Apprenticeship & make money?

[mop6686]

I understand that an apprenticeship is an education which should be paid for, but how does the average apprentice support themselves whilst doing so? Especially if it's a lengthy apprenticeship.

I am right in thinking that you pay x amount to your mentor and you work in the tattoo parlour for free for the length of apprenticeship. Or do you pay the mentor, but after that you are paid a salary?

[wwwtat2ca]

My $0.02 from the outside looking in:

If you look at it as an education, and you're paying for your apprenticeship, I don't think you expect a salary. You don't get paid to go to college, do you? You pay your money, you put in the time, you sweat it out with part time jobs and eat a lot of mac 'n cheese... but if you're getting "educated", I don't agree with getting treated like scum. If a college professor can't make you scrub a toilet and fetch his dry-cleaning, why can your tattoo teacher? Don't get me wrong - there are lessons to be learned in shop cleanliness, sterilzation, customer service, etc. But if you're paying for your education, I think you can expect to be treated like a student, not a slave.

Of course, if you don't pay with cash, you pay with sweat equity. If your apprenticeship is "free", I'd expect them to make you do all the very worst jobs imaginable, and no way will you be paid.

Of course, if you can find a tattoo master who's got mad skills, and still wants to let you learn while paying you a salary to be a receptionist or whatever, you've hit the jackpot!

As far as what to do whilst apprenticing to make moolah, that would depend on the arrangement with your master. If you work full time reg hours, maybe they'll let you learn on evenings and weekends. If you don't have f/t employment, get a p/t job or two, and work out a schedule with the tattoo shop. The major point to remember is, you gotta put in the hours. If you go in telling them you can spare two hours a week, I doubt you'll have any luck. Expect to work hard and sleep little.

Oh, and most important of all - do you have a portfolio? If you don't, all this is moot. No tattoo artist wants an apprentice with no artistic talent (unless you're on TV, maybe?)

My thoughts, not yours. Feel free to disagree.

www.Tat2.ca