slayer9019

Well I do have to say that not being a parent, and leaning heavily to the idea of never being a parent I cannot make a good call just yet but I would say to wait. This is strictly out of my own personal journey of being tattooed. My first tattoo was at the age of 21 and I am soooo damn happy I waited! When I was growing up just about everyone I knew was getting tattooed and not just a piece here or there some where already sleeved in highschool (we were the "rough bunch"). While I loved the idea of being tattooed young, I am so glad I never did. Most of my friends got metal band logos, and other not so great ideas tattooed all over and have covered up more than one, some as early as the age of 22! Judging my the "great artwork" my parents witnessed scribbled all over my body when I got sent home from boyscout camp (I had been drawing "tattoos" on myself since I was a little kid till about highschool"), I would be a mess of craptastic stuff. I also think that your body doesn't finish growing till your about 18 anyway so tattoos can become all stretched out too soon as well. If/when I have kids, I know I will never be able to stop them (my parents never could), but I would tell them to wait till they have a career of some sort started first. My sister got her first tattoo after she finished art school and became a graphic designer at a half-decent ad agency. I waited till I had already worked the industry a bit and knew what I can and can't tattoo (didn't take long). I know a handful of friends with visible tattoos that cannot work their chosen fields because of it, and it is a bit saddening, so I say wait a bit or hell just don't get something stupid. If they were about to get some scratcher to do a tattoo on them I would drag their ass to a good shop. (Also just found out that in New Jersey, where I live, there are no laws against tattooing a minor, just need a parental consent!)

Also might add you can try to check out any dorm-style places to save Spotted this place: the gershwin hotel / the hotel / rooms - around 40 bucks a night If you wait a bit you can also check out craigslist to sublet an apartment, charged by day/week. I know people that have done this, and it is by far one of the cheaper options, but there is the small possibility of people being unreliable.

You have to watch out in NYC for hotel rates, especially during the summer months, as they are not cheap at all! In my company when people come from out of town to NYC the cheapest rates we found for half-decent hotels in NYC in the summer was around ~$300, with our corporate discount. My best advice would be to scope out New Jersey for some accommodations, maybe try couch-surfing? Also check out Hoboken/Jersey City for cheaper hotel deals. Hell if you need a place to crash for a few days, I wouldn't mind if you stole my couch for a bit. (Ex. that hotel in January was 129/day, May-June was 300+)

oh no...

like this koi?

I think @Joe Shit deserves the title of "Official Forum Tattoo Shop Recommender"

I do have to say that my leg tattoo healed very well and with little issue, but I might b the exception. I would go to the artist as soon as possible. I thought my arm was infected when I saw some scabbing. but the artist said it just healed weird (probably got bumped a few too many times on the subway). I also know that the guy I saw am now goingto is a bit heavy handed as well and it heals alot different than my other tattoos as in they look like all hell for a few days but heal very very well after that. Just stop in the aritst will want to know if anything is wrong plus they have experience in the area and will have a good idea.

I can absouletly agree that pointing out technical errors (or just bad tattoos in general) is a positive aspect of the show. I guarentee there were a lot of people watching the show that didnt realize that fu dog was pretty damn terrible until after it was pointed out. This also goes into my theory alot of people look at tattoos as tattoos and dont actaully look at the picture. These are the same people that dont understand why people pay top dollar for good tattoos when their buddy does them for 20 bucks and a pack of smokes. Once people see the errors on the show they might be more tuned in when picking out an artist.

Forgot to post this up sooner, but Thomas Hooper had a art showing tonight and I think they are going to be there for a few days, over here in manhattan. I got a print, a shirt and a short talk with Hooper about a future tattoo, I suggest people stop by to check it out, there is some cool pieces up. Check his blog out for more details. Address 307 W38th Street NY NY

Looks like @Iwar will be joining us east-costers in May-June! I would also like to throw it out there that I was thinking that we should try a meetup sooner if anyone would like to.

Damn Iwar, you are so damn lucky to be flying all over to all these good tattoo artists! I am sure we can throw together a east-coast LST meetup around that time. Also I think Smith Street is a walk in shop. I could always pop ip and ask when I am in the neighborhood next if you'd like.

http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/tattoo-101/1733-inkmasters.html I am actually watching it now simply out of boredom. I personaly think it is pretty terrible, but not far off of what I expected. Over dramaed TV garbage. The only part that really got to me a bit was that all the tattoo artists competing were more excited that the rock dude was there over the other tattoo artists, especially Oliver. Being someone who was actually a part of a MTV production (Spike is close enough) I know they purpously go o out of their way to get these "personalities", hence the reason why the piliot I was a part of got dropped. We shall see if it get any better. (Oh yea and timed tattoos are kinda stupid, artwork should not be rushed in my opinion).

Wow.

I actually had a dream I acidentally smudged my tattoos, and I was getting yelled at by my tattoo artist. I actually woke up scared and checked on them.

I have always thought that girls clothes are double

Haha, yea my friends and I could not stop cracking up at the larrydavhead, I actually tried to get it today but couldn't find it...

Gotta be down with da clown!

Just swung by today and dripped a c-note on some Hooper and jondix shirts. They are apparently getting some new stuff in soon, including some prints.

So far for me its been about once a month, and it never gets old. A big plus to no breaks is you get used to non-stop healing, which becomes routine

The question that must be asked...does a good icp tattoo exist?

Haha I had that mentality until I said up consistantly for 36 hours straight. You can start hallucinating if you don't sleep enough. But at the time i was working full time and had fulltime university...plus all the drinking of course. If you don't sleep you can be very surprised how much you can get done in a day. Start work at 5 am, school in late afternoon, then hit the pub till 3am

Best advice I can give you is tip what you feel is best. Also remeber in general the tipping culture is different country to country reglardless of the service being provided

I personally will probably stop at the ass since my thighs are already claimed. I do believe that back pieces need to go at least a little below the belt otherwise tehey look a bit strange in my opinion

Ice cream is delicious

Gandfathers are usually full of tall tales