Hello Mr. Capobianco,

Thank you for posting your thoughts about this topic here.

I am not a tattoo artist, but I am interested in your thoughts about the following parallel, which I think is a valid one.

There are numerous arts/trades, whose knowledge was once only passed from parent to child, master to apprentice, whether in a family business or guild/association. Areas such as painting, drawing, medicine, carpentry, baking, cooking, dance, etc. etc.

Eventually, each of these arts/trades formed schools or were subsumed into traditional university or colleges.

I do not believe that transition has devastated those arts/trades.

If someone can learn how to cook and feed people in a school setting, why, in principle could someone not learn to tattoo in a school setting?

People learn to become doctors, soldiers, lawyers, physicists, etc. in a school setting.

But tattooing can only be properly learned in a Master/Apprentice relationship?

I have not seen this show, so cannot speak to it specific merits, but as an overall guiding principle for the craft of tattooing:

Why is the master teaching an apprentice relationship the only valid way of passing knowledge in this particular craft?

Could a school be crafted that would offer a valid way to pass along tattoo knowledge?

In my own profession, cooking, I think that a merging of the two, schooling and apprenticeship would seem a promising path to take.

Thank you again for your post.

And thank you for your own contribution to tattooing, I think you have a beautiful and enduring style.

Hello Mr. Capobianco' date='

Thank you for posting your thoughts about this topic here.

I am not a tattoo artist, but I am interested in your thoughts about the following parallel, which I think is a valid one.

There are numerous arts/trades, whose knowledge was once only passed from parent to child, master to apprentice, whether in a family business or guild/association. Areas such as painting, drawing, medicine, carpentry, baking, cooking, dance, etc. etc.

Eventually, each of these arts/trades formed schools or were subsumed into traditional university or colleges.

I do not believe that transition has devastated those arts/trades.

If someone can learn how to cook and feed people in a school setting, why, in principle could someone not learn to tattoo in a school setting?

People learn to become doctors, soldiers, lawyers, physicists, etc. in a school setting.

But tattooing can only be properly learned in a Master/Apprentice relationship?

I have not seen this show, so cannot speak to it specific merits, but as an overall guiding principle for the craft of tattooing:

[b']Why is the master teaching an apprentice relationship the only valid way of passing knowledge in this particular craft?[/b]

Could a school be crafted that would offer a valid way to pass along tattoo knowledge?

In my own profession, cooking, I think that a merging of the two, schooling and apprenticeship would seem a promising path to take.

Thank you again for your post.

And thank you for your own contribution to tattooing, I think you have a beautiful and enduring style.

Hey Jaycel, I understand what you mean, and yes trade schools do work when your talking about teaching many individuals the proper way to perform there trade. Electricians, Plumbers, bricklayers, Hell even cooks, should all be taught the proper way to perform there tasks, if there going into a certain type of business.

Fortunately for these individuals, these jobs are usually very numerous, and sometimes easier to find work in. Tattooing is a small world, with already too many people performing them. Shops open on a daily basis sometimes, and quite a few of the individuals getting in. have already had a poor apprenticeship. Now add schools that claim to be able to churn an individual artist out in just 2 short weeks. The results can be devastating!

Also lets not forget that with most "trade schools", there is an organization, or union that governs its curriculum, and controls (most of the time) there schooling, and where and if these individuals work (in some union jobs). IM gonna side with most peoples beliefs that just about every individual involved with these So called tattoo Schools barely have a clue as to what there doing, let alone the ability to teach others. Also note, that to my knowledge this is not an accredited (by state, or law) school in any way, shape, or form. SO to say that there is a certificate given at the end of said course, is total BS. This certificate is literally, not worth the paper it is printed on.

There are already states in this country that do require a tattooist to attend 1 of these so called tattoo schools. This I believe is simply to ease the jobs of local health departments, and have all individuals learning, & working under the same guidelines. Do I agree with this. Hell no. I've met individuals from these schools (forced to attend by there states laws), and they were both Upset, and sadly disappointed by both the quality of teacher, and artists teaching said classes.

My recommendation (And I hope this never happens) is that these states mandate that the "Schools" themselves be forced to take classes on proper procedures, and teaching abilities. I believe that being a greedy as fuck, People Person, does not make one a teacher! Also these schools should be accredited. Hell lets make it official than. These schools should be forced to pay the same dues, taxes, and licenses as a proper school. And should have to abide by the same standards. Or not be called schools at all. Call them for what they are. Crooks, taking money from ignorant, impatient people, who have chosen to take the easy way in to tattooing.

I've often said that while getting into tattooing can be both tedious, and frustrating. Not everyone is meant to be a tattooist. There is a reason why a person apprentices. Things to be taught, and handed down. Granted not all apprenticeships are worth a damn. And in my eyes those are just as bad as schools (all together another rant). But I believe that by making an individual find there apprenticeship, making them jump through a few hoops, and creating an environment that perhaps forces, or intrigues them to learn a bit about the history of this business. Than I think over all you'll end up with a tattooist who cares a bit more about what he does, and when and IF they choose to take on an apprentice later in there career. Its hoped that they will instill the same amount of respect for this industry, as they learned.

Of course, I personally half think this is all a pipe dream, because I think that the majority of the reason we're in the position we're in (too many shops, too many tattooists, too many suppliers, and too many conventions), is because all that I just said was forgotten a long, long time ago (by many, but not all), and the main reason were in the fix were in today, is because of US. The lowly tattooist, trying to make a living, any way they see how. Greedy Fucks, are greedy fucks. No matter what they do for a living.

Not certain that this response/post made a ton of sense. There really is so much on my mind, and too much to say. I guess this is just the beginning. Especially as things in my life, and career start to change.

I hope this answered some of your Questions Jaycel.