MRCL

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

I got Kratos from God of War... 1st tattoo, about a year old. Not good to photograph. Quality of the tattoo itself is also a bit "eh", but who cares, first ones are allowed to :P

I recall reading a book about Dragons (History, Origins, Variations etc - it was a big book) which specifically mentioned that you shouldn't put too many Dragons on you; Apparently if there are too many they begin to fight each other and the good spirits and protective nature they convey gets lost and instead chaos ensues. I think it said four to six dragons is okay, more is not good for you. Thats western Dragons however, I don't know how it is with eastern ones or the coexistence of both. You can't have too many virgin damsels in distress, tough.

Well every answer so far makes perfect sense. How could I have been so blind!

Well every answer so far makes perfect sense. How could I have been so blind!

Well every answer so far makes perfect sense. How could I have been so blind!

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

Something postitive from my side...
I work at the national air traffic control center in Switzerland, as an Aeronautical Information Management Controller. Sounds pretty uptight, right?
I had some doubts if tattooing my arms would be a no-no. However when I learned that they hired a girl with neck tattoos, I went for it. Here's the exchange from a superior several management layers above me:
Her: New tattoo?
Me: Yes
Her: Ooooooh show me!
Me *shows outlines of Oldschool Pirate Girl and Ship Halfsleeve*
Her: Wow thats beautiful! But you get it colored in, right?
Me: Sure I do
Her: Cool you have to show me immediately then
End of story.
Also, several coworkers who have expressed prejudice against tattooed people actually admire mine. Work relationship has not changed in the slightest, but instead even improved. A lot of coworkers now come to me for recommendations. Nice talks ensue.

My 5th of June appointment for finally getting Goku on my stomach has been cancelled... and instead been forwarded to the 3rd of May, one day after my birthday. Awesomeness.
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My 5th of June appointment for finally getting Goku on my stomach has been cancelled... and instead been forwarded to the 3rd of May, one day after my birthday. Awesomeness.
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I found waiting time is not an indicator for a tattooers skill... with the guy doing my arm I have to wait almost two years. The guy who did my chest? I could've had an appointment the next day if I didn't had to work then. So I got it six days later when I was off. Skill wise, both are on the same level. I'm going to the guy who did my chest today to discuss a half sleeve, wonder how long I have to wait for that one.
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UPDATE: Just came back from the shop, half sleeve starts on the 25th of April :D Even in 2014!

I shower and put on some deodorant before the appointment, however last time I did sweat profusely - warm climate in the shop and me dying of pain takes its toll. I apologized for that, artist seemed very understanding.
I bring in reference only as a rough guidance. Even from other tattoos, however in the sense of "I kinda want it sort of like this"; when a tattoo matches the idea I have in my head, even better. Last appointment I brought reference for a Leopard head - real photos and some tattoo reference. Just to tell the artist "head like this position, teeth showing". Then he drew something up. I think therefore, any reference is okay, if its a rough guidance for the artist and not "I want it EXACTLY like that".
Tipping is uncommon where I live. You pay the asking price, maybe bring some cookies or gummy bears. Tipping is not required nor expected, actually. The hourly wages for tattoos are high enough as it is (100 CHF to 250 CHF, depending on location and artist). So paying a thousand Swiss Franks for a five hour tattoo isn't uncommon.
As for ID, Switzerland (at least the good shops) are very strict, they want an ID when you first show up there. Once you have an appointment, you're golden. However you need to fill out some form about you being okay with them hurting you with needles. You know, since tattooing basically counts as aggravated assault.
"About the get what you want and not what you can afford" - This is absolutely 100% true. I have successfully convinced a coworker of mine to go to a good shop and not look at the price. If you can't afford the tattoo, don't get it, simple as that. There is enough evidence for "you get what you pay for" walking around.
I also want to add that you have to trust your artist and not confine him to a style or a tattoo in general he is not comfortable with. I initially wanted sort of a graffiti Leopard head (hard to explain even in my native language), artist is da bomb in traditional... so I thought to myself: Better let him do his thing, where he can let his creativity run free and actually enjoy the tattoo instead of forcing him to do something he isn't comfortable with. If you let them do their thing, you'll get something awesome, even if it is not what you initially wanted. Doesn't mean you have to completely comply with the artist, just don't be a stubborn SOB.

This was done on the 16th of January. I'm the owner, the artist who did it is Dano, from Black Cat Tattoo in Schwerzenbach ZH, Switzerland.. Fresh after getting stabbed to death and back to life.

This was done on the 16th of January. I'm the owner, the artist who did it is Dano, from Black Cat Tattoo in Schwerzenbach ZH, Switzerland.. Fresh after getting stabbed to death and back to life.

Got my right chest done a week ago. Went to the appointment thinking "well it couldn't be as bad as lower leg, towards the knee ditch...right? Right??
Then the needle punctuated me. Fuck me. Towards the nipple, and towards the armpit was pure hell.
Interestingly enough, collarbone and sternum weren't painful, just really uncomfortable because of the vibrations. And the artist wiped the ink off always in the same direction over my collarbone, towards the end I reeeallly had to restrain myself not punching him in the face.
In the end I sat 4 and a half hours, was worth it.

I got Kratos from God of War... 1st tattoo, about a year old. Not good to photograph. Quality of the tattoo itself is also a bit "eh", but who cares, first ones are allowed to :P

This was done on the 16th of January. I'm the owner, the artist who did it is Dano, from Black Cat Tattoo in Schwerzenbach ZH, Switzerland.. Fresh after getting stabbed to death and back to life.

Wasn't mine either, to be honest. But what I had in mind looks good on paper but not on skin, and since my artist likes this style the most I said fuck it, and went with it. Meaning I fully trusted him that we will deliver something awesome. And he did and I do not regret in the slightest.

Was at the shop yesterday to get a Leopard head. Here's what Dano, the artist, came up with. Needless to say I was stoked, even tough it wasn't what I originally had in mind. However its over 9000 times better than what I had in mind and I was very open to suggestions. Which I think he appreciated, you could tell he had a lot of fun doing it and during the smoking breaks, he was constantly checking it out thinking about it. He said while tattooing he's in another dimension. Soo... bold will hold, here's the finished tattoo right after getting stabbed:

This was done on the 16th of January. I'm the owner, the artist who did it is Dano, from Black Cat Tattoo in Schwerzenbach ZH, Switzerland.. Fresh after getting stabbed to death and back to life.

Was at the shop yesterday to get a Leopard head. Here's what Dano, the artist, came up with. Needless to say I was stoked, even tough it wasn't what I originally had in mind. However its over 9000 times better than what I had in mind and I was very open to suggestions. Which I think he appreciated, you could tell he had a lot of fun doing it and during the smoking breaks, he was constantly checking it out thinking about it. He said while tattooing he's in another dimension. Soo... bold will hold, here's the finished tattoo right after getting stabbed:

Was at the shop yesterday to get a Leopard head. Here's what Dano, the artist, came up with. Needless to say I was stoked, even tough it wasn't what I originally had in mind. However its over 9000 times better than what I had in mind and I was very open to suggestions. Which I think he appreciated, you could tell he had a lot of fun doing it and during the smoking breaks, he was constantly checking it out thinking about it. He said while tattooing he's in another dimension. Soo... bold will hold, here's the finished tattoo right after getting stabbed: