Nervous about upcoming tattoo

[fett]

Soapbox:ROTF: :ROTF: :ROTF: :ROTF:

[Thrust]

Brad, you say that your field isn't receptive to tats. That is a good reason to think hard about this. Are you going to wear long-sleeve shirts to work year-round? Because even a sleeve peeking out from the end of a short-sleeve shirt might impede you getting the job you want.

On the other hand, long sleeves in summer will make employers wonder if you're an IV drug user. See how that goes? I have nothing against tats, but many in business do. And getting rid of tats with lasers is much more painful and expensive than getting the tat in the first place. I have a friend who spent $3,000 on laser removal and it was excruciating, and they couldn't remove the tattoo after all. He ended up getting it covered with something less offensive when they told him it couldn't be completely removed.

I'm sure you've thought about it, but if it affects your ability to get a job after college, it could be a real problem for you. Others have talked about haircuts for jobs. Well a haircut is much easier to get and much less permanent than a tattoo, no matter how cool.

You could always wait until you're established in your field. You can get away with a lot more then. Just a thought....

Rich,
Thanks for the advice--it's good. I've given this a lot of thought but I don't believe tats would hurt me once I get my job (college professor). It could cause problems at the interview stage but since I'll be wearing a suit/tie, it really shouldn't matter. The only problems I'll face are weird looks from the rest of the faculty. Other times, perhaps when I'm away at conferences, I'll be able to cover the tat in a professional manner. Thankfully, I'll have a great deal of autonomy once I "get" the job. A lot of college professor's are hypocrites who profess to be progressive and open minded yet they'll shun someone who listens to metal and has a few tats. I'm already a "loner" amongst the other grad. students in my department. One other fellow "used to be" into Slayer so I burnt him a cd and his girlfriend told him it was satanic......lol.

[lerxstcat]

Okay, sounds like you have your bases covered. You're a nice guy and intelligent, so thanks for taking the advice in the right spirit as it was given.

In that case, get your tat and DIG IT, man!!!

[Big D]

I work with a bunch of yuppies in a white collar job but I have a half sleeve on my right arm. I can still easily wear short sleeve button up shirts and keep it covered.

The only thing I worry about is sometimes we win trips at work to tropical locations. Ain't no way I'm going swimming around my co-workers, they would SHIT if they saw my skulls and flames.

Tats rock. I say go for it bro!

[Ace]

I have a few tats. They're tits!! The one on my stomach hurt the most by far. The pain is temporary, then you get a kick ass piece of art to wear for the rest of your life!

[24seven]

tatts

24,
I would hope they would hide them for weddings, unless it's a beach barbecue wedding, and I've never been to one of those yet.-lol
I love my tatts, they fukkin' rule.

All i can say is each to their own.......and this is a subject that could go on and on and i don't want to cause friction but it really is something i have always disliked...and especially when they put them on their faces.
there's no beach decent enough in the UK to have a wedding, but the beaches i have seen in California are beautiful, La Jolla, Oceanside etc.
i'm also a female and just can't stand them at all, glad to be tattoo FREEEEEE, what did Ozzy say, it's more individual not to have tattoos these days......i've got one pencil lead spot on the back of my arm some stupid kid sharpened a pencil in class and stabbed me with it, that's when i was 8 and it's still there to this day.

Proud to be tattoo free!

[VitaminG]

have you fallen? Or are you shielding yourself from the oncoming zombie horde?

[Thrust]

I'm still working on finishing up my full sleeve on my right arm. The most tender spot was the inside of the bicep, but nothing unbearable. Post pics when you can, what is the subject matter you are getting? I always get "butterflys" before getting tattooed, I think I'm going to invest in my left arm next. I'm going to have Bob Tyrrell do it. If you've never seen his work, here's a link http://www.bobtyrrell.com/

Damn! Bob Tyrrell? That's one of the best and most respected tattoo artists in the world! How did you land an appointment with him?

I'm getting a grim reaper (no skulls or the like) in a more subdued/sinister fashion (think of the wraiths from Lord of the Rings). The background will be a moonlit forest scene. All done in black and grey. I'm going to Don McDonald @ Bodyworks Tattoo in Pittsburgh.

Here's a couple of his recent works.

[atomic charvel guy]

24,
no friction here, I was joking that I would hope people would cover their tatts for a wedding, that's a no brainer. i am glad you don't like tatts, that's fine with me, don't worry about what comes out of my mouth, and La Jolla is a gorgeous beach, and i wouldn't put a tattoo on my face for 5 million dollars. I'm simply
joking around as usual, because that's what i do.

[adoxtater]

Don't let anyone fool you dude, tats hurt... but not bad. I've got too many to mention and the only place that really HURT was under the bicep/armpit area (like someone else said) and the under-side of my wrists. Ouch. It goes away fairly fast tho, and is completely tolerable. I had most of mine done by Wakako at Pricz Tattoo in Las Vegas. She does great freehand work!

Post some pics when you get them done bro!

[Endrik]

isn't the latest trend that chicks shave their pubic hair and then get the pubic area tattooed, some look pretty cool in my opinion.

[5074charvel]

Now that´s agreat idea. Gettin´the sack shaved and tatooed. That must be fun.

[scaz]

I have a few and the pain is not that bad (even under the bicep area). I did get one on my leg and around the ankle area hurt like a mofo! Felt like the needle was pounding into the bone! I didn't cry though!

[6_string_master]

Now that´s agreat idea. Gettin´the sack shaved and tatooed. That must be fun.

Anyway, I don't care for tats. I personally think they just limit a person in life, and cause other people to judge you before they even know who you are. Plus, when you get older, the tattoo will begin to look like it is smeared as if someone made it with crayons. Sorry, just my opinion.

[guitarsjb]

I like my tats. I just seen a guy yesterday and it looks like my left upper arm is getting either a big skull or reaper..and we are going to work it all into a sleeve. Going to be great.