tattoo schools

I been hearing alot of different flack about tattoo schools.
*Seasoned artist calling them 'a joke'.
Can anyone give me some honest true facts, without getting emotional (because they learned from the school of hardknox), why getting licensed and certified by a tattoo school is a bad idea?
I hear most apprenticeships require 'payment' (Some starting at $5k in the New York area), and the apprentice usually is a slave for the first 2 years, doing no hands on tattooing or gaining any experience more then what they can view watching videos and reading books.

[canvasyou]

I am against tattoo schools alone but if you go to one to learn a bit then do an apprenticeship that is another thing.
I wouldn't pay for a tattoo apprenticeship unless you really really wanted to. and if you did pay - you should make sure that the tattoo artist you are paying is actually a good tattoo artist.
if you don't know what a good tattoo artist's work looks like - then check out Hell City -80% of the artists at that convention are good.

I would pay one of the top ticket artists a few grand just to hand out with him for a week... so it is all relative...
but that is to learn advanced stuff.
Most people are not going to learn advanced stuff from a standard apprenticeship... which is why i am against paying for one.

What if you decide you dont want to be a tattoo artist 12 months in?
Your payment should be the slave work you do at the shop.

Best of luck - do you have a copy of Basic Fundamentals of Modern Tattoo?

I have to agree about these so called "tattoo schools". There isn't enough one on one contact. As an apprentice you will always learn more in a one on one environment. Most try to pump "students" through in 6 months. Hardly enough time to truly learn what you need to know. Your best bet is to stick with just a mentor. Tattoo schools can rip you off just as easily as a shady mentor could.

I think the only "benefit" to a school is imediate hands on experience, and ONE school offers to give u $5000 in equipment. So if u want imediate hands on, and some equipment, then thats the way to go. but remember....this means less one on one for the important stuff. Also the instructor wont probably remember ur name, and is speaking to the general room when a subject is being discussed. I dont want that personally, I want an actual mentor that knows me by name, knows what I can and cant do, and is willing to work one on one. I think keeping it that personal is the best way to start off. Im no apprentice yet, but I have researched and tried for a time now. I even had some money saved for one school who's tuition was around 5grand, and u get 5grand in equip back, but it is just a 2 week coarse. Im sorry, but two weeks? come on. How do u expect to be an "artist" in two weeks? maybe a tattooist, but who wants to settle for less? my two cents anyways.

I went to the tattoo academy after 3 years of trial and error tattooing on my own. I spent about 5grand on the course and it was three weeks long. I agree that it's not enough time to learn everything and not enough one on one time but it was amazing and I learned so much.
At first I felt a little ripped off but now I'm so glad I went because it sharpened my skills and Mark is always there to answer ANY questions I have.
I think it really depends on your situation. For some people it's easier to get into a shop because of our personalities, the places we live etc, but the way I see it is that tattooing is changing. It's not all old skool anymore. Not only is the artwork on skin becoming more and more amazing but there are new machines that run on air, amazing inks and even tattooers are becoming more open and less secretive about their tricks. If we can be taught how to tattoo in a course, why not take it?

Mark also gave us insight on tattoo seminars at conventions. You pay a few hundred bucks to listen to a great artist talk abbout tattooing. Cool right? Do one tattoo and it's paid for.

I'm definitely all for tattoo schools but I agree that you need more than just that. I am alwaya learning and I want to continue taking courses and seminars to get better. I think in the end it will all be worth it.

[xDreamerx]

.....I stopped reading after "3 week for $5K"

How close-minded of you.

Tattoo school were very expensive. I rather go to seminars and conventions held annually. You will learn so many things from there. You can also view some video tutorials in the internet or reading tattoo magazines.

The thing with going to a school is this:
You learn to Tattoo. They can't make you an artist. You already have to be an artist. They teach you how to set up your equipment, use the different needles , sterilization processes and some art techniques. Things that you can learn in 2-3 weeks. I'd say if you can't find an apprenticeship right off go to an accredited school. The one in Shreveport la is an accredited trade school, finish up and then try to find a job/ apprenticeship. Somewhere you could do little flash stuff to make money but learn from the better artist there.

here in ohio we had are shop inpected and I acked the guy do threy axecpt the school that are out their. and he said no that most of them are not long enough to learn all that they need to. so I would look at a shop before a school.