Tattoo Apprenticeship

Is $10,000 To much for a one year apprenticeship if i've been tattooing on an off for 7 years. I'm self taught and have tattooed allot of people and everybody says that im good enough to work in a tattoo shop. I Know that I still have allot to learn and I really wanna learn the right way but I've got 2 kids to feed and cant offered to pay that much money unless im making money. so my question is do apprentices make money for working around the shop and how long does it take before they get to start tattooing. Im planning on moving in december of this year so could any body please answer my questions. If theres anybody out there willing to apprentice me for free please let me know it would be much appreciated im willing to relocate. Thank you. Email [email removed]

When you will get to tattoo depends on you, your mentor, your skills, etc... It depends on the apprentices comrehension skills as well as how your mentor does things. I don't think I've ever heard of an apprentice that gets paid. Although many do have to pay to be apprenticed, that sounds like an awful lot of money for 1 year. The one thing I would advise is not to count on your previous experience to get you a better deal. I would think a mentor would rather have someone he can mold than someone who already thinks they know a lot and don't really need the same education as a total newbie would. I don't think I would pay that much as part of your contribution to the shop should be physical labor. Not physical labor AND THAT much money - some ok but that's a lot. What exactly will he teach you? Will there be a contract that benefits BOTH of you? Does he always have an appretnice around (counting on that money?) Will he offer you a permanent position when your apprentisheship is over? Can you pay in installments? Personally, I would NEVER fork over 10.000. up front. No way!

Gina and poster, some time people wouldn't even bother to teach you if they don't have a way to proof that you are not going to be a waste of time. 10k for an apprenticeship is fair. I don't know of any career that cost less than that. Not everything can be given for free in this world, nor people have the time to waste. If you are willing to pay you most likely are for real about wanting to learn. Last time a trained someone for free got backstabbed. I don't even think I want to teach someone for money, but If I do I bet you there it will be something in between more than just "good will" If your mentor is worth your time, then 10k sounds fair. If you don't learn in 1 year the basics and at least have several tattoos in your shoulder then something is wrong. I'm not saying that free apprenticeships are any worse or better but if you are set on that artists and hae the money, I would go for it. I would definitely draft a strong agreement and won't give all the money upfront. my 2 cents

FK, I agree with what you're saying overall. I think people definitely take education (or anything) more seriously when they have to pay for it. Although, I'm sure there are some tattooists who count on that as income, which I guess is ok if they're a good teacher. Anyway, 10,000 seems steep to me but FK knows FAR better than I do, so please heed his advice.

10k is fair for a quality apprenticeship, but be sure you do your research before forking over that kind of cash. First and foremost: protect yourself. I paid a lot of money for my first apprenticeship, then six months later, I "graduated" and they moved to a different state. I didn't have the money to go with them, so i was forced to stay behind. I thought i was ready to take on the world, but i didn't know shit. However, I was lucky enough to be offered a second apprenticeship by an artist who is extremely knowledgeable and very well respected in the industry. I learned more in the first few months with him than in the entire first apprenticeship. So, here's some things you can do: Make sure the tattooist is well established in the area, and has been for a long time. An artist with a shop thats been in the same place for a long time has seen ups and downs, and knows how to carry a business through both. Also, you know they won't run off with your money. Talk to artsists that have apprenticed for them in the past. If there aren't any around, that might be something you want to take note of. Make sure you see their work, in photographs and in person, and spend as much time as you can with the artist before you commit. Don't give up!

10,000??!?!?!?!?! thats way too much! Sorry to say my man your just gonna have to suck it up and work and apprentice in your spare time. Think of it as nite school, your gonna have to spend some money and do some work just like a school but $10,000?? If some one is telling you to pay them 10,000 dollars tell them to pull it thats just fuckin crazy