CHARGING FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP?

So my situation is unique. I came from Boston after working 2 years in a shop (mostly as a desk person preparing to apprentice. By the time i left i was setting up machines and making stencils etc...) Now i am trying to finish a haphazard apprenticeship. Today i went into a shop, probably the 10th since i've been here in FL (being rejected mostly due to existing apprentices, and once because i was "too smart" (hopefully in the actual sense of the word.) and the gentleman i spoke to today was glad to take me on. however, as the day progressed. scrubbing tubes sweeping... the usual.. he made mention of charging me. I was under the understanding an apprentice works (FOR FREE) in exchange for the know how of the tattoo industry as well as working for said artist once the apprenticeship is complete. so my question is Should he be charging me for this? and should i attempt to negotiate? perhaps a 40/60 split once i actually begin to tattoo?

Apprenticeships all depend on the shop and person teaching. Some do it for free in exchange for duties around the shop, some charge anywhere from 1-10 grand depending on their skill level or..... ego. It never hurts to sit down and talk to the person teaching you to know exactly whats expected from you and him/her, finances and later on down the road.

If you decide to pay (and I don't recommend it), make sure you have a contract with what you expect for your training, whether it be a spot in the shop tattooing or at least getting any nesc. license or permits. Labor and time is worth a lot. In no other profession that I know of does the apprentice pay to do the dirty work!

You know, thats what i thought. This is something that i have wanted for far too long to just walk away. Do i have any say? should i just keep looking?

Thats up to you. apprenticeships can sometimes be hard to find but you dont wanna put yourself in debt either. make sure your getting exactly what your wanting out of it and its worth it if you have to pay for it. If its not.... keep looking

What artist? Will you have a job there after your apprenticeship?

I got stung for a few hundred a few years ago by the lead dweeb in a well known S. Windsor tattoo shop. I got off light, but I will say I learned how NOT to do things.... so it wasn't a complete loss. Be careful who you learn from, its hard to unlearn bad habits.

Gabe, in response, the artist is not well known, and after deliberating (and thanks to all who responded!) i have decided not to pay this man. This particular shop was not very clean, or from what i gathered on my first and last day not up to code. also here in the great state of florida there isnt specific artist lisc, that i can find. so a few grand doesnt insure/ assure anything.