What do you do while being tattooed?

He Who Dares Wins

Got my first tattoo yesterday which was a 3 hour chest piece and for me it was just chatting to the artist, looking at all the pictures on the wall and listening to the music which was playing got me thought what I initially thought was going to be really painful.

oeb

I'm another kindle (or paper book) user here.

My longest session was 8.5 hours, with a deaf artist who could only lip read in Hungarian.

That made communication awkward, it was also a Sunday, and he had agreed (through a translator) to open the shop specially for me, so there was not even any passing people to chat with!

Star Lord

Think I might ask Santa for a Kindle this year... and try to be good!
I tend to chat to the artist (if they're the chatty type!) otherwise I try to zone out a little.

I've also no idea how some of you can almost sleep through it!!! :eek:

Marty McFly

DamoElDiablo wrote: »

Think I might ask Santa for a Kindle this year... and try to be good!
I tend to chat to the artist (if they're the chatty type!) otherwise I try to zone out a little.

I've also no idea how some of you can almost sleep through it!!! :eek:

I have kinda been dozing off in and out of concious on one or two occassions once gave out to Remis because he wanted to take a break when I was in sleep mode :pac: wanted to keep going while the going was good .

But I think once you go over a certain amount of time 4+ hours sleeping is not going to happen at all.

Ms. Koi

oeb wrote: »

I'm another kindle (or paper book) user here.

My longest session was 8.5 hours, with a deaf artist who could only lip read in Hungarian.

That made communication awkward, it was also a Sunday, and he had agreed (through a translator) to open the shop specially for me, so there was not even any passing people to chat with!

This is one of my favourite things I have ever read on the internet.

Thanks to the whole chronic pain condition thing has gotten a lot worse since my last tattoo, so I dunno how I'm gonna handle the next one! We'll see!

McChubbin

I'm hoping to get my Eeyore done after Christmas if I EVER get the feckin' money together. I imagine the ankle area would be pretty damn painful as my first and so far only tat was on my left wrist. It was done in 20 minutes as it's a very simple design and Cathal barely said a word to me.
To be honest, all I did was try to keep my breathing easy and avoid fidgetting. My pain threshold is on the low side so I honestly don't know how some of ye can read a book/Kindle let alone fall asleep! That said, though, my next tat will be a lot more intricate- linework, shading and colour to consider so I'd say I'd probably just be hissing through my teeth and cursing under my breath. It remains to be seen, though so I'll be sure to let you all know how I get on with it.

Slightly off topic but: Anyone got any good tips for stopping life interfering with efforts to save money?!

RuggieMuffin

jenizzle wrote: »

I can't really talk whilst getting tattooed. I find that I kinda shut down when I'm in pain, and talking takes a lot out of me! Sometimes I wouldn't even be able to read either. So zoning out and staring at the walls for me

Yup - same as that! And gripping my phone while wondering how much is left!

steel_spine

I'd always feel a bit rude bringing in a book or whatever, I'll usually just chat with the artists in the shop or zone out during the really nippy parts.

Orim

steel_spine wrote: »

I'd always feel a bit rude bringing in a book or whatever, I'll usually just chat with the artists in the shop or zone out during the really nippy parts.

I'm sure the artist's are used to it. There's only so much chatting you can do so if you're in for a long session, you need some distractions.

baby and crumble

steel_spine wrote: »

I'd always feel a bit rude bringing in a book or whatever, I'll usually just chat with the artists in the shop or zone out during the really nippy parts.

Well I figure that the artist is going to need to concentrate at bits too, rather than have me nattering.... I'll have a 2-3 hour session for a new tattoo soon and I plan to bring in my phone (I want to document the process a bit!) and i'll bring my kindle too i'd say. Just to have an option.

P.K.M.

Well I'm in this Tuesday and I'll be bringing some new tunes with me. (He lets me hook my phone up to his speakers) and as I haven't seen them in a while, there's lots to catch up on, including them coming to mine next weekend to have a few beers for my burp-day! :pac:

Frank Bullitt

Listen to music or just try and chill.

The most painful thing for me getting tattooed is my nose is sore, I keep rubbing it to get through the tough parts.

Ankhyu

I generally just try to relax, chat a little to the artist (though I'm not a big talker either), look at the pictures on the walls etc. My last two sessions I had the phone with me to look at Boards and Facebook and such.

steel_spine

baby and crumble wrote: »

Well I figure that the artist is going to need to concentrate at bits too, rather than have me nattering.... I'll have a 2-3 hour session for a new tattoo soon and I plan to bring in my phone (I want to document the process a bit!) and i'll bring my kindle too i'd say. Just to have an option.

Oh yeah, I'm not saying it is rude, just that I'd feel that way. My artist is a chatty guy and we both go silent if either one is concentrating, so it works out. I don't think I'd be able to absorb a book anyway :pac:

GalwayKiefer

I only ever do 3 hour sessions because it's around then I hit the wall. Usually bring a fizzy drink, skittles, kindle and my phone. The guy I go to has a 40" tv above his chair where he plays those Planet Earth dvds so I usually switch between each distraction.

I've dozed once but never fallen asleep, I did laugh once though and cause the guy to mess up a line which then required a break and a rethink. :pac:

zenno

I thought it was a sin to fall asleep while the tattooist works, all because if you did fall asleep while said tattooist is working it can really cause a problem with the work.

I remember the day when you used knitting needles with indian ink to get the job done, how far we have come

Eating popcorn you say ? and skittles ? yeah right, you would be told to bite down hard on this old 1800's bit of hardwood to deal with the pain....Yeah, popcorn and skittles nowadays, how tranquil.

imokyrok

kellief wrote: »

This is one of my favourite things I have ever read on the internet.

Thanks to the whole chronic pain condition thing has gotten a lot worse since my last tattoo, so I dunno how I'm gonna handle the next one! We'll see!

I listen to audio books every day to distract myself from chronic pain. I'd say that could help while getting tattooed as well.

Ms. Koi

imokyrok wrote: »

I listen to audio books every day to distract myself from chronic pain. I'd say that could help while getting tattooed as well.

Worth considering! Thanks!

K.r.a.t.o.S

"What do you do while being tattooed?"
I tattoo! (I do my own tattoos)
Do something that takes problem solving mental skills and you'll be unlikely to get bored, tired etc. And I imagine if you have problems with the pain then this would be a good distraction for that too.

u_c_thesecond

Normally i listen to my i pod or mess on my phone. unless its only a small one im getting then ill just chat to tattoist. last one was hour and a half so lay down stuck on the ipod and rocked out a lil ha:)

Arawn

u_c_thesecond wrote: »

Normally i listen to my i pod or mess on my phone. unless its only a small one im getting then ill just chat to tattoist. last one was hour and a half so lay down stuck on the ipod and rocked out a lil ha:)

what do you consider a small one

salacious crumb

Chat to the tattooist a bit, zone out a lot...

u_c_thesecond

Arawn wrote: »

what do you consider a small one

ah the one of my wrist was a small one only took a half hour so it was grand... anything over an hour and i start to zone out

Zurn

Talking to the tattoo artist. It´s always the same one, so I have known him for 14 years.

Last Wednesday I would have fall asleep, if I didn´t be stitched with a needle.

RubyXI

Go to my happy place where pain doesn't exist...
I forgot to answer once when he asked if I was ok so he probably thought I had passed out.

PaurGasm

I have. 2hour sesh booked for tomorrow... I have a feeling some f that time will be spent monitoring this thread...Chat tmoro guys haha

PaurGasm

PaurGasm wrote: »

I have. 2hour sesh booked for tomorrow... I have a feeling some f that time will be spent monitoring this thread...Chat tmoro guys haha

Forgive the spelling...my good old phone sit being nice to me ha

Marty McFly

PaurGasm wrote: »

I have. 2hour sesh booked for tomorrow... I have a feeling some f that time will be spent monitoring this thread...Chat tmoro guys haha

What you getting done?

PaurGasm

Marty McFly wrote: »

What you getting done?

Getting an add on to a script tattoo I got about 5 years ago. Its on my inner bicep and I'm going to add on a coral rose expanding out from it diagonally up towards my shoulder!... Ill post a before and after tomorrow somewhere!

This is my first time on this board so I must explore it and find an appropriate thread to post it on!

Marty McFly

PaurGasm wrote: »

Getting an add on to a script tattoo I got about 5 years ago. Its on my inner bicep and I'm going to add on a coral rose expanding out from it diagonally up towards my shoulder!... Ill post a before and after tomorrow somewhere!

This is my first time on this board so I must explore it and find an appropriate thread to post it on!

Here ya go heres a link to the pic thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057008648

Have a good browse around were a friendly bunch in here mostly .