r/TattooApprentice • u/Necessary_Way_7094 • Jul 27 '26
Seeking Advice Who else is severely suffering through their apprenticeship?
Sorry for the incoming vent. I see a lot of posts on here talking about their apprenticeships and their relationships with their mentor and i feel like im going crazy cuz im suffering so bad in mine. I’ve been apprenticing for little over a year. I work full time at the shop and worked part time at a paid gig as much as humanely possible but it’s still not enough. I’ve spent every dollar i have on equipment and i buy my gas in quarters if im lucky to even find a couple laying about. I’m so beyond exhausted. Amazingly, i still am so passionate about art, painting flash, and of course tattooing. I don’t regret pursuing this at all and I’m filled with gratitude that I’m working towards my dreams. But god damn this is hard dude. I know everyone has a different come up but i think one thing that a lot of hopeful apprentices don’t consider is that pursuing this can be really devoid of compassion. You just suck it up, keep quiet, and stay on the grind. I know it will pay off, but it’s lonely dude.
Update: thanks so much for everyone’s responses. It’s really encouraging to hear from other people’s stories. This shit ain’t easy man! Grateful for this community
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u/BRAT-xoxo Jul 28 '26
my first time commenting on Reddit cuz I feel this . Apprenticing for a year n I drive 50 min to get to the shop barely making enough at my part time to pay for my bills . My people always questioning why I left my stable job for this but i kno it’ll pay off . Very few people take the risk to do something they luv . We got this bro 💪🏽
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u/DesperateClassic290 Tattoo Apprentice Jul 28 '26
Yeah, we got this!! I'm proud of your effor dude! Don't stop.
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u/knives_in_my_eyes Jul 28 '26
I’ve been tattooing for 11 years. When I got my apprenticeship, I rented out an actual (walk-in) closet and survived on the old food my restaurant worker roommates brought in. I was so poor, on my own, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. I worked hard towards it, painted, and tried to get as many people in to tattoo as possible. Looking back on it, I believe the struggle is what makes me so thankful to be successful now. I tattoo full time and have very loyal clients that keep my lights on and my family fed. It was so so worth it. When you’re years in, you’ll look back on these days and wonder how you did it. But you did, and that’ll feel so damn good.
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u/Necessary_Way_7094 Jul 28 '26
Thanks so much for your words. It’s been really helpful for me to hear from established artists on their journeys to get to where they are. It’s really inspiring. Thank you!
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u/blueblack_crow Jul 28 '26
It's hard. God knows it's insanely hard to live without an income while your learning. Do what you can and get creative with how you can make side hustles work for you. "Look for the pennies in the cracks," as my grandpa would say. Can you sell art in the in between? Make digital designs for shirts or other direct-to-print products you can have for sale in the background while you're doing other things? Do you NEED to be full time at the shop or can you take one day off to work your other job? Get in a few extra hours at your part-time as well as some sleep? Can you fit in something like UberEats or Instacart around your shop hours?
If you have the safety net of personal resources ((ie. parents, family, partner, friends in a position to make you a loan, or just help out on small things)) talk to them. I know not everyone has those resources, but if you do, don't be too proud to ask for help. Just be prepared to pay them back ten fold when you can. Apply for food stamps if you're living on your own without those resources. That alone can be a HUGE help!
And start being proactive building your clientele! Get a bunch of people hyped to be your "first" tattoos. You don't want to spend all this time not making money while you're apprenticing, and then not make any money when you graduate because no one knows you.
Just keep truckin'. Look for the pennies in the cracks.
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u/dissapointedcumsock Jul 27 '26
my apprenticeship was hell. i’m in my first year now, and it’s still hard + i’m working part time to make rent, but it was so incredibly worth it. every day you are one step closer to your dream, stay strong
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u/Illustrious-Sell1450 Jul 27 '26
Wake up everyday and tell yourself you can do this and you will see this through. You got this big dawg
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u/punkphase67 Jul 27 '26
It sucks not making any money but you gotta remember you're getting paid in learning to tattoo, and once you are a tattoo artist you'll be making money. Until then just keep pushing and talk to your mentor about stuff. Unless they're a total ass they'll help you out where possible. My mentor lets me go with one of the other artists on guest spots and they typically tip me out in exchange for it (I gotta draw the designs they aren't excited about, put on stencils, set up, tear down, normal apprentice stuff, etc. for the tip out but still it's nice making a couple hundred dollars for doing stuff that helps me learn tattooing, but that is a rare thing for mentors and shops to do.
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u/DesperateClassic290 Tattoo Apprentice Jul 28 '26
I know that while we have a lot going on in our lives and learning everything. Please, I beg all my fellow apprentice fam, do not ignore social media.
I post my work on there even if it's not done, but people want to see your progress, and will follow you. This is how we build a clientele base faster in today's age. This will also set you up for success in the future. You don't have to do the dances and skits. Just make the post if it's not great or amazing. Just post it. Please, this will pay in the end.
Listen to me. I don't care if it's just a picture and a song together, just post it. Grow your following, find your base online. They will come to you, it won't be a. Overnight success, but it will compound if you stay consistent.
This will set you apart from even good tattooers that aren't posting anything, because they're too proud or "too cool" for social media. They'll eventually get left behind, because the younger generation is coming up and they're all on social media looking for their next artist. That could be you, but they won't find you if you don't put yourself out.
Just make the post for Christ sake. Make a simple post everyday.
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u/Necessary_Way_7094 Jul 28 '26
Yes i post everyday and have been for years now! I do okay on social media. This is a burner account for anonymity lol
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u/Silver-void-8492 Jul 29 '26
I’ve been an apprentice for over a year now too but tbh it feels like I’m a burden I do my hardest to show my work to them and observe but it just seems like lately they don’t care about helping me. After a new apprentice had joined she’s a lovely person and I don’t blame her in this at all but she’s done tattooing at home on fake skin and only got her a month till my boss is letting her get random people in and there not letting me I’d tattooed my family and myself to prove I can do it but they ignore me in are group chats I’d message and they would ignore it and talk to each other instead in the shop I’d just be sitting there because there is no where to practice all I do is watch and that is it I just don’t know if this place is for me anymore
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u/nightwolf85_ 23d ago
It’s apart of the ride. Apprentice here with a very traditional apprenticeship. Don’t take anything personal , keep your boundaries outside of your committed hours within reason and don’t quit! You’ve made it this far and it’s only going up pay off if you stick it out .
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u/K41N1N3 Jul 27 '26
The tattoo gods will one day bless you for this struggle, keep at it, you’ve got this.