How an oversaturated tattoo market is hurting some professional Montreal artists

MONTREAL - Montreal tattoo artists say the abundance of options is hurting their businesses. Many, they say, entered the profession during the coronavirus pandemic, often with little training.

“This is the first time in 12 years that I’ve seen a downturn like this.” – Tattoo artist

Hans Deslauriers, a Montreal tattoo artist who has been tattooing professionally for more than a decade, says he’s had to turn to painting in addition to his two-day tattooing week to make up for the lack of clients and pay the bills. He used to tattoo six days a week, but he says he would have gotten depressed if he had continued to rely on that.

For the first time in his career, artists are facing a serious downturn, he says.

Montreal is often considered one of the best destinations to get a tattoo. The city attracts some of the best artists in the country, and there are plenty of studios to choose from. But some tattooists are finding that there are too many artists and not enough skin for everyone. In a saturated tattoo market, the rising costs of running a business have forced some professionals to adapt or even quit.

“I’ve seen people who have been in the industry for years leave because it’s no longer profitable,” says Deslauriers.

David Cote, who goes by the name David Piot and has been tattooing for 14 years, says the tattoo industry was booming just before the world shut down. The pandemic has brought everyone’s lives to a standstill, but it’s also given people a chance to try new hobbies — baking, crocheting, gardening. Some, he says, have also turned to tattooing.

“It [tattooing] became a little more of a profession for them, and it made them rethink their life choices, like, ‘Am I really happy at work? Do I think I could quit my job to tattoo full-time?’”

In Quebec, the tattoo industry is unregulated. There are no formal training, barriers to purchasing equipment or specific health regulations, although some shops have individual requirements.

This wave of new artists was initially beneficial, as there was no shortage of people looking for tattoos after the quarantine ended. But after a few years, demand began to wane. People got their tattoos done, and the rising cost of living discouraged people from making these purchases.

“Demand and supply are almost equal,” says Piot. “There are too many artists.”

Deslorier says increased competition isn’t the only factor driving this shift. The cost of living has risen significantly. In Montreal, asking rents have increased by almost 71% since 2019.

“Tattoos are definitely a luxury,” says Deslorier. “So if you have to cut back on one thing, it’s tattoos.”

Source