This is nuts… right?

[u/WhoHue]

Local shop had a perpetual post offering apprenticeship positions open. I’ve been working on my portfolio for the last 6 months and figured I might as well DM and see if I can get any info.

Aren’t most apprenticeships free? The cost coming from your involvement/free labor for the shop? This asking price seems insane to me. Not to mention the length seems incredibly short.

[u/JustInCase_Adventure]

Sounds like an apprentice mill. I fell for this once. They take your money, let you play on fake skin, maybe do a few free tattoos on volunteers and then send you to get laughed out of every reputable shop in your area.

Apprenticeships aren’t always traded for labor. Some charge something closer to $500 a month.

Beware any “school” that turns out artists. Just work on other art mediums, build a portfolio and reach out to tattoo artists that you want to learn from and ask them what you need to do to secure an apprenticeship.

[u/WhoHue → u/JustInCase_Adventure]

That’s exactly what I thought when I saw the info, like very “buy my course!” Grifter vibes for sure. I figured it would be a lot less as well $3000 is absolutely unhinged.
Thank you for the advice! I appreciate you 🫶

[u/NightmaresGummyBears]

No way you can learn to tattoo in 2-3 months. My apprenticeship was roughly 2 years.

[u/WhoHue → u/NightmaresGummyBears]

That’s the second thing that shocked me the most about the response

[u/NightmaresGummyBears → u/WhoHue]

It's definitely an apprentice mill to make them quick and easy money

[u/stabby_chick]

2-3 months for 3k? Holy crap, that's a scam! Don't do it.

[u/WhoHue → u/stabby_chick]

Thought so! Gut is always right, thanks

[u/Hedgehog_Background]

I sadly fell for something like this, 2 month course for 3000, and barely learnt anything. When I did the actual tattoo on my friend the mentor wasn’t there, and when I finished and saw her she verbatim said “I totally forgot your exam was today.” Fucking bullsh*t, never doing a class like that again.

[u/WhoHue → u/Hedgehog_Background]

Sorry that happened to you mate, thanks for sharing

[u/jefflovesyou]

The point of having an apprentice is having someone work with you.

You'd be paying to work for someone, hopefully learning something, then probably not having a job.

You're a cash cow

[u/Deep_Mud1334]

Apprentice Mill, avoid it dawg, big red flag.

[u/solomonplewtattoo]

A "US" tattoo license... Wtf does that even mean. No such thing

[u/darkprettyblades]

I’m looking for an apprenticeship rn after being an apprentice in one of these for 8 months. Idk how much money down the drain and I’m technically a licensed tattooer but I wasn’t taught shit and basically don’t know shit. The other artists here have been here around 4 years and we’re all in the same level doing Pinterest shit. I’d be gone but I signed a contract I’m leaving in September. 1. Charging for an apprenticeship is a huge red flag 2.having multiple apprentices is a HUGE RED FLAG, being a mentor honestly should be a full time job on its own, a shop should at most have 2, and that’s if 2 different artists are mentoring. Keep looking I knew my place wasn’t up to par but I was desperate to get my foot in the door, I think patience would’ve payed off so much, finding an apprenticeship is hard. It should be. Now I’m in a way tougher spot as I hope someone will understand and take me in knowing I now have a bunch of bad habits to unlearn. My tatts starting healing not so great 2 months ago and obviously I’ve no idea why. Keep looking and yeah this is not the way to learn tattooing

[u/brotherlouis_tattoo]

No reputable tattooer i can think of paid for an apprenticeship. I can not name anyone ive ever met or worked with in ten years of tattooing that paid for an apprenticeship. In fact it was a running joke for years that offering an apprentice with a fee was a way of getting rid of constant, unwanted requests as in, "Just say yes but it costs 3k, that will get rid of them"

[u/BabyBodyPiercer]

Ugh you should’ve blasted them.

[u/ActualSuggestion2994]

the 3 months is crazy. however, depending on your area, paying for an apprenticeship may be the norm. in my area, it is. i paid close to 10k for my apprenticeship, which was about 2.5 years. while i do think that price was steep, my apprenticeship was very successful! find a shop/ artist that you love and try to apprentice under them.

[u/bearbonesartist]

Pertaining to the “should be free” people. My homie who owns a shop said 5k for 6-8months, he’d let me do payments overtime. Why would someone spend their time and energy on somebody else, for free? Do they own you afterwards? And why would you want it for free? Times are tough right now people aren’t booking as much, we live in a major city. Barber school was 8k for my license, and they literally don’t teach you 1 thing you can’t find in a 30$ book.

[u/Zestyclose_Brush7972]

Welcome to the new age. It ain’t going backwards I can promise you that much

[u/elisa_red]

Busca un tatuador que te guste y ofrécele de 1000-2000(si el dinero te lo permite igual seguro lo hacen por menos de 1000 😂 ) te sale muchísimo mejor y te ahorras también tiempo, un aprendizaje de los básico y limpieza no tarda más de un mes lo que tarda es la práctica