Research tattoo artists thoroughly before committing to receiving work from one. Go to local tattoo shops, look through the artists' portfolios, and take any visual reference material you may have with you. When you find an artist whose portfolio you like, show your reference material to the artist and chat with him about how he would execute your tattoo. Make sure the shop is clean and that you get a good vibe from the artist personally.
Schedule your first tattoo appointment for a day when you have nothing else to do. Getting tattooed hurts, and many people find they need to go home and rest afterward. Remember that your arm will be wrapped in a bandage after your appointment and that you will be required to leave the bandage on overnight.
Eat a meal within two hours of your tattoo appointment. This helps to keep your blood sugar, mood and your pain tolerance as stable as possible.
Refrain from drinking alcohol 24 hours prior to getting tattooed. Not only can alcohol thin the blood and lead to excess bleeding, no reputable tattoo artist will work on a client on whom they can smell liquor. Save the drinks for after the tattoo.
Breathe through the painful parts. Getting tattooed can be excruciating at times, but it's all part of the process. Focus on deep inhalations and exhalations, closing your eyes and meditating on the beautiful, permanent piece of body art you and your artist are creating together, one second at a time.