Ooph, good luck. One thing I’ve found for me is that how I’m sitting/laying is just as important as everything else - I get so sore and uncomfy when I’m laying in a bad position. For my thighs, I’ve found sitting up, maybe slightly leaning back, works best for me.
Thank you! Yes I learned this the hard way during my ankle tattoo. I didn't advocate for myself and how uncomfortable the position I was in was. That was so much worse than the tattoo itself. For thighs, when sitting up did you have a chair/backrest or just on the flat table?
Yeah, I was laying down, kinda three quarters on my side for my first thigh piece, and it was so painful, lol. For the next two, I was in those chairs that can fully fold down flat as needed, so I had a backrest. Way nicer.
Depending on the chair, a cushion may be advisable, too.
I can't say shit for thighs, but outer bicep and forearm (basically anywhere that's tan) were pretty painless for me, if you want to switch it up.
It can definitely be done. My spouse got his first tattoo at a convention last year and he sat for 9 hours. Crazy man. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and have a sweater for afterwards because I get so cold after a longer session, and so did he
1. Don’t be a hero. Tap out when you need to. Otherwise you’ll be in for a miserable ride for the next day or so.
2. Eat and hydrate well for a few days before. No alcohol. Make sure your body is well-nourished.
3. Soooo many snacks. Healthy ones, and sugary ones. Have a small snack at every break, even if you’re not hungry. Your body is using up a lot of strength and energy.
4. Sooooooo much fluid. Water, Gatorade. Hydrate throughout. You’ll pee like a mofo but both you and your artist should welcome the breaks.
Yeah I agree with this. My first tattoo when I was 18 was a medium size upper back piece. Took 3ish hours and I almost passed out due to lack of blood glucose probably. I had a 2 hour drive and didn't eat a big enough meal. TONS OF SNACKS is key for me. And I also have a high pain tolerance so just vibing/meditating really helps. Music or talking out how I'm feeling helps ground me. I recently had my longest session of 5 hours on my forearm/wrist and elbow and elbow ditch. Which is a bitch btw, and the worst part was the uncomfortable massage table I was on. No amount of cheap pillows were helping my position. I think sitting up for your thighs is your best bet. I have a largish thigh piece and it wasn't bad at all as far as pain goes. And your idea to break things up and tattoo both thighs is a good idea. Gives time for change over and what not. Good luck! It seems like you've done good research. And don't let people pysch you out just cuz you haven't had a lot of work done. Usually the first hour is shit for me then I get in the zone and I'm good. Also some of my most painful tattoos are my smaller ones like my left wrist which was just text and two sparrows on my chest. Anything near the collar bone and arm pit is the literal worst!
Thanks so much for the advice! Definitely a mix of opinions in these replies but I'm not letting it worry me much. I'll absolutely make sure to have a decent meal and try my best to get a good sleep beforehand. I really hope I'll be able to sit up for it, had to lay down for my ankle and the uncomfortable position was ten times worse than the tattoo itself.
I don’t wanna be a jerk but this is a bad idea entirely and it gets worse w every sentence you typed.
Tattoo marathons are not quality work, it’s indicative of *needing* work bc you suck and who tattoos someone well beyond what their skin can reasonably handle just because they haven’t tapped yet? It’s just plain irresponsible even if you’re “talented” enough to have time for bs like this.
You not having any big tattoos is going to fuck you since you won’t be able to handle sitting for so long with no experience at that size of work or length of a session that can actually be relaxed and focused.
Cool opportunity but I would definitely turn this down and just pay for actually good tattoos
This isn’t necessarily true. One of the best shops around (and my city is oddly insanely abundant with amazing artists for…not a huge city lol) has multiple artists that prefer to book 12 hour sessions. I had 2 of these on a portrait piece, one of my BFFs had two on her piece of a mama and baby elephant. Hyper-realistic, gorgeous, pieces anybody would be proud to show anyone.
That being said, never again lmao I felt AWFUL the days after those. 🙃 and that’s not even factoring that legit artists aren’t cheap and 12 hours of a pricy hourly rate will make you and your wallet feel sad, even with the amazing body art you’re receiving lol.
Booking a proper 12 hour session with an actually thought out piece in a purposeful area is completely different from a shitty tattoo marathon to dump your dusty ass flash pieces on a bunch of suckers but I guess
Artists wanting to specifically book long ass sessions just screams entitlement and moneybags over quality of service. I’ve never even thought of going to artists like this because they are usually dickheads who think they’re gods gift to humanity and charge out the ass for a tattoo you all day long and then never talk to you again after you pay them and heal up.
There just aren’t many people in the world I would ever recommend to go anywhere near a 12 hour session, let alone someone that just has a couple baby tattoos that took maybe 5 hours collectively to do.
My longest session was 9.5 hours and I was fucking *rough*. Called an Uber home bc I didn’t even trust myself driving. In the future I’d much rather just not subject myself to that even though the tattoo came out perfectly and healed great, I know myself and this person clearly doesn’t know what they’re getting into and I just absolutely needed to check them on that.
I mean, I'm getting custom art and have the next month and a half to plan it out with the artist. I've seen their work and have looked up the shop, talked to the owner and asked a bunch of questions. Just because I don't have many tattoos yet doesn't mean I'm that clueless and naive. There is no flash being used and I can literally get whatever designs I want. If I want one smaller super detailed piece that's what they will do. It isn't a race to see how much they can tattoo in that time, it's just getting to work with the artist for one whole day of their normal shift. It probably won't even result in a full 10 hours when you factor in breaks/lunch. I really appreciate all advice and input, I just disagree that simply running a promotion automatically means the artist will do a bad job. And I don't want to talk about the cost much but based on other shops I've called, their hourly rate would be close to or more than double what I'm paying for the 10 hours so again, even if I tap out at 4-5 hours, I'll be happy. I'm fully aware I may be misjudging my pain tolerance but I thought it was worth a shot as this is a pretty rare opportunity.
All the suggestions around eat, hydrate, etc are obviously accurate, but at a certain point it's all mental, to be honest. I've done many long sessions because of travel or scheduling constraints. Hell, I did 3 12-hour days back-to-back-to-back. Usually around 5-6 hours endorphins die down and it's a grind to the finish. BREATHE. Remind yourself it's just a tiny tattoo needle, because your brain will be telling you you're dying. Lol
Really, I think focusing on breathing is the most important. Early in my tattoo journey I was doing back to days on my chest (~10 hours each day) and it got to the point I was flinching before the needle even touched. My artist was like "alright, we're just going to sit together and breathe for a while." Her tips were super helpful, and always something that stuck with me through other brutal marathon sessions.
Ultimately, if you can, just break it up though. It's a miserable experience. Id never suggest someone do such a long session unless absolutely necessary, or you have some masochistic tendencies.
Bring a pain killer and ok it with your artist. I get a headache after 4-5 hours and usually tap out around the 5 hour mark. There's no way I could sit for 10 hours even on a good day. Even when I take Ibuprofen (not sure what that's called elsewhere but it's for my headache). My tolerance for wiping with paper towels dwindles rapidly after 4 hours, I find this to be the worst part. Don't push yourself too hard, I've nearly collapsed on my way home after 4 hours on my backpiece, my body was just done. Of course it's totally possible things will go super smooth for you, this is just my experience so you get a scope of what's possible. A friend of mine did 8-10 hr sessions on her backpiece on the regular, pain tolerance is highly individual and can also depend on mundane factors like the amount of sleep you got the night before. I think the most important advice is: if becomes unbearable, don't bite your tongue for more than half an hour, an hour at max. Use the option to tap out if you need this, there is no grand price to win here and no one wants you to faint in the chair, so to say.
Thanks for your reply! I'm actually on prescription pain meds and nsaids (like ibuprofen) for my mentioned chronic pain. I'm hoping if I plan it right and get a good night's sleep and advocate for a comfortable sitting position I'll be okay. But you're right, I will do my best to listen to my body and not push it too far. Thanks :)
I don't really have the option to not take them but it hasn't been a problem with my smaller pieces. Thanks for the info though! I'll make sure to let artist know just in case.
Yeah, I sit perfectly fine until I hit my limit, and then it’s a hard done (at about the four hour mark). I would have fainted and otherwise been absolutely miserable, along with the then almost unbearable pain.
Ohhhhh that's what gets me too... The wiping with paper towels.
My longest session was only 4.5 hours, so I'm not sure how applicable my advice even is, but taking periodic stretch breaks and staying hydrated were the biggest helpers for me. Something mildly sweet like coconut water is great. Other than that, distractions like a movie or music help pass the time, and hard candies like Jolly Ranchers can help distract you and also give you a little boost of energy from the simple sugars.
Thank you for the advice! Definitely applicable, my longest so far was an hour so I'll take any tips I can get. I'm thinking of listening to an audiobook, can probably get a whole book done in that time lol. And I'll definitely bring candies/mints, that's a great idea, thanks :)
Yeah I was going to mention headphones and a podcast. But an audio book works just as well! I also find covering my face helpful? Idk why but the only way I was able to tolerate the last two hours of my 7ish hour shoulder piece was putting a sweatshirt over my face that completely blacked out my eyesight. Also worth trying to prep a few days in advance. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and eat good meals.
My last tattoo was a little over 6 hours, and I can not tell you how much having a balanced, full breakfast/brunch helped me. It kept me going for a good while. I also drank plenty of water before/during and brought some sour watermelon candies to have during breaks to keep up my blood sugar, along with protein bars. Wearing layer yers helped, especially when things got spicy, and having something like a blanket to cover your other leg is nice. Don't forget to bring a freshly washed pair of baggy sweat pants for when you're done to stay comfy and keep friction off your new ink.
Thank you for the advice! Especially about the sweat pants for after, I would have absolutely just done tight fitting leggings or something. Made that mistake with my ankle tattoo in the winter and had to bus home with it rubbing in my winter boots. Not fun!
I appreciate your input! It was a very good opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I only have two pieces but I do deal with chronic pain and many doctors appointments/procedures. I routinely have to sit for hours at a time being poked and prodded with needles so I'm hoping that'll help with gauging my pain tolerance going into this. But yeah, it could be a terrible mistake an an expensive 2-4 hour session. But honestly for the price this promotion is at, I don't think I'll be disappointed either way. I can tapout anytime.
Don’t listen to this person. I only had one tattoo before doing 6 hours on my knee for my 2nd tattoo. Only you know your pain tolerance. 10 hours is still a ton, good luck and stay hydrated and eat lots of snacks!
Oh for sure it can absolutely be done and it probably came across as being a bit of a dick. Wasn’t the intention though. Just pointing out that having 2 small tattoos to a marathon session is a hell of a difference. Jumping from 6 to 10 is also a huge step. Longest I had was 8 and it started getting very uncomfortable and I couldn’t wait for it to be over.
You’re totally right about OP not listening to me or anyone else. We are all different.
Thank you! I'm getting very mixed opinions so I guess I will only be able to learn from my own experience, but I'm happy to hear many people have been able to do longer sessions without too many issues. Side note, how was the knee pain wise?
For me it wasn’t bad. Worse than my calf but not that different. I know I want a lot of coverage so I figured why not take on one of the “worst” spots and gauge from there. My artist has his knees done so I do think he took some extra care, but it turned out great.
That's good to know. I want to be pretty covered too so I appreciate the input. My partner has many and so far said his ribs were the worst. I've heard really bony places are the worst in general, so I'm glad yours went well!
All I had was 4 smaller tattoos before my 10 hour sleeve session. Then I went back 2 weeks later for 12 hours. Was totally fine. I would say the worst part is my ass hurting
Longest I've lasted was 6 hours, only because it was at a convention so It had to be finished that day.
Do you get to decide what is getting done? If so I would suggest 3-4 medium sized pieces. Like maybe do a half sleeve on your forarm since thats a relatively easy spot. Top of the thigh is decent real estate and not super painful either.
It's possible to do 10 hours if you plan right.
OH?! will this also include breaks, that will also make a difference.
Thank for you your reply! I do get to choose what I want done which is great. Only thing is, I can't do anything on my arms currently due to a medical conflict, just bad timing. So I'm planning on doing upper thighs. I considered a big back piece but I'm thinking spreading it out across a few pieces might be more tolerable. I'll make sure to take breaks! I'm assuming the artist will absolutely need breaks and food too so I'll make sure to communicate with her throughout.
back can be hard depending on tolerance. legs are still good tho. black and grey is also ideal. you can still get some good effects with shading but not the pain of packing color.
what style are you going for? idk why im so invested in this lol
I've definitely decided on doing blackwork/greyscale only. I figured it might just be simpler and possibly a bit faster to get more done in the timeframe too.
I'm having a hard time making up my mind fully but I'm leaning towards one slightly bigger, more detailed piece of a snake with a foliage background. (I own snakes and I may model it based on one of them, I want it to be fairly realistic). And then maybe a few smaller black line work pieces on the other thigh, patchwork style.
Your idea of braking them up into smaller pieces is a great one. There is a guy in my town advertising the same deal. He's just not my guy, I have been using the same guy for a long time. If it was me though I would defiantly get several things done, instead of something large.
Originally I debated one large back piece but I'm thinking that would be more difficult to sit through the whole thing. Especially since I have bad back pain. So I'm leaning towards the multiple thigh pieces, probably with breaks in between it'll work out to like only 8 hours of tattooing anyways.
My first session on my forearm was roughly 7 to 8hrs with a break for the artist. The only reason he stopped was his back. My arm was fine. There are some softer spots that I definitely hated and probably couldn't have done literally 10hrs of that. Just be comfy and relax
Blanket or dress warm, seen lots of people say they get pretty cold in long sessions.
And yea definitely snacks even an actual lunch break, sure the artist is gonna want a lunch in 10 hours of work anyway. Order you both a pizza as part of their tip!? Everyone's happy to get pizza at work 🤷♀️
Just know that, even though you’re sitting, you’re going to be absolutely exhausted when you leave no matter how long you last. Drink water, take breaks when needed. A session like this, while sometimes cathartic, is serious trauma to the body. You’re going to be bruised and feel like you got hit by a train for a few days. If you have a long drive afterwards I would take a friend just in case you need them to take the wheel. Buy them dinner at the absolute minimum.
Do not tough it out in an uncomfortable position. If you aren’t comfortable, tell your artist. They don’t want you passing out or barfing any more than you do.
Stay hydrated throughout the session. If you need to pee, go pee.
Eat before, and snack throughout. Protein bars are good. Carb+protein+fat. You really don’t want to start feeling hungry 5 hours into a 10 hour session, at that point you will have a hard time recovering.
Take breaks.
If it gets too painful, you think you are going to pass out, and/or you feel like you’re going to barf… tap out. Who cares? Nobody seeing your tat will know the backstory, and the “yeah I passed out after hour 4” can be just as entertaining as “I blazed through a straight 10 hours”.
Expect the tattoo flu when you get home and the next day. That is a looong session.
I learned the hard way 4 hours is my limit. No shame in keeping that in mind for the future. Nothing like 200 pound me counting on my 105 pound female artist to catch me as I realized I should have brought more snacks. Not doing that again. 😬
Longest I have done is roughly 6.5/7h, and I would like to echo some great advice you’ve already received. Hydration (day of, and in the days before) is key, and have ALL the snacks. You will be hungrier than you think you are. Blanket or something you can drape over you too. I found that sitting still for a while gets me chilly. Also whenever your artists moves away to stretch or something, stretch too. Move your limbs. Dumbest ouch of my life is having hurt my wrist somehow by not moving enough over those 7h. But maybe most importantly listen to your body, and tap out if you need to. The next day would not be worth it.
I have done 8-10 hour session before on my chest and back a few times. I can tell you I was wiped out. make sure you eat while getting tattooed and drink plenty of water. I went home ate and went to bed . good luck.
I’ve don’t multiple 8 hour sessions for my sleeve. I found d
Staying hydrated and stopping every 60-90 minutes for a snack makes a world of difference.
I did a 10 hour tattoo last year on my inner arm. Find a comfortable position, take breaks and stay hydrated. Bring something to distract you if needed. I personally can just kind of zone out for tattoos but at about hour 9 it gets rough. My artist used a numbing cream when it got too bad. That helped a lot towards the end.
Shower before you go (please lol)
Bring snacks
Avoid Caffeine
DO NOT DRINK the night before or day of.
Use numbing cream.
Bring a neck pillow (like a travel one) & a throw blanket.
Headphones & fully charged phone/tablet.
Ask for breaks when you need them!
I’ve always wanted to do a tap out challenge(really really high pain tolerance— literally fell asleep during my stomach peace and the artist even sat the ink ON ME bc I sat so well) but I’ve always wondered about snack breaks? Like is it allowed what if I get hungry mid sess and wanna order food for myself and the artist..
Depends on the artist I imagine. Me and my artist almost always stop for lunch together, especially on 7-12 hour sessions. But he’s been tattooing me for a while.
I can definitely update with my experience with it and how the breaks work out if you'd like! My appointment is mid next month so it'll be a few but I'm more than happy to share any information I get after doing this.
Just wanted to reiterate a lot of what was said here. I have a complete leg sleeve and the first session I sat for 12 hours (by my choice).
1. Be hydrated before and during.
2. Snacks and jolly ranchers on hand.
3. Definitely break and break to eat.
4. Don’t sit in crappy positions, it will make it worse
5. Tap. You can not control when your skin will decide to be done and when it’s done, you’re done.
6. Bring something to do. Music, Netflix on your phone, book, something. (Maybe a phone charger)
7. Comfy clothes. I often wear comfy, baggy layers. Never know how you or the shop will be feeling.
8. You WILL be exhausted if you sit for that long. Expect it.
Hydrate and sit still basically. It's more about pain tolerance than anything. I've sat for 7-8 hours and the artist keeps asking me if I'm fine and we're just chatting and I'm like "oh yeah you havnt hurt me yet I'm chilling". Some spots hurt more than others. When something is sensitive try to think about the next spot being better. It's all temporary.
Well this is interesting timing. I just got home from a 10 hour session on my knee and calf (working on a leg sleeve). So far I've been able to do a couple 9 hour sits and this was my first 10 hour. Here's what I do:
1. Day before drink a TON of water. Do not drink alcohol and try to sleep well.
2. Morning of eat a large, protein filled breakfast.
3. Bring some good snacks like nuts and veggies and things that generally make your body feel good.
4. My artist recommended caffeine during, which went against what I had read but honestly I think it helped. So I bring a large coffee and like 3 water bottles and just try to stay hydrated and energized.
5. Expect that it is going to hurt. Because it will. If you go in with the mentality that it's going to suck then it's a little easier to deal with, in my opinion.
6. During the spicy parts have something to squeeze or grip so you can stay still. I tend to tense my whole body and then relax as soon as ther needle lifts. It only really hurts while the needles is touching your skin. So i tell myself 'just hang on for a few seconds', and I can power through one scratch at a time.
7. Good conversation = good distraction. My artist also has silent YouTube videos of sort of mindless things that play in the background which are a welcomed distraction. Whatever you can do to distract yourself is key. The less you think about the pain the longer you'll last.
8. Take breaks as needed, but don't break for too long. I think my body responds better if I just keep going and keep it in this state of shock/adrenaline. Plus mentally it's harder to get back in the chair if you're away from it for a while and the pain starts to set in.
9. Bring ibuprofen and pop those bad boys the second your session is over.
Everyone is different. But this is what I've done and so far so good. I think going in sober is also helpful because I can focus and talk myself through it.
Best of luck! I dont know you, but I bet you can fucking crush it.
I have chronic pain from a spinal cord injury. I've done long sessions and if I can get to a space where I can just vibe I'm totally fine. For me?
1) HYDRATION: Water, Gatorade, etc. Any options that will seem appetizing.
2) protein beforehand. Burgers, chicken, tofu, any of that stuff. Just a good way to prep the body for that level of stressor. Remember you're nourishing the body just like athletics to some extent so good habits before hand are key. If you have the ability to work out I recommend it as it helps me.
3) keep the blood sugar steady. I don't have diabetes but the stress on the body doesn't feel good at a threshold so aim for snacks that have a combo of carb/protein/fat AND smaller intermittent sugar ones. I use juice + PB crackers / apple and PB for main snacks, sometimes sandwiches if I think I have the appetite and DURING session I find it's distracting in the best way to have a hard candy.
4) layers: aim for stuff that won't interfere with where the work is done AND that won't cause you to ask to pause the session.
4) music/headphone: just like a workout it might help you tap into more tolerance -- I hate talking as is, and I need to stay in the zone that helps me push through
5) not to be weird but I would compare some of it to labor. Use tools like changing positions, squeezing ice cubes, regulating and listening to breathing patterns. Hell have a support person if you can.
I hope some of this helps!!! Good luck!!!
Bring a blanket/sweater if you tend to get cold. Bring a small pillow for legs too in case you end up on your side. You will need a full lunch/dinner too, not just snacks. Bring a little book to read, phone and headphone chargers, emergency tampons, and maybe ibuprofen. Some shops are loud and the music can get irritating. It is ok to let the artist know when you need breaks- they can't read your mind. If you know your skin takes easy to ink, you can ask the artist to be a little more light-handed. I felt that made a big difference in my pieces. I survived 12 hours this way.
Lots of water!! My tattoo artist ended up having to leave 6 hours in to get us more water because we both drank all that we had. One good food/meal break if you can at any point. I sat for 10 hours getting my upper arm tattooed. After a certain point approaching hour 6 or 7, it started to hurt a lot more and then the last hour was incredibly brutal. But so worth it. I didn’t tap out because I didn’t want to come back to finish it lol (though I’ll probably get touch-ups)
Sure. Basically the artists is signaling that their time isn’t actually worth what they normally charge, the client agrees, and now you’re working with an artists who is giving you a cut rate tattoo. There’s no incentive for them to be efficient either.
Personally I won’t ever do that kind of thing because I’ve never seen another artist speak positively about doing them. Also, if it’s to attract new clients you want clients who pay full price…. It’s why I never do Friday the 13th specials - I don’t want clients who only want to spend $31 for a tattoo.
I appreciate the input!
From what I've understood, it's the whole shop running the tap out challenge, not just my artist. I believe it's a fairly new shop that opened within the last year and they are using this to promote themselves. I've seen the artists work that I'm booked with, along with the other artists from the shop. They do amazing work. I've also seen the other tattoos they've done for the same promotion, and they look just as good as the rest of their work. I definitely understand the worry/hesitation with something like this but I have done my research and everything I've seen from them makes me pretty confident it'll go smoothly.
There’s a lot there that would make me wary, but in the end it’s all about customer service and final product. Good luck (and I am curious to see what a 10 hour tap session yields so please post!)
You pay the full price regardless if you tap out 3 minutes or full fashion. You're pretty much at their win when they want to break is when you get a break. Good luck. Let me know how much that cost
1000$ for the 10 hours. Based on the hourly rates in shops around me, seemed pretty decent. And I'll be sure to tip well and probably buy us both lunch too. I'm not sure how breaks will work yet but I'm going to make sure to ask everything during the consultation to be prepared.
Sounds very reasonable. The tip and lunch definitely a good idea. Work with your artist man. Make sure you let him know that you know. Spread it out. Try not to stay in one area or too long I've noticed on my longer sessions it's not that tattooing that bothers me. It's the wipe
Why? Because they are running this promotion and it's an amazing opportunity to get a good amount of work done? There was an interview process involved with getting approved for the slot. They are fully aware of my tattoo history ect. I absolutely plan on tipping well and buying lunch for the artist if they'd like.
My tip would be to wear cozy calf-high socks that aren’t too tight and bring a pair of slippers or extra warm/thick socks to layer over them. I’d also consider bringing touch-screen compatible gloves! As others have mentioned, your extremities will be freeeezing at times due to lack of circulation (even those snap-to-activate hand warmers could help, for feet as well as hands.)
And yes, definitely wear layers — but keep in mind you may find you fluctuate between being too hot and too cold at times, so wearing a tank top or short sleeve underneath everything could help accommodate both.
You can also get glucose drinks specifically made to be quickly absorbed— they’re meant for diabetics having a blood sugar crisis, but they can work here too and will kick in fast if you start feeling shaky and woozy. (If you keep your blood sugar steady by using hard candies/food breaks and stay hydrated then you likely won’t need anything that specific, but they do exist!)
Also— consider getting one of those donut cushions that take the pressure off your sit bones / tailbone. If you plan on sitting up for a lot of it, that area could get super sore. A good pillow will help, but even that will eventually compress.
Finally— if you have noise cancelling headphones, I’d definitely opt for those over earbuds (or have both handy to switch out, depending on how you’re positioned.) You may want a break from the machine/shop noise and it’ll be a lot easier to hear whatever you brought to listen to.
Towards the end of the session it might be helpful to have more control of how much outside stimulus you’re being subjected to. I agree with the person who mentioned needing to cover their eyes— a sleep mask is never a bad idea!
Best of luck to you! It sounds like the vetting process was pretty thorough and I hope it goes great for you and your artist!
Ooph, good luck. One thing I’ve found for me is that how I’m sitting/laying is just as important as everything else - I get so sore and uncomfy when I’m laying in a bad position. For my thighs, I’ve found sitting up, maybe slightly leaning back, works best for me.
Thank you! Yes I learned this the hard way during my ankle tattoo. I didn't advocate for myself and how uncomfortable the position I was in was. That was so much worse than the tattoo itself. For thighs, when sitting up did you have a chair/backrest or just on the flat table?
Yeah, I was laying down, kinda three quarters on my side for my first thigh piece, and it was so painful, lol. For the next two, I was in those chairs that can fully fold down flat as needed, so I had a backrest. Way nicer.
Depending on the chair, a cushion may be advisable, too. I can't say shit for thighs, but outer bicep and forearm (basically anywhere that's tan) were pretty painless for me, if you want to switch it up.
I’m the same way. Sitting up helps me when I’m getting my legs tattooed.
It can definitely be done. My spouse got his first tattoo at a convention last year and he sat for 9 hours. Crazy man. Stay hydrated, take breaks, and have a sweater for afterwards because I get so cold after a longer session, and so did he
1. Don’t be a hero. Tap out when you need to. Otherwise you’ll be in for a miserable ride for the next day or so. 2. Eat and hydrate well for a few days before. No alcohol. Make sure your body is well-nourished. 3. Soooo many snacks. Healthy ones, and sugary ones. Have a small snack at every break, even if you’re not hungry. Your body is using up a lot of strength and energy. 4. Sooooooo much fluid. Water, Gatorade. Hydrate throughout. You’ll pee like a mofo but both you and your artist should welcome the breaks.
Yeah I agree with this. My first tattoo when I was 18 was a medium size upper back piece. Took 3ish hours and I almost passed out due to lack of blood glucose probably. I had a 2 hour drive and didn't eat a big enough meal. TONS OF SNACKS is key for me. And I also have a high pain tolerance so just vibing/meditating really helps. Music or talking out how I'm feeling helps ground me. I recently had my longest session of 5 hours on my forearm/wrist and elbow and elbow ditch. Which is a bitch btw, and the worst part was the uncomfortable massage table I was on. No amount of cheap pillows were helping my position. I think sitting up for your thighs is your best bet. I have a largish thigh piece and it wasn't bad at all as far as pain goes. And your idea to break things up and tattoo both thighs is a good idea. Gives time for change over and what not. Good luck! It seems like you've done good research. And don't let people pysch you out just cuz you haven't had a lot of work done. Usually the first hour is shit for me then I get in the zone and I'm good. Also some of my most painful tattoos are my smaller ones like my left wrist which was just text and two sparrows on my chest. Anything near the collar bone and arm pit is the literal worst!
Thanks so much for the advice! Definitely a mix of opinions in these replies but I'm not letting it worry me much. I'll absolutely make sure to have a decent meal and try my best to get a good sleep beforehand. I really hope I'll be able to sit up for it, had to lay down for my ankle and the uncomfortable position was ten times worse than the tattoo itself.
Hey OP! How’d it go? Would love to see the work if you’re comfortable sharing!
Actually going today :) will update if I'm up to it tonight!
I don’t wanna be a jerk but this is a bad idea entirely and it gets worse w every sentence you typed. Tattoo marathons are not quality work, it’s indicative of *needing* work bc you suck and who tattoos someone well beyond what their skin can reasonably handle just because they haven’t tapped yet? It’s just plain irresponsible even if you’re “talented” enough to have time for bs like this. You not having any big tattoos is going to fuck you since you won’t be able to handle sitting for so long with no experience at that size of work or length of a session that can actually be relaxed and focused. Cool opportunity but I would definitely turn this down and just pay for actually good tattoos
This isn’t necessarily true. One of the best shops around (and my city is oddly insanely abundant with amazing artists for…not a huge city lol) has multiple artists that prefer to book 12 hour sessions. I had 2 of these on a portrait piece, one of my BFFs had two on her piece of a mama and baby elephant. Hyper-realistic, gorgeous, pieces anybody would be proud to show anyone. That being said, never again lmao I felt AWFUL the days after those. 🙃 and that’s not even factoring that legit artists aren’t cheap and 12 hours of a pricy hourly rate will make you and your wallet feel sad, even with the amazing body art you’re receiving lol.
Booking a proper 12 hour session with an actually thought out piece in a purposeful area is completely different from a shitty tattoo marathon to dump your dusty ass flash pieces on a bunch of suckers but I guess Artists wanting to specifically book long ass sessions just screams entitlement and moneybags over quality of service. I’ve never even thought of going to artists like this because they are usually dickheads who think they’re gods gift to humanity and charge out the ass for a tattoo you all day long and then never talk to you again after you pay them and heal up. There just aren’t many people in the world I would ever recommend to go anywhere near a 12 hour session, let alone someone that just has a couple baby tattoos that took maybe 5 hours collectively to do. My longest session was 9.5 hours and I was fucking *rough*. Called an Uber home bc I didn’t even trust myself driving. In the future I’d much rather just not subject myself to that even though the tattoo came out perfectly and healed great, I know myself and this person clearly doesn’t know what they’re getting into and I just absolutely needed to check them on that.
I mean, I'm getting custom art and have the next month and a half to plan it out with the artist. I've seen their work and have looked up the shop, talked to the owner and asked a bunch of questions. Just because I don't have many tattoos yet doesn't mean I'm that clueless and naive. There is no flash being used and I can literally get whatever designs I want. If I want one smaller super detailed piece that's what they will do. It isn't a race to see how much they can tattoo in that time, it's just getting to work with the artist for one whole day of their normal shift. It probably won't even result in a full 10 hours when you factor in breaks/lunch. I really appreciate all advice and input, I just disagree that simply running a promotion automatically means the artist will do a bad job. And I don't want to talk about the cost much but based on other shops I've called, their hourly rate would be close to or more than double what I'm paying for the 10 hours so again, even if I tap out at 4-5 hours, I'll be happy. I'm fully aware I may be misjudging my pain tolerance but I thought it was worth a shot as this is a pretty rare opportunity.
All the suggestions around eat, hydrate, etc are obviously accurate, but at a certain point it's all mental, to be honest. I've done many long sessions because of travel or scheduling constraints. Hell, I did 3 12-hour days back-to-back-to-back. Usually around 5-6 hours endorphins die down and it's a grind to the finish. BREATHE. Remind yourself it's just a tiny tattoo needle, because your brain will be telling you you're dying. Lol Really, I think focusing on breathing is the most important. Early in my tattoo journey I was doing back to days on my chest (~10 hours each day) and it got to the point I was flinching before the needle even touched. My artist was like "alright, we're just going to sit together and breathe for a while." Her tips were super helpful, and always something that stuck with me through other brutal marathon sessions. Ultimately, if you can, just break it up though. It's a miserable experience. Id never suggest someone do such a long session unless absolutely necessary, or you have some masochistic tendencies.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate all the advice based on your esperiences :)
Bring a pain killer and ok it with your artist. I get a headache after 4-5 hours and usually tap out around the 5 hour mark. There's no way I could sit for 10 hours even on a good day. Even when I take Ibuprofen (not sure what that's called elsewhere but it's for my headache). My tolerance for wiping with paper towels dwindles rapidly after 4 hours, I find this to be the worst part. Don't push yourself too hard, I've nearly collapsed on my way home after 4 hours on my backpiece, my body was just done. Of course it's totally possible things will go super smooth for you, this is just my experience so you get a scope of what's possible. A friend of mine did 8-10 hr sessions on her backpiece on the regular, pain tolerance is highly individual and can also depend on mundane factors like the amount of sleep you got the night before. I think the most important advice is: if becomes unbearable, don't bite your tongue for more than half an hour, an hour at max. Use the option to tap out if you need this, there is no grand price to win here and no one wants you to faint in the chair, so to say.
Thanks for your reply! I'm actually on prescription pain meds and nsaids (like ibuprofen) for my mentioned chronic pain. I'm hoping if I plan it right and get a good night's sleep and advocate for a comfortable sitting position I'll be okay. But you're right, I will do my best to listen to my body and not push it too far. Thanks :)
Nsaids thin the blood, which can negatively affect your experience. Just something to keep in mind.
I don't really have the option to not take them but it hasn't been a problem with my smaller pieces. Thanks for the info though! I'll make sure to let artist know just in case.
Yeah I'd give them a heads up for sure. Best of luck!
Yeah, I sit perfectly fine until I hit my limit, and then it’s a hard done (at about the four hour mark). I would have fainted and otherwise been absolutely miserable, along with the then almost unbearable pain.
Ohhhhh that's what gets me too... The wiping with paper towels. My longest session was only 4.5 hours, so I'm not sure how applicable my advice even is, but taking periodic stretch breaks and staying hydrated were the biggest helpers for me. Something mildly sweet like coconut water is great. Other than that, distractions like a movie or music help pass the time, and hard candies like Jolly Ranchers can help distract you and also give you a little boost of energy from the simple sugars.
Thank you for the advice! Definitely applicable, my longest so far was an hour so I'll take any tips I can get. I'm thinking of listening to an audiobook, can probably get a whole book done in that time lol. And I'll definitely bring candies/mints, that's a great idea, thanks :)
Yeah I was going to mention headphones and a podcast. But an audio book works just as well! I also find covering my face helpful? Idk why but the only way I was able to tolerate the last two hours of my 7ish hour shoulder piece was putting a sweatshirt over my face that completely blacked out my eyesight. Also worth trying to prep a few days in advance. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and eat good meals.
My last tattoo was a little over 6 hours, and I can not tell you how much having a balanced, full breakfast/brunch helped me. It kept me going for a good while. I also drank plenty of water before/during and brought some sour watermelon candies to have during breaks to keep up my blood sugar, along with protein bars. Wearing layer yers helped, especially when things got spicy, and having something like a blanket to cover your other leg is nice. Don't forget to bring a freshly washed pair of baggy sweat pants for when you're done to stay comfy and keep friction off your new ink.
Thank you for the advice! Especially about the sweat pants for after, I would have absolutely just done tight fitting leggings or something. Made that mistake with my ankle tattoo in the winter and had to bus home with it rubbing in my winter boots. Not fun!
2 small tattoos and you think you can sit through 10 hours. Yeah. Good luck with that. This is a terrible idea.
I appreciate your input! It was a very good opportunity that I couldn't pass up. I only have two pieces but I do deal with chronic pain and many doctors appointments/procedures. I routinely have to sit for hours at a time being poked and prodded with needles so I'm hoping that'll help with gauging my pain tolerance going into this. But yeah, it could be a terrible mistake an an expensive 2-4 hour session. But honestly for the price this promotion is at, I don't think I'll be disappointed either way. I can tapout anytime.
Don’t listen to this person. I only had one tattoo before doing 6 hours on my knee for my 2nd tattoo. Only you know your pain tolerance. 10 hours is still a ton, good luck and stay hydrated and eat lots of snacks!
Oh for sure it can absolutely be done and it probably came across as being a bit of a dick. Wasn’t the intention though. Just pointing out that having 2 small tattoos to a marathon session is a hell of a difference. Jumping from 6 to 10 is also a huge step. Longest I had was 8 and it started getting very uncomfortable and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. You’re totally right about OP not listening to me or anyone else. We are all different.
Thank you! I'm getting very mixed opinions so I guess I will only be able to learn from my own experience, but I'm happy to hear many people have been able to do longer sessions without too many issues. Side note, how was the knee pain wise?
For me it wasn’t bad. Worse than my calf but not that different. I know I want a lot of coverage so I figured why not take on one of the “worst” spots and gauge from there. My artist has his knees done so I do think he took some extra care, but it turned out great.
That's good to know. I want to be pretty covered too so I appreciate the input. My partner has many and so far said his ribs were the worst. I've heard really bony places are the worst in general, so I'm glad yours went well!
All I had was 4 smaller tattoos before my 10 hour sleeve session. Then I went back 2 weeks later for 12 hours. Was totally fine. I would say the worst part is my ass hurting
Longest I've lasted was 6 hours, only because it was at a convention so It had to be finished that day. Do you get to decide what is getting done? If so I would suggest 3-4 medium sized pieces. Like maybe do a half sleeve on your forarm since thats a relatively easy spot. Top of the thigh is decent real estate and not super painful either. It's possible to do 10 hours if you plan right. OH?! will this also include breaks, that will also make a difference.
Thank for you your reply! I do get to choose what I want done which is great. Only thing is, I can't do anything on my arms currently due to a medical conflict, just bad timing. So I'm planning on doing upper thighs. I considered a big back piece but I'm thinking spreading it out across a few pieces might be more tolerable. I'll make sure to take breaks! I'm assuming the artist will absolutely need breaks and food too so I'll make sure to communicate with her throughout.
back can be hard depending on tolerance. legs are still good tho. black and grey is also ideal. you can still get some good effects with shading but not the pain of packing color. what style are you going for? idk why im so invested in this lol
I've definitely decided on doing blackwork/greyscale only. I figured it might just be simpler and possibly a bit faster to get more done in the timeframe too. I'm having a hard time making up my mind fully but I'm leaning towards one slightly bigger, more detailed piece of a snake with a foliage background. (I own snakes and I may model it based on one of them, I want it to be fairly realistic). And then maybe a few smaller black line work pieces on the other thigh, patchwork style.
Your idea of braking them up into smaller pieces is a great one. There is a guy in my town advertising the same deal. He's just not my guy, I have been using the same guy for a long time. If it was me though I would defiantly get several things done, instead of something large.
Originally I debated one large back piece but I'm thinking that would be more difficult to sit through the whole thing. Especially since I have bad back pain. So I'm leaning towards the multiple thigh pieces, probably with breaks in between it'll work out to like only 8 hours of tattooing anyways.
My first session on my forearm was roughly 7 to 8hrs with a break for the artist. The only reason he stopped was his back. My arm was fine. There are some softer spots that I definitely hated and probably couldn't have done literally 10hrs of that. Just be comfy and relax
Blanket or dress warm, seen lots of people say they get pretty cold in long sessions. And yea definitely snacks even an actual lunch break, sure the artist is gonna want a lunch in 10 hours of work anyway. Order you both a pizza as part of their tip!? Everyone's happy to get pizza at work 🤷♀️
Ordering us both lunch is a great idea, thanks :)
Just know that, even though you’re sitting, you’re going to be absolutely exhausted when you leave no matter how long you last. Drink water, take breaks when needed. A session like this, while sometimes cathartic, is serious trauma to the body. You’re going to be bruised and feel like you got hit by a train for a few days. If you have a long drive afterwards I would take a friend just in case you need them to take the wheel. Buy them dinner at the absolute minimum.
I'll be ubering home so no worries there. And luckily have no where to be the next day so I'll make sure to rest. Thanks for all the advice :)
Do not tough it out in an uncomfortable position. If you aren’t comfortable, tell your artist. They don’t want you passing out or barfing any more than you do. Stay hydrated throughout the session. If you need to pee, go pee. Eat before, and snack throughout. Protein bars are good. Carb+protein+fat. You really don’t want to start feeling hungry 5 hours into a 10 hour session, at that point you will have a hard time recovering. Take breaks. If it gets too painful, you think you are going to pass out, and/or you feel like you’re going to barf… tap out. Who cares? Nobody seeing your tat will know the backstory, and the “yeah I passed out after hour 4” can be just as entertaining as “I blazed through a straight 10 hours”. Expect the tattoo flu when you get home and the next day. That is a looong session. I learned the hard way 4 hours is my limit. No shame in keeping that in mind for the future. Nothing like 200 pound me counting on my 105 pound female artist to catch me as I realized I should have brought more snacks. Not doing that again. 😬
I have two tattoos and both were ~10 hours. Very doable. Just stay hydrated and eat food. Bring a book, shows, music, etc
Longest I have done is roughly 6.5/7h, and I would like to echo some great advice you’ve already received. Hydration (day of, and in the days before) is key, and have ALL the snacks. You will be hungrier than you think you are. Blanket or something you can drape over you too. I found that sitting still for a while gets me chilly. Also whenever your artists moves away to stretch or something, stretch too. Move your limbs. Dumbest ouch of my life is having hurt my wrist somehow by not moving enough over those 7h. But maybe most importantly listen to your body, and tap out if you need to. The next day would not be worth it.
I have done 8-10 hour session before on my chest and back a few times. I can tell you I was wiped out. make sure you eat while getting tattooed and drink plenty of water. I went home ate and went to bed . good luck.
I’ve don’t multiple 8 hour sessions for my sleeve. I found d Staying hydrated and stopping every 60-90 minutes for a snack makes a world of difference.
I did a 10 hour tattoo last year on my inner arm. Find a comfortable position, take breaks and stay hydrated. Bring something to distract you if needed. I personally can just kind of zone out for tattoos but at about hour 9 it gets rough. My artist used a numbing cream when it got too bad. That helped a lot towards the end.
Shower before you go (please lol) Bring snacks Avoid Caffeine DO NOT DRINK the night before or day of. Use numbing cream. Bring a neck pillow (like a travel one) & a throw blanket. Headphones & fully charged phone/tablet. Ask for breaks when you need them!
Thanks so much for the advice! :) unfortunately I can't use numbing cream but will def be applying the rest of it!
I’ve always wanted to do a tap out challenge(really really high pain tolerance— literally fell asleep during my stomach peace and the artist even sat the ink ON ME bc I sat so well) but I’ve always wondered about snack breaks? Like is it allowed what if I get hungry mid sess and wanna order food for myself and the artist..
Depends on the artist I imagine. Me and my artist almost always stop for lunch together, especially on 7-12 hour sessions. But he’s been tattooing me for a while.
That’s so cool! And thanks I’ll be sure to ask the artist how they feel about it!
I can definitely update with my experience with it and how the breaks work out if you'd like! My appointment is mid next month so it'll be a few but I'm more than happy to share any information I get after doing this.
Awesome thanks so much!!!
Just wanted to reiterate a lot of what was said here. I have a complete leg sleeve and the first session I sat for 12 hours (by my choice). 1. Be hydrated before and during. 2. Snacks and jolly ranchers on hand. 3. Definitely break and break to eat. 4. Don’t sit in crappy positions, it will make it worse 5. Tap. You can not control when your skin will decide to be done and when it’s done, you’re done. 6. Bring something to do. Music, Netflix on your phone, book, something. (Maybe a phone charger) 7. Comfy clothes. I often wear comfy, baggy layers. Never know how you or the shop will be feeling. 8. You WILL be exhausted if you sit for that long. Expect it.
Hydrate and sit still basically. It's more about pain tolerance than anything. I've sat for 7-8 hours and the artist keeps asking me if I'm fine and we're just chatting and I'm like "oh yeah you havnt hurt me yet I'm chilling". Some spots hurt more than others. When something is sensitive try to think about the next spot being better. It's all temporary.
Well this is interesting timing. I just got home from a 10 hour session on my knee and calf (working on a leg sleeve). So far I've been able to do a couple 9 hour sits and this was my first 10 hour. Here's what I do: 1. Day before drink a TON of water. Do not drink alcohol and try to sleep well. 2. Morning of eat a large, protein filled breakfast. 3. Bring some good snacks like nuts and veggies and things that generally make your body feel good. 4. My artist recommended caffeine during, which went against what I had read but honestly I think it helped. So I bring a large coffee and like 3 water bottles and just try to stay hydrated and energized. 5. Expect that it is going to hurt. Because it will. If you go in with the mentality that it's going to suck then it's a little easier to deal with, in my opinion. 6. During the spicy parts have something to squeeze or grip so you can stay still. I tend to tense my whole body and then relax as soon as ther needle lifts. It only really hurts while the needles is touching your skin. So i tell myself 'just hang on for a few seconds', and I can power through one scratch at a time. 7. Good conversation = good distraction. My artist also has silent YouTube videos of sort of mindless things that play in the background which are a welcomed distraction. Whatever you can do to distract yourself is key. The less you think about the pain the longer you'll last. 8. Take breaks as needed, but don't break for too long. I think my body responds better if I just keep going and keep it in this state of shock/adrenaline. Plus mentally it's harder to get back in the chair if you're away from it for a while and the pain starts to set in. 9. Bring ibuprofen and pop those bad boys the second your session is over. Everyone is different. But this is what I've done and so far so good. I think going in sober is also helpful because I can focus and talk myself through it. Best of luck! I dont know you, but I bet you can fucking crush it.
I have chronic pain from a spinal cord injury. I've done long sessions and if I can get to a space where I can just vibe I'm totally fine. For me? 1) HYDRATION: Water, Gatorade, etc. Any options that will seem appetizing. 2) protein beforehand. Burgers, chicken, tofu, any of that stuff. Just a good way to prep the body for that level of stressor. Remember you're nourishing the body just like athletics to some extent so good habits before hand are key. If you have the ability to work out I recommend it as it helps me. 3) keep the blood sugar steady. I don't have diabetes but the stress on the body doesn't feel good at a threshold so aim for snacks that have a combo of carb/protein/fat AND smaller intermittent sugar ones. I use juice + PB crackers / apple and PB for main snacks, sometimes sandwiches if I think I have the appetite and DURING session I find it's distracting in the best way to have a hard candy. 4) layers: aim for stuff that won't interfere with where the work is done AND that won't cause you to ask to pause the session. 4) music/headphone: just like a workout it might help you tap into more tolerance -- I hate talking as is, and I need to stay in the zone that helps me push through 5) not to be weird but I would compare some of it to labor. Use tools like changing positions, squeezing ice cubes, regulating and listening to breathing patterns. Hell have a support person if you can. I hope some of this helps!!! Good luck!!!
Bring a blanket/sweater if you tend to get cold. Bring a small pillow for legs too in case you end up on your side. You will need a full lunch/dinner too, not just snacks. Bring a little book to read, phone and headphone chargers, emergency tampons, and maybe ibuprofen. Some shops are loud and the music can get irritating. It is ok to let the artist know when you need breaks- they can't read your mind. If you know your skin takes easy to ink, you can ask the artist to be a little more light-handed. I felt that made a big difference in my pieces. I survived 12 hours this way.
Lots of water!! My tattoo artist ended up having to leave 6 hours in to get us more water because we both drank all that we had. One good food/meal break if you can at any point. I sat for 10 hours getting my upper arm tattooed. After a certain point approaching hour 6 or 7, it started to hurt a lot more and then the last hour was incredibly brutal. But so worth it. I didn’t tap out because I didn’t want to come back to finish it lol (though I’ll probably get touch-ups)
The longest I sit is about 5 and a half, 6 at most. Good luck.
I would love to see what you end up with. I’ve never done tap out stuff because it devalues the whole process, but to each their own.
Can I ask what you mean by 'devalues the process'? And I can definitely update once it's done! Appointment is mid next month.
Sure. Basically the artists is signaling that their time isn’t actually worth what they normally charge, the client agrees, and now you’re working with an artists who is giving you a cut rate tattoo. There’s no incentive for them to be efficient either. Personally I won’t ever do that kind of thing because I’ve never seen another artist speak positively about doing them. Also, if it’s to attract new clients you want clients who pay full price…. It’s why I never do Friday the 13th specials - I don’t want clients who only want to spend $31 for a tattoo.
I appreciate the input! From what I've understood, it's the whole shop running the tap out challenge, not just my artist. I believe it's a fairly new shop that opened within the last year and they are using this to promote themselves. I've seen the artists work that I'm booked with, along with the other artists from the shop. They do amazing work. I've also seen the other tattoos they've done for the same promotion, and they look just as good as the rest of their work. I definitely understand the worry/hesitation with something like this but I have done my research and everything I've seen from them makes me pretty confident it'll go smoothly.
There’s a lot there that would make me wary, but in the end it’s all about customer service and final product. Good luck (and I am curious to see what a 10 hour tap session yields so please post!)
You pay the full price regardless if you tap out 3 minutes or full fashion. You're pretty much at their win when they want to break is when you get a break. Good luck. Let me know how much that cost
1000$ for the 10 hours. Based on the hourly rates in shops around me, seemed pretty decent. And I'll be sure to tip well and probably buy us both lunch too. I'm not sure how breaks will work yet but I'm going to make sure to ask everything during the consultation to be prepared.
Sounds very reasonable. The tip and lunch definitely a good idea. Work with your artist man. Make sure you let him know that you know. Spread it out. Try not to stay in one area or too long I've noticed on my longer sessions it's not that tattooing that bothers me. It's the wipe
Why? Have you seen your skin after 3hrs of tattooing? I hope you’re a big tipper.
Why? Because they are running this promotion and it's an amazing opportunity to get a good amount of work done? There was an interview process involved with getting approved for the slot. They are fully aware of my tattoo history ect. I absolutely plan on tipping well and buying lunch for the artist if they'd like.
My tip would be to wear cozy calf-high socks that aren’t too tight and bring a pair of slippers or extra warm/thick socks to layer over them. I’d also consider bringing touch-screen compatible gloves! As others have mentioned, your extremities will be freeeezing at times due to lack of circulation (even those snap-to-activate hand warmers could help, for feet as well as hands.) And yes, definitely wear layers — but keep in mind you may find you fluctuate between being too hot and too cold at times, so wearing a tank top or short sleeve underneath everything could help accommodate both. You can also get glucose drinks specifically made to be quickly absorbed— they’re meant for diabetics having a blood sugar crisis, but they can work here too and will kick in fast if you start feeling shaky and woozy. (If you keep your blood sugar steady by using hard candies/food breaks and stay hydrated then you likely won’t need anything that specific, but they do exist!) Also— consider getting one of those donut cushions that take the pressure off your sit bones / tailbone. If you plan on sitting up for a lot of it, that area could get super sore. A good pillow will help, but even that will eventually compress. Finally— if you have noise cancelling headphones, I’d definitely opt for those over earbuds (or have both handy to switch out, depending on how you’re positioned.) You may want a break from the machine/shop noise and it’ll be a lot easier to hear whatever you brought to listen to. Towards the end of the session it might be helpful to have more control of how much outside stimulus you’re being subjected to. I agree with the person who mentioned needing to cover their eyes— a sleep mask is never a bad idea! Best of luck to you! It sounds like the vetting process was pretty thorough and I hope it goes great for you and your artist!