Whos Better? Snakebite or Celestial Ring?

Rich_Why

Price wise I think snakebite might be like 5 euro less and hour, but where as the better artists. I'm starting to make my mind up on the tattoo I want and its looking like it will take about 10 hours or so. Which one do you guys recommend I go to?

Shelli

Depends on the style of the tattoo, what are you thinking of?

Oh and as far as I know all the different artists have different rates.

garthv

I wouldnt be too keen on the tattoo artists in Celestial Ring to be honest,
Ive seen the pictures they hang up outside the place and some of them look awful, great place to get pierced though!

Couldn't tell you about Snakebite

Shelli

Celestial ring has some fantastic artists, the stuff in the window is old. You need to ask to see the artists personal portfolio.

13_adi_13

Not enough info! Give us more details on the style - you need to choose the best artist based on the style of work. Don't tie yourself to any particular studio. Maybe the best guy (or girl) for the job is in one of these studios, maybe they're elsewhere........
BTW Snakebite are 95-100 per hour and Celestial Ring are 100 per hour (but I reckon if you're getting a big piece you'll probably get a better deal!)
Not sure what Garth_V means about the "awful pictures" in CR - are you talking flash or portfolio? And do you mean that they are badly executed pieces or just not to your taste?

freckled fairy

mick in stigmata did a class tattoo for me it took over an hour and it cost 120 euro. it was my first tattoo and he took lots of time with me everyone is amazed at how beautiful and detailed it is even people who dont like tattoos. i hardly bled and i didnt scab just a small bit of peeling a few days later it was healed in a week not sore getting it done or after. . amazing couldnt recommend him enough cathal and wally are supposed to be good too. they have a web site.www.stigmata-tau.com. spotless place. they are in swords co. dublin you should check them out:)

Lorri_L

I have to say I have no experience in Snakebite but I wouldn't go to celestial ring. I had an appointment with one of the artists there and i showed up 5 minutes late. because of traffic. When I went up and asked for him I was told that he had to go home. The guy then walked out of the back of the shop and was really rude to me as if I let him down. W****r!

In his defense though, his work that I saw is amazing!

obrien_pa

freckled fairy wrote:

mick in stigmata did a class tattoo for me it took over an hour and it cost 120 euro. it was my first tattoo and he took lots of time with me everyone is amazed at how beautiful and detailed it is even people who dont like tattoos. i hardly bled and i didnt scab just a small bit of peeling a few days later it was healed in a week not sore getting it done or after. . amazing couldnt recommend him enough cathal and wally are supposed to be good too. they have a web site.www.stigmata-tau.com. spotless place. they are in swords co. dublin you should check them out:)

I'd have to agree with everything freckled fairy said about Stigmata Tau. I've had tattoos done in Bren's, Dragon and Zulu tattoo shops in town - no complaints with any of them..but Cathal and Mick in Swords are two of the best artists I've seen and they are dead sound as well. Their shop is well worth a visit.

Rich_Why

Cheers for all the recommendation guys. I think swords is just to much out of the way. I went into Snakebite yesterday with some pictures of what I'd like done and they told me it will take about 5 to 6 hours at about 90 an hour. Its a kind of Aztec Tribal sleeve, shoudler to wrist, Black-Grey-Red.

obrien_pa

Rich_Why wrote:

Cheers for all the recommendation guys. I think swords is just to much out of the way. I went into Snakebite yesterday with some pictures of what I'd like done and they told me it will take about 5 to 6 hours at about 90 an hour. Its a kind of Aztec Tribal sleeve, shoudler to wrist, Black-Grey-Red.

..That sounds cool. 5-6 hours seems relatively short to get a whole sleeve done though? Is that for the drawing, outline and shading and everything?

Rich_Why

obrien_pa wrote:

..That sounds cool. 5-6 hours seems relatively short to get a whole sleeve done though? Is that for the drawing, outline and shading and everything?

I'm not sure, I'm just quoting what the chap from Snakebite said yesterday. I ****ing can't wait to get it started! Whenever I get the cash together! I'm heading to a couple of festival over the next month as well, so better to wait until their out the way I guess.:(

SaladFingers

Definately Celestial Ring. I get everything done there are they are fantastic and i love them all.
I've only ever visited snakebite briefly though...but really...celestial ring is the only place for me!!

sideFX

Lorri_L wrote:

When I went up and asked for him I was told that he had to go home. The guy then walked out of the back of the shop and was really rude to me as if I let him down. In his defense though, his work that I saw is amazing!

I had a similiar prob. had an apponitment, took a half day from work, went down to be told the chap wasn't in. another bloke was gonna do it but said there was nothing he could do (it was a cover up). tbh he was quite rude and very unhelpful. but in fairness to one of the other blokes he said i'd be better off waiting. anyway, they squeezed me in 2 days later, another half day from work. Have to say it was a great job and i'm glad i waited. all's well that ends well but they had my mobile no. and shoulda really rang me to tell me the first time. i was livid, what a waste of a half day holiday!

Blub2k4

I think you need to follow an artist and not a studio as someone else has already said, the standard in CR is too up and down though, they have some of the best artists but without a doubt they also have some of the worst, if you dont know what you are looking for then the chances of getting stung in CR are better than in Snakebite, but that said I would tend more towards heading to other studios anyway.

13_adi_13

Blub2k4 wrote:

I think you need to follow an artist and not a studio as someone else has already said, the standard in CR is too up and down though, they have some of the best artists but without a doubt they also have some of the worst, if you dont know what you are looking for then the chances of getting stung in CR are better than in Snakebite, but that said I would tend more towards heading to other studios anyway.

Definitely agree that you need to go by artist rather than studio, but don't agree that some of CR's guys are dodge - reckon some are better than the rest, but the studio standard is pretty good, actually don't know of any studio where everyone is on a uniform level - who do you reckon doesn't make the grade there (and elsewhere)?

Blub2k4

13_adi_13 wrote:

Definitely agree that you need to go by artist rather than studio, but don't agree that some of CR's guys are dodge - reckon some are better than the rest, but the studio standard is pretty good, actually don't know of any studio where everyone is on a uniform level - who do you reckon doesn't make the grade there (and elsewhere)?

I dont want to name names, but there was discussion of one of the CR artists (SG branch) here a while back (he's always "at it again"), he couldn't tattoo his way out of a paper bag, and the fact that someone is allowing him to tattoo actually writes the studio off for me cos it means the CR owners dont actuallygive a **** about the standard of their artists and dont care if people get ****ed up.
I've also heard stories here and there but dont know for a fact so I'll keep those ideas to myself too.
I dont want to destroy anyones livelihood and I dont know when I might see them personally on a convention or that, so make your own mind up, I'd rather someone asks about someone specific rather than me picking names to judge.

I dont know how the likes of wally or Mick would work alongside some of the others, cos it's damaging their reps too.

Isadora

Blub2k4 wrote:

I dont want to name names, but there was discussion of one of the CR artists (SG branch) here a while back (he's always "at it again"), he couldn't tattoo his way out of a paper bag

Everybody knows who you're talking about. Anytime CR is mentioned in a posting you get your dig in about Trevor Magee.
Well, despite "not wanting to damage anybody livehood" you'll to glad to hear that due to personel problems Trevor Magee has not worked as a tattooist in CR nor anywhere else since last January.
By the way, he was brought into CR by Mick.

Ninel

Blub2k4 wrote:

I dont want to name names, but there was discussion of one of the CR artists (SG branch) here a while back (he's always "at it again"), he couldn't tattoo his way out of a paper bag, and the fact that someone is allowing him to tattoo actually writes the studio off for me cos it means the CR owners dont actuallygive a **** about the standard of their artists and dont care if people get ****ed up.
I've also heard stories here and there but dont know for a fact so I'll keep those ideas to myself too.
I dont want to destroy anyones livelihood and I dont know when I might see them personally on a convention or that, so make your own mind up, I'd rather someone asks about someone specific rather than me picking names to judge.

I dont know how the likes of wally or Mick would work alongside some of the others, cos it's damaging their reps too.

Hmmm, aren't you contradicting yourself here? I absolutely agree with what you say about recognising artists and their abilities as separate entities from the studio they currently work out of - but you seem to have ignored your own advice and written off this studio because you don't like one of the artists there. You make a lot of valid points, and give out good
(if sometimes sarky )advice to newbies, but you seem very biased about this particular subject.
Obviously, it would be very unfair to start naming names and might result in losing someone their livelihood, but aren't you in effect doing precisely that to all the guys working there by continually beating this particular drum about CR? I really don't think Mick's or Wally's reps've been damaged at all - they are both great artists, and any post I've read about Stigmata is always 100% positive (and rightly so).
Wouldn't you do better to take it up with the artist and/or studio concerned rather than always going on about it in this forum? it gets a bit tired, and detracts from my opinion of an otherwise sound and sensible member....

Blub2k4

Isadora wrote:

Everybody knows who you're talking about. Anytime CR is mentioned in a posting you get your dig in about Trevor Magee.
Well, despite "not wanting to damage anybody livehood" you'll to glad to hear that due to personel problems Trevor Magee has not worked as a tattooist in CR nor anywhere else since last January.
By the way, he was brought into CR by Mick.

Fair enough, he's not there anymore, I'm not the only one who held that opinion.

Rich_Why

Well with all advice/arguments taken on board. Does anyone, after reading the description of what I'm looking for of course, recommend a particular artist who maybe known for their particular skill with tribal tattoos?

13_adi_13

Rich_Why wrote:

Well with all advice/arguments taken on board. Does anyone, after reading the description of what I'm looking for of course, recommend a particular artist who maybe known for their particular skill with tribal tattoos?

I reckon John in CR or Wally in Stigmata are best for that work - whoever you decide,do a show & tell after you've had it done?

With ref to Blub2k4 - yeah, I reckon we need to focus on the positive here - c'mon and post on a new thread 'Show & Tell' about your favourite artist(s)

Rich_Why

Again thanks for the advice, but whenever I get it done (i.e. can afford it) I think the pics are been reserved for the "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" thread. Its the place to be man

Shelli

13_adi_13 wrote:

I reckon John in CR or Wally in Stigmata are best for that work - whoever you decide,do a show & tell after you've had it done?

With ref to Blub2k4 - yeah, I reckon we need to focus on the positive here - c'mon and post on a new thread 'Show & Tell' about your favourite artist(s)

I've seen some of John's work, he's an amazing artist, I can't wait to get a piece from him.

Blub2k4

Ninel wrote:

Hmmm, aren't you contradicting yourself here? I absolutely agree with what you say about recognising artists and their abilities as separate entities from the studio they currently work out of - but you seem to have ignored your own advice and written off this studio because you don't like one of the artists there. You make a lot of valid points, and give out good
(if sometimes sarky )advice to newbies, but you seem very biased about this particular subject.
Obviously, it would be very unfair to start naming names and might result in losing someone their livelihood, but aren't you in effect doing precisely that to all the guys working there by continually beating this particular drum about CR? I really don't think Mick's or Wally's reps've been damaged at all - they are both great artists, and any post I've read about Stigmata is always 100% positive (and rightly so).
Wouldn't you do better to take it up with the artist and/or studio concerned rather than always going on about it in this forum? it gets a bit tired, and detracts from my opinion of an otherwise sound and sensible member....

Ok, so I stay quiet about CR so the fans and the desk jockies dont have to listen? I dont think so, I will keep the opinion that CR is the McDonalds of the Dublin tattoo scene, you can hold your own opinions.

amazingemmet

Blub2k4 wrote:

I will keep the opinion that CR is the McDonalds of the Dublin tattoo scene, you can hold your own opinions.

Ninel

Blub2k4 wrote:

Ok, so I stay quiet about CR so the fans and the desk jockies dont have to listen? I dont think so, I will keep the opinion that CR is the McDonalds of the Dublin tattoo scene, you can hold your own opinions.

Keep your knickers on sweetheart - my, my you really do have a hard-on for Celestial Ring don't you? Are you being paid for your opinions or is it just a hobby for you? Well I guess if you're going to be such a reactionary dickhead, we'll have to consider all your opinions with a big truckload of salt...

obrien_pa

Ninel wrote:

Keep your knickers on sweetheart - my, my you really do have a hard-on for Celestial Ring don't you? Are you being paid for your opinions or is it just a hobby for you? Well I guess if you're going to be such a reactionary dickhead, we'll have to consider all your opinions with a big truckload of salt...

Hey, everybody's entitled to express an opinion. No need to get into name-calling!! I personally think it's the artist that matters, no matter what studio he/she works from - but at the same time - good studios gain a reputation by taking on good artists. One bad tattoo by an artist can wreck the reputation of a whole studio and reflect badly on everybody working there..maybe that happened in CR?!?

13_adi_13

obrien_pa wrote:

Hey, everybody's entitled to express an opinion. No need to get into name-calling!!

Think Ninels going a bit overboard there, but actually I agree in essence with what he's saying. i think that Blub2k4 tends to go a bit OTT too where CR is concerned - and besides didn't someone say that the guy in CR he didn't like had left ages ago? I think there's underlying personal issues between these guys and/or between Blub and CR. Maybe it's time to take it outside guys?

Karona_Marona

As we are talking about Celestial Ring, im gonna put my 2 cents in...

When i was pricing my tattoo in different studios i headed over to Celestial Ring and the guy there (not naming names) literally laughed in my face when i showed him what i wanted,:mad: i didnt think that was very professional, anyhow, when i was telling him what i wanted he started singing to some song on the radio and his eyes were all red and bloodshot which looked to me like he was after doing some hash.

Anyhow, i walked out of there very disappointed, so i went to Zulu and Paul there was so lovely, he gave me a price for it and booked me in with Sean who was very helpful and have gone back to since.

A friend of mine came home from England to get a tattoo done in celestial ring and after much begging from me telling her not to go there (i heard lots of stories since i got my tattoo) she went against my advice and she is utterly disappointed with her tattoo and is already thinking of getting a cover-up even just after 3 weeks of getting it done.

TouchingVirus

I got my upper right arm tattoo done in Snakebite ..but i can't seem to recall the artists name (been over 3 years now ) ..If i recall correctly it started with an 'R' ..maybe if somebody posted up the names of the artists it'd jog my memory.

Charged me 270 euro for 3.5 hours work, it's all black/shading and to be honest i think it's superior to the work i witnessed in artists portfolio's in CR and Zulu.

But as everybody says, it's just my two cents and my opinion

Isadora

Karona Marona "Anyhow, i walked out of there very disappointed, so i went to Zulu and Paul there was so lovely, "


Ahem!! Would that be the same Paul who works in Zulu AND Celestial Ring?

Karona_Marona

Baldy guy witha beard... anytime i saw him, it was in Zulu... I just thought the people i was talking to in celestial ring were very rude

It wasn't me!

Not to lend fuel to the flames here, but I would always have considered Celestial Ring *and* Snakebite, though Snakebite to a lesser extent, to be piercing parlours that tattooed on the side. I know I'm wrong there, but such is my impression, and as such, I probably wouldn't get tattooed in either place, though I've seen a good bit of very nice work, especially from Snakebite. I'd rather stick to getting pierced there, and on that front Snakebite wins.

13_adi_13

Karona_Marona wrote:

As we are talking about Celestial Ring, im gonna put my 2 cents in...

When i was pricing my tattoo in different studios i headed over to Celestial Ring and the guy there (not naming names) literally laughed in my face when i showed him what i wanted,:mad: i didnt think that was very professional, anyhow, when i was telling him what i wanted he started singing to some song on the radio and his eyes were all red and bloodshot which looked to me like he was after doing some hash.

Anyhow, i walked out of there very disappointed, so i went to Zulu and Paul there was so lovely, he gave me a price for it and booked me in with Sean who was very helpful and have gone back to since.

Can't see why the guy would have thought there was anything to laugh at in that tattoo though..... maybe a) he WAS stoned or you took him up wrong? If that is who I think it is, he's one of the desk jockeys there, rather than one of the artists.... check out the link to the picture in the last post to the modblog thread started by el rabitos on page 13 of this forum - is it one of these guys? All the artists there are lovely, some maybe a little gruffer than others, but can't see any of them reacting like that to a fairly normal request. Paul from Zulu has been doing a few days there for the past while - you're right, he is sound (but not bald, just grey-haired)!

hot2def

Karona_Marona wrote:

As we are talking about Celestial Ring, im gonna put my 2 cents in...

When i was pricing my tattoo in different studios i headed over to Celestial Ring and the guy there (not naming names) literally laughed in my face when i showed him what i wanted,:mad: i didnt think that was very professional, anyhow, when i was telling him what i wanted he started singing to some song on the radio and his eyes were all red and bloodshot which looked to me like he was after doing some hash.

You should have complained. It's a service industry job, and if you felt like you had been sassed by desk staff, or that they were high, you could have dropped a mail to their higher-ups, just as fast as made this post. I just hope they read this.

I know you probably weren't bothered, but if its worth bad-mouthing the studio online, it's worth giving them a chance to rectify it...


ps, on the CR or Snakebite thing...why not do both? I've lovely work from both.

Fantasy_Suicide

Havin a vast amount of knowledge from both studios here's my opinion.

Celestial Ring: I know most of the guys who work in Celestial and I have to say it's 50/50 with them. Some of them are assholes. I'm not going naming ANY names... But a certain receptionist who thinks he's great cos he works there is prob no.1 on that list! Tattooists wise. mark and Phil are darlings. They're soooo nice and they really make you feel comfortable when you're getting work done. Debbie, who has left apparently, was really nice. I didn't like her much at first, but when ya got to know her a little she was real sweet. Her work was amazing. Her own designs were soooo good. Piercer wise I cannot say a bad word against any of them. mark's my angel and I love him to bits! he does pretty much all of my work and he's just a damn sound guy. Ian, if ya ever get to see him, is really good. Real calm like. Keith is deadly. I've never had work done by him, but I have had to see him for jewellery changes and the like. He's always been real nice. Celestial in itself isn't half bad. There's much worse places you could go. Just the few people who work there that I haven't mentioned give the place a bad rep.

Snakebite: These guys are amazing. They're so organised. So clean and just so damn good! Rob's an absolute genius. I honestly couldn't put a word wrong about them. One thing I will say is this. The other day I went in askin about gettin a corset done for a photoshoot. Rob was pretty blunt and a little rude with me. I didn't like that at all. I think they could of been a little friendlier. But that's just my opinion. Standards wise Snakebite is well above all the rest. Defo.

In saying that, Celestial is still my favourite. Mainly cos I'm friends with a few of the people there.... There ya go, loves!

Ag marbh

I feel these Vs threads are pretty pointless and never result in anything constructive

Will

Same here, people just get annoyed at each other and there is no shared!

Karona_Marona

13_adi_13 wrote:

Can't see why the guy would have thought there was anything to laugh at in that tattoo though..... maybe a) he WAS stoned or you took him up wrong? If that is who I think it is, he's one of the desk jockeys there, rather than one of the artists.... check out the link to the picture in the last post to the modblog thread started by el rabitos on page 13 of this forum - is it one of these guys? All the artists there are lovely, some maybe a little gruffer than others, but can't see any of them reacting like that to a fairly normal request. Paul from Zulu has been doing a few days there for the past while - you're right, he is sound (but not bald, just grey-haired)!

Ill definitly have a look at that link, (i just dont have the time tonight) I really didnt know Paul was doing a few days there, oh god... i have very bad observational skills dont i... blad headed/grey haired... i feel stupid lol.

hot2def wrote:

You should have complained. It's a service industry job, and if you felt like you had been sassed by desk staff, or that they were high, you could have dropped a mail to their higher-ups, just as fast as made this post. I just hope they read this.

I know you probably weren't bothered, but if its worth bad-mouthing the studio online, it's worth giving them a chance to rectify it...

Ill definitly complain to someone about it.. but any ideas who?

Fantasy_Suicide

Which one of them laughed at you? Was it the guy in the middle from that pic? Cos he's a ****in wagon if ever I saw/met one. Do ya want a number you can complain to cos I can get ya celestial's head office number.... My sister did work there with them.... And yeah..... They're usually off their faces on something or other.... Certain one of them in particular.

Is the one in the middle foreign? I couldn't place his accent and thought he was a bit of a knob. Kept talking about pills and whatnot, asking a customer to bring him some over after work which I found unprofessional as hell. The guy who pierced me was a tosser as well, I don't know his name. I had a pretty bad experience there really, felt quite uncomfortable. One of them was mocking me for no reason so I totally believe he mocked the tattoo design. Shame because the last time I went to CR I had a great experience. I will be going to Snakebite in future.

Karona_Marona

Fantasy_Suicide wrote:

Which one of them laughed at you? Was it the guy in the middle from that pic? Cos he's a ****in wagon if ever I saw/met one. Do ya want a number you can complain to cos I can get ya celestial's head office number.... My sister did work there with them.... And yeah..... They're usually off their faces on something or other.... Certain one of them in particular.

i still have to look at the link, yeah i would love the number or an e-mail address, to complain. This guy was definitly on something, you could tell by his eyes.

Karona_Marona

Just after looking at the link, it was the guy in the middle that laughed at my design. :mad:

hot2def

Karona_Marona wrote:

Ill definitly complain to someone about it.. but any ideas who?

mail@celestialring.com

Karona_Marona

Thank you

Fantasy_Suicide

Ian never looks at that email....If you ring celestial in the green and ask for Adrian. She'll prob not be there but just leave your name and number with them and say it's an urgent message. Or even ask for her number? They'd have it. She basically owns celestial. That's defo your best bet. They guy who laughed is Sean Griffin. He's a knob.

As for the guy who pierced ya hun, was he american? That's Patric.... And if it was the guy with the undershave and black hair, bridge piercing, thats mark. More than likely caught him on a bad bad day.

No, he was Irish, he did have a bridge piercing, and I think cheek piercings as well. Probably was Mark. He wasn't in a bad mood, I just found him too sarcastic and that. Saying that, he did take a long time explaining the piercing and aftercare so I wouldn't call him unprofessional (like the guy at the desk!) Who is the girl who works there with the short blond hair that does tattoos? Looks Dutch or Swedish or something. They seem to have a lot of staff there, every time I go it seems to be different people.

Fantasy_Suicide

They're basically screwing staff out of it at the mo. I even got offered a job at one point... Irish with cheek piercings... Musta been mark. He can be real sarcastic, but I love him!

There's a sweedish girl? It's not mercedes is it? Ooooh. I think that's debbie yer talkin bout. She's left to go to arklow as far as I know

Need that number to make a complaint? Here's Celestial HQ'S Number...:

018352255

Fantasy_Suicide

Lemme know how that works out.

Will

Hmmmm....we have had issues with character assasination before, we dont need it again leave it up to Howard Poor Stud to handle

Fantasy_Suicide

Explain.