Why This Matters
HOW YOU ARRIVE AFFECTS WHAT YOU LEAVE WITH from a working artist's perspective
A tattoo session is a medical procedure done by a skilled professional in a focused environment. The client who arrives prepared, rested, sober, and clean gives their artist the best possible conditions to produce excellent work. The client who arrives otherwise makes every part of the session harder: harder for the artist to focus, harder for the ink to settle correctly, harder for the healing process to proceed as it should.
None of this is about judgment. Working tattoo artists have seen everything. What they want is not perfection from their clients. They want clients who respect the process enough to prepare for it properly. That respect shows up in very practical ways: what you ate before you came, whether you showered, whether you had a drink to calm your nerves, whether you communicated clearly about what you wanted before the appointment rather than changing your mind in the chair.
Nashville's tattoo community is professional and welcoming. Artists at studios like Darlin' Cait, Skin Design Tattoo, and Sunrise Tattoo handle first-timers and nervous clients every day with patience and skill. What makes their jobs easier, and your tattoos better, is clients who showed up having done the simple things this guide covers.
"The best client I ever had came in having eaten, showered, slept well, and knowing exactly what they wanted. The session was clean, the lines were sharp, and we were both in a good mood the whole time. It sounds simple because it is."
Before You Arrive
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOUR APPOINTMENT the things that actually matter
EAT A FULL MEAL
Blood sugar management is one of the most practical things you can do for your tattoo session. Low blood sugar during a session causes lightheadedness, shakiness, and sometimes fainting, none of which are good for you or for the quality of the work. Eat a substantial meal one to two hours before your appointment. Not a snack. A meal. Bring snacks for longer sessions. This single preparation step prevents the most common mid-session problems working artists encounter.
SHOWER AND HAVE BASIC HYGIENE
Your artist will be working in close physical proximity to you for potentially several hours. This is not about meeting a standard of grooming. It is about basic courtesy to another human being who is performing skilled work on your body. Shower before your appointment. Wash the area being tattooed thoroughly. Do not apply lotion, sunscreen, or anything else to the tattoo area on the day of your session. Clean skin is the artist's working surface. Treat it accordingly.
DO NOT COME FROM THE GYM
Coming to a tattoo appointment directly from a workout is a specific kind of inconsiderate that experienced artists notice immediately. Post-workout skin is sweaty, the pores are open, and the body odor that accompanies a serious training session is concentrated and persistent. It also affects how the skin takes ink during the session. If you train on appointment days, shower thoroughly between the gym and the studio. This is not optional etiquette. It is basic respect for the person working on you.
GET GOOD SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE
Sleep deprivation lowers pain tolerance significantly. The client who slept four hours before a long session will feel the same tattoo much more intensely than the client who slept eight. It also affects skin quality and healing. If you can control one variable the night before your appointment, sleep is the most impactful. This is particularly relevant for first-timers who may already be anxious about pain.
The Non-Negotiables
WHAT NOT TO DO BEFORE OR DURING YOUR APPOINTMENT the things that create real problems
Arrive intoxicated or have a drink to calm your nerves before the session.
Why It MattersAlcohol thins the blood and increases bleeding during the session, which affects how ink settles and can compromise line quality. Nashville shops will refuse service to visibly intoxicated clients. Beyond the quality issue, tattooing someone who is not in a clear mental state to consent to a permanent decision is something no professional artist will do. If nerves are the concern, see our anxiety guide for real solutions.
Change the design significantly once you are in the chair.
Why It MattersYour artist has prepared for the session based on what you agreed during the consultation. Significant design changes after stenciling has been done or the session has started waste both your time and your artist's preparation work. Changes to size, placement, or core concept belong in the consultation, not the chair. If you have concerns about the design, raise them before the stencil goes on, not after the needle starts.
Bring a large group to watch the session without asking first.
Why It MattersMost Nashville studios have policies about how many guests can be in the booth during a session. A crowd of spectators creates a distracting environment that affects the artist's focus and often makes the client more anxious, not less. One support person is typically fine. A cheering section is not. Ask the studio about their guest policy when booking and respect the answer.
Look at the work constantly during the session or give a running commentary.
Why It MattersInterrupting your artist to check the progress every few minutes breaks their focus at the moments when concentration matters most. Trust the process. There will be time to see the work between sections and at the end. The artist is not keeping the work secret. They are focusing on doing it well. Let them.
During the Session
HOW TO BEHAVE IN THE CHAIR what makes sessions go well
COMMUNICATE HONESTLY ABOUT PAIN AND DISCOMFORT
If you need a break, say so. If you feel lightheaded, say so immediately. If a particular area is more sensitive than expected, tell your artist. None of these things are admissions of weakness. They are useful information that helps the artist manage the session effectively. Staying silent while suffering and then suddenly needing to stop creates worse disruptions than simply asking for a short break when you need one.
STAY STILL
This sounds obvious until you are in the chair and your body wants to flinch. The most important physical contribution you can make to your tattoo session is remaining as still as possible while the needle is in contact with your skin. Sudden movements can cause line errors that are permanent. If you need to move or adjust, tell your artist first and wait for them to lift the needle. They will always accommodate a planned adjustment. An unplanned flinch is a different problem entirely.
BRING WHAT YOU NEED FOR COMFORT
Long sessions are physically demanding. Bring water, snacks, earphones, a book, or whatever helps you settle in for an extended period. Wear clothing appropriate for the placement as outlined in our what to wear guide. Tell your artist if you run cold or hot. They can usually adjust the environment or have supplies on hand. Preparing for your own comfort is part of being a good client.
TIP YOUR ARTIST
Tipping is standard practice in tattooing and typically runs fifteen to twenty percent of the total cost. If your artist did exceptional work, went above and beyond, or made you feel genuinely comfortable during a difficult session, tip accordingly. Cash is always appreciated. If the shop takes card tips, use it. A tattoo artist who feels valued and respected will always give you their best. Tipping is part of that relationship.
Book the Right Way
SHOW UP PREPARED AND THE SESSION SHOWS UP FOR YOU
Nashville's best artists do their best work with clients who come prepared. Tell us what you want and we will match you with the right artist for a session that goes the way it should.
Find My ArtistFAQ
ETIQUETTE QUESTIONS answered directly
Is it rude to ask my artist questions during the session?
Not at all. Reasonable conversation during a session is normal and often welcome. What is different from asking questions is providing a running commentary on the work in progress, expressing anxiety about what you are seeing before it is finished, or asking the artist to stop and show you the work every few minutes. Ask what you want to know. Let them work.
What should I do if I am unhappy with something mid-session?
Speak up calmly and specifically. Do not wait until the session is over to mention something that was bothering you during it. Do not express displeasure dramatically in a way that creates pressure on the artist. Say specifically what concerns you, give the artist a chance to explain or adjust, and make decisions together. A professional Nashville artist will always prefer to address concerns mid-session rather than discover an unhappy client at the end.
Can I use my phone during the session?
Yes, with some common sense. Earphones and music or podcasts are standard. Texting and browsing is fine when it does not require moving the area being tattooed. Video calling loudly in a quiet studio is inconsiderate to other clients and artists. Keep phone use low-key and make sure it never causes involuntary movement of the tattooed area.
What if I genuinely cannot stay still because of pain?
Tell your artist and ask for a break. Taking breaks is always better than gritting your teeth and flinching involuntarily. No professional Nashville artist will judge you for needing to stop. They will judge an unexpected flinch that drags a line across finished work. Breaks are a tool. Use them when you need them. See our pain guide and numbing cream guide for more pain management options.