FAQ's

This is a compilation of the most frequently asked questions I get via e-mail.

How do I get into tattooing?

The best way to get into tattooing is to find a shop that will let you take an apprenticeship.

Why should I take an apprenticeship?

There are a lot of people that come to the tattoo world wanting to tattoo that simply don't have what it takes to do the work. Indeed there are many wonderful artist in the tattoo shops across the world but there are a lot more people practicing tattooing that have not a clue about what they are doing. Just because a person works in a shop or even owns a shop is by no means a measurement of their skills and knowledge. However spending years in a tattoo shop environment with other people that do know what they are doing and can guide you is obviously going to help you develop what talent you do have. I will say too that because a person that has great drawing and painting skills and knows all the rules of composition, that is a small qualifier towards tattooing skills. If for no other reason than some people can never make the transition from other mediums to tattooing. Alternately I know great tattooist that don't draw that well on paper but do a fantastic job with that tattoo machine.
An apprenticeship is also another way of weeding out the ones that can't before they get into the unfortunate habit of thinking they can and go on to harm others unnecessarily.

It is also the best way do develop as a tattooist. If you have a good basic talent and a good willing to learn attitude then a good tattoo artist will see that in you and more than likely they will approach you about an apprenticeship.

What good are tattoo schools?

Tattoo schools just like any other school can not make you learn. A trade school can teach you what things are and how those things are to be used and their relationship with one another and to get you started on the development of your talents. But a tattoo school can not make you a tattooist any more than truck driving school or mechanics school can make you a truck driver or a mechanic. Either you
have the talent in your heart somewhere or you don't.

If a person does not have a talent but they think that tattooing is what they want to do, the tattoo school environment is good because that person can see the difference between a truly talented person and themselves hopefully causing them to rethink their goals and find something else to do that they are more suited for. This is also learned quickly in an apprenticeship role but often the individual takes it personal and often gets an attitude when a shop owner tells them they just don't have what it takes. In all fairness I have seen too, where a shop owner missed a persons potential because of a personality conflict and they both wound up loosing out. It can go both ways.

A school environment makes the lesson of rejection a bit more comfortable.

 

Can I make a Lot of money tattooing?

The fact of the matter is that tattooing is one of those careers that pays very little as a rule. There are some ways to make some good money depending on your morals or the lack of them. There are some times of the year that the pay is okay but usually you don't make a lot. Some tattooist have been very lucky and have done well but the biggest majority of them have to supplement their income with other types of work.  

Tattooing is something you do because you love it. If you are looking at it for the financial reward you are doing it for the wrong reason. All you have to do is take a look at what the different tattooists in your area are driving. I would be willing to bet that they are not driving very expensive cars if they even have a car unless they are getting the money from something other than tattooing such as another job or a girlfriend or a wife or from the family. (There's an old joke. Know what you call a tattooist with out a girlfriend? Homeless.)

There was a time when tattooing was a good living. But that was back before everybody and their dog was tattooing. Most shops do okay about four months out of the year, the rest of the time we are worried about how the bills are getting paid. It is one of those businesses where we work to work.  This is also true of musicians and other types of artist as well. One in a great many ever make the big bucks and when they do it usually does not last.

That is as honest as I can be about the money part. But like I said, if you want money you should not be a tattooist you just won't find it for long.

On the other hand, if you want to do something that makes you feel good by way of accomplishment and something that makes other people happy and if you want to feel rewarded in many other ways, or if you just love people and want to be close to a whole bunch of them and want a lot of friends then tattooing is for you.  It is a shame the money is low because to do a good clean crisp tattoo, takes more skill and dexterity that it does for a surgeon to do open heart surgery and leave a pencil thin scar.
Tattooing is nowhere near as easy as it looks. It is a lot of hard work behind the scenes. You need to know a lot about many different sciences and you need to be a bad ass artist if you are going to make a name for yourself. The competition is ruthless there are some great new artist and unless you are a fighter and willing to fight for something other than cash then it gets rough. Not to mention sometimes as a tattooist you have to literally fight to get your money once the job is done.

 

More to follow.