Tattoo Schooling

Okay, i've read a few topics and see that a lot of people don't like the tattoo schooling ideal and say everyone will get laughed at if they do it. Well I'm 17 and out of high school looking into tattooing. three are three tattoo shops around me but none are doing apprenticeships and i can't go anywhere else in the state because i can't drive and my parents go to school most of the time so i have no ride anywhere. I've been looking into tattooing school and only found two that seemed good and coasted less then the one in Michigan. One in louisiana that gives you all the equipment and the cert. The one in new york that just give you the cirt. for a thousand more. Now since i can't get an apprenticeship i went to one of the shops, Eternal Tattoo, asked them if i was to go to the school, come back and apply would i be employed. The women i talked to said if your work looks good, yes. I showed her my work that i sketch out on paper and she liked it. She said if i was to get some experience and come back i would have a better chance then some one that came in from another shop with an apprenticeship. So my question is since i can't find a place to get an apprenticeship, why shouldn't i consider the tattooing school?

You're young. Get great at drawing and have that be your portfolio. If a shop is interested enough and your art is good enough, they will offer you an apprenticeship. Good art on paper will land you an apprenticeship. On the other hand, a portfolio full of poorly done tattoos isn't gonna get you jack shit.

I known I'm young and i have to wait till I'm 18 to got to a school or even become an apprentice, but no one else will hire me for any other jobs, all i do is draw anime style people and tribal tattoo i deals. i always have, so for the next few months I'm looking into what I'm going to do to become a tattoo artist, since i like the ideal of doing art of people.

I known I'm young and i have to wait till I'm 18 to got to a school or even become an apprentice, but no one else will hire me for any other jobs, all i do is draw anime style people and tribal tattoo i deals. i always have, so for the next few months I'm looking into what I'm going to do to become a tattoo artist, since i like the ideal of doing art of people.

first of all you need to get some how to draw books with animals,people, cars and other things, because you cant do anime tattoos on many people if any. and while yes tribal is good but theres already so much tribal out there too choose from as far as designs its not really considered in high status to just be able to draw tribal.... so you need to work on being more versitile then that, anime and tribal is what 16 yr olds draw. which i know you said you are 17, so it makes since, but adults look at portfolios as needing other things. so as far as tattoo school, yes people would laugh at you, you would end up getting "re apprenticed" anyway, and that would go back to square one on what your art portfolio looked like. you are getting denied apprenticeship for two reasons, for one which is a big one, THE ECONOMY, you arent going to get any work because there is no work , and what work there is right now goes to the people who know what they are doing. and for two your work must not be up to par, so you can spend all the money you want on tattooschool, but all they do is take your money and you are left at square one again, so you might as well listen to me and work on your portfolio