Questions to ask...

As a potiential apprentice at a shop that is willing to hire one, what questions should be asked? Nobody wants to be scrubbing toilets with toothbrushes. Nobody wants to be working for a**holes. What are some good questions to ask to learn about a shop? Your sure to be "interviewed", but a potiental employee should be informed about their employer. What's the most important thing to ask? I am asking because my wife has an appointment Tues. and we want to know the opinion of other artists and those who have apprenticed. To shop owners: What questions would offend you and should be avoided?

Nothing? I also figured this would help motivated individuals know they're getting in a good shop. I don't want anyone to have to go through what my wife did.

Here's what I've noticed: Your wife this, your wife that...blah blah blah. It looks as though you are more concerned about what she's doing/going to do than she is. If she really wants it that bad, then why isn't she the one posting and asking questions? Why do you feel that you need to speak for her......? Dude, you're cool and all, but find something original to talk about for once. Stop referring to 'my wife, my wife, my wife....' It's getting freaking old.

Simple my wife doesn't like computers... about the only thing she does is E-mail and my space and doesn't like forums... I was trying to ask a question that might help more than just her. I'm sorry if that's a problem. I'm sorry if you never had someone to support you the way I support my wife and she supports me. I like computers and also like to talk with intelligent people in a good forum. Last I checked that's what they were for. Whether or not I'm asking a question on behalf of someone else should be irrelevant. If you want to help do so if not don't. I try to help whether or not it is for the person I am talking to or not, but that's just me.

Actually, as the spouse of someone who also doesnt really like computers, I can understand. I think it's nice that you are concerned and are asking questions like this. But thats me :) Sorry, I don't have much to contribute to the actual question you are asking, though.

Theval, dude I agree 100%

I'd find answers to this question helpful too! Keaz, do you really have to qualify everything you say? Perhaps just ask things and not tack on "my wife" to everything.

Questions to avoid asking a tattoo artist... How much money will I make?" When will I start making money?" "Can I ride your Harley?" " I bet you have a lot of sex with clients huh?" "I get free tattoos right?" "You don't mind if I do some extra work at home do ya?" "Can I give my------------(friends relatives boyfriend/girlfriend) free tattoos?" "I'll need every other friday off is that cool?"

Taz...can I get a ride on your Harley? Do you have a Harley? OOORRRR....can I get a ride in hearse??? I am so bored.

Hey, Hey, Hey!!!!!!!! Me first, I asked months ago!!!!!!!! That's not fair!!!!!!!!! BTW, I don't feel like fastening my seatbelt, can you make sure we don't crash!?! TCE

Kaez, not to be a prick but everytime I think of giving you a good answer, like on this subject, I can't help but remember what you said in your post on 8/5/06 -under the post 'Something I just remembered'- 'As to the Marine Corps, I am not proud of how I left, but I am proud of my time there and what I was able to accomplish and the changes I hope came about. In the end I wanted no part of an organization who individuals are willing to die for it (Including myself), but treats it they way I saw.' and I just can't help letting that comment influence what I think of you as a man, let alone an American and I can't overlook it. Aside, I think, from the fact that I am a Marine vet, I'm one of those people who truly believes a real man will fight for and , if neccessary, die for the things he believes in and I might point out it is the fact that people with that belief is what started this country, the country you live in with all the freedoms it allows, which you have because others were man (and woman) enough to put their lives on the line for over 200 years. Just thought you should know...Doc

Doc, You being a veteran of a war that also appeared to have no objective, or end in sight, seem best qualified to answer a question that's been burning in my mind a good portion of my life. At what point is it acceptable for a soldier to break away from the military's tear down and build up that is ingrained into them from the first day of boot camp? Or better yet, what would it take for a soldiers own sense of right and wrong to overcome their 'at any cost' training and cause them to defy orders? What acts would it take on the part of our own government to make such a dereliction of duty seem okay in the eyes of ones commrades? I have faith in God, but if I'm wrong about that, then it's possible that you're dead a long time........................and even if I'm right, there's a scripture that says it's better to be a living dog, than a dead lion. I don't know man, it really becomes a matter of conscious........................should followers of Hitler been tried for treason when they finally realized that his cause was not their own? I suppose if you ask Bob Ross, the answer would be a resounding 'YES!'. Respectfully TCE

Damn it Tim , YOU would have to ask a question like that, wouldn't you? To be honest, I've thought about THAT a number of times since I got 'home' and still don't have a clear cut answer as it's a rather complicated issue.For one thing, in the military you are not supposed to question your orders, you are trained to Follow them, not think about or question them and to trust in your leaders to believe they know what their doing-period. As to your question 'What acts would it take on the part of our own government to make such a dereliction of duty seem okay in the eyes of ones commrades?', I'm not sure there ARE any as I'm not too sure dereliction of duty is EVER 'okay' in the eyes of 'ones commrades', perhaps least of all during times of war, if ever. That's just not part of the training, perhaps, least of all in the Marine Corps. I can't really speak for the other services but can't really imagine it's much different. Also, bear in mind, dereliction of duty often means putting others who depend on you to do your duty at risk, could even get others killed (and HAS I might add) so I trust you can see, that's not ever considered 'okay'. As to you having faith in God, well, more power to ya but myself, I 'lost faith' along time ago and I'd be 'happy', if that's the word, to explain 'why' but think that's a different topic entirely and would be one long post. As to the scripture you refered to 'that says it's better to be a living dog, than a dead lion.', well, personally, I don't agree with that concept but that's just me but I guess I understand the gist of it but again, I personally don't agree with it. Sorry if that 'ruffles feathers' but I'm just being honest. As to what you said 'should followers of Hitler been tried for treason when they finally realized that his cause was not their own?', shit, I don't honestly know how to answer THAT either although I kinda think maybe it was Hitler who should have been tried for treason for what he got his country into. Although I do think it's a prime example of how one persons ideas/influence can effect a LOT of people and cause a lot of death and destruction, in fact, had it not been for him Israel wouldn't even exist nor be what it's become as a result. Hell, why do ya ask me all these deep questions, the older I get, the less I understand what the hell is going on in this screwed up world...Doc

Doc, I think it's great that you answered the questions honestly............I wanted you to draw a connection with your own feelings on those issues and the possible reasons Keaz left the Marine Corps. I realize that in the military you are trained to never question authority, but all that does is allow the government to perpetrate any act it deems necessary with reckless abandon. What recourse have we as a people ever had to stop the ball once it's in motion? I don't blame anyone who's lost faith, or has just never found it. It is sometimes difficult to see how it's man's endeavors of greed, and not Gods retribution, or lost love for us, that have brought us to where we are. I'm not claiming to be any kind of Christian, because I'm certainly not..........but as long as I still have an ounce of faith, this is where will always remain on these issues......................and until the media brought the whole world this much closer together, a lot of others wouldn't have given current matters of the day a second thought. TCE

The problem was came when I saw things wrong and did question them and wasn't getting answers. I acted out to get those answers. I left when I didn't get them, but managed to change the problems and so it was my choice to leave then. We were not are war then, but had we of been the only thing I would have change is I would not have left the military all together, I would have left the corps and joined another branch, until I found one were they treated their soldiers with the same respect they damanded of them. The Marine corps I was in didn't want thinking soldiers they wanted robots. There are soldiers on trial today for "following orders" there are Iraqis that have been put to death for following orders. I'm sorry I refuse to follow orders of an uncaring unjust system or individuals. I will always do what I believe is right and no system can change that. I was in better physical shape when I left boot camp, but it did not change my values. I will sacrifice what ever I have to or fight the death for what I believe. If you ha

Continuation: If you haven't yet noticed "my wife" is one of those things.

P.S. For any who may care... she went to three shops today and all three shops she has a full interview with (had to tomarrow one said come to my other shop today after a look at her porfolio by an artist there.) We don't need any more help with questions any more and thx TAZ for giving and honest response. She never mentioned money/friends or family to them. For her it is all about her art, and "Fuck anyone else who doesn't like it, they just lost a good employee and artist" DOC-I never asked what you thought of me, I only asked for help.

keaz, I realize you never asked what I think of you, but I just felt I needed to let you know why I wasn't answering your questions as fully as I try to answer other peoples. I was put off by what you said about 'In the end I wanted no part of an organization who individuals are willing to die for it (Including myself)' which is 'why' I said what I did about that. I still don't know or think I understand just why you left but if you gave them the same grief, arguementive attitude and didn't listen to them any better than you've tried to listen to us, I think I have at least a good clue and doubt I'm alone on that one. As to your comment' We were not are war then, but had we of been the only thing I would have change is I would not have left the military all together, I would have left the corps and joined another branch, until I found one were they treated their soldiers with the same respect they damanded of them', well, once you're washed out of one branch of the service, you're done in the military-period. Besides, in the military (and in life) you have to earn respect, it's not handed out like candy and where did you ever get the idea that the military wants you to do anything but FOLLOW orders. What were you expecting, to do what you wanted, when/if you wanted at the taxpayers expense? Did you think you were going to summer camp or what? Trying to reason with you is giving me a nasty headache and I'm feeling like I'm trying to reason with a wall or a spoiled kid and frankly, I don't have the time or inclination to bother anymore. I think you're one of those people who only hear what they want to hear, as I stated the other day, nothing you've posted since has changed my opinion on that. I do, however, wish your wife the very best in her desire to become a professional tattoo artist, as I've said, I really do think she has the talent and potential, just don't screw it up by bothering the people she gets to work for as I truly do not think that would help her any. Be supportive, that's great, but stay home, don't go around the shop/studio...Doc

If your right.. that what be a problem I'm gone 60-80% of the time. I appreciate your honesty. I was given the option to stay in the corps at my NJP. It was my choice to leave. All I was stating is I think you've got me wrong except I am stubborn, but it's both a strength and a fault. A different time and situation I would have made a different choice. I still believe joining the Marine corps was the best mistake I ever made. I learned from it. I never expected to do anything in my duty but follow orders, I just refuse to follow orders of those that don't have the decency to care about those that they are giving the orders to. I am a strong believer of "lead by example". There were and are thousands of good people in the corps and I great respect for what they are doing and have done.

Also thank you for your well wishing, and what I believe were genuine efforts to try to help me as a person. Things have gone well for her... in the end she's done it on her own none of my efforts on-line to get help have help with the exception of TAZ, whom I also thank again. I also thank those who tried to help. While I may stay in contact with this forum and try to help or just look for a good laugh, I won't likely be posting as often after today.

P.S. I meant that won't be a problem.

No offense but it isn't rocket science as to what is and isn't offensive. Be professional and at least apply the basic job interview techniques you've learned in high school. I can't really see how this has any relevance to what kind of company it is... it is just common sense. btw: my wife said good luck! (sorry couldn't resist) :)