How do you become a tattoo artist, without being completely poor during the apprenticship?

SaFire Noon: How do you become a tattoo artist, without being completely poor during the apprenticship?
I know that I already posted this question, but I didn’t realize that once you pick a best answer, it closes it to get answers…I wanted to see whatelse I could find out

I know how you have to go about becoming a tattoo artist, but my problem is that I have to be able to survive on my own in the process. I really, really want to become a tattoo artist and I think that I have the talent to do it! I love everything about the industry, I have tattoos and piercings, I have get along well with people already in the industry… Mainly, I am afraid that if I become an apprentice, I will have to leave my full time job, with great benefits, and get a really, really bad paying part time job and not be able to pay my bills. Does anyone have some answers or words of advice that would help me in my quest?

Answers and Views:

Answer by SadBrownEyes
I just posted a question similar to yours~ I’m curious to see what people say. I’m basically on the same boat as you only I’m in California. People have told me that I’m good enough to do tattoos but i don’t know where to start. Right now I just do drawings for part time ~ friends ask me to draw stuff as gifts or cards. If it’s alright I’d like to add you as a contact 🙂

Answer by smariona
Hey well I tattoo and that’s my part time job I love tattoos I love tattooing I think is art you don’t have to live your job well at list that’s not what i did I work for this company that work’s with medication and is not a lab they do program for doctors well something like that sorry i can explain but I’m going to go home any time zone the funny part is that not anyone now what i do and that’s the good part at my full time I work Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and I tattoo some times Thursday but is Friday – Sunday I don’t worry about Monday.because they are closed and I’m just 23yrs going on 24yrs I have been doing this for at list 8yrs. and the way i got start was because my tattoo artiest the guy who did my first tattoo Owen a shop and one day i show him some thing that i want to get but i had drew it and he test me and know his my boss and wish I’m happy. If you would like you can E-MAIL me at [email protected] and i would be happy to help you and answer some questions for you.

Answer by inkedgirl78
Most tattoo shops understand that you have to live..you get a part time job during your apprenticeship ..it is not like on Miami ink where you work only in the shop and don’t make any money…at our shop the apprentices work the counter for a pay check and in there free time the work with there mentor..may take longer this way but you will have food to eat

Answer by mizz_beotch1982
unless u live with mommy, you need another job while you apprentice. I have known a few over the years……if you can survive while ur an apprentice. go for it girlfriend. We need more women in the industry.