Setting a Few Things Straight

So I have been getting some hassle about getting more tattoos, setting up consultations with tattoo artist and checking out places to go. With the assumption that I am going to sit down and get a tattoo right off the bat after the consultations. Ummm NO! First, I don't have the money to get the tattoo I want right now and second, I want to be positive about the design I choose.  I was positive in NOLA that I wanted my zodiac symbol. Now I have to be positive about what I want around it...like mermaids...and I have to be positive about the design.

This is a tattoo that I found an just LOVE
Photo by Tattoo Patrol

There is a reason it is called a consultation. You consult with the artist to see if you 1. like their style, 2. like their personality, and 3. see how clean they are.

I love many different styles of art and an artists style may not be great for the tattoo I am going to them for but may be perfect for another tattoo that I want. I also may not like their style. I have been looking at many portfolios online and see some styles that I like but would not want on my body. I love Japanese art, but I don't think it is something that I would want a tattoo for...that may change in the future.

A tattoo artist and I have to click on some form with personality. If someone is an ass then they don't get my business...if they are a "know it all" tattoo artist then no...I'll go somewhere else. If they try to impose on my ideas of what I want on my body...then "see ya!" If they have no respect for their clients choices...nope not gonna fly with me. I have ideas that I just need help putting on my body...I need people who are willing to work with me.

If they work out of their home I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is reusing needles, ink, or anything else that will go on my skin. A dirty home...sorry but if you run a business out of your home you should keep it clean for business. And a dirty person...it says a lot when you shower for your client.

A tattoo parlor I am assuming runs their business based on SC guidelines and laws. But I still want to see how clean their business is. I'm don't know everything about getting tattoos but I do know that there is a risk of getting diseases if it is not clean.

I want to meet tattoo artist that are creative, understand that they are putting their works of art on my body and want to sign their work, yes, I said sign...I want my tattoos signed by the artist. Because, 20 years from now when someone comes up to me and asks who did my tattoo I want to be able to tell them.