So you want to break into tattooing?
No sugar coating, let's dive right in.
Don't... this industry sucks. Ok, not completely, but dealing with morons all day and putting your body through all the stress is probably not worth it. The income is unstable at best and the competition is getting harder. You have to find your own health insurance and retirement plans, because you are on your own.
Douche bags a'PLENTY in this job, and that's just your co-workers and boss. Not trying to sound sexist, but women get the shaft a LOT in tattooing.
Still interested?
Start drawing your ass off. People come to tattooing now with art degrees, and serious backgrounds in fine arts and design. Days of "if you can trace a line you can tattoo" are slipping away, besides just repeating stuff off a wall of flash is lame and boring. The better your art the better chance you have of finding an experienced mentor.
A note about the "self taught" method (which applies to a bad apprenticeship also) and using the trial and error method: How can you teach yourself what you do not know? Also what will you learn from a half-assed apprenticeship from a hack?
The error part of the trial and error is the kicker. You gain little more than a bad reputation this way. The bad habits you learn will make you unappealing as an employee or as a hopeful apprentice. Unlearning is a LOT harder than learning.
Cross contamination is a large factor with self-taught or poor apprenticeships. Not knowing how to protect your clients and most importantly your SELF from infection or contamination is CRIMINAL. The Hep-C you get will be a huge bummer. The infections you spread to clients can include anything from Hep-C and Staph (MRSA) to cellulitis or scarring. And the list can go on forever.
Really useful apprenticeships are very hard to come by.
Most people offering apprenticeships don't know what they are doing, and have no idea how to teach. Considering anyone who has been tattooing for less than 10 years is not a good choice. Time is just a guideline though because there are 15+ year vets in the tattoo biz that SUCK BALLS.
The best way to find an apprenticeship is to drive hard at your art, and impress a talented tattooer with your portfolio. That way you can start with an art foundation and then learn to tattoo. Apprenticeships are usually 2-3 years BARE minimum.
If you find a paid apprenticeship, then GET A CONTRACT. A professional wonââ¬â¢t mind, and in fact should have you sign one. Consult a lawyer if necessary. This should be one of the most important investments of your life.
That is not to say paid apprenticeships are bad, but you should definitely keep your eyes open. Shelling out $2-5k just to be kicked out on your ass a few months later or get bad info is the beginning of "Scratcher" as your nickname.
In keeping with being blunt, if you aren't really into your art, don't bother with tattooing. That is just the start though, after your art comes more dedication (like mopping the shop and scrubbing tubes and toilets for your first year).
Hope this helps... no point in being all nice about it because the competition is getting stiffer and stiffer. The gap between quality custom tattooers and flash jockey scratchers widens every day.
No sugar coating, let's dive right in.
Don't... this industry sucks. Ok, not completely, but dealing with morons all day and putting your body through all the stress is probably not worth it. The income is unstable at best and the competition is getting harder. You have to find your own health insurance and retirement plans, because you are on your own.
Douche bags a'PLENTY in this job, and that's just your co-workers and boss. Not trying to sound sexist, but women get the shaft a LOT in tattooing.
Still interested?
Start drawing your ass off. People come to tattooing now with art degrees, and serious backgrounds in fine arts and design. Days of "if you can trace a line you can tattoo" are slipping away, besides just repeating stuff off a wall of flash is lame and boring. The better your art the better chance you have of finding an experienced mentor.
A note about the "self taught" method (which applies to a bad apprenticeship also) and using the trial and error method: How can you teach yourself what you do not know? Also what will you learn from a half-assed apprenticeship from a hack?
The error part of the trial and error is the kicker. You gain little more than a bad reputation this way. The bad habits you learn will make you unappealing as an employee or as a hopeful apprentice. Unlearning is a LOT harder than learning.
Cross contamination is a large factor with self-taught or poor apprenticeships. Not knowing how to protect your clients and most importantly your SELF from infection or contamination is CRIMINAL. The Hep-C you get will be a huge bummer. The infections you spread to clients can include anything from Hep-C and Staph (MRSA) to cellulitis or scarring. And the list can go on forever.
Really useful apprenticeships are very hard to come by.
Most people offering apprenticeships don't know what they are doing, and have no idea how to teach. Considering anyone who has been tattooing for less than 10 years is not a good choice. Time is just a guideline though because there are 15+ year vets in the tattoo biz that SUCK BALLS.
The best way to find an apprenticeship is to drive hard at your art, and impress a talented tattooer with your portfolio. That way you can start with an art foundation and then learn to tattoo. Apprenticeships are usually 2-3 years BARE minimum.
If you find a paid apprenticeship, then GET A CONTRACT. A professional wonââ¬â¢t mind, and in fact should have you sign one. Consult a lawyer if necessary. This should be one of the most important investments of your life.
That is not to say paid apprenticeships are bad, but you should definitely keep your eyes open. Shelling out $2-5k just to be kicked out on your ass a few months later or get bad info is the beginning of "Scratcher" as your nickname.
In keeping with being blunt, if you aren't really into your art, don't bother with tattooing. That is just the start though, after your art comes more dedication (like mopping the shop and scrubbing tubes and toilets for your first year).
Hope this helps... no point in being all nice about it because the competition is getting stiffer and stiffer. The gap between quality custom tattooers and flash jockey scratchers widens every day.
So I read an article this morning about the fall of democracy in relation to a democratic government focusing on imperialism.
"Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic"
This follows after several months of my researching current political climate domestic and international. (A hard thing to do considering the state of our "mainstream media") The article parallels much of what I have read and seen.
So how does this make you feel?
The current direction of our administration (imperialistic actions) is the inevitable decline of our constitution and democratic way of life.
We have already been witness to the undermining of our basic rights as detailed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Just look at what civil rights have been circumvented by the Patriot Act and it's subsequent continuation. Hmm, giving up civil rights for "freedom", guess what, our civil right ARE our freedom. Thank you Orwell for coining the term "doublespeak" in your book "1984". We had a label before they started to use it on us.
It makes sense that a government cannot maintain a democratic status when it chooses to spread it's love at the end of a rifle. By spreading our focus to the conquest of new lands (Iraq and just around the corner Iran) we loose what we once considered our greatest possession as a people, our government OF the people BY the people.
We are witnessing the evaporation of what was a transparent government. By that I mean the current trend of our government is to suppress, to diminish, basically end the people's ability to see into what our leaders are doing and HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
When a government acts like ours does it ceases to be a democracy. It becomes a Tyranny. The heads of state currently act as if they are above the law, and don't need to reckon their actions with the will of the people. Sounds like a dictatorship, to which I quote George W Bush: "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." _Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000.
Not to mention: "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job." _to a group of Amish he met with privately, July 9, 2004
My skin is crawling.
"Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic"
This follows after several months of my researching current political climate domestic and international. (A hard thing to do considering the state of our "mainstream media") The article parallels much of what I have read and seen.
So how does this make you feel?
The current direction of our administration (imperialistic actions) is the inevitable decline of our constitution and democratic way of life.
We have already been witness to the undermining of our basic rights as detailed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Just look at what civil rights have been circumvented by the Patriot Act and it's subsequent continuation. Hmm, giving up civil rights for "freedom", guess what, our civil right ARE our freedom. Thank you Orwell for coining the term "doublespeak" in your book "1984". We had a label before they started to use it on us.
It makes sense that a government cannot maintain a democratic status when it chooses to spread it's love at the end of a rifle. By spreading our focus to the conquest of new lands (Iraq and just around the corner Iran) we loose what we once considered our greatest possession as a people, our government OF the people BY the people.
We are witnessing the evaporation of what was a transparent government. By that I mean the current trend of our government is to suppress, to diminish, basically end the people's ability to see into what our leaders are doing and HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
When a government acts like ours does it ceases to be a democracy. It becomes a Tyranny. The heads of state currently act as if they are above the law, and don't need to reckon their actions with the will of the people. Sounds like a dictatorship, to which I quote George W Bush: "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." _Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000.
Not to mention: "I trust God speaks through me. Without that, I couldn't do my job." _to a group of Amish he met with privately, July 9, 2004
My skin is crawling.
Well I wrote a post, but lost it with the errand click of my mouse.
I am not about to start it over right now, but will later.
Not that anyone cares, or reads these... lol.
Well, hell, I posted something anyway, right?
I am not about to start it over right now, but will later.
Not that anyone cares, or reads these... lol.
Well, hell, I posted something anyway, right?
Programmed?
I was cat/house sitting this week. Keeping the cat company, I flipped on the TV. Now I should point out I don't watch TV. I'll throw in a DVD, but channel flipping is crack to me, so I don't have it. More time to draw and write crap like this!
Ok, so back to the cat, or rather the 20 minutes of TV I saw. It was a ghost show. I only watched 2 segments, but it struck me that these ghost stories (both of them) are at tourist attraction destinations, specifically a corporate restaurant (Hard Rock Café Key West) and a large hotel/resort (Hawaii Hilton).
I get the feeling that I'm not watching a quaint show on ghosts, rather part of an hour long advertisement for vacation locations. One part went off on an Elvis tangent even though the ghost was not Elvis. Blah blah, Elvis stayed here, and the Blue Hawaii cocktail was born.
More soothing than a two by four to the frontal lobe, I got to watch a commercial break in between
First, there's an ad for a pill, don't know what it does, they aren't tellin'. Apparently I should ask my doctor, and look it makes all these people REALLY happy, so it MUST be good! Note to self ask doctor.
Next my favorite "SAVE by buying this!" "Buy NOW and SAVE!"
Unbelievable! I thought all this time you had to NOT spend to save. Crap I can save AND buy a new car! Win win right?
Next, a product apparently good for daily use, nasal spray. You squirt it up your nose for an instant smile and relief. I ain't lying! Man I could use some relief, couldn't you?
Throw a few programming ads "Don't miss out this Tuesday!" wow, no I don't want to miss out, and to think I almost did!
Lastly 20 seconds that convinced me if I get her a diamond, I might finally get laid and be very good at ballroom dancing.
Break it down dah dah dah DUH!
It is interesting that inside 20 min, I see advertisement veiled as entertainment, and advertisement for products that are overtly harmful, or in the case of the pills, completely unnecessary. Also, being told that I can save by buying something I don't need is frankly insulting. Please shut the fuck up!
I know friends who are practically ADDICTED to nasal spray. They say they wish they could stop, and suggest I never use it. I saw an article a while back on this, it causes the need for the spray by drying the passages between use. Like how cigarettes calm you, but it's the nicotine that makes you crazy with withdrawal.
I'm gonna go out on a limb on the pill ad and say if ya don't think you are broken, what do you need a pill to fix? Teasers suck people in cause they just HAVE to know what the pill is for. Is there a street value? Well, nuff said
Now I don't want to sound crazy (too late maybe?) but, I think just maybe corporations want just what they are obtusely asking for blind consumers, that buy because they are told to hour after hour of watching TV. BUY TO SAVE, and ASK YOUR DOCTOR and watch more TV!
Who really doesn't think a corporation, even really nice ones wouldn't love to have consumers who buy without wondering why? Of course not, they love us. That's why they make us pills and sprays for relief. Get em' while they are young too, that imprinting will last a life time of consumption.
I have a grudge with advertising companies using psychologists to target kids with commercials. They are contributing to a generation of screwed up values. Little minds soak it in, and TV tells some crazy crap to them drilling it in day after day. Young targets of psychological warfare. Bad enough to target adults, but I guess there is more profit in the children. If no one takes the time to explain what is going on with advertising, kids really have no idea, and are just being programmed.
Don't banks (and the privately run Federal Reserve) benefit more from thoughtless spending rather then thoughtful saving? They make MUCH more money from high interest rates than some measly savings accounts. People actually accept 19-24% credit card rates, YIKES, I know loan sharks and bookies that are safer bets. A slave to debit is a slave for life, esp. at 24.99%!
One final thought Do these people really think that if there WAS a volcano princess god/ghost, that she would frequent the Hilton? Maybe she goes for the terry cloth robes and free bubble bath!
I was cat/house sitting this week. Keeping the cat company, I flipped on the TV. Now I should point out I don't watch TV. I'll throw in a DVD, but channel flipping is crack to me, so I don't have it. More time to draw and write crap like this!
Ok, so back to the cat, or rather the 20 minutes of TV I saw. It was a ghost show. I only watched 2 segments, but it struck me that these ghost stories (both of them) are at tourist attraction destinations, specifically a corporate restaurant (Hard Rock Café Key West) and a large hotel/resort (Hawaii Hilton).
I get the feeling that I'm not watching a quaint show on ghosts, rather part of an hour long advertisement for vacation locations. One part went off on an Elvis tangent even though the ghost was not Elvis. Blah blah, Elvis stayed here, and the Blue Hawaii cocktail was born.
More soothing than a two by four to the frontal lobe, I got to watch a commercial break in between
First, there's an ad for a pill, don't know what it does, they aren't tellin'. Apparently I should ask my doctor, and look it makes all these people REALLY happy, so it MUST be good! Note to self ask doctor.
Next my favorite "SAVE by buying this!" "Buy NOW and SAVE!"
Unbelievable! I thought all this time you had to NOT spend to save. Crap I can save AND buy a new car! Win win right?
Next, a product apparently good for daily use, nasal spray. You squirt it up your nose for an instant smile and relief. I ain't lying! Man I could use some relief, couldn't you?
Throw a few programming ads "Don't miss out this Tuesday!" wow, no I don't want to miss out, and to think I almost did!
Lastly 20 seconds that convinced me if I get her a diamond, I might finally get laid and be very good at ballroom dancing.
Break it down dah dah dah DUH!
It is interesting that inside 20 min, I see advertisement veiled as entertainment, and advertisement for products that are overtly harmful, or in the case of the pills, completely unnecessary. Also, being told that I can save by buying something I don't need is frankly insulting. Please shut the fuck up!
I know friends who are practically ADDICTED to nasal spray. They say they wish they could stop, and suggest I never use it. I saw an article a while back on this, it causes the need for the spray by drying the passages between use. Like how cigarettes calm you, but it's the nicotine that makes you crazy with withdrawal.
I'm gonna go out on a limb on the pill ad and say if ya don't think you are broken, what do you need a pill to fix? Teasers suck people in cause they just HAVE to know what the pill is for. Is there a street value? Well, nuff said
Now I don't want to sound crazy (too late maybe?) but, I think just maybe corporations want just what they are obtusely asking for blind consumers, that buy because they are told to hour after hour of watching TV. BUY TO SAVE, and ASK YOUR DOCTOR and watch more TV!
Who really doesn't think a corporation, even really nice ones wouldn't love to have consumers who buy without wondering why? Of course not, they love us. That's why they make us pills and sprays for relief. Get em' while they are young too, that imprinting will last a life time of consumption.
I have a grudge with advertising companies using psychologists to target kids with commercials. They are contributing to a generation of screwed up values. Little minds soak it in, and TV tells some crazy crap to them drilling it in day after day. Young targets of psychological warfare. Bad enough to target adults, but I guess there is more profit in the children. If no one takes the time to explain what is going on with advertising, kids really have no idea, and are just being programmed.
Don't banks (and the privately run Federal Reserve) benefit more from thoughtless spending rather then thoughtful saving? They make MUCH more money from high interest rates than some measly savings accounts. People actually accept 19-24% credit card rates, YIKES, I know loan sharks and bookies that are safer bets. A slave to debit is a slave for life, esp. at 24.99%!
One final thought Do these people really think that if there WAS a volcano princess god/ghost, that she would frequent the Hilton? Maybe she goes for the terry cloth robes and free bubble bath!
