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 piercings
Clear ✕All 256 Google reviews tagged “Piercings” · showing 120
Got my navel pierced and Isaac was great! The whole process was super quick and he was very understanding and calm when I was about to get pierced. Definitely recommend!
Isaac is the best guys my piercing was quick and painless, Isaac was very professional he took every precaution to make sure I had the right anatomy and with sterilization. He made sure he had everything lined up perfectly before sticking me. I’m on my second day now and I’m only experiencing slight swelling, the…
Isaac was so awesome! explained every step and my piercing was perfect
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…
Amazing got a nose piercing a year ago and recently a tattoo. my tattoo artist Kipper highly recommend him❤️ Five stars 100%
My friend and I both got pierced by Isaac and he was absolutely lovely! Extremely knowledgeable, kind, and paid such close attention to detail. Highly recommended for your next piercing!
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
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…
Got my septum piercing perfectly placed by Isaac after years of thinking my anatomy was just not right for one! He did a great job and the rest of the crew at SlideShow are so nice and welcoming! My boyfriend also did a “Get What You Get” tattoo and Damon did not disappoint! He was also very friendly and loves what he does.
Isaac is a wonderful piecer. I have been to him twice: once 10 years ago and earlier this month. Each time, my piercings have healed with no issues. I appreciate his time and attention to detail. I look forward to coming back after these recent ones completely heal.
I got my Belly button pierced here a couple weeks ago by Isaac! He was very good at making me feel comfortable, explained the process, and answered all the questions I had. My piercing is healing perfectly! Will definitely be going back :)
got my piercings done by Isaac, super cool and chill dude and the process was quick. piercings are healing nicely and have gotten a lot of compliments on them 😺
I got my navel pierced by Isaac, best experience ever! He was very welcoming and kind, and had a quick and easy process. Had no issues with the piercing and it looks so perfect. The shop was such a vibe, 10/10 would recommend this place to everyone looking to get some piercing done.
Best experience ever, the reviews don’t lie! Got my triple lobe piercings and a helix, and none were very painful. Issac was super kind and helped me feel very relaxed! Everything was very clean and felt super comfortable, almost no pain when getting my helix which I was not expecting (many of my friends have said…
Got my 2nd lobe piercing with Isaac after my partner recommended him and I’m so glad I did! We just walked in and even though they were busy, the wait wasn’t long. The staff were friendly, the jewelry selection was great, and Isaac made sure I felt comfortable the whole time. He explained everything clearly,…
My mom and sister flew out to visit and we decided to pop in to this tattoo shop! They took AMAZING care of my sister while piercing her nose. They made sure to show us everything was sanitized and clean. My mom and I got tattoos and it was probably the best experience i’ve had at a tattoo shop! David is extremely…
The shop was clean and all the staff were so nice and professional I went in with my friend to get matching tattoos and her snake bites. It was her first professional tattoo and both the artist and the piercer talked through everything and made it such a comfortable environment
Was a really nice experience especially for my first piercing. They walked me through their process and explained how they sterilized their equipment, they also made sure that I was ready for the 2nd piercing after they put in the first one. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and would go back again for another.
10/10 recommend. Decided to walk in & get a forward helix from Isaac & 3 little fine line tattoos from Matt. Both were very welcoming, friendly, & thorough.
Im super happy with my piercing. Staff was super professional and answered all my questions.
Was easily able to reschedule my appointment and great treatment and service especially for my first piercing. Issac was great at his job and everyone was very chill
Isaac was very professional and made me feel comfortable when getting my nips pierced! highly recommend this place for tattoos and piercings!!
I did a walk in recently and got a nose and a lobe piercing with Isaac and could not recommend him more! Extremely professional and skilled. I appreciate that he took his time to make sure everything was measured correctly and looked aesthetically pleasing. Made me feel comfortable and explained every step to me. Thank you!!!
I walked in for nipple piercings and Isaac was very welcoming and made the process so easy and smooth! The shop is nice and he was very professional and clean. I also bought new belly ring jewelry. I love my new piercings!
Got a septum and eyebrow piercing from Isaac, and it took around 15 minutes overall. I was a walk-in and the service was super fast, clean, and well priced. I paid $140 for both including jewlery with cash. I felt super safe and comfortable and would 10000% recommend this piercer for anyone trying to get any type of piercing, thank you guys so much!
Very professional & kind! Got both a Navel & nipple piercing. I really appreciated that the piercer explained everything to me! 10/10 would recommend.
I had a fantastic experience getting my ears pierced by Isaac! He was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and made me feel completely at ease throughout the process. He took the time to explain everything clearly and ensured that I was comfortable every step of the way. The shop was spotless and had a welcoming…
I was looking for a good place to get my first piercing, I came across sideshow tattoo and read all the great reviews. I came in without an appointment and Issac was the person that attended me right away, he was very knowledgeable, friendly, welcoming and made me feel very comfortable. Thank you Issac. Highly recommended.
I never leave any reviews but this is my first piercing and would love to refrence this place to anyone for their next piercing. I was a walk in and waited only about 10 minutes to be seen. The guy who pierced me was named Isaac and i think he could tell i was nervous so he made sure to reassure me and walked my…
Got nose piercing done by Isaac, was quick and is healing nicely.
I came in to have my second lobe pierced and Isaac was incredible! His commitment to delivering the best experience and ensuring your piercing(s) are clean, accurate, and healthy went above and beyond what I have ever encountered from a piercing artist. He took his time to make sure everything was aligned properly…
Isaac was great in helping me get my new ear piercing! The shop takes sterilizing their equipment seriously and they even walk through the process to ensure their customers know everything is sterilized. 10/10 would recommend this place!
This is such a good place to go to for your first piercing!! I loved everything about the shop, the atmosphere the people. Issac is a really good piercer, for my first professional piercing it was such a good experience. I got my septum done by Issac and he's such a cool and fun guy, of course it hurt since you are…
Isaac did such a wonderful on my piercings and was very professional 10000% recommend. Will definitely be going back for any more piercings .
very supportive and comfortable space to get a piercing! walked in unsure of my piercing but the staff gave me some motivation & i ended up getting my smiley pierced! definitely recommend
Wonderful experience! I felt as though I was in good hands with Isaac as my body piercer. Isaac was very kind & you can tell that he takes pride in his work. I would definitely go back. Thank you!
Inquired about a women 🐈 piercing I’m not sure if google will allow me to post a pic but I do recommend this sideshow tattoo a piercing. Issac my pierce has patients, nice, and respectful. There are . rooms for certain services. Price was right Issac my piercer was amazing! Thank you for a first time customer experience was amazing
Isaac was super kind and informative about the placing of my piercing and the care! Going back again for jewelry and some other new piercing!!
Spontaneous stop in, Isaac did a great job with my helix piercing, he was so friendly and made it an easy experience. No pain during or the following days, jewelry was a reasonable cost and I’m excited to go back in a few weeks for a shorter back stop so I can sleep on both sides again!!
Great service here! Issac was very precise and careful when he pierced my ears. Better than anyone I’ve ever went to before and it was so painless and quick! Cant thank you enough 10/10 would recommend
I came here as a walk-in over the weekend for a nose piercing. Issac was so nice and helpful since I haven't had a piercing since I was a baby and had no idea where to start. He went over the different type of nose rings and gave his honest opinion on what would look best, which I appreciated. He was so quick and…
The most professional nipple piercing I’ve ever had, but the dedication for detail and kindness and confidence the shop and Issac gave was 1000% the best experience I have had in a parlor. I am healing beautifully and love my outcome. Thank you, but no pic with review lol
Really enjoy coming here. Everyone always seems down to earth and chill. Good place for piercings and tattoos. Would definitely recommend.
Believe all the great reviews! I came in was in and out in about an hour and half. Got two tattoos and a nostril piercing. Everyone was professional and kind. I’m originally from the south but it’s honestly worth flying here to get more work done.
Awesome People and great experience getting my tongue and conch pierced here. Excited to continue getting piercings with Isaac at sideshow!
I got pierced about two weeks ago by Isaac and it was the most simple and painless process ever. He helped me pick out the right jewelry and walked me through the whole process. It was fast and painless and I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better experience.
Isaac is the go to for ANY piercing. He is very clean, thorough with the best attention to detail, and professional. I’ve come here multiple times and always receive the best service. 10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMEND !!!!
Isaac was more than amazing. I went in to get my septum pierced and he took one look and said I have a deviated septum and he wouldn't pierce it because it would sit crooked. I was bummed and left. Decided to go back and get a double nostril piercing and he was so gentle and great!! He could have pierced my septum,…
Highly recommend this spot for piercing needs! Isaac made the whole walk in process so easy. After talking about what I wanted, we looked at jewelry options and headed back for piercing. Isaac measured everything maliciously both making sure it aligned with my original piercing & aligned with each side. Couple of…
Everyone was very welcoming and the wait time was no issue at all. My piercer Issac was easy going and made the process fun. It was a great first experience and is definitely a good memory to look back on. I love my piercing!!
Super friendly and great price for service and products!
I walked in on my birthday to get my septum pierced and I was so happy with my experience! The wait time even without an appointment was less than 5 minutes, they kept me calm through the piercing, and now 2 weeks later it’s nearly fully healed & definitely my favorite piercing yet. They educated me on how to care…
Very friendly staff. I’m so glad I came here for my nostril piercing. Would recommend and I will definitely be coming back ❤️
the piercing artist was very nice and performed piercing with ease. i love my new piercing!!! 10/10 def would recommend.
I had my second and third lobes pierced by Issac and he’s amazing!! My first piercings were done very badly at another shop but Isaac was able to fix them and I have never been more happier. You can’t even tell that my original piercings didn’t like up with eachother
Great customer service, they answer any questions I had I was in and out ininutes, and I was just a walk in no appointment, thanks 🙏
Love it, I felt so comfortable.
Everyone was so professional and I could not be happier with my piercing
Had Isaac for my most recent piercing at this place. I’ve gone to this business twice before for tattoos and have always had a good experience with the workers and with the results!
My first experience was a hit! So, I definitely had to come back for a second. Did a walk-in with my best friend, & everyone there was nice & friendly. Got my nose piercings done by Isaac & he did an amazing job! He doubled checked if the placements were even & precise & made sure I was comfortable all together.…
Isaac was great!! Whole piercing process was quick and easy. Would definitely go back!!!
Great experience! I’m from out of town and was nervous about my piercing but the staff was very welcoming and supportive! Isaac was patient and helpful with my piercing, and I would definitely come again!
I got my second earlobe piercing here last week! Before came here, I had serious infections every time I tried to get my piercing done. Issac (piercer) and staff were very friendly and professional. Piercing procedure was zero pain (literally, I thought Issac was double-checking the placement)and no signs of infection/trouble. Thank you so much!🙏
Very clean! Great tips and easy site for instructions on after care and healing. Quick and painless, and my new nipple piercings look great!!
This is a great shop! Clean, professional, and friendly. Isaac was wonderful and pierced both of my nostrils. He took the extra time and care to make sure they were even and well placed. I will definitely be going back.
My friend and I got our nipples pierced by Isaac. Although there was nothing extraordinary about this experience, Isaac was extremely professional and informative. He was able to calm us down a bit, answer our questions and mark us accurately using our anatomy and resting position, and made it quick and as painless…
Isaac was very helpful when I got my ears pierced with a group of friends. His consultations were very informative and gave insight to what piercings we wanted
Would definitely recommend!! Business was top notch very well takin care of and fair pricing.
Issac was so good!! super professional and quick! he was also very nice and the whole process felt great
Best piercing experience I’ve ever had! My friends and I will most definitely be back! Isaac was the best!
Isaac was awesome! Efficient, clean, and clear in his explanation of after-care. No issues 3 months post piercing ! Highly recommend
Very quick and professional. Would recommend!
very nice, very experienced piercer! Isaac took time to ensure I liked placement, was very careful, etc. would highly recommend!
My friend and I went to go get our eyebrows pierced here! We were pierced by Isaac, who did an excellent job at walking us through the piercing process, as well as made it comfortable and relaxing (as piercings are ALWAYS nerve racking). I was very pleased with the service and the friendly and welcoming vibe of the…
Very cool down to earth people. Me and my friends came in for piercings and the man who did ours was funny and kind. Was done professionally. Definitely coming back to this shop.
issac has pierced my nostril and my nips and each time it has been a very comfortable experience. he does an amazing job and talks you through what he’s doing to insure you feel safe and comfortable. would def recommend to anyone looking to get any piercings!
Jadd was my artist for 1/13/23, and he’s the best! The shop was very backed up with piercing walk-in’s for Friday the 13th, but the tattoo walk-in’s were taken almost immediately. Jadd has done a tattoo of mine before so I was so excited to see him again and get another set of awesome lines by him! He's a great…
Awesome place, Isaac really helped out all out and made my first piercings very quick and easy. I love them a lot
I love my naval piercing!
I got my conch pierced here by Issac and it went great! Definitely recommend!
I love my ear piercing i got from here, it didn’t hurt at all and healed well! I got it done from Issac, definitely going again :)
very good 🫶🏼
Isaac pierced me and he was super nice. He showed me a nice breathing technique and told me step by step what was going to happen. I really appreciate how smooth of a process it was. Didn’t even hurt he’s just talented. 10/10 recommend :))
Staff were friendly and super precise!
Good vibes
Isaac was so kind and very welcoming!!! 10/10 would come again!!
I got my nipples pierced from Issac. I was very nervous but he reassured me that the pain was only temporary. He is an amazing piercer and I would highly recommend him!
Excellent work! Matt do a great job on my first tattoo :) I really love it 😍
Isaac is likely the most professional, and good vibe piercer I’ve found in San Diego! I don’t usually write reviews often, but he did a wonderful job on my new piercing, and an eyebrow I had done a few years back! I really appreciate the extra time he spent to align the piercings correctly and look great. I turned…
Amazing piercings they look so good!! Reasonably priced! Would recommend
Isaac was such a great a careful piercer. You can tell that you really cares about his clients and is great at alleviating any nerves with his amazing sense of humor. I will definitely be going back to him to change my piercing to a hoop and get a few more on my ear :)
WOW!! this shop was not only so nice, clean, and comfortable, it has to be the easiest piercing experience i have ever had:) the piercer was so nice and friendly and so professional. he measured me and my friends piercings down to like the very millimeter, so precise which i appreciate soo much:) and not just him,…
Super sweet and took us in even though it was late and he hadn’t had a break all day. Love my piercings, were done well and was super clean :) thanks!
Great staff and really easy process!
Hella cool employees. Fast service. Piercing was done quickly and professionally.
I got a forward helix piercing from Isaac and he was absolutely amazing! The actual piercing pinched a little bit, but I’ve followed the aftercare instructions and I’ve had no swelling, pain or redness at all. 10/10 would recommend. Will definitely go back for more
I definitely recommend getting pierced by Isaac. Very personal, clean and organized. He made the process very painless and comfortable as possible. Highly recommend this tattoo piercing shop! The next day I went back in for a walk in tattoo by Damon and the lines are clean and beautiful. It came out perfect. So all…
Absolutely amazing place 10/10. I am in love with my new piercing & the piercer was outstanding. Very professional and helpful!!
Got my nose pierced and I love it! Whole process was so chill and it barley hurt! Loved the spot Isaac pierced it in and it looks so good! He did an amazing job! Everyone at the shop had such good vibes 10/10 experience
10/10 went in with 3 of my friends and out of the 4 of us 3 for piercings. isaac made us feel very comfortable and could definitely tell he knew was he was doing. he kept conversation with all of us as well. a great experience! will definitely be going back to get another one by him.
It was nice and friendly. Isaac did a great job at talking me through what he was doing.
Sideshow is awesome! The staff is very friendly and cooperative. I have been here twice for a nose piercing and tattoo and am still impressed with the work they have done. Damon, one of the artist, did my tattoo and he did a wonderful job and was very kind. I definitely will be coming back in the future!
Isaac made me very comfortable and was very professional. If I get another piercing I will for sure come back here!! Thank you so much.
Issac did such an amazing job with piercing both of my nipples. When I first came in I was so nervous but he reassured me that everything was going to run smoothly and surely it did. The pain wasn’t as bad as I thought I would rate it a 4/10. Everything is healing up perfectly and there is mild pain. He also didn’t…
I had an amazing experience with Isaac. He pierced my second helix and he knew exactly what he was doing. I will definitely be going back when I get my next piercing!
I went in last week to get a few piercings. The piercer there did a professional job in doing so. He made the procedure quick and painless and I’ll be going back to get more piercings. The whole shop has a good vibe and everyone working there were nice and chill. Very good place!
Got my belly piercing done by Isaac. I love how my piercing came out and it was an overall great experience! My friend also got her piercings done by him which also came out amazing. Was even provided an aftercare card which is extremely helpful!!
The shop was clean and comfortable. Isaac was very professional and personal. My friends and I had a blast at the shop and would love to come back once my conch and nose piercings have healed.
Before coming to this shop I only had standard lobe piercings (from Claire’s, many years ago), so I didn’t know how this one would go. I got my helix pierced here by Isaac, and the whole process went very smoothly. I was made to feel very comfortable throughout, and the whole experience was efficiently done. If in…
I got my eyebrow pierced and a couple of my friends got piercings here as well. All the staff were super friendly and the place was very clean! Piercings went super smoothly and my eyebrow piercing was relatively painless. The piercer was very nice and accommodating! Couldn’t have asked for a better experience!!
If you ever need any type of piercings please go straight to Isaac!!!! The man has magic on his hands never got any infections or body rejections they heal beautifully everytime!!! I’ve been going to him for almost 3 years now and I never have pain and he actually cares about his job he will tell u how to care for…
Beth was so considerate and stayed true to the drawing I gave them of my tattoo idea! They payed such good attention to details and was very nice to us! Thanks so much! <3. Isaac did a wonderful job piercing my septum, he was so nice and made it very comfortable!
Edit: Issac quick responded and offered to correct the mistake. Very professional and accountable Got my nose pierced. They used a L-bar which is a bad first piercing, it fell out a few hours later. it was so busy and Danny was rushed that he gave me no aftercare instructions and basically pierced it and said…
I just went to sideshow the other day and got three piercings. Isaac did an amazing job with all three. It was quick and easy and so far the healing process is going great.
I love my piercings so much! My piercer Issac was super great and thorough. Everything was sterile and Issac took his time to make sure my placement was correct and to my liking! I’ve never had anything pierced with an actual needle but it was basically painless! They’re healing super nicely as well! The after care…
I got my belly button pierced and had a perfect experience. Isaac did my piercing, and he was excellent. He was extremely accommodating and kind! Not only did he do an amazing job on the actual piercing as it was pretty painless, but it is healing extremely well. It was a quick and very pleasant experience!
I got my septum pierced by Isaac about a month ago and it was a great experience! It felt very professional and the piercing itself was fast and done great. The overall experience was great and I will go back in the future!
I did a walk-in and Isaac pierced my eyebrow. He was very professional yet personable. I felt safe and comfortable in his hands! Would highly recommend and will be returning.
The service was amazing , they were so kind and helpful. I got another ear piercing and it healed fully 2 days later it never hurt or swelled . Definitely will get others
Very professional and sterile environment. Made me feel really comfortable when getting my ear pierced walked me through what was happening. Definitely would recommend!
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 |
