Hep B shot before 1st Tattoo

I am about to get my first tattoo and hopefully 1st of many. I heard a rumor and don't know if true. Do I need or have to get a Hep B shot before I get my first tattoo or does it matter???

Ihave tattooed all over this country and know of no state or locale that requires a potential "tattooee" to have recieved any vaccination for anything. The process of 3 hep vaccines are usually offered for free or at a nominal cost at social medicine associations (i.e. "free clinics") nearly everywhere. I feel any working tattooist should take advantage of the extra bit of protection these vaccines provide.For that matter everyone ,tattooist piercer or candlestick maker should seriously consider this vaccine...T

The hep shots are in many (but not all) cases, required by the artists, not the client.