What does it take to become a tattoo artist?

What does it take to become a tattoo artist? Do I have what it takes?
The best advice I can give to an artist trying to get into tattooing… be patient. It will not happen overnight. You will not learn how to tattoo over night; you will not work in a shop over night, you won’t even learn how to use your tattoo machines overnight.
There are a lot of things in the world that take time and dedication and practice, tattoo is no exception.

Here are a few indicators of what you might need (personality wise to succeed in the tattoo industry).

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1.) Professional attitude (contrary to the stigma, the best tattoo artists in the world are the most professional and positive ones).
2.) You are an artist already (don’t jump into this thinking that it is just tracing paper and coloring book flash pieces)

3.) You have tattoos on your body already (don’t walk into a tattoo studio and try to become a tattoo apprentice or artist without a single tattoo)

4.) You truly love your art (some tattoo artists paint, some draw, some sculpt – you HAVE to love art or else this job will kill you)

5.) You are ready to bust your ass and network every day (tattoo studios don’t stay super busy with walk-in clients, you have to know how to hustle to get them in the seat)

6.) You get along good with other people (you have to talk to clients, you have to be friendly..not a rock star big shot)

If you want to make it as a tattoo artist, you have to be a good tattoo artist (obviously) but you also have to have certain characteristics that make you a good salesman and artist. You need to focus your energy on developing your personal artistic skill and bringing your art up to the next level.

You should never try to be the best tattoo artist working in a tattoo studio – you should always try to be the worst! (That didn’t sound right did it?) This means you have a lot to learn from the other artists. If time comes and you become the best artist in a tattoo studio, it is my opinion that it is time for you to move on and find a new studio where you are not the best. This is how you continue to advance your skills and your art.
You don’t want to get stuck before you even start. Work on your portfolio, and be prepared for rejection. Stick with it – and you will find some artist or studio out there in your area willing to take a chance on you. Learn what you can – and grow, but then move on… so you can keep growing.
Do you have what it takes?
Check out Basic Fundamentals Book for more details and an apprentice roadmap.