My failed apprenticeship
I apprenticed at a shop that was an original in my state. The guy who owned it opened in 1991 and in 09 singed the shop over to another guy an has half ownership. Ill start like this ive been a scratcher since high school I never took on big tattoos nor got my equipment from ebay an never made money.
My mom is a nurse so cross contamination is common sense and bbp and also layers of skin. After 3 years of tattooing in my house I decided I should get an apprenticeship so I can make money and also be respected. My cousins boyfriend is a tattoo artist who has been tattooing for 15 years professionally very well known in my state, he as well taught me some things and recommended to get an apprenticeship.
Ok so minus the 8 months of looking for an apprenticeship I find one and as I did mention I got my apprenticeship at a cool shop (cool as in a what I thought would be a knowledgable old school place). It was what I expected clean and keep quiet and in my down time draw.
This goes on for months and I finally learn cleaning tubes breaking down and setting up. In this point in time me and the old owner are very good friends smoking cigarettes all the time, drawing, and busting the big bosses balls. I like to think my apprenticeship was old school pay nothing an work like an animal an take shit from everyone I signed up for this I can't complain about how I was treated.
So moving on to my point we had a Christmas party 2 or 3 weeks ago (2013). And my boss (the guy who owned the place in 09) tells me "fuck you I hope you hit a tree and die", all because I didnt give someone a ride home due to no gas because I work for free every day.
Now I said hey there's a line you don't cross I can handle the your a retard, you suck, you'll never be anything, you will never tattoo bullshit apprentices hear but wishing death upon someone is morally wrong also I pretty much was held down to get a tattoo I did not want.
These are my 2 reasons I quit. I'm still tattooing and yes my work has improved over 8 months of apprenticing. I need advice I want to be working in a shop but with no license for tattooing I have to be an apprentice all over again and I wouldnt mind but im not paying to be treated like shit and used when half of the people who work in a shop (locally) started in a kitchen, like my boss.
I have all my own professional equipment and dont know how to approach a shop about a job I do have a portfolio of drawings and tattoos I have done and have a few good references of artists in my state. Any advice would be awesome.
- Rhode Island is where I am from in case you were wondering
