GrayCatLove

My first thought on the fad was the number of workers who died from making parts for radium watches.
Rob

Putting UV responsive pigment into your skin is dangerous and largely unresearched. Pass.

I believe @Gregor was referring to the human condition of personal responsibility. Just as @GrayCatLove was noting an extreme situation, so was he. I don't think this conversation needs to go any further.

What matters is if you're comfortable. Make your communications clear and to the point, at the risk of sounding rude. "What will this cost?"
The tattoo shop I go to sells soda. It's never phased me. This is a problem with two non-Native speakers and a business transaction. You either have to trust him enough to get the tattoo, or not. It doesn't require liking him. However, if you really find him so distasteful, don't spend your hard-earned money there.

I said it. He said it.
But it's worth repeating.

I have total confidence in the artists I visit and I think that is very important. I usually now just say do what you want and I trust i will get some piece of art that's beautiful. The first few I had I did bring lots of pics etc and although they are executed beautifully and I love them, they are and wont be original as others will copy from the same pictures I took from the internet which they are entitled to do as its on the internet. I have learned this to a certain degree but I guess all art has some sort of inspiration from other art.
I the same as mmikaoj really didn't like traditional or Japanese, as I grew up with the proper council estate shite tattoos you laugh at on the web. I know also am starting to love some traditional and some stuff by Horitada etc and now having seen and love them and appreciate them more I would if I wasn't covered happily wear something like that, where as before I wouldn't of ever thought it :) Things change :)
So I guess for me is most important to get top notch artists. I don't think it matters if you stay with one or get loads from different artists. If they are all top notch they will fit your pieces in. Personally I enjoy the travelling and meeting new people, so for me its an easy option to get art from more artists, rather than just one :)

I love this thread too both my kids have severe Autism . I think you will be cool if you break the sessions down , get some headphones on to watch a film or listen to some music and keep your focus. Don't take any mad meds without speaking to your doc first !

If you have challenges with anxiety/sitting still, talk to your PCP about the possibility of getting a short acting benzo like Xanax for the tattoo. It may make things easier on you and the artist. Even a non-benzo like propranolol can do wonders if s/he's uncomfortable prescribing scheduled stuff.

I usually get 2 tattoos each year, that's because of my budget and the artist that I go to isn't cheap. He's usually booked out 3-4 months so it gives me time to save up. Family and bills always the priority obviously, but I love getting tattooed. Being new to tattooing I love to learn from tattooers I'm inspired by so I get tattooed by them. I'm saving my large canvas for the tattooers that I want to tattoo them. I have fun getting somewhat larger pieces on my arms and legs and that's what I will do for a while. Until I have the funds for my chest/stomach and back piece. I want to be able to get tattooed up until I'm gone, who knows if that will happen. I'm just not sure how I'd like feeling about not having any space left to tattoo (face is off limits).

Anything that responds to ultraviolet light that's inside your body has the potential to be carcinogenic. Not saying it is, but I wouldn't rush out to get one based on that fact alone. I've read little informal snips about poor healing, soreness, tenderness, etc.

Putting UV responsive pigment into your skin is dangerous and largely unresearched. Pass.

So today was my second session with Henning on my backpiece and it was a tough one. Started bright at early at 9:30am at Kings Avenue Long Island. This was probably the most painful and longest tattoo session I've ever had. We both under-estimated the time it would take for Henning to finish lining some additional feathers and to shade in the rest of the background. The first 5 hours were relatively low key. The last two hours were terrifying. I now know I will probably not entertain a torso piece anytime soon as the pain from the ribs was just brutal. This was the first time I considered tapping out but I was able to bare down and we managed to finish. Here are some pics. Color next year for the phoenix. Next session will be with Rubendall in December to put more color into the dragon.
Big thanks to @Killercook76 who dropped by today for moral support and assisted in taking some pics. He showed off his Garver and Hendricks pieces which were AMAZING. Cheers bro!
I love this guy but he "royally" kicked my ass today...

Added some more feathers and filling in the top

Background fully shaded

Right side from Tuesday's session

Left side from today

They spread disease and bloodborne pathogens. I have no problem with terrible art, but spreading HIV is not cool.

I've heard the same thing GrayCatLove - about the UV light pigment being carcinogenic! I have overheard some tattoo artists talk/joke about how if you want to get a UV light tattoo, you might as well be asking for cancer. I suppose if the pigment were made with ground UV sensitive minerals, that might be coolish/okayish and possibly not bad for one's health. Possibly...

Anything that responds to ultraviolet light that's inside your body has the potential to be carcinogenic. Not saying it is, but I wouldn't rush out to get one based on that fact alone. I've read little informal snips about poor healing, soreness, tenderness, etc.

Eh, not really interested in a work related tattoo. I love what I do, but I feel like there needs to be separation between my work and private life. Tattoos are about art and escape for me. If I wanted a constant reminder of work, I'd pick up extra shifts.

That's funny. My dad was an infantryman in the second cavalry in Vietnam, too.

If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough for a tattoo. Not much discussion there.
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If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough for a tattoo. Not much discussion there.
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If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough for a tattoo. Not much discussion there.
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If you're old enough to die for your country, you're old enough for a tattoo. Not much discussion there.

Eh, not really interested in a work related tattoo. I love what I do, but I feel like there needs to be separation between my work and private life. Tattoos are about art and escape for me. If I wanted a constant reminder of work, I'd pick up extra shifts.

Eh, not really interested in a work related tattoo. I love what I do, but I feel like there needs to be separation between my work and private life. Tattoos are about art and escape for me. If I wanted a constant reminder of work, I'd pick up extra shifts.

Eh, not really interested in a work related tattoo. I love what I do, but I feel like there needs to be separation between my work and private life. Tattoos are about art and escape for me. If I wanted a constant reminder of work, I'd pick up extra shifts.

My lady metalsmiths and myself have simple anvil tattoos.

I definitely agree with this. My girlfriend works as a bartender/server in an Outback restaurant, she ALWAYS gets comments from people. A lot of people will flat out tell her that "tattoos are ugly, why would you do that to yourself?". I, on the other hand have not ever once received a comment from someone being rude. I get the "where do you get your ink?" questions a lot and "doesn't that hurt?" but other than nice comments I've never come across anybody being rude. I'm not even sure how I would react to a rude comment about them.

I was sitting in my lawyer's office earlier in the week (deposition for my car accident case) and we were talking about people we both knew from my town (mostly drug dealers and shady lawyers...) and we got around to kids today, how hard it is for them to find jobs even with 4-year degrees.
Then he mentions how they are into drugs and getting inked. I was going to pull up my shirt cuff, but let it go. Other lawyers there have seen my ink, but this was my first meeting with the big kahuna. After a tough few hours, it was the highlight of my day.
Rob

Also what you see on TV and reality are 2 different things. In RL, I don't see that many artists with neck, face ink, but a few with hand tattoos. I think some artists make it on TV for the freak-show factor they portray.
I agree to the double-standard on TV, male vs female tattoo artists. The trade has long since been male dominated and may always be. My artists are both female and quite well respected.
Rob