Do people that become an apprentice for tattoos have to pay money ?

Question

i know how to draw..been drawing since i was like 5 with a coloring book and havent stopped since ..

im 18 yrs old now i work in an office and yesterday way my 1yr anniversary working here.!
I JUST DONT WANT TO PAY FOR APPRENTICE : (

im in college right now

Answer 1

There are clearly different thoughts on this. It depends on what you want to do - learn to become a tattoo artist through a structured program of learning or hang around the shop for months and months just being free labor?

The days of the shop b^tch are pretty much over. The artists we are associated with support a quality apprenticeship - yes, you have to pay - we feel most times when something is free it is not respected, anyway. You have nothing to lose - and that mindset does not always make for the most dedicated apprentice. The idea of spending months on end scrubbing toilets and tubes (especially when you haven't even had a bloodborne pathogens class yet and learned HOW to do these things correctly and safely) is not appealing to me. Our apprentices pay a modest fee but they by far get their money's worth in a very thorough apprenticeship - they're not done until their work reflects it. It is only the rare, talented individual that we take on, too - someone we would be proud to have work in our shop.

The free apprenticeship is often more about having a staff person that doesn't get paid so there are no taxes to file, no insurance to buy - it's a sweet deal for them. Most times you have to pay back a certain amount of tattoo time in working for the stop you apprentice in.

First, you really have to have a solid portfolio before anyone will even talk to you. It is really hard to be in college paying tuition AND apprenticing - there is no time to earn any money. You might think about that first.

Answer 2

You never ever ever ever pay to be an tattoo apprentice. If you find a good tattooist/shop to take you on you'll start right at the bottom, sweeping, booking appointments, cleaning, watching what the artists do and drawing all the time. For example the artist will say draw a koi fish you might have to draw it over and over again for months and months until the artist thinks you've got it right.

Next stage will be tattooing pig skin or fake skin could take about a year to get to that stage. Once you get good on fake skin you'll be told to tattoo yourself or do free tattoos on friends that don't mine you using them.

A tattoo apprentice isn't as easy as people think it is. It's alot of hard work. The tattoo artist would have spent years learning their trade, they won't give you all their secrets for nothing. You'll be pushed to your limit and beyond they have to do this to make sure your good enough and that it's something you really want.

After months of being told do this and do that if you last and still have the same drive to want to tattoo you'll be shown alot of respect. Alot of hard work but it's WORTH IT!!!!!

Good Luck

If you don't want to tattoo but want to draw tattoos you can bring out a tattoo book like BJbetts has done and many others.

Answer 3

Oh yah, and depending on who your apprenticing with it could very well be money down the drain. I dont know how good of an artist you are, but the better you are the more likely a more reputable tattoo "master" will shed some light on you hehe

Answer 4

Normally yes. But you may find shops that will apprentice you for free, just don't expect to be paid for any work you do. It's kinda like slave labor to earn your keep.

Answer 5

In some shops you do have to pay because you're using their tools, their equipment etc. Maybe just call a local shop and ask?