How does one go about getting into this industry (United States, specifically)?
I think it’s fair to say that every tattoo artist has a first “official” customer, likely a handful of lab rat friends as well with small but permanent etchings. But what is a common path between, “I’m 18 and I wanna give tats” and someone who does it for a living? I assume there is some regulatory body to ensure at least a minimum of safety for prospective clients–what would that be? And how does one go from “OOOH! I wanna do the needle gun!” to “Where do you wannit, bub?” Ear and nose peircings/gaugings seem pretty straightforward, but how does one get properly trained for other, less…visible…hole-punching work?
I know several tattoo artists. Getting started is no big deal. Just get some instruments from somewhere (family/friend/neighbor who’s a tattoo artist) and watch some videos on YouTube. Find clients at nightclubs, who are likely to be drunk and on the wild side.
I believe most people get into the industry through official or unofficial apprenticeships. You start as a shop worker, and learn on the job under people with more experience.
No real idea how one gets said apprenticeships; I’m under the impression that it’s fairly difficult to secure a decent one.
I’ve considered trying to become a piercer while I go back to college, but I haven’t looked too heavily at it; my suspicion is that it wouldn’t pay enough soon enough.
My guess is you start honing your drawing skills, developing artistry and style on paper, maybe putting together a portfolio and hanging around a local parlor. You could try to get a menial job at a parlor, or just ask an artist if you can volunteer to clean/run the register etc in exchange for some advice/education. I suspect it’s all about knowing someone in the biz, or introducing yourself to someone who doesn’t mind teaching you.
Then you can buy a tattoo gun and ink and start looking for clients, I imagine most people give their first tattoos to themselves or close friends. Tattoo artists seem to rely on word-of-mouth advertising pretty heavily, so if you’re truly talented and give a few people some sick-ass tattoos it shouldn’t be too hard to get at least a trickle of clients.
I have many tattoos and know many artists. The ones I know all apprenticed with someone, eventually doing work on a friend or themselves. A few did their first tats using water in place of ink (on themselves).
When I was younger I knew a few budding tattoo artists and it wasn’t hard for them to find friends who were willing to get inked for practice. It didn’t have to be random drunk guys.
Ideally, you don’t want someone drunk anyway, as they may bleed more than usual, if I understand correctly.
Some states have a “license” that you can aquire that means essentially nothing. It’s all about interning with a reputable artist, and eventually being given the go ahead to try something on a human for pay.
If you can’t draw, you won’t be able to tattoo successfully. When I first got into oil painting when I was talking to an artist I was buying some work off of. I asked him about what it takes to oil paint. He simply asked can you draw ? The rest is just learning the tools of the medium your working in. Same would apply for tattooing.
