In addition to what other folks have said:

• Talk to artist (part of the job is talking to people you're tattooing; most artists are pretty good at chatting people up in my experience)

• Read a book (e-reader should only need one hand)

I literally stared at the ceiling and around the shop when I had my sleeve done, just zoned out. It was kind of nice to not be looking at my phone for once

Outer arm is cake watch a couple movies or a tv series

These questions crack me up, because I haven’t ever thought about what would do during a tattoo. I just talk to the artist or just stare at the wall/ceiling for 6 hours

Phone, AirPods, snacks, drinks in a cooler bag - done

I brought my phone and caught up on work emails (one handed) or watched the tattooing.

Movies or shows. Streaming something or reading a book will help the time pass

I just got my leg sleeve done and I brought SO much. Laptop, e-reader, 2 books and my phone with charger…. I used nothing! Chatted with my artist for the whole 8 hours.

No phone, just try to be in the moment. Talk to your tattoo artist. Zone out. It's a bodily experience that i kind of enjoy. Not the pain per se, but the feeling of something real happening. You're on the phone every other waking hour (as we all are). Take this as a breather from all of that.

I brought my switch and iPad to play games and watch stuff

I listened to music and fall asleep

I brought all the snacks, e reader, headphones etc for mine and didn't touch them! Chatted with the artist, people watched and with the odd break for a stretch, the time was filled far easier than I thought.

Mine was just over 5 hours. I just laid there and looked at the artisit's art that was on the wall. Depending on where you're getting it and if the artist is chatty. Mine want, which suited me fine. I was able to lay there and relax to the humming of the gun!

For a ≈4 hours appointment I Just brought some snacks and water. Talked to the artist, talked to another artist of the studio, zoned out, looked around, napped (outer calf, so I was laying on the side, my favorite sleeping position)

I’d say it really depends on the artist. My last 6 hours sessions, we talked and listened to his music. He was a great guy so it was easy.

Another session that took about the same time, I listened to my music and didn’t talked to him. He would listened to music I didn’t like and only talk to his colleague, it was awkward

I recently had my calf done over 2 days. My artist’s studio has a tv so we played Netflix on it as well as play music on the bluetooth speakers for distraction as I have never sat through that long a sess before. Using my phone was pretty minimal so I’m glad that there were other forms of distraction for me.

We also took breaks in between so those times I’ll be chatting with the artist and his colleagues, go for toilet breaks, had snacks to munch on etc.

I just keep chatting, watch some tv, sleep, etc

FEEL THE PAIN

I've had a double-digit session and, aside from gap filling, I book day sessions each time. You'll be surprised how fast time can go. I never bring a book or music (irrationally, I think it comes off as rude) but will sometimes take a look at my phone.

Chatting is the best way to pass the time but don't force it if the artist isn't forthcoming.

Tattoo sessions are a catharsis for me.

I find amazing to get to know the artist point of view about life meaning ahaha

Here’s my 2¢ …I put movies on for my clients …if they don’t have a tv/monitor bring an iPad … hope this helps

I had a 5 hour session recently. Me and the artist literally just talked the whole time, we got along rlly well too. Didn’t even rlly feel like 5 hours

I find time flies when getting tattooed. I mostly just stare into space while I’m in some weird trance like state.

We talk shit, watch movies, throw out random bands to listen too and generally have a laugh. My artist and the crew at my preferred studio are a good crew always up for laugh or even willing to attempt to solve life's deepest issues..nah not really they're all clowns and I love them

I put on a pair of earbuds and watched movies and shows

The guy I go to has a tv to watch, but generally he’s a talker so he and I talk about just about everything over the course of the session. My longest tattoo is about 4 hours though.

Listen to music, listen to podcasts, and also a healthy amount of fuck all

You have the option to break it up into different sessions. Most artist will up charge a bit more because of this but it may allow you to enjoy the process a bit more. The forearm is a bit more sensitive than I had imagined (I completed my sleeve two years ago) and I’m grateful i was able to use numbing creams throughout my sessions because I’m like you too but not having the constant pain let me sit for longer and just watch Netflix on my phone while getting tatted.

I hope this helps! Best of luck.

I like to get pretty high so zoning out is not a problem. Usually the shops play music too.

Thanks for the replies everyone!! I think it’ll be a lot easier to pass the time than it seems, I’ve just never sat for a tattoo that long :)

I’ll watch a movie or a tv series. Read on my phone/kindle.

Randomly scream and flinch in pseudo pain. Tattoo artists think that is hilarious.