- Be on time. Most tattooers worth getting work from are going to be booked. With that in mind, if you show up to your appointment late, this affects your artist’s schedule for the rest of the day. I know that s*** happens and that you can’t control the traffic, but punctuality is always appreciated. Worst case scenario, if you are running late, it’s always a good idea to call and let your artist know.
- Don’t bargain. “Good tattoos aren’t cheap, and cheap tattoos aren’t good.” — Sailor Jerry. When it comes to your tattoo, the old saying “You get what you pay for” says it all. Price should not be a deciding factor. Would you bargain with your doctor or your plastic surgeon? It is offensive to an artist when people try and bargain the price of a given quote. Trying to talk down the price only translates to, “I don’t think you are good enough to pay that much,” to your artist.
- Don’t come wasted to your session. Making lifelong executive decisions shouldn’t be made while under the influence of anything. else’s).
- Avoid bringing children with you if you can.
- Eat something before your appointment. Before you get tattooed, make sure you’ve had a meal or a snack. Clients who arrive hungry may get dizzy or even faint. It’s more common than you think, so even if it’s a candy bar, eat something.
- Dress the part. Make sure to wear clothing that allows easy access to the area on your body you plan on getting tattooed. Focusing on your tattoo in oder for it to be perfect is hard enough without some strap or some complicated shirt getting in the way.
- Take a shower. This one is self-explanatory .
- Don’t be a tattoo adviser — and don’t bring one with you, either. I can honestly say that I hate when a client brings along a buddy who is more sure about the tattoo than the guy who is getting it. If you’re not 100 percent sure about what you should get, you should wait until you are.
- Don’t bring an entourage. Bringing one friend for moral support (not to be a tattoo adviser) is totally cool. But I promise you, even though it may sound like a good idea to invite all of your first, second, and third cousins, it isn’t.
- Don’t get a tattoo if you’re pregnant. Being tattooed raises stress levels and affects your immune system. If you’re pregnant, these are two things your doctor will tell you to avoid during those nine months. Any good tattooer will refuse to tattoo a pregnant woman.
Excerpt from Source: Von D, Kat. High Voltage Tattoo. New York: Collins Designs, 2009