How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%98+53.5Reliability 24%97+23.5Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%57+4Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 95Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews.95SCORESideshow Tattoo and Piercing
San Diego, CA · Grade ALetter from the Experts Score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = under 20. · #19Position by Experts Score among all companies we track in this category. of 49 piercing studios · 5.0★ from 3,046 Google reviews
Report card
Percentile vs other piercing studios (100 = best)Each factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (star average, share of 1–2★ reviews, price verdicts…); standing within the category can only raise it, never lower it.. Strongest: value and momentum; weakest: replies to reviews.
Reviews for your job
Customers hired Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing for 8 kinds of job.
Sideshow Tattoo and Piercing for ear piercing
Clear ✕All 482 Google reviews tagged “Ear piercing” · showing 40
Isaac was very clean, quick, funny, and informative.
Isaac is the best piercer and I had such a great experience with him. This is my favorite spot for piercings and have gone multiple times. Got my conch here and had minimal pain and he was very knowledgeable and honest with me.
Isaac was great!! Super helpful and explained everything as he went along - highly recommend
Was very easy and clean, highly recommend!
Easy and quick experience. Isaac walked me through everything he did as he was doing it. Daith piercing turned out great!
My 6-year-old got her ears pierced here. Isaac was great with her. He was very professional, made sure all of the instruments were sterilized properly. He gave her a squeeze toy to hold while she was getting her piercing. Made her and myself both feel comfortable. Highly recommend for a good place for a kids first piercing.
Got a lobe piercing on my ear that has minimal space to work with and it came out perfect!
Came in wanting a tattoo for sure and maybe ear piercings. Got paired with Matt and the tattoo and experience was great. Right after that, Isaac came in and was available for my ear lobe piercings. Also a really nice experience even though that was what I was more nervous about. Both of those guys were super quick…
Isaac was awesome! He did such a great job with both of my daughters and made the whole piercing experience so easy and comfortable for them. He was patient, professional, and made them both feel at ease. Highly recommend Isaac to anyone looking to get a piercing!
Isaac is a great piercer! I have 13 piercings and counting, and Isaac has done most of them. He’s super helpful with resizing and whatnot too. My industrial jewelry is way too long, he noticed that and ordered me a new, better fitting piece. Piercings are always a breeze with him- super quick and easy. I plan to…
Isaac is the consummate professional! All of my piercings have healed beautifully and quickly with him whereas every other place I’ve gotten piercings I’ve gotten infected/irritated! I won’t go to another piercing place in SD now!
Isaac did a great job on my double helix piercing! It was less painful than my last helix piercing and he explained and walked through everything he was doing. He gave great recommendations and advice and made sure I thought it was perfect. I will definitely be back next time!
Isaac is the absolute best. Super knowledgeable, professional, and does an incredible job. He’s helped me curate an ear stack that works well with my anatomy and every piercing has been painless and healed fantastic. He really takes his time to make sure everything is measured well and helps you plan for whatever you’d like. Highly recommend!
Isaac was very professional and had great cleaning procedures! The piercing room was absolutely fabulous! I barely felt my piercings. They don’t hurt and I love them! He also took the jump scare I gave him really well lol!😳🤣
This was my first time getting a piercing and my stylist, Isaac, made it an awesome experience! Very glad I chose to come here
Great service. Made my 9 and 11 year old daughters feel very comfortable with the piercing process and helped to pick out appropriate jewelry for them. Not a single tear from either!
Did my piercing with Isaac and it was an amazing experience! he calmed me down so much and his expertise really showed throughout the process.
I rarely leave reviews but I have to shout out Isaac for being an amazing piercer. My friend and I walked in wanted a few different things and he was extremely kind, professional, quick, great rapport. Can’t recommend him enough. I’ll be telling everyone about this experience for a while, and I love my piercings
Isaac was amazing! I got two ear piercings from him, was professional and attentive. I get woozy sometimes and he made me so comfortable & checked in periodically. Measured my ears and got my approval more than once. The studio itself is clean and very sanitary. Jewelry options are limited but are very high quality. Reasonable prices too
made my daith feel like nothing
I was getting a real piercing for the first time. My first piercing was when I was a baby and it was pretty much botched as both sides were uneven. And honestly, I was pretty nervous. Isaac was the person who pierced my ears and I felt so comfortable. He took so much time to make sure that both sides of my ears…
Issac did an amazing job with my piercing. I hate needles and was super nervous even for a little piercing. Isaac made me feel super comfortable and was very kind. My piercing was also painless and is healing very quick!
I got my first real piercing here and it was amazing. Isaac was very thorough with the measurements and everything was perfectly symmetrical. Super nice, super clean, definitely will be going again!
After looking EVERYWHERE for a solid gold butterfly piercing, Sideshow was the only shop that was able to help me achieve my vision by placing a custom order for me. Not only that, but Isaac did a phenomenal job with my flat piercing. He made the process easy and painless as he guided me through it with breathwork.…
I have a variety of piercings and have gone to a different piercer each time, and Isaac was one of the best. Definitely pierced them faster than anyone else (which let me tell you, getting my septum pierced kinda slowly was a gross sensation). I’m only four days into healing but the three piercings I got (2 forward…
Best experience. He was so nice and gentle. Awesome of explaining everything that was gonna happen. My daughter was super happy and so comfortable with Issac. She’s already asking for another ear lobe piercing. Recommend 1000%
Got a constellation piercing at another shop and they would not heal. Heard lots of good things about Isaac online so decided to stop by. He had lots of good info and helped me re-pierce and fix it. So great to work with someone who is a master of their craft and not just going through the motions.
I had an excellent experience getting my ears pierced here. I booked a last-minute appointment and they were still able to accommodate me with no issues. The staff was very friendly and welcoming from the moment I walked in. The studio felt clean and comfortable, which made the whole process feel easy and…
Isaac was incredible! My daughter was really nervous at getting her ears pierced. He did a better job than I could to keep her calm and ready! She was so excited and even wanted to walk by later to thank him. Highly recommend him. He was patient, honest and made sure she was 100% ready!
Got my industrial done by Isaac about a week ago and it seems to be healing pretty well. He was very friendly and the location was clean. I would definitely recommend!
A group of 4 of us went here on Saturday to get piercings and Isaac was great! He was very knowledgeable and took his time explaining things to us and made sure we had fun! I would definitely come back!
I was very nervous about my 4 piercings but Isaac was very sociable and reassuring. He also gave advice to my friends who were with me advice about their piercings
Amazing service!
I was pretty nervous going in just because I've heard of piercers having rude attitudes, but Isaac was super kind and sweet and walked me through the whole process with zero judgement. It was very quick and basically painless. I definitely plan on getting all my future piercings with him
The most professional experience, this was my first ever piercing and my piercer (Isaac) was so chill and made it a fun and forever memorable experience
I got an eyebrow and ear piercing by Isaac. The whole process was very simple and smooth. The staff were very kind and friendly. The building is also very clean. 10/10 would recommend for anybody interested.
I’ve had my industrial bar and conch piercing done by Isaac and both experiences were phenomenal! He’s extremely professional, kind, and I’ve had zero complications with either or (despite the industrial being known to be difficult). Both my industrial and conch cost about $80 each including the jewelry I chose…
Very knowledgeable and easy to talk to about getting my ears pierced for the first time.
Couldn’t of been a better place to get my piercings! Isaac was extremely knowledgeable and perfectly walked me through everything. I will now be recommending this place to my friends.
Isaac had a great deal of attention to detail and was very informative and welcoming throughout the piercing process. He was transparent about all the procedures he was conducting to ensure we felt comfortable and knowledgeable about the health and safety standards the shop upholds
Price
Bar = middle half of what customers paid · gold mark = category median.
Price verdictsGoogle asks reviewers whether the price was great, reasonable or overpriced; these are their answers.
Jobs customers hired them for
| Job | Reviews | Category typical |
|---|---|---|
| Ear piercing | 482 | $62–$132 |
| Tattoo design | 371 | $119–$290 |
| Nose piercing | 258 | $52–$88 |
| Piercings | 256 | $52–$96 |
| Fine line tattoos | 250 | $108–$170 |
| Tattoos | 229 | $114–$277 |
| Helix piercing | 62 | $61–$132 |
| Tattoo cover-ups & reworkings | 57 | $132–$310 |
