Talking during a tattoo session?

[Chris]

Just thought about this in another discussion; do you like to talk a lot while getting tattooed? I tend to talk to my artist a good deal, and more often than not I get phone calls while it's going on. Which of course I'll pick up and talk for a few minutes as he continues with the piece. People find it far too amusing that I'll talk to them about the night's plans as I'm getting a tattoo, hahah.


How about the rest of you?

[Zoe]

Talk, well we have a right laugh when i'm getting tattooed, there's useually a few regulars in the studio so we all catch up with each other. Only problem with this is that it can distract me from my meditational breathing and if i get too excited i lose my breathing pattern, which ends up with me feeling the pinch, then i will suddenly go 'oh my god that hurts' then they all laugh at me and tell me to shut up and cant believe that i am suddenly feeling it.
I never take phone calls though, phone is away, sound off, hate mobiles anyway.

[Chris]

I can understand the view of it being disrespectful, but my artist always found it funny that people would call since they all know I'm in the middle of a session and encourages me to pick up and be as nonchalant about it as possible to try and throw them off.

I just saw him at a concert the other night in Philly, which was kind of interesting being as he lives an hour and a half away. Good stuff though, we get along well.

[jude]

somehow I find cell phones a little disrespectful during a session but I have been known to do it (usually my kids calling me) Im not allowed to talk too much w/my artist's wife Marisa because we start laughing and talking w/our hands which doesnt amuse Dan at all.

[Diamond Dave]

at first Horitomo was very quiet, but the more i've seen him the more he talks, there's moreso a definitive language barrier i think. His focus though is unparalleled, once i was getting tattoo'd by him and the guys at 45's were tossing fireworks around all over, Horitomo didn't even blink, i was freaked, hahahaa

[Grosz]

i BS a little bit about the music that's playing, what's new and exciting since the last session or whatever freakshow stumbles in off the street (one time a guy came in with an "overstocked" truck - sold everyone in the shop goose-down pillows and someone almost bought a sectional sofa from the guy) but for the most part i try to keep my mouth shut. the artist is there to work and, as my father is fond of saying, "i don't come to your job and kick the shovel out of your hand, do i?"

during a session i had in march, the customer in the room next to me didn't shut up for three hours - and his artist's monosyllabic responses were an indication to everyone else in the shop that he really just wanted some peace and quiet.

so, long story short - i'm friendly, but i'm not under the impression that the artist is my friend.

[Jess]

That's a great point, B. Kevin actually typed up a "Tattoo Etiquette" pamphlet for customers. One point is that not all artists like to talk while they work, so if you're chatting away and not getting much (or any) response, best to shut your trap and let him/her do their job. Basically, let your tattoo artist set the tone for your session. After all, if you engage him/her in coversation that isn't wanted, you COULD end up with a really crappy tattoo! Another item of discussion was tipping, as people don't really seem to know if they should or should not leave a tip.

[Jess]

Well, first off, there is a sign, ok well several copies of the same sign, that Kevin (shop co-owner married to one of my best friends) put up that states: Your cell phone is annoying. Turn it off.
So........when I'm there to get a tattoo I have it on silent. As with Jude and Marissa, I have to be careful not to get going too much with Marilyn while I'm in the chair because I tend to forget that I'm being permanently marked when she and I start to laugh. Ron who is my new artist, he's a real cool guy and we chat, and I enjoy listening to his conversations with Kevin as well.
Now, because my BF is the co-owner of the shop, I will keep my phone on and answer calls if I'm not in the tattooing area. SHE doesn't care if I answer my phone!!

[Zoe]

My artists brothers not a big talker when hes working and i understand and respect this, because i think i would be the same if i was a tattooer, but my artist loves to have a laugh and that is infact what one of the reasons that helped me choose him. A lot of the time when hes inking me i talk to other people in the shop, and if he wants to join in he does. I can tell when he's really concentrating, so i am a good girl and stay still, although sometimes he has to tell me to stop giggling about, especially if iam laughing.
Like Jude, i talk with my hands, which can be difficult when your laying on your front for 4 hours, but i found away of doing it, I put my hands down the side ofthe bed and i can still gesticulate.
I don't just constanly talk the whole way through a session, i would probably say for the first hour or so i have to stay in the zone and concentrate on my breathing, In a way i have to physcially break the cycle and reset myself. I have been know to doze off during a session, but i don't think my artists likes it, as hes not actually sure if i am still alive.

[Chris aka Creepinbean]

I like talking while getting tattooed where i go theres only 2 people that tattoo there and both are really cool with me so well all talk and joke around. It kind of helps time pass by a little quicker and about cell phones either turned off or in some 1 holds it 4 me. I have a session 2morrow so ill post a pic by the weekend.

[Syann]

As long as it's not the outline..then I'm a right chatter box...thankfully, the person doing my arm is too!!!

[Black is the new Black]

I'm with you Syann, I'm not sure I am capable of holding a real conversation while getting outline work. During fill in/shading I too tend to be chatty, which is why I interviewed the artists I was looking into as much to determine if we clicked as for their artistic ability - I wanted to have the experience of getting the tattoo be a fond memory.

I ended up passing up several "rockstar" SF bay area artists in my search purely based on their attitude because I kept thinking "do I really want to be under the needle with this guy for 100+ hours?"

[Chris]

You've all made some really good points, thanks for responding. Just for some clarification; I do talk a lot, but that's only because the artist I go to likes to ask me about what's new and loves hearing different stories from me and such. I don't just chat away for nothing ;)