It was an usb symbol on my forearm, the first guy said it was boring and tried to convince me to do a full sleeve, the other guy didn't say it outloud but tried to convice me to make it as small as possible and/or in less visible areas

I know in my husband's case, any suggestions he makes to a persons ideas, is only because in his 25+ years of experience, he knows if that design will last in the long run, or translate well on skin..etc. Its only for very good reasons he tries to make changes to ideas. Unless it is racist, sexist, or gang related...then he refuses all together.

Times like these I wish we could see pictures in comments...

I would also think that's boring, but if it's what you want - whatever, it's not going on me.

I call b******t on this. If you are an "artist" that wishes to serve only your own artistic sensibilities then do not position yourself in an industry that by its very nature works on commissioned pieces, which should ultimately serve the clients desires and not your own. I have no problem if you wish to express yourself by covering your own body with pieces of art that speak to you but the minute someone is going to pay you to tattoo them you stop "serving" yourself and start "serving" them.

Yes but sometimes you need to hire someone for their technical skill rather that for their artistic talent. It's ok to say no but please don't be offended by the unoriginality of my tattoo request.

Though you are required to say yes to people at times unless you want to go out of business - I assume you have bills to pay like everyone else. Artistic sensibilities can't rule everything. Even the greatest artists have had to take on work they didn't like in order to pay bills.

being just "artist" is also letting you be rude to people, quit in the middle of working, draw something else while they are not seeing or do anything you want because artist is free, she's not some server there, artists have muses and everything, they are emotional and it can be excuse for anything. you are taking money from person when you are doing something for him/her and it means you are serving. its not being servant or slave, its service. you can offer something, you as a professional think is better and if person says no, you should be polite at least. it's how things in civilized world work. if you think you are not working but being all bohemian and free artist you probably should inform people about it to avoid misunderstandings. of course you can say no to many things, l would not do hitler portrait or something l am not good at, but acting like you are not working there ( not being part of system, not paying taxes, not taking money) is just a very little pathetic.

And FTR, I DO look out for people. If I think a tattoo will age poorly or they will grow out of it or whatever, I'll say NO.

Where did I say I don't respect my clients? Where did I say I was rude to people? I said we aren't any obligation to say "yes".

And thankfully, my clients don't view me as a "server" or they wouldn't be my clients. We exchange ideas and art on equal footing.