What should one typically expect as a professional body piercing apprentice at a tattoo studio?

Question

I would like to become a professional body piercer and have been seeking education through an apprenticeship. After feverishly searching for opportunities in the area for about six months, I was offered a position as a piercing apprentice. I was not asked to pay money, but was told that I would be expected to do a lot of work at the shop. I have been working for a few days now and am very excited to have this opportunity. So far I have found that doing work without expecting monetary compensation really challenges one's beliefs in how willing they are to succeed. I understand that this is an intregal part of an apprenticeship, since training in a craft is being provided in return. Considering even the tuition costs for a one-year community college certificate it does not seem that unreasonable if compared to being paid minimum wage. Even so, I have been given a hard time by family and friends who feel that I am simply being "used" and that I am unfairly getting nothing in return.

Although I absolutely love the experience that working at a tattoo shop offers, I want to make sure that I have found a position that will be fair to me and that I am not being taken advantage of. Of course, I have absolutely no idea what is generally expected of a new apprentice and where one would draw the line. After a short interview I informally began working, almost on a probationary basis. As such, there were no guarantees or contracts made; other than the fact that this was only a trial and that I shouldn't expect anything.

I would like to know what is involved with a typical apprenticeship and what I can expect in the coming months or possibly even years. Since the beginning of my search I have been clear that I am dedicated to learning proper piercing techniques and that I would do whatever is necessary to obtain as much experience as possible through an apprenticeship. However, the more that I know about how an apprenticeship can work the more I can be sure that I am still on the right track.

Answer 1

Here's a link to Answers.com that talks a bit about being an apprentice.

http://www.answers.com/topic/apprentice

It looks to me like you should have some formal arrangement with them. A legal one. One that lays out what is expected both from you and from them.

I'm wondering... how much of a future does body piercing have? I'm afraid it might be mostly a fad. You might want to think about that before you give your time away.

Answer 2

I can't speak of the artistic end of your question but keeping the place sanitary is crutial as all parlor must adhere to local and state board of health standards of the rules and regs on tatoo parlors...don't get caught failing them or you will be shut down and out of work in a heartbeat.