Tattoo peeps

[mischiefgrrl]

So I have always wanted ink but just could never commit to one. Let me say, I have serious commitment issues. In my entire life I've been able to commit to my daughter and my pets and that's it. I can't even commit to weekend plans.

So, I finally got that moment of knowing I have an idea for a tattoo that I can commit to. It actually came from my daughter. The other night I opened the freezer and something fell out of it right onto my toes. I screamed and cursed. My daughter asked what happened and I started ranting "Why is it every f***ing time something falls it ALWAYS lands on my bare toes??!!??" So she says back "Gee Mom, you never could think of a tattoo that you'd want for your whole life but maybe you should get a target on your toes. At least it would be precise."

Smartass.

But now, I want that target tattooed on my big toes. We went out for dinner tonight at our favorite pizza by the slice place in Hollywood and I was staring at a neon tattoo sign the whole time and just knew, that's what I'm going to do. The idea couldn't be anymore perfect. It's funny, it's totally me, and it was thought of by my daughter.

So question is... how much do you think that will cost? A little target on each big toe. So that's two small tattoos the size of a dime each. I got paid today and I have about $100 to play with after figuring in bills, food, etc; and what I will put into savings. Think it will be $100 or less?

Also, my daughter who just turned 18 last week will be with me when I get it done. If she sees it done to me and thinks it won't be that bad, she's thinking of getting her own ink of a symbol that is unique to her. Since she's 18, I couldn't hold her back if I wanted to so all I can do is support her if she wants to get it done. Very hard for me since I've always been such a protective Mama. At the same time, I'd rather be there when she gets it done than have it any other way. She's got a few hundred saved from her birthday money and allowance saved up so she'd pay for it on her own. The idea that she has in mind is about the size of a silver dollar.

Anyone know the going rates of tattoos?

 

[The Wiz]

mischiefgrrl....Not sure what the going rate for tattoos are.....But I know where you can get a cheap pair of "Steel Toed Slippers" dirt cheap!!The Wiz!(I know....Smarta$$..LOL)

 

[mischiefgrrl]

LOL well I actually do still have a pair of steel toed ballet shoes from my ballerina days... not very practical for every day use though

 

[AngusATAT]

Price totally depends on the size and complexity of the tattoo, and where you get it. Some folks charge more than others, depending on how skilled they are. Also remember, it is customary to tip your tattoo artist, usually in the ballpark of 20 to 25 percent of the price of the tattoo.

I've got 7 tattoos, and will be getting a few more. The least I paid for one is $100, the most was $750. The shop minimum for a tattoo at the place I go to is $50, and those are fairly small.

So shop around. Yours wouldn't be a hard tattoo to do, and since they are small ones, it shouldn't cost too much, as long as you don't go to a place like L.A. Ink (really named High Voltage Tattoo) or some big name shop like that.

 

[Porphy]

The size of a dime each? Not much at all. You'd really be paying the flat rate for the artists time and sterilization costs. Prices ranges greatly from state to state so I can even begin to give a precise range but I cannot fathom it costing more than 50 dollars per toe. Chances are an artist that's doing it for the love of the art won't even make you pay for 2 sterilization costs since you're getting the exact same tattoo on the other toe.

I have to give you credit though. It takes stones to get a tattoo on a "bony" part of your body the first time.

 

[AngusATAT]

Yeah... tats on toes hurt. Be prepared. Painkillers beforehand wouldn't be out of line.

 

[Robert]

Sorry I think it would look wierd later- Why don't you just paint targets on you toe nails with polish- that where ( something being dropped on ) really hurts anyway.

 

[DanF]

Careful with the painkillers before a tattoo, they thin the blood and you bleed more which makes it more difficult for the artist. I wouldnt take anything, not even advil. Part of getting the tattoo is getting through the discomfort, dont cheat.

I would figure on about $100/hr, but in Hollywood it might be more. My guess is that you could get one done now, one next paycheck. Dont forget to figure in a tip for the artist.

Dan

 

[mischiefgrrl]

Thanks for the heads up on the tip... I didn't even think about that and I always try to tip above the customary amount.

On the pain part, I meant to include that in my original post. I'll explain my threshold for pain this way: I was hit by a van while riding a bicycle and had a compound fracture with part of my leg bone sticking through the muscle and skin. They put it back together without pain meds. I learned what real pain was about from that. When I had my daughter, I gave birth without drugs. Not that I didn't believe I would use them, it's just when they offered them to me I said I wanted to wait until it got REALLY bad. When the doctor told me this was it, I was in the hardest part - I realized it wasn't that bad and I could do without. All that said, I will probably go in there with some Rum and Coke bravado.

 

[DanF]

Alcohol will have the same effect as pain killers(blood thinner), and some artists(probably not many) will not do a tattoo if you have *clearly* been drinking. By all means have a drink if thats what it takes, but dont overdo it.

The trick I use when getting inked is headphones, that way you dont really hear the machine, kinda like at the dentist...lol


Dan

 

[mischiefgrrl]

Thanks for the heads up on the pain killers and alcohol I'm a lightweight when it comes to those things so one rum and coke would do it for me. Otherwise I'd be asleep before I could make it out the door! That said, I probably won't even do that.

 

[DanF]

No problem...

If you can get your leg reset and give birth with no drugs, a tattoo will be more of a discomfort than any real pain(foot/toe may be stretching this statement). For me, the healing is much more uncomfortable than actually getting it done. ymmv


Dan

 

[mischiefgrrl]

Thanks Dan for the reassurance. I wonder because I went through so much pain without a choice and handled it just fine but then can cry like baby over stubbing my toe. I think if I going knowing it's going to hurt and sting like hell then I can handle it.

I'll budget more like $150 for it because I want both toes done. I'm a bit .... retentive so I can't have anything halfway done and then the rest put off for later. It's all or nothing for me. If I get creative, I can spend more on it. I just prefer to be careful, pay off all bills, over budget for living expenses and put a chunk away for savings with each paycheck. We lived in pure survival mode for so many years I want to be stockpiled for the worst case scenario now. I don't like to go a penny out of what I planned for "play money" but I can if I need to.

I'm so excited for this!

 

[solitary1]

Most legit tattoo artists will begin by applying the needle in a small spot to see if you really want this.If you are ok with the pain he will continue,If not you will have the world's smallest tattoo.I think this also gives the body time to release endorphins which decrease the effects of pain.
As far as price goes,shop and talk to tattoo owners.

 

[AngusATAT]

Careful with the painkillers before a tattoo, they thin the blood and you bleed more which makes it more difficult for the artist. I wouldnt take anything, not even advil. Part of getting the tattoo is getting through the discomfort, dont cheat.

Not all painkillers thin the blood. Just FYI.

Different people have different pain thresholds. There is nothing wrong with someone taking a painkiller before a tattoo. Two of my tats were done while I was on painkillers because for some reason the area I was getting done was extremely sensitive and I wouldn't have sat through the whole tattoo without them. It's body art, not a test of pain endurance.

Hell, back in the 80's, we used to throw keggers and have tattoo artists there working while we partied. I can't even remember feeling any pain at all for my first three tattoos... because I was wasted. Now things are different. Most good artists won't touch someone who is obviously drunk because they may wake up the next morning wondering what the heck they were thinking... which may explain why my first three tattoos have been covered up. Hehe.

 

[mischiefgrrl]

Yet another example of how befitting this tattoo is to me:

I own a dog and two cats. Rather, I own a dog and the two cats own us. I was just opening a can of food for the owners and one of them flipped out and clashed the staineless steel bowls together creating a crashing sound that scared the hell out of the other. He was right next to my feet and ran out of the kitchen with claws out, over my foot -slashing the side and my pinky toe.

I'm sitting here mopping up the blood and my daughter is laughing so hard she's about to pee herself saying "See, I TOLD YOU SO!!!!"

 

[SnuggleBunny]

sounds like you'll be fine...
the weirdest thing about getting a tat is the kind of pain it is...

it's not the worst pain in the world (some places hurt more then others) but it's a weird pain... it's like you see what they are doing, and there is some pain (or discomfort) and your brain says "I can make this pain stop just by saying STOP... but if I do that, I'll only have have half a tattoo..."

toes will hurt a bit. anywhere it's bony will hurt, and don't get me started about the spine lol

good luck! we look forward to the pics

 

[AngusATAT]

toes will hurt a bit. anywhere it's bony will hurt, and don't get me started about the spine lol

You ain't kidding. I have a celtic cross on my back, a lot of black fill in that, it's about two feet tall by one foot wide. It's a nice piece... and the majority of it runs straight up and down my spine. It hurt... a lot. But I did that one without painkillers. 6 hours of tattooing on that piece.

I thought that when I went back to get the serenity logo on my calf (like in my avatar), that it couldn't possibly be worse than my back. Boy, I was wrong. The linework wasn't too unbearable (still worse than my back), but when the coloring started, I thought I was gonna jump out of the chair. I took a quick smoke break, took a couple of painkillers, and went back in to finish. That almost made it bearable. I put in my earphones and cranked up some metal on my mp3 player. That helped more than anything. Still hurt worse than anything I've ever felt. Not sure why. And I shattered my ankle, bone popping out through the skin, and other serious injuries before.

Of course, being the dumbass I am, the next month I was in to get another tat on the other side of my calf. Some people never learn!

 

[Shady Grady]

This took 7 hours and cost about $400.00. The artist gave me a good deal. Getting a tattoo does hurt, especially aroung the edge of muscle and on top of bone. Any reputable tattoo shop will give you instructions on how to care for your tattoo as it heals. It kind of feels like a sunburn for about a week after. Its a good idea to take enough money to tip the tattoo artist as well.

 

[AngusATAT]

Nice one, Shady!