Well, I have one, so I'll throw in my Ũ.02. First, look for a decent shop. The one I went to uses new needles for every job. I actually watched the guy take them out of the sterile packaging. This is not an activity you want to save บ if it means going to a less than clean environment.
Second, ask to see the artist's work. The guy that did mine had about a hundred photos in his collection. He had even done tattoos on the area I wanted done (take a guess, not a very "normal" tattoo area).
Third, think about it before you get it done. Is it highly visable? Is it something you would want someone to see in a job interview? Is it something you want to explain to your children someday? You may not care about these things now, but you don't want to tell a six year old child, "well, one night before daddy met mommy, he liked a girl named Linda. At the time he liked her so much, he paid a drunk biker to write Linda's name on his chest with needles. Understand dear?"
Finally, I think it should mean something. My tattoo encompasses things that will always be dear to me. I'd also hate to have to explain who "Guns N Roses" are in the year 2030.
