I want a tattoo.
Once upon a time I swore I’d never get one because someday I’d be old and that tattoo would be stupid and I’d regret it.
Now I just want one.
Because why the hell not?
My story characters frequently have them. And every time I focus on the design and meaning behind a fictional person’s permanent ink, I start to think more about getting ink for myself.
So what’s stopping me?
One:) How does one go about choosing a place to get it done? Google? Word of mouth? Take a flying leap and walk into the one that’s about a mile from my house? (One of the guys has a gaddamn Eeyore tattoo in is portfolio. That’s gotta be a sign, right?)
Two:) What would I even get? And where?
I can come up with dozens of designs that right now I would love to have. But will I love them as much in another year? Or five? Or ten?
I could go with representations of my favorite music…but how do I narrow it down enough so it doesn’t turn into a full-body tattoo? And despite loving this particular music for years in many cases…will I always be so obsessive passionate about it?
There’s also all the critters that I love—Eeyore, Bunjee, my little whatisit guy? Or a frog, turtle, penguin, polar bear…sea otter…red panda…Sheep and The Bears…? All of the above?
Rooster Teeth and/or Red Vs Blue?
Something else entirely?
I don’t know.
There are a few ideas that have been rolling around more recently that are less pop-culture and more me, but then I run into the issue of I’m not an artist so how do I properly convey what I have in my head to the one with the needle? I could half-ass a Photoshop job compiled from Google image search, but that’s pretty much guaranteed to not yield what I really want. And I’m certainly not going to sit down in a chair and give a generic description and expect the professional to just figure out what the hell I’m talking about.
I know where I would want this (these?) imaginary tattoo(s).
It’s just the what I can’t commit to.
Also the whole where the hell do I even go issue.
But that’s really not an issue unless I come to a definitive decision of yes I am getting and this is what I want.
This is my brain and welcome to it.
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Every Time You Go 3 Doors Down |
You can always start with Yelp to weed out the scaries. It’s not a super good idea to rush in and go with the first person you see. Good shops are those that will start you out with the receptionist asking what you’re looking for and matching you up with an appropriate artist. Then you sit down with the artist for a consult. Throw some ideas around, look at their portfolio (LOOK AT THEIR PORTFOLIO of actual tattoos), and get a feel for their personality. Trust your gut. Request a different artist if you’re not jiving. Your artist should be able to translate what you’re saying into art. If they can’t do that, find a different artist.
Also, you get what you pay for. Less than $50/hour in the Twin Cities is scary and you should run, and that’s REALLY low end.
I think you should check out Twilight Tattoo or St. Sabrina’s. Electric Dragonland if you’re willing to pay for it and wait for your appointment (Dan Dittmer is HIGHLY sought after and Shahn Anderson is HUGE but may be more than you’re looking for. Husband used to work with Stephanie and she’s just a peach… you should definitely check her out.) Plus it’s in Hopkins so not that terribly far away….
Ooh, thanks for the info. I’ll definitely look into those places. I’m still waffling on the commitment at this point. Not to mention justifying the expense. Maybe I’ll make it a goal to hit by the time I’m 40. That’s only five years away…crikey.