The Adam Facenda Show

Adam Facenda

 Welcome to The Adam Facenda Show, where real conversations meet real experience. Hosted by tattoo artist, entrepreneur, and business owner Adam Facenda, this podcast explores the business of tattooing, entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, marketing, and the lessons learned from more than 20 years of building businesses. You'll hear episodes of Shop Talk, interviews with artists and entrepreneurs, business insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and practical advice you can apply whether you're running a tattoo studio, starting a business, or looking to grow professionally. No fluff. No fake gurus. Just honest conversations, practical lessons, and real-world experience.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 4: Stop Discounting Your Work-Shop Talk with Adam Facenda

    Discounting your tattoo work might fill an empty chair today—but what is it doing to the value of your work tomorrow? In Episode 4 of Shop Talk, Adam Facenda talks about the dangers of constantly discounting your work and why lowering your price isn't always the answer when business slows down. Instead of advertising discounts to everyone, Adam explains why tattoo artists and shop owners should focus on the people who already know and trust them. Your existing clients have already experienced your work, understand your value, and may be far more likely to book again when approached the right way. Adam also shares how building real relationships with clients, keeping good records, and understanding a client's history can help shops create smarter promotions without publicly devaluing their artists. In this episode: Why constantly discounting can hurt the perceived value of your workThe difference between a strategic offer and simply lowering your priceWhy your existing clients should be your first call when business slows downBuilding relationships that create repeat clients and referralsHow client history can help you make smarter marketing decisionsUsing client management tools to keep communication organizedRewarding loyal clients without advertising discounts to everyoneWhy artists need to take pride in the value of their workThe takeaway: You don't always need to find a new client to fill an opening. Sometimes the better opportunity is reconnecting with someone who already knows, trusts, and values your work. Shop Talk with Adam Facenda is sponsored by Keep the Fees, software built for tattoo and piercing shops by people who actually understand the industry. Want to see what Keep the Fees is all about? Use the link in my bio to connect directly with my personal team, or DM me KTF on Instagram. No b******t. Just real shop talk.

  2. Aug 21

    SHOP TALK — EPISODE 3 YOU'RE INVESTING IN THE WRONG THING

    What if the best marketing opportunity for your tattoo business isn't Instagram, Facebook, or another paid ad? What if it's already sitting in your chair? In Episode 3 of Shop Talk, Adam Facenda explains why tattoo artists may be investing in all the wrong things when it comes to growing their careers. Social media, advertising, and algorithms have their place—but they can't replace a genuine relationship with a client. Adam shares how taking the time to actually get to know the people he tattoos has helped him build relationships that have lasted for decades. Some of those relationships have gone far beyond repeat appointments. Adam now tattoos multiple generations of the same families—all because of relationships that started in the tattoo chair years ago. This episode explores why client satisfaction, genuine conversation, personal connection, and simply remembering the people you work with can be some of the most powerful marketing tools available to an artist. In this episode: Why the best marketing may already be sitting in your chairClient relationships vs. social media algorithmsTurning first-time clients into lifelong clientsHow genuine rapport creates referralsTattooing multiple generations of the same familyWhy happy clients can become your best advertisingHow unhappy clients can affect your reputationUsing client notes to provide more personalized serviceBuilding relationships across an entire tattoo shopWhy community still matters in tattooingThe takeaway: Don't spend so much time chasing the next client that you forget about the person already sitting in front of you. Invest in the relationship. Take care of your clients. Give them an experience worth talking about. Because the best marketing isn't always an ad. Sometimes it's sitting in your chair. Shop Talk with Adam Facenda is sponsored by Keep the Fees, software built specifically for tattoo and piercing studios. Want to see what Keep the Fees is all about? Use the link in my bio to connect directly with my personal team, or DM me KTF on Instagram. No b******t. Just real shop talk.

  3. Aug 11

    Shop Talk with Adam Facenda: The Client’s Not Always Right | Episode 2

    Tattoo shop owners and tattoo artists know that misunderstandings over deposits, design changes, and appointment policies can quickly become client disputes. In Episode 2 of Shop Talk with Adam Facenda, Adam draws from more than 20 years in tattooing to explain how clear deposit policies, documented conversations, upfront communication, and dependable tattoo shop software can protect your business. Adam discusses a real situation involving a changing tattoo design and a disputed deposit. He explains why tattoo artists should be paid for their design work, how to handle client misunderstandings professionally, and why having proof of every conversation and transaction matters. In this episode: • Creating clear tattoo deposit policies • Handling changing tattoo designs and deposit transfers • Getting paid for tattoo design work • Managing difficult tattoo clients professionally • Documenting conversations and transactions • Using specialized software to manage a tattoo shop • Building better systems for long-term success TATTOO AND PIERCING SHOP OWNERS: Keep The Fees helps manage tattoo appointments, digital forms, deposits, client communication, artist payouts, inventory, POS, and shop reporting. Learn more and schedule a demo: https://land.keepthefees.com/anchors-and-eagles.html CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 02:10 Using disclaimers and software to manage expectations 03:44 Changing tattoo designs and transferring deposits 05:09 Tattoo design work and payment expectations 06:08 Handling disputes over deposits and design changes 07:21 The value of proof and communication 08:12 How Keep The Fees streamlines tattoo shop management 09:20 Good management and trustworthy tattoo artists 10:09 Why the tattoo industry needs specialized software 10:46 Final thoughts and resources for tattoo shop owners Music: “Blackwall” by David J. Barrios Original: https://davidjbarrios.bandcamp.com/track/blackwall Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

  4. Aug 8

    SHOP TALK W/ ADAM FACENDA: Welcome to Shop Talk EPISODE 1

    Shop Talk with Adam Facenda is a tattoo-industry podcast about the real business, culture, and day-to-day reality of tattooing. Adam is a second-generation tattoo artist, owner of True Love Tattoo in Fort Lauderdale, and co-founder of Keep The Fees. Drawing from more than 20 years of tattooing and tattoo shop management, Adam discusses tattoo clients, deposits, pricing, artist management, apprenticeships, shop policies, marketing, burnout, and the systems required to operate a successful tattoo studio. This is honest, practical shop talk for tattoo artists, apprentices, tattoo shop owners, piercers, and anyone building a career in the tattoo industry. Tattoo and piercing shop owners can learn more about Keep The Fees at: https://land.keepthefees.com/anchors-and-eagles.html

  • 4 Episodes

About

 Welcome to The Adam Facenda Show, where real conversations meet real experience. Hosted by tattoo artist, entrepreneur, and business owner Adam Facenda, this podcast explores the business of tattooing, entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, marketing, and the lessons learned from more than 20 years of building businesses. You'll hear episodes of Shop Talk, interviews with artists and entrepreneurs, business insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and practical advice you can apply whether you're running a tattoo studio, starting a business, or looking to grow professionally. No fluff. No fake gurus. Just honest conversations, practical lessons, and real-world experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Facenda
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Adam Facenda Show
  • Show Website
    The Adam Facenda Show