Tattoos and your career
Hi guys,
I have been considering getting a small tattoo on my right shoulder for a while now, and close friends have asked me how it would affect my career etc.
This is a very important question. My agent is not in the least stressed about it but from you guys, who like me, have to actually face the CDs and directors, can you give me any thoughts?
thanks
Personally I would not bother Blake ,but its up to the individual.
I have nothing against them but I know actors who I have worked with on stage and they have spent many times in make-up trying to cover them for a show .
People who always get cast in the gangster roles are probably free to have tattoos.
But you... I think it could play against you even though tattoos can be covered by make up.
Unless you are desperate to have it, it would probably be wise not to.
But at the end of the day, it's a very personal decision, knowing that one day you may lose a job because of it.
There are many decisions that we make that could cost us a job, a change of haircut, location etc... getting a small tattoos doesn't exactly carry a high risk.
Tricky
I guess the question you really have to ask yourself is " am I passionate enough about having this tattoo that I wouldn't feel negative if in the future it could potentially lose me work ?"
Its all very well feeling rubbish when we lose a part " we were perfect for!!" but to know that a missed part could be down to a choice of our own rather than just not having the right skills could have a much bigger negative impact on moods and outlook.
x
I debated the same thing with myself for ages!
I think it really depends on how big it is and where it is. If it's something and somewhere you can easily cover up, (or won't take a huge amount of make-up if you're doing it that way), then I say do it.
I finally gave in a few months ago, and I love mine- and as it's not permanently on display, if I don't want people to know it's there I don't show them.
x
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Go ahead mate and have the tattoo, it's not as if you are going for a serious bout of body art. A little tattoo on your shoulder ( where I have mine) is easily covered and not a problem.
I really don't think this will affect your casting especially as if you say it is small which means it can be covered up.
If you said you were going to get a Sleeve I think this would be a valid concern.
What were you thinking of getting?
:)
Thanks guys,
each and everyone of you made valid points. It would be a small one on my right deltoid... above the sleeve where no one can see it unless I wear a crew cut t shirt.
I also agree that unless you get a major piece of body art then its pretty obvious but proba a small one wont matter that much.
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I have a small one, somewhere only someone I loved would get to see it....even then only from a certain angle...
I find the nose stud harder to get past casting people than the tattoo. So I guess I wont be appearing in any period dramas....Although it comes out and leaves no visable mark.
Andie x
go for it Blake. its on your shoulder, unless you pose topless- no-one will see it but you!
re: the nose stud, its amazing how many parts I've not got because of my earring! you know people, it does come out! lol
I have 2 tatts, one on my foot and 1 on my shoulder. And its has never stopped me getting jobs.
It they want you to play a part, a small thing like a tattoo wouldn't put them off, there are some really good make up's to cover up if needed.
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Hasn't stopped Helen Mirren being cast!
Amanda,
does she have a tatoo????
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She has a little tat on her hand between her thumb and forefinger.
Look, I am a tattoo "Virgin" and have been looking for a good place- where is the best value for money and the cheapest?
Hi Blake,
I have two words - Angelina Jolie, she is one of the most heavily tattooed actors out there, and she gets work that doesn't incorporate the tatts.
I would have said the opposite to Natalie, I think the filler needle hurts more!
The best place I know of is "New Wave" in Muswell Hill, amazing workmanship and has been recommended to me by alot of people, they are pretty exclusive and get booked out for months in advance but I think they were totally worth it, I love my tatt!
Sorry dude,
you have to now tell the rest of the story- what happened in Prague.. go on- tell the truth and shame the devil. hahahahahahaha
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hi
i'm not dame helen, or angelina jolie but i have a bright tattoo on my left wrist very noticable......until i cover it with a watch.
i have found a few directors who've had a problem with it but by that point i'm already cast so its too late and once i show them its easy to cover they calm down very quickly.
unless its a role where they could be tattood i would go into a casting covering it up, dont GIVE them a reason to chose someone else over you.
but thats my opinion.
godd luck
p.s (without sounding mumsy too much) remember a tattoo is for life ive had mine 6 yrs and still love it but am reminded how grateful i am i do love it, i'd be screwed otherwise!
Speaking practically, the biggest reason I can think that having a tattoo might work against you is the time needed to cover it up. (So smaller would be better).
Ben Affleck apparently wishes he never got his tattoos because they take so long to cover up with make up. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a consideration in a producer/directors mind - time is money after all.
Funnily enough the reverse is also true! I was on a shoot where the makeup department hadn't put tattoos on to one of the main actors (which he was supposed to have). Half an hours worth of filming wasted!
i have 2 tatoos one on my bum and one on my lower inner hip(under my pants couldnt thonk of a nicer way to say it )the one om my but got me a photo shoot 4 french knickers an i would never be happy getting the other one out,but then again it depends what roles you want i dont think id get cast wit love an hate on my hands cos it wouldnt look right mine look good on me and i play parts that look like me(well they do when i play them)all im trying to say is i wouldnt get cast as a school girl any more if i have a naked lady all over my arm cos school girls wouldnt have that.i think its just acase of knowing your market
Lu
I think a small tattoo is often pretty small, and doesn't make a great deal of difference to the make-up department. Equally, if you aren't considering taking your shirt off on a regular basis, then having it on the shoulder is probably somewhere it's unlikely to be seen very often. Also, the taboo that might have existed about this sort of thing 40 years ago is pretty dead and done with now; lots of people have tatoos, across all sorts of demographics, and they are not restricted to folks who have served 15 years in the Merchant Marine or are members of a Hell's Angel chapter - you could (you know) even be cast as -gasp!-an ordinary young man who happens to have a tattoo!
Just a thought.
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