Deciding to get a tattoo

Staggering Genius

Is there even a way to decide?

I've always been the "I am afraid of permanence" person. But also someone who will frame a quote and look at it frequently to get through a tough time.

I love other people's tattoos but never thought they were something for me. Until recently.

I see it now as a scar, a story to yourself, a movement into future. But maybe it is only ink? That will eventually sag with older skin?

I want to get "Given to Fly" in Ed's handwriting. I've seen it on the tattoo thread and think it is very inspiring. As with a lot of people, the lyrics of that song mean a lot to me; probably more than most songs, in a positive way.

I would get it somewhere it would not be seen by myself or others too often, like on my shoulder blade or ribs.

What do you think? Any tattoo regretters out there? Any commitment phobics like myself?

Or should I perhaps get the same concept painted on my wall?

Thanks.

magicredbengal

Get a temporary made up of it and try it out in the different areas you think you may want it and wear it around for a while to see how you feel. Getting the first one is the hardest decision, after you're done you'll likely be trying to decide what to get next! I have 5 and if my budget allowed me to get one any time I wanted I would probably be out of places to get ink on! lol

Illridethewave20

I had the same type of concerns, I kind of wanted one, but when I got the pic on the right from eddie I knew that was what I wanted on my body for the rest of my life, I would not push it and just wait for that moment to happen you when you just know!

RYEzupSF

I love my tattoos. I have two, getting my third in a few weeks. All are very significant to me and represent importants periods in my life. It took me a long time to get each one, because, like you, i didn't want to regret them. One of them I drew on my wrist every day for months just to get used to it and see if I liked it. (I did)

Seems like you've given it a lot of thought, know what you want, and it means something to you. If you decide to go for it don't look back! It becomes a part of you.

stargirl69

I love my tattooes,I have 11 and the 12th being drawn up.I don't regret any of them.Every one tell's a story of my life.I have never rushed into any of them and I think that is the key ...

Take your time.
Do research of what you want and of the artists in your area.
Yes your skin will be saggy when your 70 but your not 70 yet,I assume so enjoy your skin and your tattoo when you are young.
If you see a tattoo that you like on someone ask them about it and who the artist was.Most people proud of their tattooes like to tell the story behind them.
Don't scrimp on cost,good tattooes are expensive!!!!!! But they will never leave you feeling embarrassed to show them of.
Don't over think the pain issue,yes it is uncomfortable at certain points but it's not screamingly painful.
Be prepared to want more and more and more.
But most of all .... enjoy them.

Good luck

RKCNDY

I got my first tat as soon as I turned 18...mind you this was back in the early 90s...not a lot of people got tats back then...even less girls did

I don't regret my tattoo, though I wish I had picked something that meant more to me and not flash. A friend of mine did mehndi for me on my hand/wrist, I liked it, but wasn't digging the strangers coming up to me and grabbing my hand. Cool at first, but after 2 weeks, by the 6th person of the day... :roll:

Currently drawing/designing my next tat which has a lot of meaning to me. Tats do have to get re-touched as they fade and get blurry...just make sure you find a good artist...I've seen some people with some really f'ed up work.

Loulou

I agree with Stargirl, it's not really painful, it almost like someone scratching with a pen on the same area and just when you it starts to get painful, it moves along. I love my tattoos, definately don't regret them. Your idea sounds great, I wouldn't mind getting that either but my hubby said no more please so I better listen to him since he said no to begin with and I went ahead and got my PJ stickman and then the piece on across my shoulders!

Suzi78

I was the same way. Never thought I'd get a tattoo. I even thought most tattoos looked a bit trashy. Then Backspacer was released and I was listening to Just breathe like 20 times a day and I felt that song just spoke to me and I knew I had to have it tattood on my body. Took me about a month to find the right font, took it with me to the tattoo place and had it done in 40 minutes. Just like you, I didn't want it to show too much, but at the same time I didn't want anything tiny, so I placed it vertically on my right rib. Doesn't show too much unless I raise my arm. I love it and don't regret it for a second. Even my mother likes it
Go for it! But take your time to find the right one for you.

boyo79

Staggering Genius wrote:

I would get it somewhere it would not be seen by myself or others too often, like on my shoulder blade or ribs.

Oooh the ribs are bloody painful!! One of the worst places to get tattooed on. My last tat was on my ribs. It was my 19th and the 1st time I used numbing cream and it still hurt!

My advice is never to rush into a decision, think about it carefully what you actually want. I've probably had 100's of ideas over the years but I've only gone ahead with the ones I have. They've risen to the surface if you like and stood out. I look back at some ideas that I threw out and didn't get and I'm pleased about that.

I think everyone is different. When watching tat shows like Miami Ink, LA Ink etc you see alot of people on ther getting a tat for a very specific reason. Mine, I've got done because I like them. There's no specific reason. But for others its different.

Make sure you find a quality tattooist, take ideas along and they will guide you along. As long as you have a rough idea what you want, they will draw it up for you.

Good luck!

gimmesometruth27

i don't regret mine. i know that as we age things that we were passionate about may change, so that is something to keep in mind. i got my stickfigure in 2000 and i don't regret it. not at all. i remember my friends giving me a hard time about saying things like "20 years from now you will be exactly like the guy with the marshall tucker band tattoo he got in the '70s" lol, but they are not fans like i am.. but i got that tattoo for many personal reasons, as i am sure those that have pearl jam related tattoos, or any tattoos for that matter can attest to.

i have the itch to get a new one very soon. i have been thinking about it a lot the last 6 months or so. the last 10 months have been pretty tough and i am through the worst of it so i was going to kind of reward myself for making it through the darkness in one piece. and i think i need the reminder of where i was and where i am going....i have several designs that i am looking at, but i want to go big, and going big requires a lot of time and a lot of money, both of which i do not have a lot of spare at the moment.

i guess the advice i would give you is to trust your tattoo artist. like i wanted mine smaller than i got it and he said "no, seriously, if we go that small with this you are going to look in the mirror and wish you had gone bigger". and he was right. i am glad i listened to him. good luck with whatever you decide.

boyo79

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i guess the advice i would give you is to trust your tattoo artist. like i wanted mine smaller than i got it and he said "no, seriously, if we go that small with this you are going to look in the mirror and wish you had gone bigger". and he was right. i am glad i listened to him. good luck with whatever you decide.

A hugely valid point. People often take in work that the tattooist will say needs to be bigger than what they person initially wanted. If they say this, they are generally right. Very small detailed pieces will mush together as time goes on. Thats not to say the lettering for Given To Fly would have to be massive; it won't you'd probably be looking at a font size of 16 or higher I think. I got "how I choose to feel...is how I am" in font size 7 or 8 (very small!) on my forearm and whilst I don't regret, after I got it done I did kinda think it should have been bigger. As it happens, its now part of a half-sleeve on my arm with a band of stars and a cluster of black n grey cherry blossoms. So it worked in the end!

PearlOfAGirl

I'm thinking of getting a tatto with one of my favorite and moving PJ lyrics...

Gary Carter

Suzi78 wrote:

I was the same way. Never thought I'd get a tattoo. I even thought most tattoos looked a bit trashy. Then Backspacer was released and I was listening to Just breathe like 20 times a day and I felt that song just spoke to me and I knew I had to have it tattood on my body. Took me about a month to find the right font, took it with me to the tattoo place and had it done in 40 minutes. Just like you, I didn't want it to show too much, but at the same time I didn't want anything tiny, so I placed it vertically on my right rib. Doesn't show too much unless I raise my arm. I love it and don't regret it for a second. Even my mother likes it
Go for it! But take your time to find the right one for you.

niiiiiice

stargirl69

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

the last 10 months have been pretty tough and i am through the worst of it so i was going to kind of reward myself for making it through the darkness in one piece. and i think i need the reminder of where i was and where i am going

i guess the advice i would give you is to trust your tattoo artist.

I totally agree with gimmesometruth27.
I am also on my 12th design as a reminder that I have survived the past 10 months.100% trust the advice and guidance from the artist,they do it every day,they know what they are talking about.Any artist worth their reputation will not guide you in the wrong direction.

Staggering Genius

Suzi78 wrote:

I was the same way. Never thought I'd get a tattoo. I even thought most tattoos looked a bit trashy. Then Backspacer was released and I was listening to Just breathe like 20 times a day and I felt that song just spoke to me and I knew I had to have it tattood on my body. Took me about a month to find the right font, took it with me to the tattoo place and had it done in 40 minutes. Just like you, I didn't want it to show too much, but at the same time I didn't want anything tiny, so I placed it vertically on my right rib. Doesn't show too much unless I raise my arm. I love it and don't regret it for a second. Even my mother likes it
Go for it! But take your time to find the right one for you.

Hope this doesn't sound creepy, but I saw yours on the thread awhile ago and thought if I was to ever get a tattoo, I would want it to be like that. That's why I am thinking ribs, because I really like the way yours looks. It is very nice.

Staggering Genius

boyo79 wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i guess the advice i would give you is to trust your tattoo artist. like i wanted mine smaller than i got it and he said "no, seriously, if we go that small with this you are going to look in the mirror and wish you had gone bigger". and he was right. i am glad i listened to him. good luck with whatever you decide.

A hugely valid point. People often take in work that the tattooist will say needs to be bigger than what they person initially wanted. If they say this, they are generally right. Very small detailed pieces will mush together as time goes on. Thats not to say the lettering for Given To Fly would have to be massive; it won't you'd probably be looking at a font size of 16 or higher I think. I got "how I choose to feel...is how I am" in font size 7 or 8 (very small!) on my forearm and whilst I don't regret, after I got it done I did kinda think it should have been bigger. As it happens, its now part of a half-sleeve on my arm with a band of stars and a cluster of black n grey cherry blossoms. So it worked in the end!

I really don't want anything too big, but I have heard that over time when skin sags, small lettering can get muddled together. I suppose it would also depend on if I wanted to get the lettering horizontal or vertical. Yours sounds awesome.

Staggering Genius

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

i don't regret mine. i know that as we age things that we were passionate about may change, so that is something to keep in mind. i got my stickfigure in 2000 and i don't regret it. not at all. i remember my friends giving me a hard time about saying things like "20 years from now you will be exactly like the guy with the marshall tucker band tattoo he got in the '70s" lol, but they are not fans like i am.. but i got that tattoo for many personal reasons, as i am sure those that have pearl jam related tattoos, or any tattoos for that matter can attest to.

i have the itch to get a new one very soon. i have been thinking about it a lot the last 6 months or so. the last 10 months have been pretty tough and i am through the worst of it so i was going to kind of reward myself for making it through the darkness in one piece. and i think i need the reminder of where i was and where i am going....i have several designs that i am looking at, but i want to go big, and going big requires a lot of time and a lot of money, both of which i do not have a lot of spare at the moment.

i guess the advice i would give you is to trust your tattoo artist. like i wanted mine smaller than i got it and he said "no, seriously, if we go that small with this you are going to look in the mirror and wish you had gone bigger". and he was right. i am glad i listened to him. good luck with whatever you decide.

Congratulations on making it through the darkness. That's kind of the idea behind what I want.

That is also my greatest concern. What I am passionate about now can change. But then I guess if I make that commitment, it will always be a passion. At least what it stands for.

Staggering Genius

stargirl69 wrote:

I love my tattooes,I have 11 and the 12th being drawn up.I don't regret any of them.Every one tell's a story of my life.I have never rushed into any of them and I think that is the key ...

Take your time.
Do research of what you want and of the artists in your area.
Yes your skin will be saggy when your 70 but your not 70 yet,I assume so enjoy your skin and your tattoo when you are young.
If you see a tattoo that you like on someone ask them about it and who the artist was.Most people proud of their tattooes like to tell the story behind them.
Don't scrimp on cost,good tattooes are expensive!!!!!! But they will never leave you feeling embarrassed to show them of.
Don't over think the pain issue,yes it is uncomfortable at certain points but it's not screamingly painful.
Be prepared to want more and more and more.
But most of all .... enjoy them.

Good luck

Some great advice here. Thank you.

I like your philosophy on skin. I should enjoy it while it looks nice! What a wonderful way of looking at things.

Staggering Genius

Loulou wrote:

I agree with Stargirl, it's not really painful, it almost like someone scratching with a pen on the same area and just when you it starts to get painful, it moves along. I love my tattoos, definately don't regret them. Your idea sounds great, I wouldn't mind getting that either but my hubby said no more please so I better listen to him since he said no to begin with and I went ahead and got my PJ stickman and then the piece on across my shoulders!

You should get it! But of course, I am biased.

Staggering Genius

gimmesometruth20 wrote:

I had the same type of concerns, I kind of wanted one, but when I got the pic on the right from eddie I knew that was what I wanted on my body for the rest of my life, I would not push it and just wait for that moment to happen you when you just know!

That's kind of what happened to me. Given to Fly means so much to me, but when I saw it on the tattoo thread in Ed's handwriting, I felt like it needed to be with me. Yours is awesome, by the way.

Staggering Genius

magicredbengal wrote:

Get a temporary made up of it and try it out in the different areas you think you may want it and wear it around for a while to see how you feel. Getting the first one is the hardest decision, after you're done you'll likely be trying to decide what to get next! I have 5 and if my budget allowed me to get one any time I wanted I would probably be out of places to get ink on! lol

I didn't know I could get a temporary made. Great idea. I think I may do that. Thanks!