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My name is Joe. I'm from New Orleans and I'm a collector. Forever having an appointment for my next tattoo haha. Next stops are Pagoda City and Bay Area as I get close to finishing my legs.

yeah... no on the clowns.... three years of therapy, a divorce, and im still trying to figure out how to cover it all with mandalas and lace....

I have seen them. They are terrifying, and she hates them. Hahaha.

Welcome, Joe! You and I live in the same city and have the same quest! I have some work from Eye Candy and Downtown but travel a bit have have numerous pieces from various regular and guest artists from Texas shops in Houston, Austin and Dallas. Welcome!

I want to see the clowns.

Hey don't sweat it... it's a learning curve.... just trying to help get ya jump started in the old rules.... and sleeves don't happen in a day, start with a piece at a time.... just save the hands and special parts for when you have had a few years to take it all in....

Super glad this is being talked about. . . . It's becoming an issue here in our shop, that hasn't garnered the best reaction from the (new generation of clients).... We have a lot of 2nd generation clients coming in, and I know their parents are comforted that they don't have to worry about their 20 year old coming home with a throat tattoo, let alone hand blasts.... We live in the buckle of the bible belt... It could be 100 degrees outside, if I have to go to the grocery store, and I don't feel like fielding questions, or even getting vibes, or being followed because I look suspect: I wear a hoodie... Our shop has about a 30 min question/lecture time for anyone coming in and wanting "sacred spots" tattooed, and they don't meet the required coverage tattoo wise... It's more of an educational spiel .... And most the time, people get it, when they don't, depending on the circumstances, we tend to turn that away... If someone is independently wealthy, and it's obvious they won't take no for an answer, and they are so desperate they will risk going to a "scratcher", we may make an exception, after they think on it a couple days.... (and hopefully come to their senses). I guess, some things aren't going to be sacred much longer, but in this shop, we will stick with tradition. What sucks is seeing amazing tattooing on hands, then immediately seeing, oh, they don't have arm tattoos.... I had that reaction to these amazing hand jobs, but.... kinda sunk at the same time. As usual scrolling the IG, and then a gasp.... ehh. I am getting too old.

@J.Stell I'm guessing that when you mentioned the "jargon", you mean me using the term blow-out. I'll say, it's the only word that I "kinda-ish" have an idea of what it is because when I first got on this forum someone saw what I was dealing with and said that it looked like blowout and to look it up. I'm not going to pretend that I had any knowledge of tattoos or terms or any of that because I didn't, and still don't, know 99.99% of any of it. I will say that when I first went to get a tattoo, I finally got over my anxiety enough to get offline and go in to talk to an artist about what I wanted. I showed him, told him size, and had him look at it, look right at me and say "no". For one, it was Pinterest (I know, I know, I already got scolded on that for both piercings AND tattoos. Like I told them, I'm 100% cool with it NOT being exactly like how the picture is, but it's for "inspiration", because I'm honestly just not that creative by myself), and he stood there with me a while showing me his tattoos, where they were placed, and why he would or would not do a tattoo placement. However, he is also the one I talked to first about getting a finger tattoo as well and never mentioned anything. We did however go over the tattoo I wanted, why it wouldn't work how I wanted it, made changes to style and placement. I haven't had it done quite yet.. I want to though! I was first interested in a tattoo when I was 16-17, but waited until I was past 24 before going in and getting one for the exact reason of not wanting to make a mistake. The 2 I got were ones I've been interested in for the past 5 years, so I decided to get them done. I got the first small one done because I didn't want to commit to something big in case: 1. I couldn't "handle" the needle (they freak me out despite having a bunch of stuff pierced and now tattoos, but those 2 are very different things and I didn't want to commit to something I couldn't finish). 2. In case after a short time period I regretted getting one at all. Which honestly is where the sleeve commitment comment came in. I wouldn't want to commit to something like that just to regret it which I think I would since I'm just not into sleeve tattoos like that on myself. They look sick on other people, just not for me. Also, I just want to say: If anyone has taken my comments as rude, I do apologize, they are not meant to be. I'm just trying to figure out a number of these things for myself and as I said before, am not part of the community so there are new things coming up that I'm obviously not aware of and trying to figure out. Such as the tattoo in one location preparing you for another, not getting a hand/ other tattoo done until being more experienced.. trying to work through understanding some of these things and by doing so I'm saying "out loud" what's in my mind, which may have come across as blunt/confrontational/ rude. Which is really, really not how I'm saying it in my head as I'm typing, so I just want to try to make this clear. Again, if it was taken that way, I do apologize and I really appreciate everyone's advice.

Sorry to be bumping an "old" thread. I don't know, maybe a month isn't really considered old? Anyway, I like your tattoo. Like everyone else has said, it looks great and sits very nicely on your arm. I have 3 tattoos myself, and the first one I got is a backpiece. At first I was stoked, but as time went by I started hating it. I still hate it to this day, and will definetely get it covered one day. My other two I love. I got my last one almost a year ago, it covers most of my forearm. And in 2 weeks I will be getting the other side/tricep done - can't wait! When I get a new tattoo I usually feel stoked af from right on when the stencil comes on, to when I take that first look in the mirror. And it just kind of stays that way. I still, almost every day, look at my forearm and smile, and be like "I can't believe I'm wearing that!" I hope you're feeling the same way about your mermaid by now :)