What do you do while being tattooed?

SillyMangoX

I'm just starting a 3 hour session at the moment and am entertaining myself on boards for a while, so I was just wondering what do other people do during big sessions? Bring a book, squeeze someone's hand?

niallam

SillyMangoX wrote: »

I'm just starting a 3 hour session at the moment and am entertaining myself on boards for a while, so I was just wondering what do other people do during big sessions? Bring a book, squeeze someone's hand?

I fell asleep getting my leg done about 5 years ago. For some reason I actually don't feel too much pain on my legs, around ankle and knee are tender but the rest was grand

January

Usually just use my phone to browse the net... Close my eyes and relax if I'm lying down sometimes too.

Marsden

Try to not wince, that way I look really tough.:cool:

Seriously though its been years since I got one and I had a three hour session where I just stared at the wall or chatted with the fella doing the tattoo. I'd imagine now the phone would come in handy for keeping entertained with games, new apps and whatnot.

SillyMangoX

I'm getting my second session of my thigh tattoo done and am seriously trying not to fall asleep!!

Cupcake_Crisis

Usually just fart about on my phone, if it's a larger piece I'll make myself as comfy as possible and just relax. I love actually watching the tattoo being done when I can.

Marsden

SillyMangoX wrote: »

I'm just starting a 3 hour session at the moment and am entertaining myself on boards for a while, so I was just wondering what do other people do during big sessions? Bring a book, squeeze someone's hand?

Cupcake_Crisis wrote: »

Usually just fart

You should of finished your sentence there.:D

dinorebel

Kindle's are the way to go.

rannerap

I usually bring some tea and a cake which is great for the first bit. Then I just browse the Internet on my phone

Yap.

Cupcake_Crisis

Marsden wrote: »

You should of finished your sentence there.:D

Ah now!

Rod Serling

I just sit and talk. I've had most of mine done by the same tattooer, usually lasting an hour, two max. The longest I had done was five hours which was meant to be three by an artist I didn't know and she wasn't a bit friendly, wish I'd brought a book or something along for that one.

innad

I always bring a book. I don't usually get much time to read so it's great to have five hours with nothing else to do. It's also a great distraction.

Although turning the pages can be tricky when you're getting your arm tattooed!

Hybrid_Theory

I either chat away to the lad tattooing me or else just watch the magic (where possible) or text ma peeps. :cool:

Marty McFly

If I can I love to watch it being done depending on the were it's being done and chat to the artist but that depends on the artist aswell.

Other than that like others mess about on my phone on boards, games facebook etc only problem battery on my phone is crap so usually only withstands a few hours of that. Catch 22 of modern phones brillaint apps etc but batterys aren't worth a ****.

P_1

Have to say the kindle is a godsend for getting inked

bodice ripper

Think up ways to hide the terror, pain, and occasional weeping.

SillyMangoX

bodice ripper wrote: »

Think up ways to hide the terror, pain, and occasional weeping.

I actually entertained myself today by watching the other guy getting tattooed screaming his head off! We were both getting thigh tattoos and one of the guys in the shop was like "look at this girl, she's getting tattooed the same place and not a sound, man up!" I could not stop laughing. Though in fairness his was going on the inner thigh so I imagine was a tad more painful!

Just Like Heaven

Chat about utter nonsense with the artist. Fell asleep getting my leg done once which was brilliant wish I could do that everytime. Brought a magazine once but didn't really look at it. Oh looked through flashbooks last time which was a good way to pass an hour. It'd take me days to look at the spider Murphy one properly.

Papillon!

Usuaully just sit there staring into space half falling asleep or messing with my phone while the artist(s) in the studio try and pull some conversation out of me. I'm not a big talker when I don't know people that well haha.:o

Killer_banana

Longest tattoo session I've had was two and a half hours. Just spent the whole time talking to the artist and lifting my head to try see my arm every so often. We talked about everything from favourite books and films to a road trip she took as a teen to how overpriced the Miami Ink artists are. For certain parts she had to concentrate a lot so she didn't speak and during those I almost drifted off.

If I had to sit for a seriously long time I guess I'd bring a book or arse around on my phone.

Ms. Koi

The girl that did my first three was not chatty at all. Had himself the first one, sister there the other too so it was nice to be able to chat to them.

IamMetaldave

I'm amazed by the amount of people that say they feel like sleeping! I must be a total wuss haha, I only felt that way once and it was short lived. I always chat with my artist, he's also one of my best friends so it's handy that way, always stuff to chat about

RustyNut

Hopefully not this.

P.K.M.

I usually bring a 4-pack of Monster and a few packs of biccies. Keeps me going for a bit. My tattooist doesn't talk much but his younger brother (who takes the bookings and decides pricing etc.) is always there and he's a real chatterbox. We usually just end up chatting about movies and trying to guess the movies certain quotes come from...

jenizzle

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

Adiboo

I usually just sit there and relax. Chat sometimes depending on who I'm getting work by.

I'm in for a killer session on Tuesday, so I've made myself a playlist of some of the heaviest stuff on my iTunes. I've titled the playlist "Fuck You!".

Charming

Atavan-Halen

I'd usually be on my phone or just watching the tattoo being done. A little bit of convo with the artist too but I'm not much of a talker.

princess-lala

I lie there with my eyes closed doing my best not to move! Im an awful fidget!

justforlaugh

first time i has my leg tattoos i passed out:o

the guy gave me a few magazines to read to keep me distracted so he could finish the job:D

Viserion

Chat our heads off. Including himself we've been going to the same artist for 20 years so plenty to talk about.

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:)