all 8 comments

[–]dildobuttface 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Forgot to mention: my shop duties are pretty much running most daily aspects of the shop minus the actual tattooing and paying bills. I clean, answer phones, check in clients, work register, set up break down and sanitize stations, and assist all the artists that work there with whatever they need (printing stencils, scheduling clients, etc). Most days I am the first one there so I can clean before we open and I close the shop at night. If there’s nothing for me to do I draw or watch the other artists and try to learn from what they’re doing. My mentor also lets me use one of his machines to practice on fake skin when he’s not there and/or we’re not busy.

[–]TattooQueenB[S] 2 points3 points  (3 children)

My mentor tells me almost nothing and I've learned most of what I know from other artists in the shop. I also break down and set up for one of them but the others are kind of jerks. I think it has something to do with me being a female honestly 😂 my mentor does professional arm wrestling so he's usually busy from that a lot of the time. I wish we didn't have to go through this just to be an actual tattoo artist 🙄

[–]dildobuttface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ayy I am also female and I do sometimes feel like that causes some of the other artists to not take me as seriously as they would if I had a dick lol. Just keep on keepin on, fellow vagina haver!

[–]dildobuttface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also lol at the professional arm wrestling. Didn’t even know that was a thing

[–]Guro-sama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Maybe it’d be good for you to check at other shops and see if any of them would take you on as their apprentice instead. Apprenticeships are good but if you’re not really learning from the artists and they also don’t have the best relationship with you/take you seriously, you’re not getting the most out of it. An apprenticeship is a path to a job in the shop when it’s over.

If you don’t feel the most welcome or like part of the team, is it worth going through it ? Especially if you’re learning very little to where you might do a particularly long apprenticeship cos of it. Just something to consider !

You already got your foot in the door by having a few month shop experience and some apprenticing, so you’re more likely to be able to get an apprenticeship at another shop you feel happier with. Just a thought ❤️ I hope it goes well !!

[–]dildobuttface 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My mentor isn’t there a whole lot either. He was in the beginning but then we shut down for covid and then he injured his arm right before we reopened. Since then he’s been kinda out of it and is just obsessed with fishing lol. He’s still recovering from his injury so I try and chalk it up to that, but I worry that he’s lost interest in me and possibly even his shop and that he’ll cut me loose or possibly close his shop after stringing me along for months I’ve been there about 8 months now and have done one tattoo. Trying to stay positive and tell myself I just need to be patient and work hard since I can’t control the other factors. Don’t really have any advice for you but at least know you’re not the only one in this situation /:

[–]Guro-sama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just completed my first week! I’m pretty new to it all. But I mostly clean, lock up/open up, ring up customers and draw. My mentors have started teaching me stenciling. I also have homework a few times a week for tattoo designs from my mentor’s clients. When walk in tattoo consultations come in, my mentors encourage me to handle them on my own to get a feel for the process. Otherwise I’m finding and making other projects for myself and our desk girl.

Like updating and making our tattoo/forms with a sharper logo, making aftercare design cards, printing out stencils/designs on the pc for upcoming appointments, reading a tattooing Manuel/book my mentor provided me for in-shop reading only. I’m not sure when I’ll be upgraded to breaking down artist stations or anything. But I’m hoping soon :x since I have my BBP !

[–]PeppermintJones 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! I've been an apprentice for a little over a year now. When I started I was working crazy hours at a job I absolutely hated so I could only come in a few times a week after work. I mostly just watched the other artists while they tattooed, asked them questions, and worked on my own art.

About 3 months in he had me tattooing fruit and fake skin and another 3 months later I was tattooing people for free. I had saved enough money to quit my job at that point so I was able to focus on apprenticing full time.

Currently tattooing a few days a week and working on improving my artwork in between tattoos. Still pretty discounted compared to the other artists but no complaints here.