The artist spends a great deal of free time researching and designing your tattoo. Even when we go home after work, we still keep working on the research, design, and preparing everything for the next tattoo appointment. Without a deposit, the artist cannot invest time into your design. The deposit is more than a down payment for your tattoo. It informs the tattoo artist that you are serious about working with them. If you DO NOT SHOW UP or DO NOT give the required 48-hour cancellation notice, your deposit is taken to compensate for the work lost that day. The advanced notice allows the tattoo artist a chance to fill the cancelation. Not show up causes the artist to lose money. Once a deposit gets made, it is non-refundable.