Question 1

Do you take walk-ins?

Accepted Answer

YES! The artist accepts walk-ins first come first serve; around scheduled appointments. However, as a very small shop in a high traffic tourist destination, our artist  stays VERY busy year-round and we ALWAYS  recommend booking an appointment 2-3 months in advance to guarantee availability while in town for your vacation.

Question 2

How do I make an appointment?

Accepted Answer

To ensure we value everyone's time, we have streamlined our booking procedures. All appointments are scheduled exclusively through the designated form. When filling out the form, please provide us with as many details as possible, keeping in mind that it will serve as your "consultation";  and your design will be based solely on the images and descriptions you provide. Therefore, it's crucial that you provide us with as much information/ as many details as possible. Once we receive and review your request, we will touch base via email with the next steps in the booking process. (PLEASE BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR JUNK/SPAM FOLDERS)*Please note that a deposit is REQUIRED for an appointment to be placed on the books. We will provide information on how to make a deposit once the design has been approved and is ready to be scheduled.*** No deposit - No appointment- No appointment - No tattoo ***

Question 3

How much will my tattoo be?

Accepted Answer

EVERY tattoo starts at our shop minimum of $100 (approx 1" x 1" ) basic location/no color and goes up from there based on many variables such as but not limited to: size/style/location/etc. Once you and the artist agree on all of the final details AT the scheduled appointment, the design will be placed on the grid, which will determine the final cost. This is to keep things fair and ensure uniform pricing for all clients. Due to the complex nature of our work and the many variables involved such as size, location, style, client individuality, last-minute changes, etc., we CANNOT give you a price range, rough estimate, guestimate, approximate, ballpark figure, roundabout, general idea or whatever you want to call it... for a tattoo over the phone or email.

Question 4

How does the deposit work?

Accepted Answer

A deposit is REQUIRED by each person requesting a tattoo; to secure ALL tattoo appointments and are non-refundable/non-transferable.
Deposits are to secure a time slot and cannot be refunded, transferred, shared, gifted, used for a later date, etc.The deposit amount will be deducted from your total, and your balance will be due AT the appointment prior to starting the procedure.​For multi-session tattoos, the deposit will be held as payment towards the last hour of the last session of the tattoo.

Deposits will be forfeited in full in the case of:​
I do not appear for a tattoo appointment;I cancel or attempt to reschedule an appointment;I arrive more than 15 minutes late to a tattoo appointment;I arrive at a tattoo appointment without government-issued identification;I arrive under the influence of drugs/alcohol.

***No design changes will be made after paying a deposit, so again, please be sure to communicate your design details as effectively as possible before securing an appointment***

Upon paying a deposit you acknowledge that you have communicated your final tattoo design idea as thoroughly as possible and have reviewed the artist’s prior works to decide that the artist can implement your idea to your satisfaction. No drawings or drafts are emailed or otherwise previewed to clients before their scheduled appointment time. Please understand that creating a tattoo design based on a client’s concept is subjective and that variations may exist between your concept and the finished design. This is why we encourage you to provide us with as many details as possible when requesting an appointment. 
If the finished design is not to your liking at the appointment, minor changes can be made at the artist’s discretion. However, substantial changes to the design or the request for an entirely new drawing or draft will require a new deposit/new appointment date or time, and the original deposit will be forfeited as payment for the artist’s drawing time.​​

* Because Covid-19 and its consequences are no longer unforeseen, our deposit policy is in FULL execution as of Jan 2022. If at any point there are government orders for a shutdown, all clients on the schedule with paid deposits will be notified individually by email or phone to discuss options/refunds

Question 5

Do you do piercings or sell body jewelry?

Accepted Answer

No, we are strictly a tattoo shop... offering ONLY good, solid tattoos.

Question 6

Can I use numbing cream?

Accepted Answer

Smokies Tattoo does not recommend the use of ANY numbing agents so we cannot/do not guarantee the end result will be satisfactory. Please understand that the use of any type/style of numbing agents may interfere/affect/alter the tattooing process. As these types of products restrict the flow of blood to the skin (to desensitize) the skin becomes “rubbery”. Therefore, the tattooer must apply unnecessary pressure to push the needle enough, which causes trauma to the skin and an excess of pigment (ink) to be applied and a MUCH rougher healing process.

Question 7

How old do I have to be to get a tattoo?

Accepted Answer

In the state of Tennessee (per § 62-38-211), you must be at least 18 years old and present a valid government-issued photo ID for proof. We do not allow ANY minors in the shop at any time.

Question 8

Do you tattoo hands/face/feet?

Accepted Answer

Due to the many variables, we do not recommend or guarantee tattoos on the hand/fingers/wrist; neck/face OR ankles/feet/toes. We believe part of being in a professional trade and respecting the craft is educating our clients and helping them make good tattoo decisions. Along with various issues such as rapid exfoliation, frequent hand washing, being in constant contact with something (socks, shoes, pants), etc.. these areas do not heal like other body parts and generally tend to be sensitive/prolonged. These areas are also known to "fall out" quickly and typically require a touch-up, for which we charge full price. We understand that some clients may still want this placement despite any concerns. We are more than happy to accommodate the request. However, we always try to be as transparent as possible beforehand to ensure there are no shortcomings or misunderstandings either prior to scheduling in or when you see the healed tattoo for many years to come.

Question 9

Can my kid(s) hang in the shop while I get tattooed?

Accepted Answer

We respectfully ask that you DO NOT bring children or groups of guests with you to your appointment. We are a very small shop, with little extra room; please limit your guests to one at a time. We want this experience to be focused completely on you and your new artwork! 
We'd be happy to make suggestions for activities in the area for those clients with families/friends looking for something to do while you are here - Gatlinburg offers a lot to explore, and we know you'll all have a great time! There is a trolley service available throughout the immediate area and a stop right in front of the shop! (Blue and Yellow Route) 
We know vacations are busy, and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule if possible.

Question 10

Do you offer cover-ups/ reworks of old tattoos?

Accepted Answer

No, as a shop policy, we do not offer cover-up or reworking of tattoos created by other artists. We strongly recommend seeking out an artist close to your home for these types of services, as they typically require several sessions and touch-ups that our busy schedule simply does not allow for. Our shop specializes in crafting trinket/souvenir-style tattoos; catering mainly to vacationing clients.

Question 11

Where are you located in Gatlinburg?

Accepted Answer

376 E Parkway Gatlinburg, TN 37738

From Downtown Gatlinburg (1/2 mile): Keep right (northeast) at Light 3 (E Parkway). Traveling about 1/2 mile; you'll see us on the right side of the street. 
Across from Pizzeria of Gatlinburg and next door to Fox Place Salon.

From Pigeon Forge (7.3 miles): Head southeast on US-441 S/TN-71 S/Parkway. Follow the signs for Gatlinburg as you continue along the Parkway about 7 miles. Turn left at Light #3. Traveling about 1/2 mile; you'll see us on the right side of the street. 
Across from Pizzeria of Gatlinburg and next door to Fox Place Salon.

You can also reach us by Gatlinburg's Free Trolley on the Blue and Yellow Routes

Question 12

Do you have parking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we have free on-site parking. For the safety of our clients and artists alike, our facilities, both inside and out, are also well-lit with audio and video monitoring 24 hours a day.

Question 13

I forgot to pick up my t-shirt/hoodie on the way out, can I purchase these online?

Accepted Answer

You sure can 😀 please visit our online store here.

Question 14

Touch-Up Policy

Accepted Answer

All touch-ups MUST be done after healing (2-3 weeks) AND no later than 90 days from the date of the original application. 
Beyond that, it’s considered a new tattoo and you can get it “touched up” when you book your next paid tattoo appointment.  
We charge full price on all touch-ups on: hand/fingers/wrist/neck/face/ankles/feet/toes.

At World Famous Smokies Tattoo, we uphold the utmost standards of cleanliness throughout all of our tattoo procedures. It is crucial to acknowledge that the client maintains complete responsibility for their aftercare.

REMEMBER: The healing process is half the work!

Once leaving the studio the tattoo will be an open wound that you are responsible for. Tattoos can take between 3-6 weeks to heal. 
During this time, how you treat your tattoo is fully out of the control of the artist. Any reactions that may occur as the result of lax aftercare or poor hygiene are the client's responsibility. Aftercare instructions are given to the client before leaving the studio (on the back of your car decal) & detailed support is available on our website or by email thereafter if needed.

IF your tattoo requires a touch-up, it will be determined once it’s fully healed, BY the artist, once contacted with a current image of the tattoo. A deposit is required to secure ALL appointments. Deposits are collected to secure the artist's time and will be refunded back to you on the day of the appointment. IF for any reason you do not attend the appointment the deposit will be forfeited in full, and kept as compensation to the artist for the missed appointment.  Not all tattoos NEED a touch-up, especially if cared for during the healing process. 
We can tell if a tattoo is improperly cared for, and we will charge FULL price for a touch-up in these circumstances.

SMOKIES TATTOO

Welcome to the

BEST LIL' TATTOO SHOP
in
GATLINBURG TN

BOOKING / FAQ