just started

I had about a two year apprenticeship and Im now tattooing in a professional shop finally. Ive done two tattoos so far. I'm asking for some advice on how to calm down when I am doing the line work, because for about the first 10 minutes of the tattoo I am really shaky and I know my lines could be better if I wasn't. Is this normal? And if it is about how long does it take for someone to stop the shaking? If any professional has advice please reply back thanx.

Yes its Normal, This is a sign you can be a great Tattooist. Because Clearly you care about what you are doing to the point it over takes your mind. To solve this problem you have to get in a mind set that you and you alone are going to do this tattoo, Knowing from the first touch of the needle you are committed and nothing or no one can save you. Now When you go to do that line and everyone after it, Just do it, Don’t doubt yourself. As this will cause you to shake & screw up areas, Just think to yourself that “ I’m going to do this line without thinking of anything else & if I do Screw it up, I’ll worry about that after I do the Line Not before it “ This way it doesn’t take you 10 minutes to calm down. Study your work one line at a time, Not a design as a whole. After a few hundred Tattoos your mindset will be in that kind of mode without effort. Just remember after you make your way to clear, clean Tattoos that you remember where you came from never growing into a Tattoo Snob always allow room for others to grow as you have. Good Luck Hope this Helps.

BREATHE !! You are probably holding your breath , loosen up & dont hold your breath !! Also think about what position that your hand has to be in, at the end of the line that you are going to pull & adjust the position of your hand at the start of the line to stay in control .

I want to thank you both so much for your advice I did my next tattoo and my teacher said I did very well. He said, " thats about a 200% improvement from your last tattoo." I was really proud of my tattoo the lines werent too shaky and the shading was kick ass. I just made sure I breathed and I talked myself into doing the tattoo and to worry about the mess up later. i did a pretty good tattoo and Im ready for my next one today thanks again, athena.

Keep it up, sounds like your in for a lot of fun. When yer ready post up some photos!

my first lines were pretty shakey too. but i was lacking confidence. and it was on my girlfriend so i was super nervouse. but thats how mine are usually to for the first little bit.

Listen to this bullshit, says they did a 2 year apprenticeship, and now has only done 2 tats and you a-holes buy it, just because he says he learn the "right way"!! If they spent two years learning and still can't have the confidants to do a great line they are a f ‘in moron or they spent too much time smokin dope and washing toilets, which still makes them a f***en MORON. Says they are in a shop, they should go back to pig skins and learn on their own because they sure did not learn from their “mentor”!!

Thanks for the wonderfully insightful post 44.

So let me get this straight ! I am going to take shit for trying to help someone ? I completed an apprenticeship & could have used some advice like this years after I was done ! Do you think that calling people names for helping is a good use of your time ? Or maybe these are things that you werent told & are jealous that others are getting the propper info ? Regardless of your issues, I was asked by Gabe to help people on this forum ! So if you have any questions about how to deal with your issues about other people getting good info then you should post on another site .