Great subject. I really enjoy a talkative, friendly artist. I really enjoying talking to the artist while they work, it really helps keep my mind off the pain and makes the time fly by. I also like getting to know someone with completely different skills and abilities than I could ever hope to have. That being said, I guess if I had that choice, I'd take the quality work. The artist that did my japanese half sleeve told me during the consultation that he doesn't like to chat while he works, preferring to concentrate on what he's doing. At first I was a little put off, but he was friendly and chatted while putting on the stencil and sketching. I appreciated his committed attitude and his work is the best that I've gotten so far.
Music. I've been listening to indie folk and bluegrass on Spotify lately... Dead South, Trampled by Turtles, Colter Wall, The Devil makes Three, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Bridge City Sinners, etc. When I'm feeling especially neanderthalic I listen to Heilung.