tattooing out of houses

Since there is so little blood in tattooing,why do people think its so dangerous to be slingn ink out my house?for real.....I think peoples b jelous cuz Im stackn cake tatn out my crib while yall gotta drive ta work n pay sum shop owner half your cream.STOP HATEN!!!

I honestly don't think anyone is "hatin" the fact that some people tattoo out of their home, in fact I personally believe that if it is done correctly it is an excellent way to work. However---this also means that someone who is working out of their home MUST also be above all a professional and pay close (and I mean CLOSE) attention to laws, bbp training, have a complete understanding of keeping a clean space and have a professional set up as well. I have a friend of mine who tattoos out of his home-it is small, he smokes heavily while he is working, and when you look around his living space is unkept and messy. He does great tattoos---but I wouldn't get work done there simply for the fact that he is not keeping a clean space. Now I have another friend of mine who tattoos exclusively out of their home--- when you walk in the tattoo area is totally separate from the rest of the house, the place is spotless and the room/studio is meticuliously set up in such a professional way that it puts to shame some pro studios. The tattoos that come out of this friend's place are very very well done and those who get work return for more. The other difference is they are well aware of bbp, go to classes, attend events and are always learning no matter how long they been doing it-because there is ALWAYS something to learn. I think that if someone keeps their tattoo business as a tattoo business and not doing it just because it is a "fast" way to make a buck doing it out of their home is fine, the key word is professional here though. I recently met someone who is married to a "tattoo artist' who works out of their home---his work, set up., everything is a black eye to the industry as a whole...and it is these types of people that those who really LOVE tattooing have to deal with--whether they work in their home or not.

Once again...I agree with Jeanne on this. I tattoo out of my house. I also get some time now, tattooing in a shop. Honestly, lose the street slang. That language will lose you customers....ya dig homeslice. Also, it is kind of funny you mention "stackin cake", because you will be known in this industry as a kitchen wizard. Which I think is undeserving to the rest of us home/studio wizards haha. Honestly, I do not care where you tattoo out of. Just be very careful. Your lack of knowledge of BBP and inability to control BBP may kill someone. No offense. Take a BBP course...and then continue.

whatchu mean?slang?

Unless you work in a bakery, you should not be "stackin cake". That is slang for making money. Unless, you are taking bakery products in exchange for tattoos? I am not trying to hassle you. Just a friendly reminder that you owe it to yourself and your clients to be knowledgeable in blood borne pathogens. Best of luck

We don't hate...we worry. Learning by yourself and working without the supervision of seasoned artists is an excellent way to make a deadly mistake. What you don't know can harm you and your clients. There's nothing wrong with running business from home but learning in a professional environment is the way you truly learn proper proceedure. Getting shop time under your belt and being respectful and cautious will help you when you want to work for yourself. You may be overlooking things or doing wrong without even realizing it. And might I add that your unconcern for blood contamination due to the meger volume of surfaced blood involved is highly alarming.

He doesn't say anything about what procedures he is taking towards stopping cross contamination. Regardless, most local colleges will host the Red Cross BBP course. It is reasonably cheap. Best of luck man Oh, and as for apprenticing being the "right" path...I do not totally agree. In fact, click on the video below and listen what that f*cktard says about apprentices. People like him should never have an apprentice! Regardless of how good he may be. He says that "if you are told to clean the toilet, do it", "don't question it". Well, myself and half of the apprentices out here would like to comment by saying....EAT SHIT! Seriously, would you want to be operated on by a med student who has spent most of his time cleaning windows and the Dr's turd swirls out of the toilet? If I were an apprentice drywall'r and my boss told me to grab a pipe wrench and start working on the plumbing, I would "question" it. We are paying you "pros" to teach us how to tattoo, not be slaves! You want your toilets cleaned....get a f*cking janitor!

Scratcher, apprentices aren't supposed to be working on clients when they're in the 'bitch work' stage. They shouldn't even be handling a machine. Apprenticing is about learning from the very bottom up, slowly, correctly, under pressure. That includes cleaning the toilet, washing the windows, hauling out the garbage, etc. Doing what you're told without giving lip is how you learn to deal with diffucult clients later on without snapping at them. Also, after you're done being an apprentice, how do you think the toilet is going to clean itself? If there is no one on a lower rung, everyone pitches in for the cleanliness of a shop. If there's one Diva in a group of artists that can't carry their own load of the chores, the rest of the shop quickly learns to dislike that individual. Put on some heavy gloves and wash your hands up to the elbow when you're done. Everyone has to do their share, Cupcake, even you.

If you haven't seen in a few of my previous posts...I do tattoo. I have been complemented on how far along I am in the months I have been at it. Most of the artists who critique my work think I am years ahead of where I am. As for the handling of customers, I am good with that. That is a part of being in this industry. However, cleaning toilets and moping floors and cleaning windows is NOT helping me to tattoo. I mean, I am okay with it...kinda. I know most artists had to do this. But it does NOT help you in this industry. I often tell people who are looking to apprentice somewhere, to ask them if they are going to be a janitor or an artist. Do not waste your time with artist who are looking for janitors. Because, lets face it...if replacing the blue tab shit in the back of the toilet will help you properly tune a machine, then I am all for it. But it's not. My biggest example of this kind of apprenticeship is from Miami Ink. Look at Yoshi. He has been there a year previous to his first tattoo. A lady walked in and asked for a few stars and some other stuff. He F*CKED it up badly. He was then yelled at by the person who gave him permission to do it. I mean c'mon...all the guy does is clean and draw. Of course he was going to mess up. That is because he is NOT being trained to tattoo, he is being trained to be a janitor. He is better taught in the form of custodial arts, rather than the art of tattooing. Also, just to point out. He blew up on a customer who said a oriental style dragon looked stupid. So looks like learning to clean does not help out with difficult clients. Listen, I am just against this form of apprenticeships. It does NOTHING for the aspiring artist. All it does is show the owner/mentor, if this person is dedicated.

there is no way that is a for-real post. It *has* to be a troll... Nobody really talks like that. But then again, I am surprised every day by how little people understand about taking a job seriously and just how low someone's IQ can be and manage to still tie their shoes in the morning. I suppose if you don't have to leave your hours though, that takes care of that pesky shoe issue.

You weren't referring to me I assume.

you fucking assholes, why are you bitching because you are learning a career and working it off in the shop?? people spends fucking thousands and thousands on schooling for a career in college, and you are learning one by mopping a fucking floor and YOURE bitching??? your laziness,incompetance and overall disregard for logic will show in your "work" and it doesnt matter HOW MUCH blood you have on your gloves do you know HOW MANY VIRUSES and bacteria live in a spec of blood the size of the head of a pen? it takes almost nothing to transmit a disease and damage someone for life along with thier shit tattoo as a consolation prize, so i hope youre happy and sleep well at night with your money you made off that person because money must mean more then anything or anyone to you

I think if you don't have a tattoo license and you tattoo anyone but yourself it should be a huge fine and or time in prison.

Snowlion...you couldn't be further from the point. I am aware of what colleges charge these days, seeings how I have my AA, AGS, AAA (which came with a card) hahaha. The point I am trying to get across is this: 1: Cleaning toilets will NOT help you learn art. Maybe the art of cleaning toilets! 2: I am well aware what bbp's are out there, I have a BBP certificate. Cleaning toilets will not help you learn this! 3:If all you have to show for 2 years of hard labor and a lot of money is the knowledge of streak-free windows, shiny floors and a "crapper" you can eat out of...why bother? I am personally sick of all the artists who had to do that. Just because you were victim of this (community college) type apprenticeship, do not ridicule others who have half a brain to see it's pointless. Silly people hahaha. Why do you find it so difficult to see my point? Would you want a 1st year medical student operating on a loved one...maybe. But what if I told you instead of guidance in the realm of surgery, he was the janitor? Change your mind yet? Before anyone says, no mentor/artist would let their apprentice tattoo before he is properly trained....watch the episode of Miami Ink, where Yoji tattooed a young ladies lower back. Also, here is a recent clip of Yoji tattooing (after his apprenticeshi"t") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxOtYtVn_Xk

Wow...I feel that everyone is jumping on Scratcher when he/she has some valid points and I seriously have issues with shops who feel it is ok to have apprentices as shop bitches instead of having mutual respect for each other. Cleaning the bathrooms, tubes, etc is everyone's responsibility, not just one person. I spend time cleaning the bathroom, my equipment, floors, etc as does my assistant-and I value their opinion of designs and clients as much as I do someone who has been in the industry for a while. Just because they are new to the industry doesn't mean they are not intelligent and don't have good insight into things. I personally look at my assistant as an extention of myself and my business-and they know it and treat me with as much as respect as I have for them, because they are learning a valuable trade AND good business sense as well. I did NOT start my career as a shop apprentice rather the complete opposite. I did learn from people who are in the industry and who gave me guidance, but ultimately it was up to me to control my education in tattooing and yes I made mistakes when it came to learning-we all do as if we did everything right we would never learn anything new. I didn't get into an apprenticeship simply because what I saw what people considered apprenticeships and make no mistake I have NO issues cleaning etc-but there is a line between abuse and respect sadly it leaned (or leans depending on how you look at it) towards th abuse side. I am grateful for those artists who took time out of their schedules to sit with me, but it also took time to study, practice and study some more as well to get where I am today. I think assistant tattoo artists (my term for apprentices) are needed and can benefit greatly from those who are pros. There are a lot of variables and as well as levels of artistic talent-there are tattoo artists that are for the masses of Walmart shoppers and then there are tattoo artists that are seen as the Lord and Taylors ---which one you choose to be depends on your level of dedication to an industry and your natural talents as an artist...not whether you can clean a toilet properly.

Thank you Jeanne. Spoken like a well educated, humble person. Shoot me an email and I will show you my progress over the past 4 months. I have only been at it for about 5ish months

I was referring to the person who posted originally. I don't disagree that being someone's bitch for years is no fun and doesn't help you as an artist a whole lot after a point, but to me that's no excuse to do something stupid and dangerous, like trying to learn without any guidance. I just wish people would have some respect for the industry and bloodborne pathogens so we can all get taken seriously.

I agree with you on that Guerillainterrupted. I have always been an advocate for safe and sterile practice of this art

because it only takes that little bit of blood to transfer HIV, Hepatitis, and other serious diseases you probably also wouldn't want the people whom you have transferred these viruses to to know where u live, would u? ultimately, you are opening yourself up to diseases, burglary, fines, and other consequences also, you are limiting the amount of knowledge that is to be gained (in both tattooing and artistry) from working with other artists the percentage you pay the shop is insignificant in comparison to the increase in income you will receive from working at a public location where there will be many more walk-ins also, you will receive more repeated clientele since you will be progressing as an artist from working in a friendly competitive atmosphere you also always have the option of opening your own store, which like all worthwhile things in life, requires quite a bit of effort i do realize ur post is most likely exaggerated to make it seem like it's not serious, but i believe u may actually be looking for some 'real' answers lol good luck

I tattoo out of my home I have converted 1room into a tat room. I have a hep filter installed autoclave ultrasonic cleaner its set up just for tattooing better than most shops. I was just wondering why i never hear of shops having a hep filter or why it is not required...I installed one for my customers and my safety.Any input on this will be great but i don't want to hear from a bunch of assholes either.A little info on me I have been tattooing since i was 13 Im 42 turned down a apprenticeship when I was 18 cause the shop owner was a asshole that was full of himself.I got into culinary and spent 20yrs in that field.still was very much into my art a few tats over the years and since retiring and kids are out of house putting everything into tattooing allot of my work is freehand . I won't rant on email me if you wanna know more. lets keep neg. replies to a min please. thank ya