tattoos have to be large enough to work and hold up well over time. Each design will require a different minimum size depending on many factors such as placement, detail, colours and most importantly, design. We can advise you on the smallest each piece can be tattooed in order to age well with you. What we aim to do is give each design and hence, each tattoo the space and placement on the body that it requires to look good forever.

Does it hurt?
Yep, although some parts of the body will be more painful than others. First timers often find the experience less painful than they expected.

Can my friends come in and hold my hand?
Normally this would be a yes but due to current Covid-19 guidelines we have had to put in some new rules. If you do require an assistance person/animal we are more than happy to accommodate. We don’t bite, hard.

I’m from out of town, how can I get tattooed?
If you’re not local to Brisbane, we’re happy to facilitate the tattoo process by conducting initial discussions as well as all consults via email. Each person’s circumstances are different though, so the best thing to do is just contact the studio and let us walk you through what will be required for yours. For any firm tattoo bookings to be made, please note that we do require a deposit. Non-locals can send payment via PayPal.

How long is the waiting period?
Anything from one hour to 6 months. Waiting periods vary greatly depending on the tattooist, the time of the year, the size of the tattoo, preparation required etc. We’ll do our utmost to book your appointments as close to your desired schedule as possible.

Do you guys have any merch available? I saw this bloke wearing a sick Westside shirt at the pub.
Heaps!!! Our tattooists have t-shirts, limited edition prints, sketchbooks, posters, flash sets and more available both in store, and online via our BigCartel merch store. If you can’t make it into the studio to check everything out, head to our webstore and go HAM!!!

What about vouchers? I forgot the missus’s birthday is tomorrow!
Yep, absolutely. They can be purchased in store or online at our webstore.

What’s the best dollar figure to add to a gift voucher?
There’s no minimum or maximum dollar figure that a voucher can be purchased at but as a general guide for those who aren’t sure what to buy the minimum deposit that any client will be required to leave to book a tattoo appointment is $150 and the minimum cost of any tattoo regardless of design/size is also $150, so that is often a good dollar figure to go with. Of course, if you’re feeling generous, go HAM!!!

You guys will tattoo any designs, right?
We cover a wide range of tattoo, art and design styles at Westside but if there’s something we think simply won’t work as a tattoo, we’ll tell you.

If I love a particular tattooists work and have a design in mind that’s not the style they usually work in, will they tattoo it for me?
It will depend on what you have. Tattooing in different styles is about so much more than just laying out a different design on the skin. Our artists want to make sure you are getting the best possible tattoo in the style you’re after and if they don’t believe they’re the person best suited for a particular piece, they’ll tell you. Each tattooist can and does, work outside their areas of specialty however, so don’t be afraid to ask. We’ll evaluate each request on it’s particular parameters and merits.

I saw a wicked cool tattoo on the internet and want the exact same tattoo. Can you do it for me?
The only tattoos we reproduce exactly are classic flash pieces that were drawn and sold for that purpose (eg: Sailor Jerry, Amund Dietzel, Bert Grimm etc.). In all other circumstances our tattooists will use the piece as a starting reference point only and design you a tattoo based on it. Generally that means it will contain elements of the work you brought in, but will NOT be the same tattoo. That’s a good thing by the way.

I’m booked in for multiple sessions to finish my tattoo. How do I pay for it?
Each session needs to be paid for on the day. We accept cash and card for the outstanding amount of each session. There are several ATM machines nearby but we recommend withdrawing money before you come to the studio. The ATMs mentioned all have transaction limits set that may require you to withdraw multiple amounts in order to pay for your session and each transaction will of course incur an ATM/bank fee. If you’re unsure of the cost of each session, ask the counter staff and they’ll be able to give you an idea of what to expect. Your deposit is retained until the final session, at which time it comes off the cost of that day’s work.

Can’t I just pay for the tattoo at the end of the job? That’s how I usually pay for stuff?
No. All sessions must be paid for on the day.

Can I come in and have the design temporarily drawn on?
We don’t offer any kind of service to provide temporary tattoo designs.

Can I see the artwork a week or two before the tattoo?
Due to an extremely busy working schedule, we’re unable to provide final artwork prior to the session. With proper consultation, your tattooist will make sure they have everything ready for you on the day.