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future career?
i'm not planning to go to college. one, i don't want to be far away from the people i care about, and two, i REALLY hate school with a passion, and would greatly enjoy being done with it when i graduate highschool. i'm just not a good worker, nor have i ever been. i wouldn't want my parents to waste their money sending me to do something i don't want to do.
but does anyone know what i could do as a future career? i'm interested in being a tattoo artist, but would i have to go to college for that? and would i have to tattoo myself all over my body, because that's what i've heard. i'm not looking for a lecture, so please, don't. just someone tell me a good career i could have without spending thousands of dollars and time going to college. and if anyone knows anything about tattooing, please let me know, send me links, etc. thanks!
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I suppose there's something to be said for honesty and self-awareness. Since you didn't ask for help with your work ethic, I will offer you these few points of insight, the most important of which is first (and please don't construe this as a lecture - I think it's important that you understand the reality of a career in tattooing. The following statements are ones that virtually any artist would tell you):
1) If you are not a good worker, you are likely to be sorely disappointed with a career in tattooing. Everything about it is hard work.
2) Nowhere in the world do you have to go to college to learn to tattoo. The conventional, and thoroughly recommended way is to find a shop respected within the tattoo community and try to get an apprenticeship there. Some shops will require money up front. Others will only require that you agree to work for free for the duration of your apprenticeship (1 year is normal.) Almost all of them will require that you have some degree of artistic talent with drawing (applying tattoos that aren't hideous is a very involved skill. There will be plenty to teach you without having to start with the basics of art).
3) No artist or shop is going to require that you tattoo yourself whatsoever. If they do, you should seriously consider whether you want to learn from them. That said, it isn't uncommon for new artists to tattoo themselves a bit at first. This should always be completely voluntary, however.
4) Tattooing isn't as glamorous as it seems. You handle biohazardous waste on a daily basis, as well as mop floors, take out endless garbage, clean and scrub instruments and any number of other mundane, unpleasant tasks. You will be forced to trace and draw far beyond the point that it is fun anymore. The hours are long, the clients unapologetically inconsiderate and it can take years to develop a clientele that will allow you to support yourself comfortably. Even great artists have dry seasons.
This career will demand blood, sweat and tears, long hours and great sacrifice. You will be bulled around by employers and coworkers. In exchange, this career has no problem leaving you unpredictably able to make rent when you least expect it.
What it is not is an escape from hard work, sacrifice and education.
In my opinion, anything you are likely to experience in the working world is going to be more demanding than college.
However, if you are still the least bit interested, choosing to believe that I speak from an honest frame of reference (I am not a tattoo artist, I will add. This isn't the litany of my poor experience. I have known and worked with very, very many, at all levels of success.), then it may well be a rewarding career choice.
I can say that you will get out of it what you put in. Knowing what that is from the outset is the important thing.
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I thought both these websites were very helpful:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
*Hope I helped!
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