How do I start my own tattoo parlor?
Ok soooo. I’m 18 in high school, I’m a senior ( ya me !) and I need some simple & clear-cut ways to successfully head a nice tattoo parlor. It has been my dream ever since I was young, to me there’s nothing more personal then giving someone art they can display for the rest of their lives. I’ve always had the ability to draw some sick things, and I think it’s time I put my talent to use and give back to society the best way I know how.
August 15th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Find a reputable tattoo shop that will apprentice you. Keep in mind that apprenticing at a tattoo shop is pretty shitty work. Basically for the first while you’re there on your own time, making the owner/artists realize that you’re serious about what you’re doing, working on your drawing skills, and helping out wherever you can. Apprenticing doesn’t pay well either, so you’ll likely need a job as well to support yourself.
Once you’ve established that you want to be there, built a relationship with the shop owner, and developed what they determine is good enough drawing skills, they may allow you to start tattooing. Years of experience later you might be ready to open your own shop.
There’s nothing simple about getting in the door as a tattoo artist. The biggest and most important thing that you need to do is demonstrate to the person that you’re looking to apprentice with that you’re serious, and that this is what you want to do. So many people think they want to be tattoo artists and then flake out that artists don’t want to waste their time on apprentices who are giong to decide a few months in that they don’t want to be there. (That last bit wasn’t meant to be an insult, just an explanation as to why it might be hard to get in. )
August 15th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
First things first, you have to learn to tattoo. Find a reputable shop/artist who is willing to take you on and teach you the tricks of the trade. The only way to own a successful shop in the future is to work your way up from the bottom, so as you’re apprenticing, you’ll learn about shop management and proper procedure and whatnot. Once you’ve become a sick artist in your own right, you can find other artists that you trust, with great portfolios, who are willing to work with you as a team. Then, you have your shop. . . . Be aware, it will take many years to become successful in the tattoo business (a little bit of schooling in business management helps too)
August 15th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
step one – get an apprenticeship
step two – learn everything you can as fast as you can
step three – become an awesome tattoo artist
step four – get the licenses
step five – find a store front
step six – get the store front and get all the supplies you need
ect. . . .
owning your own shop is pretty hard if you dont have the skills to run it and tattoo. not many artists want to work for a guy who comes in once a week to collect the money. . . aka skimmer
i know when i worked in a smaller shop the majority of the customers we got were return clients. . . walks in’s arent always going to be there. . . not all the time so its good to have a good clientel behind you so you always got those people coming back to you and bringing friends.
thats my . 2