I am being offered a tattoo apprentiseship for 4,500. I have to be at the shop open to close and scrub tubes, clean up, work with customers, etc. And eventually I will have to be there more hours than the actual person who is apprenticing me! Is that unfair? Also I am obligated to stay at that shop 4 years after I'm signed over. And I have to pay for ALL of my own stuff while I'm being taught - my machine, needles, tubes, ink, paper towels. That's on top of the 4,500.
Does it sound like a fair legitimate deal? Why or why not and what should I be looking for? I have been told by others before that you either pay for the apprenticeship or you earn it by spending time and working at the shop. But the guy who's going to apprentice me is having me do both. I appreciate any info.
2007-09-23 17:44:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Beauty & Style ➔ Skin & Body ➔ Tattoos
i would make sure that i got a contract agreeing that they will keep you employed there for the duration and not just kick you out after you have paid the money.
tattoo apprenticeships are not easy and you are basically the maid for the shop and you have to do everything they tell you to do and more. it's called earning the right to be a tattooer. my tattoo artist said that he has apprenticed people before and he was horrible to them, because they had to learn to respect him and tattooing because it is something to be respected and not something to be done "just because" it's hard work because you have to prove that it's something you really want.
the most important thing i would suggest is that the person teaching you is actually talented. if they aren't that good of a tattooer then what is the point in learning from them? and the longer i am around tattoos the more i realize that MOST tattooers are mediocre at best and there are very few artists who actually are gifted and amazing at what they do.
2007-09-24 04:40:29 · answer #1 · answered by somebody's a mom!! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I could see why you should pay for your own machines but asking you to pay for your own tubes, needles and paper towels is a bit much. Then again, you won't be using a lot of that stuff at first...you'll spend a lot of time watching, observing and learning. You should look at it this way, you're basically getting your equivalent of a college education if you plan on making a career out tattooing. $4,500 is a sweet deal compared to college tuition. I would say if the person you're apprenticing with is a talented and reputable artist, it's definitely going to be worth not only the money but the time and effort. Not only do you have to earn the right to mark someone forever, you have to earn the respect of your teacher and if he is a reputable artist then by the time you've finished your apprenticeship you're already ahead of the game. I don't think they would offer you an apprenticeship if they didn't think you could hack it. The artists at the shop should be kicking tips back to you anyway (you may want to ask the shop policy if you don't already know ).
2007-09-23 19:13:38 · answer #2 · answered by Tina A 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
That sounds fair to me. Apprentices don't get paid for their work and one of my friends whose looking into it is being told that he has to pay to start off with. Like paying for classes in college, you take up their time whether you realize it or not. And apprenticing can take a long time, they want you to be good. Sounds fine to me but I think your best bet, is to ask other local artists if it's right not people on the net. -Those are expensive. Of course you would have to buy your own machines and supplies, the shop wont let you use what they have since each artist has thier own set up. My artist has three different heads to it, don't know what it's called though but you know what I mean, the two barrels. Yeah, getting started in a new trade is never cheap.
2016-05-17 07:54:40 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds totally fair to me, you should be thankful you even got an apprenticeship, most people can never get the chance.
2007-09-26 05:19:50 · answer #4 · answered by Justin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i wouldn't think that you'd have to PAY to be an apprentice. you'd probably not be payed well, but if you are a shop b*tch, AND paying thousands of dollars, that's crazy. i would search elsewhere. unless the guy is your idol or something, it sounds like he's got you by the balls.
2007-09-23 18:57:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
if you think hes a good tatoo artist then yeah do it... it will be worth it to learn from him!
also set some boundaries (dont be his *****)
2007-09-23 17:54:20 · answer #6 · answered by bartosz m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋