same ol' song and dance

[jaded_ink]

alright kids..now i'm frustrated...been trying to get some hands on help with this little adventure of mine...just to make sure everything i'm doing is being done in the right fashion...So, i go out and ask a so-called buddie of mine...well, for starters, its been a while since he'd seen me, and then turned and told me he paid so much money to get where he is, why would he tell me a damn thing?? so, no help or even thought of apprentiship there...Kansas is a very strict state on the laws and all, so i know i need to get some time in to actually be considered legal...

i'm sure this has been asked a thousand times, but what is your advice on getting on with a shop, or mentor? I don't want someone just takin my money, and then me coming out of all this with nothing...I've done probably 12 practice peices in the last 8 months, just in my own home, not for the general public...But, i have tons of people that would love to have me do their ink, and pay me!! I've been told i can't get paid without being licensed (legally), but seems i've got a catch 22 here..

be nice..i'm not stupid, but i could use some ideas here...thanks in advance...

[voodoo]

do you have a portfolio,thats first. show them your stuff(drawings&the like)
keep going back if they say no. show them that your serious about this! take art classes if you can.i
the shop i get my work done, is also the place i want to appretice at. them knowing you is always a plus,so go back and see if your bud will teach you as an appretice. i would be right now if i had tha $5 grand. i ask when my tattoo artist will start taking on apprentices so he knows that i still want to do this (tattoo) for a living! keep on keeping on.
P.S. DRAW EVERY DAY,AS MUCH AS YOU CAN !

[jaded_ink]

ok, a little background on me...I've gone to college and earned my associate of arts..majoring in graphic design...i draw constantly, and have an extensive portfolio...as for working with this "bud" of mine, that is a no go...he's totally into himself and his deal, and doesn't think i deserve to be in the feild without paying the 11 thousand dollars he did to get into the proffession...if i had the means or the resources...

i think i'll go talk to his ex-wife...she's got her own shop now, and its only an hour and a half away..she might be able to take me on the weekends or somethin...

[Anonymous]

Hmm , I looked up the Kansas state regulations for tattooing , looks pretty much the same as for Oregon . But I cant find a list of licensed instructors . I think U should call and ask if they can give u a list . The only other thing to do is to just call around and ask if someone is taking apprenticships . But it will coast u anywhere u go ...not much more u can do than that , good luck ...

[krow]

me personally before i would spend 5-11 grand to work in someones shop for free, id just pick out 5-11 grand worth of differnt kind of tats and get them done.im a visual learner and im not stupid i can watch someone and pick up what and why there doing it.i wish i could find an appenticeship but everyone i talk to is so scared of me stealing there "bacon" or some shit.i personally am not getting into this for the money,although i realize to run a buisness you have to make money. so this is pretty much my solution to my problem imma pick out enough peices of art that cover just about all the techniques ill need to know,have them done by differnt artists to see how differnt people do things,ask lots of questions while im getting my tat because if he dont answer me he'll loose my buisness,pay alot of attention make mental notes and poke and prode my way in. money talks and ill learn what i want even if i have to use pyscology to learn it.and if all else fails at least you got the tats you want is the places you can reach.sounds better than spending that kind of money and walking away with nothing. :wink: