‘Unqualified’ backyard tattooists ‘move in’ as professionals left in lockdown limbo
Unqualified backyard tattooists are attracting clients on Gumtree while professional studios struggle during lockdown, Melbourne tattoo artists say, sparking calls for a reopening of “the forgotten industry”.
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Struggling Melbourne tattoo artists forced to cease operations during lockdown say “unqualified” backyard tattooists are “moving in” and putting clients health at risk.
Preston tattoo artist Joey Attard said backyard tattooists were taking advantage of clients seeking body art due to professional studios being shut.
“Advertisements are popping up all over Gumtree and social media,” he said.
“It’s not right — they’re not trained in cross-contamination — they’re just there to make a quick buck while legitimate studio owners are all left to struggle.”
The warning comes as a change.org petition urged the Premier to lift restrictions on tattoo studios.
It claimed the closure of professional studios opened up a “plethora of unqualified, untrained and outright dangerous acts” from people who claim to be tattoo artists operating in backyards.
More than 1000 people have signed the petition to date.
“We’re not bad people, we have families to support — we just want an opportunity to be heard, reopen and prove we can do business while still adhering to health advice,” Mr Attard said.
Daniel Andrews yesterday revealed up to five non-household guests would be permitted to gather indoors, while outdoor gatherings of more than 10 would be allowed from midnight tonight.
But the Premier was firm on Victorians continuing to work from home.
King of Hearts Tattoo Studio owner Jess Fox said her Mill Park business, prohibited from reopening, was no different to a hair salon or barber exempt from current restrictions.
“Tattoo artists are all struggling right now — we can’t change our businesses like others can, there is no such thing as a mobile or takeaway tattoo,” she said.
“We’re really the forgotten industry right now — we don’t get paid if we don’t have clients — just let us reopen.”
Ms Fox said her Childs Rd studio had been practising anti-contamination “for years” and adhering to social distancing would “not be a problem”.
“All surfaces are disinfected prior and post client with viraclean which is a hard surface disinfectant proven to be effective against Candida Albicans, hepatitis, Influenza and SARS,” she said.
“We can do temperature readings, we can ask customers COVID-19 related questions and act accordingly and we can limit how many people inside the studio at a time.
“We are not rated highly with politicians and the like but what they don’t know is that we are essential — just the other day a customer contacted us wanting to get a tattoo in memory of her mother who just died — she just wanted some help to grieve and we couldn’t even do that.”
The easing of restrictions will be in place until 11.59pm on May 31.
Mr Andrews said the changes were for the “greater good” of the state and the health of all Victorians.
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