So, you woke up this morning and decided to get a tattoo. So you just run off to the local tattoo shop and get one right? Wrong. Prior to running off to a random artist and choosing a piece from a wall of drawings, there are a few things that you should consider.

Do you really want a tattoo right now?
Is the reason you are contemplating a tattoo because all of your friends seem to have gotten one recently or because you have a concept in your head that you are completely attached to? If your best friend just got a great tattoo you might feel pressured to go out and get one that is equally cool. Or perhaps your new life partner (of about a month) comes up with the idea that you should get each other's names tattooed on you. Nobody else's tattoo beliefs should influence you in getting one or not getting one; at the end of the day, it is on your body. If you choose to get a tattoo it should always be something that is meaningful to you. Whether that be a religious object, a loved one's name or just a piece that pulls strong emotions from you, it is wise to think about that one idea for a month to see if you feel the same way.

Choose your design and placement
Once you have established the general idea you want, it's a good idea to look online at similar tattoos; however, this does NOT by any means make it a good idea to print out a picture, take it to the artist and say "give me this." Seeing how your idea looks on actual skin will give you a better idea of what you are looking for, especially with regards to size, detail and color. Once you have determined the general look you want your tattoo to have, you can play around with the idea of placement. One way to see your tattoo in various places is to cut a basic outline of your design and look at it in various places on your body (in a mirror of course). Remember, this is only a vague idea and it may be altered with the next step.

Don't let any Joe Schmoe draw on your body
Educate yourself with the local artists and their work. Today most artists have a MySpace page or are members of various tattoo networking websites. This makes it very easy to view their work. Looking at different pieces done by different artists and reading all of the blogs on the networking sites will educate you in the tattoo industry. Also, each artist has his or her own style. It is important to choose the artist whose style meets your needs. For instance, some artists are very good with portrait pieces, where others are extremely talented with lettering. Once you have chosen the perfect artist for you, whether near or far, price should not be an issue. Sometimes when people hear that a piece can cost $400 they shy away from the artist they truly wanted, only to go with someone else and end up with a piece they are only happy with. You should be jumping with joy once your tattoo is complete. This is a piece of art that will be on your body forever and you should therefore be ecstatic about it.

Price and location should not be a factor in choosing an artist. In addition, when describing to the artist what you want, it is wise to listen to their input. If you have followed all of the steps correctly, then you have chosen an outstanding artist correct? Well then remember that he or she more than likely has much more experience than yourself and you should heed their word. If they think that the size is off or the placement will not look good on the body, then it is to your benefit to listen to them. Getting a tattoo is not something that should be taken lightly and you should thoroughly think it through beforehand.