Tattoo Apprenticeship
Do You Have What It Takes?
What is a tattoo apprenticeship?
A tattoo apprenticeship is where you learn to tattoo the right way under a professional tattoo artist. It is definitely considered the best way to get into the tattoo business. It is the most respected, legitimate and safe way to begin your journey into a career as a tattoo artist.
How long does a tattoo apprenticeship take to complete?
There is no definitive answer, but a typical tattoo apprenticeship usually takes about 1-2 years to complete, and sometimes as much as 3 years. Many professional tattooers continue to educate themselves far beyond their apprenticeship. Any career in art demands constant growth and improvement as an artist, especially tattooing because you are permanently marking someone else's body.
What is involved in a tattoo apprenticeship?
Becoming a tattoo apprentice requires talent, dedication, hard work, persistence talent, talent and more talent. Did I mention talent? Strong people skills and customer service is also a must. You will be expected to do a majority, if not all of the cleaning. You will be expected to set up and break down the tattoo stations safely and effectively. You will be expected to help all the artists with whatever they need, including contacting clients, scheduling appointments, grabbing coffee or lunch for the shop on a regular basis. You will be expected to show up on time everyday with a great attitude, be professional and work long hours on a consistent basis.
What about taking an online course?
There is no such thing as a legitimate online course. Don't waste your time or money. Showing up at a tattoo shop with your online tattoo degree or certificate of completion is the best way to get laughed right out of the shop. Tattooing is a highly respected craft by those who are serious about it. No self respecting tattoo artist would even remotely consider opening a tattoo school or teaching an online training course.
Can I teach myself to tattoo at home?
Trying to teach yourself to tattoo at home is the absolute worst way to try to start a career as a tattoo artist. Without the one on one instruction of a professional tattoo artist you will develop a lot of bad habits that can be hard to break. You risk scarring people and permanently leaving people with horrible tattoos for life. Not only that, you risk spreading deadly diseases not only to yourself, but to others as well. Last but not least, by trying to tattoo at home, you will lose the respect of any legitimate tattoo shops and artists in your area.
How much does a tattoo apprenticeship cost?
Apprenticeships have a wide range of price. While some shops do not charge at all, most reputable shops will charge a fee for a good apprenticeship. Pricing may vary from shop to shop depending on what they offer and what you bring to the table. The average price ranges between $6,000 up to $35,000. We try to keep our price range in the middle, and take into consideration the talent of each applicant. In our experience, people tend to take for granted things that are given to them for free, but take much more pride when they have an investment to make. It is no different than paying for a college degree, however, a career in tattooing can be much more rewarding.
Do You Have What It Takes?
***IMPORTANT*** Please make sure you have read everything above and understand what is involved in an apprenticeship. If you are a home tattooer (aka Scratcher, Scab Wizard, Kitchen Magician, etc.) you need not apply. We simply won't respond to you. If you think tattooing is a cool hobby, please do not apply. If you have no art skills or are mediocre at best, do not apply. We take on one apprentice at a time, the wait can be up to 2 years to get in. We are looking for ONLY the best artists who are passionate and dedicated to the sacred craft of tattooing.
