I’ve been tattooing for a while now and I’ve seen it all, people falling asleep, people passing out, and everything in between. But every time I sit in the chair as the client, my stomach still doing backflips and I get those “first tattoo” jitters. I know exactly what the needle feels like, I know the process, and I know I’m going to love the result, yet I still find myself overthinking the pain or the long session ahead. Is this a common thing for pros, or am I just a bit of a wuss when the roles are reversed? [Image Context]: These are my legs so far! Lots of heavy blackwork and botanical details. I love the art, but man, those sessions near the ankles had me questioning everything. Would love to hear from other artists or heavily tattooed people, does the “pre-session anxiety” ever actually go away, or do you just get better at hiding it?

  • defuse959@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    I’m pretty well covered. Maybe a quarter panel on a thigh that doesn’t at least have a few things going on. Recently started a shoulder to shoulder down to the cheeks back piece covering up some regrettable, garage work I got in high school.

    I never really thought I had jitters, I sit really well for 4 - 5 hour sessions before abandoning hope (That started in my 40’s) but, I have a fitness watch now and it has called me out the last 5 sessions for high stress when I’m pulling up to the shop and getting settled in.

    This isn’t a new artist to me, he’s been working on me for 10+ years. It’s not a new shop or a shared shop but somehow my damn watch is convinced I need to do breathing exercises as I’m having conversations with someone I consider good friend and we’re catching up on his family going ons.

    By the time I hear the gun fire off the first time, it all melts away. So there’s a weird dissonance between what I think I’m experiencing and what is happening physiologically apparently.

    Don’t know if this makes any sense but it’s an interesting way to track what is happening nervous system wise and see if there’s any changes before and during a session. Maybe even compare your info while getting work vs doing work!

    Cheers!