apprenticeships

its so easy for every one to say get a apprenticeship but you know i have called some local shops half dont do them and the ones who do charge $10,000 for a year ya ok im gunna pay you to be your bitch and the only thing i learn is how to clean your shop and mabey do one or two tattoos after one year if all you that say apprentice apprentice apprentice would give some one a apprenticeship and not charge a arm and a leg we wouldnt have to learn at home so put your machine were your mouth is and do them for a real price and you could stop all us scratchers as were all called and teach us the professonal way were did you get your start you didnt know shit to start not trying to be a dick but give someone a chance

paying for an apprenticeship is a very bad idea. the best option these days, is to look for an apprenticeship that you can pay through hard work. if your artwork is good, then you shouldn't have to pay. they want someone who can draw. its that simple. the best way to see if your art skills are good enough to tattoo, is to show it to other tattoo artist. if they are interested in apprenticing you. then you got what it takes. you also don't need to get heavily tattooed before you apprentice. I know a guy that doesn't have a tattoo on his body that got apprenticed and is doing kick ass work. I'll put him against any on on this forum. now I got pretty lucky. I never apprenticed, but learned the technical aspects pretty quick. because I met a shop owner who said I have awesome potential. he didnt feel the need to make me do bitch work for 2 years. he looked at my tattoo work and drawings and said "you just need to polish up in a couple areas and I could help you with this" I said wow! thanx. Im the only guy I heard of or met that got that lucky. I am so thankful for that and to him. now I have been working steady in a reputable shop for the last 4 years and most seasoned well rounded artist think I actually served a traditional apprenticeship. I tell them I did, because no matter how clean and solid my work is they will still call me a scratcher. now I did have a blood borne pathogens certificate with the red cross before I ever touched skin. so! If you get bbp training, they will teach you all you need to know in that department. dont listen to the wack jobs on here saying that you need to apprentice to learn about cross contamination. its bullshit. these are the same people that train nurses and home care takers. trust me they no there shit. as a matter of fact. the guy apprenticing you is gonna make you go to either osha or red cross. whats the difference between you taking your own initiative or listening to you mentor telling to go take it. its the same course. these days its seems better to learn on your own. if you practice on fake skin, pig skin and your self after you take a bbp class. you aint hurting no body. there countless tattoo arftist in the industry that took this journey. people on a forum will not answer your question, you may ask "why?" they feel that there is just way too many artist already in the industry period. they dont care of your potential. they just want you to go through waht they went through. thay feel like suckers that served 2 years doing bitch work,while only making 30% and still at a beginner level after 3 years of dedication. most of them were young 19 or 20 year olds. that still lived with there parents. its alot easier to be out of work for 2 years without pay when you still live at home. I do think a working apprenticeship is the best way to learn, but it is possible and easier to learn without one. you just need to know if you got what it takes. if you do get an aprenticeship, make sure the artist is cool and does good work himself. pay through your hard work around the shop, DO NOT PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. youll end up with an owner with a full pocket that never thought you potential in the first place. he just wants your money in this horrible economical crisis that we are all suffering in.

totaly radical