What would you think if your teen age sons goal for after High School was to be a tattoo artist?
Friday, September 18th, 2009 at
10:04 am
I am not against tattoo’s, I have one myself but he seems to very serious about it. He loves to draw and is into computer graphics and such.
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Tagged with: computer graphics
Filed under: Tattoo Graphics
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Advice from a Tattoo Artist: that’s me!
Ok first of all Miami Ink and LA Ink are no example for your son to use or anyone else on this site! It is a ficticious show that does not depict the tattoo industry in it’s entirety. and yes the people on those shows make good money and the tattoos are expensive, but you are paying to be on the show… Kat’s normal tattoo rate is not $500, it is around $150 an hour.
Secondly: If tattoo is something your son wants to get into he needs to know this!!!
the tattoo industry is not easy, it is no cake walk, it is a long hard life to the top if you even make it…
He will have to put together a well oganized porfolio of drawing and good ones, only his best. he basically needs to prove to an artist that he has what it takes to draw in the business. He needs to shop around and talk to as many artist as possible to open his range of people who will take him in. He should also only take an apprenticeship from someone who he likes thier artwork and style. if you don’t like your mentors artwork then your not going to have an easy time. because they are going to teach you thier way of doing things.
If this is what he really wants then he needs to stick to his guns and not give up even if it means driving hours to a shop to work. (i live in detroit and i drove to chicago every weekend to apprentice, because i wanted it that bad!)
The tattoo world is not a place for the week, you have to have tough skin, you have to take critism very well, you have to take being talked to like shit very well. It will take him anywhere from 1-3 years to finish an apprenticship (which he will not be paid during) he will also be looking at spending close to $3000 for his start up equipment (good equipment, everything included in cost)
Tattooing can be very rewarding, i attended college for fine arts, and am now a tattoo artist, and honestly your first 5 years in the biz are your hardest. you get walked over, you make next to no money, and you try your hardest to build a little bit of a clientele.
It is a good profession, i think that if he is serious about it he needs to jump in and stick to it, theres no looking back in this industry. your in it for the long haul, our your out. There is alot of drugs in the industry, and you have to keep your head on straight and stay out of them, because I’ve seen alot of really good young kids just starting blow it all because they got mixed up in the wrong stuff.
Once he’s established he can make good money. most tattoo artist charge anywhere from $80-$150 an hour for work. Winters are hard, and Summers are good. you can bring in anywhere from $800-$2000 a week in the summer at a busy shop in the city. But theres a price to pay for it… long hours 10-14 hour days 6 days a week at most places.
I wish your son the best of luck if this is the path he chooses to take, just don’t let television over glorify what the world is really like.
Any question feel free to e-mail me!
uh oh.
if he was a very good artist, and could make a lot of money at it, i would say he should go for it.
I developed a great respect for the artwork that goes into tattooing after watching Miami Ink, and I think it’s a good way to make a career in art commercially.
SWEET! at least there’s money in it! $$$$$$$$$$
from an 8th grader
At least he wants to do something. If he’s good at it he could have his own shop and make lots of money. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
i would encourage him to do what he’s interested in.
but then again, i want to be in the art industry when i’m older, and i also believe you shouldn’t do a job you hate.
so yeah.
i wouldn’t be upset.
I would support whatever he does and just let him make his own decisions on that. He might just change his mind later on in life. It could just be a phase he’s going through.
at least he has a goal..i am still undecided and have little left til colege begins!
I would say let him do it, it makes good money. I wouldn’t be too worried. If that is his life long goal. I love to be creative so, if he can do tatts then he could do detailingn on cars as well and make really good money!
Be open to what he thinks. However, still encourage your son to go to college to open his mind to other careers, in art and other fields. People can change their career aspirations after attending college because they have become exposed to something interesting that they never had access to before. Plus you don’t want your son to regret never taking the opportunity to try to go to college at least, even if he keeps the same goal.
Why not encourage him to not only be a tattoo artist, but have the goal of opening his own shop? Then encourage him to get a BA in Business Admin to make his shop profitable. This way he will have something to fall back on if the tattoo fad fades.
I think it is awesome that your son is already setting after high-school goals. This sounds similar to my son… I had hoped he would want to be a suit and take over the family’s thriving business; however.. that is not where his interest is. I am not quite sure my son would be a good or happy corporate suit, though.
Encourage your son to be a good citizen.. and while a tattoo shop owner is not your ideal wish for your son.. remember it is his life first..
I am not a fan of tattoos, do not have one and will probably never get one; however my son accepts that…so I guess when the time comes and he chooses tattoos.. over corporate schmoozing.. well, I will support him.
I know what you mean.. but congratulate yourself on the fact that you’ve raised a child that is thinking ahead…
I wish you well!
Look at Kat Von D! Her tats start at $500.00 and go up from there. If your son is talented, he could do very well for himself. It is quite the art.
i would think okay thats what he wants to do, its like him saying he wants to be an artist hes just drawin on people now.
That’s cool, it’s a very creative job and he could go anywhere with good art AND tattooing skills. They are different though, because the tattoo artists draw in respect for what works not only visually but also on the skin. If he is that serious I say get him into a formal art school and then let him go from there. It’s great that he’s driven and knows what he wants to do.
i would help him any way i could tattooing is a good job the pay is great work when you want travel its one of the highest paying jobs out there you can make 50 to 100 an hour get him started soon like an summer apprenticeship it don’t pay but its like going to school
I would be a tiny doubtful like you,but i’d let him follow his dreams and he’ll be happy thats all a good mother really wants!
I would be incredibly glad my son had a goal, seeing as how so many kids don’t.
I wouldn’t be worried about it. I think that being a tattoo artist is a very respectable job. It takes alot of time and talent to be a tattoo artist. You should support him. He will be putting his art work on people permanently and he’ll be making good money to do it.
if he’s good at it and he’s a good artist, then why not? It’s a good thing to be able have a career doing what you love. He may want to consider college and a fall back choice as well. If tattoos fade as a fad, he might be good at something that he can’t survive doing!
i wldn’t av a problem wit it…if thts wat his dream is, let him live it…if its wat he enjoys he’ll love u more for not objecting
Why not? If that’s what he wants to do, be supportive.
The image of a tattoo artist as being low-class or sleazy is really a thing of the past. Most of the people I’ve met in the industry are creative, artistic people with great business acumen, as well. It’s a good honest living for a lot of people.
I would not mind at all. every tattooist Ive met has been really nice. They make good money.
i would support him, i would love to be a tattoo artist unfortunately i cant draw to save myself
I would support him 150%. No matter what he decides he is still my son and I will stand behind him on his choices. I think it would be great he could give me free tats!!!
there aint nothing wrong with it. first of all the parent cannot force the child to do anything. can only advise them to open up their options incase of a downfall etc. let the child research that job and see if he like its after.
if his skills are up to scratch .. then he may just pull it off. send him to art school so he will be well rounded..
Become a tattoo ARTIST not just a tattooIST. Study this craft and become the very best he can and then some. There are a lot of tattooists but not that many tattoo artists. This profession is a good profession for the dedicated and you can earn a good living, but it is a way of life, not just a job. It is also one of the hardest professions to get into.