keepcalm

@Ian, as a fellow divorcee, I wish you peace! Glad to hear it's pretty quiet so far -- mine was, too, and I was grateful for that.

@bucky685, very cool and I love the placement.

My $0.02: Those of us here may not judge people negatively for having tattoos (obviously!), but the reality is, some people do. I think it's your right to present yourself the way you wish -- if you want to cover up and not have to deal with any repercussions from those people who might judge you, especially when it comes to your livelihood, you can. It doesn't mean you're not proud of your work or happy to be tattooed; it means you have a grasp on what it means to live in the real world, where there are people of all kinds, and consequences that aren't always "fair."

Wow, thank you everyone for the detailed replies!
Of course, I've never said anything like "This is all shitty!" after seeing a design, haha. I usually love the designs I've been shown as a whole. The changes I've requested in the past have been small, and they only required the artist to redraw a small part of the design, not the whole thing. I always try to be kind and courteous, of course -- after all, this is part of my point: This is someone's art, and even though it's going on my body, I don't want to insult anyone! At the same time, I want to really love my tattoo.
The times I've asked, the tattooer has said something like "for sure, no problem" -- and made the change I asked for. I've never asked for more than one change per tattoo I've gotten. And I didn't ask for any changes at all for two of my pieces.
I dunno. This is the hardest part of the process for me, probably. I have taken a page out of "the book" here from you guys and learned to pick artists whose work I just totally love -- my next tattoo is being done by one of those people (Dennis del Prete at Providence Tattoo in RI), and I don't anticipate wanting anything on his design changed.
Anyway, good advice here -- thanks again, all.

@bucky685, very cool and I love the placement.

I did that in several blocks without looking at what she wrote. Her transcriptions are kind of interesting at times haha
- - - Updated - - -
Great shop great choice. Please share afterwards!

Wow, thank you everyone for the detailed replies!
Of course, I've never said anything like "This is all shitty!" after seeing a design, haha. I usually love the designs I've been shown as a whole. The changes I've requested in the past have been small, and they only required the artist to redraw a small part of the design, not the whole thing. I always try to be kind and courteous, of course -- after all, this is part of my point: This is someone's art, and even though it's going on my body, I don't want to insult anyone! At the same time, I want to really love my tattoo.
The times I've asked, the tattooer has said something like "for sure, no problem" -- and made the change I asked for. I've never asked for more than one change per tattoo I've gotten. And I didn't ask for any changes at all for two of my pieces.
I dunno. This is the hardest part of the process for me, probably. I have taken a page out of "the book" here from you guys and learned to pick artists whose work I just totally love -- my next tattoo is being done by one of those people (Dennis del Prete at Providence Tattoo in RI), and I don't anticipate wanting anything on his design changed.
Anyway, good advice here -- thanks again, all.

Wow, thank you everyone for the detailed replies!
Of course, I've never said anything like "This is all shitty!" after seeing a design, haha. I usually love the designs I've been shown as a whole. The changes I've requested in the past have been small, and they only required the artist to redraw a small part of the design, not the whole thing. I always try to be kind and courteous, of course -- after all, this is part of my point: This is someone's art, and even though it's going on my body, I don't want to insult anyone! At the same time, I want to really love my tattoo.
The times I've asked, the tattooer has said something like "for sure, no problem" -- and made the change I asked for. I've never asked for more than one change per tattoo I've gotten. And I didn't ask for any changes at all for two of my pieces.
I dunno. This is the hardest part of the process for me, probably. I have taken a page out of "the book" here from you guys and learned to pick artists whose work I just totally love -- my next tattoo is being done by one of those people (Dennis del Prete at Providence Tattoo in RI), and I don't anticipate wanting anything on his design changed.
Anyway, good advice here -- thanks again, all.

Something that bums me out sometimes about the culture of tattoo "collectors" is a preoccupation with being a "cool" client, i.e. someone who seems "down" and who the tattooer hits it off with. I wonder if this is maybe where these kinds of anxieties come from. Fuck that. You sound polite and respectful, which is probably how most of us aim to be in most customer service situations. That is how I try to behave in most of my day-to-day dealings too. Beyond that, I try not to worry about whether or not I am "cool", or anyone's fave. That shit gets a bit too high school for me. Also I am not cool.

If you have a slot booked with an artist who has a long waiting list and then you require some redrawing that means it doesn't get completed in your booked slot, what happens then? Is it likely that they'd book you in for another session in the near future or would you have to go back on the waiting list? What about if you've travelled a long way? Or do artists usually factor in redraw time when they book slots?

Wow, thank you everyone for the detailed replies!
Of course, I've never said anything like "This is all shitty!" after seeing a design, haha. I usually love the designs I've been shown as a whole. The changes I've requested in the past have been small, and they only required the artist to redraw a small part of the design, not the whole thing. I always try to be kind and courteous, of course -- after all, this is part of my point: This is someone's art, and even though it's going on my body, I don't want to insult anyone! At the same time, I want to really love my tattoo.
The times I've asked, the tattooer has said something like "for sure, no problem" -- and made the change I asked for. I've never asked for more than one change per tattoo I've gotten. And I didn't ask for any changes at all for two of my pieces.
I dunno. This is the hardest part of the process for me, probably. I have taken a page out of "the book" here from you guys and learned to pick artists whose work I just totally love -- my next tattoo is being done by one of those people (Dennis del Prete at Providence Tattoo in RI), and I don't anticipate wanting anything on his design changed.
Anyway, good advice here -- thanks again, all.

It's amazing how far this will get you in life in general.

Keepcalm, it's entirely possible you won't be a lucky as to have an artist or situation where you feel you don't need some input. Like above people said, personally I have never changed a design simply because I approached them for their style.
99% of most clients are not like that. That's a special breed. Ok maybe 97%.
I have been stuck redrawing something a bit too many times and it does get aggravating in some cases. It happens but thankfully not often. It's kind if part if the deal; we try to make you what you want, with the exception of professional judgement calls of technical aspects such as design structure. But if it's as simple as "I'm not sure I like the way those wings look, it's too ____ for me" then it's part of the job to try to make it more appealing to you, without the ego of "this is what I wanted to do so that I can get a picture of it.". I would rather re-draw the wings and make you happy than have you go to a different shop later and say "this isn't what I wanted".
The other day I drew up a bird and roses and banner for someone brought in some shitty JPEG that they liked. I took down what they wanted, made an appointment, and then spend some time making a drawing for that tattoo. When he came in for a follow-up before the actual tattoo he looked at it and I could tell something bothered him. Apparently the bird I used (thanks Jerry) wasn't to his liking, he wanted it closer to the lame one on the JPEG. To me it looked rad because it was a classic looking bird. To him he just wanted a different style, and there's nothing wrong with that, it's just a matter of personal taste. I was a little bummed, but I gave him the kind of bird he wanted. And he left super happy. Which means he'll be coming back and bring his friends and maybe one of them want the 'cooler' bird.
Don't be scared to speak up. You live with this tattoo until you're dead. I will see that tattoo maybe once in my life at the most. You should be comfortable with what you wear, I often hear that they didn't want what the artist wanted to do. Well if you don't speak up then it's not our fault!
Be assertive and make sure that if you don't like it then don't get it.
Edit; Siri made all kind of blunders here, Apologies for odd sentence structure or the use of wrong words.

My understanding is that the reason (among others) many tattooers won't show you a design before your appointment is due to having been ripped off by clients who then take the design and get it done somewhere else (i.e. cheaper). Which is totally fair enough.
I have never asked a tattooer to change what they drew for me because I have usually been lucky enough to book in with people whose work I love and whose vision I want and trust. That said, I have sort of "worked out" the details of the tattoo on the spot a lot (especially for my back). Most of the time the tattooer has really wanted to make sure I am happy and comfortable with the direction we're going, so I would think that as long as: a) you're not a nitpicky jerk; b) you aren't massively contradicting what you asked for initially; and c) you are respecting the tattooer's advice (so if you ask them for too much and they tell you they have to simplify, I would trust that even if it's not what I imagined) - then any professional would be professional about it.

Searched for this but didn't see anything -- point me in the right direction if there's already a thread covering this...
So, even when I make an appointment far in advance, my experience so far (4 one-shot sessions) has been that the artist doesn't have anything drawn up until I come in to actually get the tattoo. And I get this -- people are busy and like to do one thing at a time. However, it has me wondering about the etiquette for if you see the drawing and want to change something about it. There you are, staring at your artist, and s/he's ready to start working on you, because you booked this appointment time, but you want to ask him/her to change something about the design s/he drew up. Do artists expect this? Do they work possible re-drawing time in to the time you booked for your appointment? Or do they expect you to just agree to the design and get started right away?
It's been a very uncomfortable moment for me the times I've asked if something could be changed. I didn't know if I was offending the artist, or doing it wrong? How much is too much to ask to be changed?
Like I said, I understand they can't work up a drawing for everyone far in advance, but I always feel pressure to accept the first thing they show me when I arrive to get the tattoo done, and it gives me anxiety, ha.
What does everyone else do? What is expected?
Would love perspectives from tattooers on this, too!

This is my latest from Nick Colella at the motor city tattoo expo.

Pretty fricking sweet.

@Ian, as a fellow divorcee, I wish you peace! Glad to hear it's pretty quiet so far -- mine was, too, and I was grateful for that.

Haha, yes! Very cool. That's the location where I had my consult, and where I believe Dennis will be tattooing me. Really looking forward to it! Providence is a neat little town, too -- I'd never been before.

I will solve this problem by avoiding both areas, haha.

I know this is not what your post is about, but all you people with big chest pieces impress me. I mean your nipple is RIGHT THERE. Did you cry during those parts? I would've! Either that or punctured something accidentally with my fingernails and my ROCK HARD GRIP OF PAIN :D :(
You new tattoo looks good, too!

As a fellow nurse, I have to agree with @KegRN, I also have a concern for my patient's comfort. Most of the patients I see are in their 50's to 80's and if I came walking in with 2 full sleeves, they aren't going to feel comfortable around me, which means I can't do my job effectively. I would rather sweat my ass off wearing long sleeves at work (which I never ever do by the way) than offend my patients. I feel if I told my patients to deal with it and came of as a dick, I'd probably be further feeding into their presumptions about tattooed people. I don't see any problem covering my tattoos out of respect for others as an impedance on my rights. It's called being considerate. And I also agree with @Graeme as far as keeping my tattoos a secret. The tattoos I get are for me, no one else.

First session of my eagle/rose done this weekend, second session to do the color in a few weeks. Done by Karl Williams.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

New one from my buddy - Christian Peters - Lotus tattoo.

Super happy with it one of the nicest guys too.

My $0.02: Those of us here may not judge people negatively for having tattoos (obviously!), but the reality is, some people do. I think it's your right to present yourself the way you wish -- if you want to cover up and not have to deal with any repercussions from those people who might judge you, especially when it comes to your livelihood, you can. It doesn't mean you're not proud of your work or happy to be tattooed; it means you have a grasp on what it means to live in the real world, where there are people of all kinds, and consequences that aren't always "fair."

My $0.02: Those of us here may not judge people negatively for having tattoos (obviously!), but the reality is, some people do. I think it's your right to present yourself the way you wish -- if you want to cover up and not have to deal with any repercussions from those people who might judge you, especially when it comes to your livelihood, you can. It doesn't mean you're not proud of your work or happy to be tattooed; it means you have a grasp on what it means to live in the real world, where there are people of all kinds, and consequences that aren't always "fair."