First TAT

i don't know how it feels. I always end up having to get woke up after the artist is done. Matter of fact, I am going next tuesday night to get my flames from my wrist to my elbow finished..

And I have two nautical stars. One on each arm, and I was the first person to have one that I had ever saw. Never seen one on anyone til I got mine, and he is right, they have gotten way popular, but I like them and they do have a meaning. They stand for good luck.

But just go into it thinking it's gonna hurt like shit, and then you won't feel bad when it don't hurt at all..

sounds like you need a hug not a tatoo

I just got the outline to my half sleeve done last night. 3 hours.

And whoever said the stars were good luck... nautical stars mean guidance and protection.

you should get "drop n destroy" or "drag it". that would be teh sykness.

eat, relaxe and dont tense up your body and you will be good.

you will be fine, dont go in nervous beacuse you might passout, thats what my buddy does all the time, works himself up and once the guys starts his tattoo he passes out lol then wakes up and is fine. He does it every single fucking time too lol.

Richie

I was talking to a guy at the shop when I was getting some of my back piece done, and he described what it feels like to a tee. Take a paperclip, open it up, and scrape your skin...doesn't really hurt. Now take it and scrape it in the same spot, 60-80 times. Starts to get irritated. That's the feeling. Kinda like a bad sunburn. It's not so much pain as it is skin irritation, and the more detailed the work, the more irritation you're likely to have. Some places on my back had no pain whatsoever, and some were just killin' me. Everyone's different. Don't let anyone tell you that this place will hurt you, and this place won't, because it affects everyone differently.

Dave

definately eat something, and the pain isnt that big a deal. its kinda like a bad sunburn. as far as nerves, i dunno what to tell you...my two tattoos are on the inside and back of my bicep, two pretty sensitive areas, and i was fine. i figured id get the "painful" ones out of the way first, but it wasnt bad at all...

its typical to get nervous for the first one. but once you get one, you will be addicted for life!

i also agree about at least having a full sleeve planned out now and let the tattoo artist know about it.

and i don't think what you get should matter to anyone else. i have 2 tats that mean nothing to about 99% of the world, but me and a few friends. if i worked somewhere for 20 years and loved the company, shit, i'd probably get their logo tatted on me. lol

and like everyone says, make sure you eat. and don't drink alcohol. you will bleed like crazy. unless you like blood, then take a few shots of everclear!