What Tattoo Apprenticeship Used to Mean

Back then, getting into a studio wasn’t about sending your Instagram portfolio. You walked in, got rejected, came back again, swept the floor, cleaned the tubes, stayed quiet, and listened. You didn’t touch a machine until your mentor said you earned it. Apprenticeship was about learning the craft — not just drawing, but living it.

Now Everyone’s a “Tattoo Artist” in Six Months

These days, a kid buys a machine online, downloads Procreate brushes, makes a TikTok account, and boom — tattoo artist. No studio hours. No mentorship. No understanding of skin, sanitation, or pain management. Just likes, shares, and fake confidence. And the worst part? Clients don’t know the difference.

Respect Is Earned, Not Filtered

In the old system, respect wasn’t given because you had 10k followers. It was earned with sweat. You had to sit and watch. Clean needles. Setup. Breakdown. Understand your mentor’s technique inside-out before even thinking about asking for your shot. Now? Some apprentices walk in asking about commission percentages on day one. That’s not hunger. That’s entitlement.

Studios Are Also to Blame

Let’s be real. Some studios don’t want to train anymore. They want fast money. So they take in whoever can trace clean lines and post on socials. They forget that teaching someone to tattoo is shaping someone’s career — and someone’s skin. It’s not a game. It’s not content. It’s legacy.

Can Traditional Apprenticeship Survive?

Only if some of us keep it alive. Not every apprentice today is soft. Some still want the real path. Some still respect the chair. And as artists who’ve walked the fire, it’s on us to draw the line. Not just on skin — but in the industry too.

Final Words for the New Generation

If you want to be a tattoo artist, be ready to serve before you shine. This isn’t just about putting ink in skin. It’s about building a discipline that lives longer than the hype. Sweep the floor. Shut up. Watch. Learn. That’s how it starts. If you skip that part, don’t call yourself an artist. Just call yourself a printer with good WiFi.