Thinking of getting a TAT....Post pix of your TAT.

I've got both of my arms almost fully sleeved and various other pieces scattered over the rest of my body. I was the opposite of most people when it came to getting my first. I literally woke up one morning and decided I wanted to get a tattoo. Luckily I found an artist I loved on the first try and stuck with him for a lot of my work. Would I recommend doing what I did? Nope. Do I think you need to stare at the design for 6 months before you get it? Nope.

Once you have an idea for a design, start shopping for artists. Find someone whose style is similar to what you're looking for. You don't want to go see someone who works mostly in Japanese style for a Sailor Jerry piece. If you have friends who have tattoos, ask them where they got theirs. Also check out Yelp.com. I've found it's the most reliable review site. Once you find a few artists that you like, go meet them. This is the most important part. I've met a lot of really talented artists who are insufferable jerks. Talk about your idea and see how they react. Then you can get down to the nitty gritty of design, scheduling, and price.

I also don't believe that tattoos have to have meaning. A lot of mine are simply pretty. I would also avoid using other languages unless you speak it or hire a translator. Then you end up with "lummox" tattooed on you instead of "warrior". That in mind, I can't tell you what you should get. It should be something that you can live with. I'm covered in birds, flowers, and pin up girls. That may not be someone else's cup of tea, but it makes me happy.