hi everyone.
im thinking of getting a tatoo nothin huge or indecent just something to express myself. however i have a question for those who work in automotive or deisel (technicians) what is the companys policy twords tatoos ? can they be visible or must they be covered with a sleeve? i need to know becuse this will dictate where i get the tatoo (its going to be a cross of some sort) im not a tech yet and dont want to be hindered in finding a job becuase of the way i look. im clean cut and clean shaven so it would just be a smaller tatoo to set me apart from anything. any advice or comments would be appreciated.
red

 

different compnays have different rules. I work in the summer for a christian camp and as long as the tattoo isnt tasteless, then they dont care. But the lifeguard company i work for says having a visible tattoo is grounds for firing.


edit- a good place for a small tattoo is your ankle or shoulder. not visible unless you want people to see it. I'm getting one in between my shoulders blades. Just make sure its a tattoo you can live with the rest of your life and that it means something to you.

 

Might it not be better to wear a cross on a cahin or ring that could be removed if it becomes a safety issue? Reason I ask is I have had a tattoo since high school. It never changes, I can't get a better looking one(without tattooing over it) if I don't want to wear it I have no choice it is always there.
So if I want to go out and really dress to the nines with a short sleeve shirt it ruins the look, dress pants, nice shirt, hat, shiny black shoes and my tattoo.

 

I can't speak for the automotive industry, but I do work in an office. I usually wear suits. In my experience, I've found that in California for the most part, employers don't discriminate against tattoos. Employers have become more and more accepting. Now it's not like you can just wear anything. I had several facial piercings that I removed in order to maintain a certain integrity of my position (supervisor).

I have several tattoos, and my advice is if you can get them in a place that makes you happym and can be concealed thats probably your best bet. Most people may not understand a very visible tattoo, and seem to get the wrong impression. When possible I cover my tattoos at work (wear long sleeves). On my own time, I wear beaters, sleeve-less shirts, etc. On my own time, I could care less what people think about me, but while working I want to maintain a certain respect, and demeanor.

Just remember business is just that ... business.

Good Luck

P.S. High Shoulder seems to be a popular spot for crosses, I designed a cross for my buddy not to long ago, it was big about 6 inches across and 10 inches long. It's high enough on his shoulder that you can barely see the about 1/2 to an inch of the bottom of that tattoo when he wears a t-shirt.

 

I have three tattoos all of them are not visable (one on each shoulder blade and one on right arm) i purposefully got them there so they could be covered very easily depending on where i decieded to work. I chose the Marine Corps so it is not that big of an issue (although they are also cracking down on visible tats)


Dan

 

a tattoist buddy of mine says that he inks more suits than anyone else...it could just be where his shop is

 

I owned a tattoo shop and worked as a tattooist for a long time. I too tattooed many suits including the top State Bar Attorney for California, so they are out there..
I sold my shop to work in the Entertainment industry, I work in a corportate environment and my left arm is fully sleeved, I have started on my right, both thighs and calves are tattooed, lower back, waist all done.
So far no problems I have been with MGM 5 years now.
So take your time in choosing your design, and dont rush or look for the cheapest route.. You always get what you pay for.
If you live in California I can refer you to some decent places

 

i got mine in my gallery, it describes me perfectly "RECKLESS" between my shoulders take a look its not terrible and NO its not crooked the camera was on an angle

 

As for hiding them, well, I would suggest wearing a short sleeved shirt in to the tattooist, and tell him/her that you want it covered up by the short sleeve.

That's my thinking anyway. A biker buddy of mine thinks the same way. If you have a visible tattoo, you will be instantly prejudiced by others, no matter what. I'm the only one at work with a tattoo, and when my co-workers saw it for the first time, they were like "Hmm."

I got mine on my right arm between my shoulder and elbow. Just the bottom 1/4" shows when I'm wearing a short sleeved shirt. In fact, some people who have known me for years didn't know I had a tattoo until the short sleeve slid up a little bit. They're like "what's that, and when did you get it?"

As for being a mechanic and having tattoos, I would suggest getting them on your upper arm. Reason being, you'll be putting your arms into some tight spaces, and they'll be getting scratched up daily. So, unless you already have tattoos on your forearms, don't get them there. When they're healing is when they are most susceptible to damage.

 

thanks everyone for the replys i still havent decided what or really whear but it will be covered by a sleeve if its on my arm. bigrigfixer..thanks for the input i didnt think about that part and your right it could get damaged very easily. Kundalini i live in san diego so if you know any good places around there ib be very thankfull. to everyone thanks alot for your advice and thanks for not being preachy about me getting one. That is why i come here becuase your guy/gals dont judge me thanks.

 

In San Diego I would say Avalon Tattoo.. Good reputation and great work. I have worked along side them in many conventions.
check out their website
http://www.avalontattoo.com/
Good Luck and remember they may be a little costly but it is going on your body forever...
I could never understand why someone would beef my about price and then turn around and spend 150$ on a pair of sneakers... Go figure
You get what you pay for..
Most decent shops will draw you up custom work so dont pick something off the wall. That was my biggest thing when I had a shop. I never had "flash" (the stuff on the wall) when someone came in and asked for something , I designed it for them, that way they had a unique piece.

 

I sit on my tattoo every day. Since the sun never hits it, it looks the same now as it did 22 years ago.

I've thought about getting another one over the years, maybe a tribal band and I totally agree with what Kundalini is saying. I've walked into too many shops and have been turned off by all the cheap artwork on the wall.

I don't mind paying someone $100 - $150/hr or more for a lifetime artpiece for an original, if they do their own art and do it well. What is a decent price rate for a tattoo if someone wants to go beyond the Black Panther w/ red claw marks?

One of my ex-inlaws is a semi-famous artist. He got a masters in art 60 years ago and has been doing fine art ever since. (In his 90's now, he's pretty well retired..) He told me years ago that Neman Marcus tried to contract him to do paintings. He worked his time out and, for what they wanted, he would only be able to charge $50/hr. It wasn't worth it to him to mass produce paintings all day at that price. Too bad he doesn't tattoo and now he'd probably just fall asleep and I'd get a line, shoulder to elbow.

 

Just my opinion, but I can't understand why anyone would pay to have someone ink in a picture or symbol on their body that they will have forever. As for poking a hole in a body part to hang a ring on, I suspect a lack of oxygen during the birthing process.
Dono

 

silly wabbit ankle tats are for chicks!

 

I kno a guy who plays football at Ole miss with a devil tat on his ankle. I wouldnt call him a chick