A few tips for finding a tattoo apprenticeship
Photo: Amazing Gérard & Mylène Obscurae
A few tips for finding a tattoo apprenticeship:
First of all, what follows is our point of view and is not necessarily representative of the entire profession. We receive many apprenticeship requests to which we cannot respond positively, and we will base our advice on this. We refuse due to lack of space, but especially due to lack of time and experience, because training someone implies having a particular art or style to transmit. This doesn't take a few days/weeks when done seriously, and it cannot be offered by an artist who has only been practicing for a few months or a few years.
Don't hesitate to visit the shops you're approaching! It's always better to discuss things in person and have direct contact. You can also send a short message to let them know you're coming, especially if it's a private shop.
We receive many requests by email, on social media, and even in post comments. Try to stand out from the crowd: going in person already shows that you are more motivated than others.
Prepare a good portfolio! If you come empty-handed, it's not very useful because the idea is to showcase your skills and artistic style. Even if the shop you're approaching doesn't take apprentices and/or says no, you'll still get feedback on your work from experienced artists. Show your style, your personal touch, not just copy-pasted Pinterest trends. Don't only show digital illustrations; also include work on paper. In short, show what you've got technically and artistically. We don't expect to see ready-to-use flashes or necessarily tattooable designs.
Take care of your portfolio: no loose, torn, or dirty pages, or with cigarette butts stuck between pages (true story). Don't come with just your graphic tablet either; that's often a turn-off.
Be careful about the shops/tattoo artists you approach: not everyone offers safe apprenticeship conditions. There are even regular stories of abuse.
Finally, it's quite rare to find a quality apprenticeship, but don't get discouraged. If this is truly what you want and you're meant for it, you'll eventually succeed :) Some find it after several years, by moving to the other side of France or the world. Stick with it!
If it's so difficult to find an apprenticeship today, you need to understand that it's not to put obstacles in your way, it's not personal. It's just that training an apprentice means bringing a new tattoo artist into the market, a market that is already saturated and losing momentum. There isn't necessarily work for everyone, so there's no point in training future competition. There's only an advantage if the apprentice has an incredible artistic touch and something new to bring artistically or technically to the field, and that's rare too.
