I have tried for a couple years now to find an apprenticeship via a small private shop with absolutely no luck.
Now I have started looking into schools as an alternative to the traditional apprenticeship.
Has anyone been to one of these places?
Are they worth the money?
Can you actually get into the biz through these programs?
Any suggestions as to where to go?

Hi
The one up in Michigan costs almost $6000 but I have not been able to find anyone that has been there and most all the people on this forum don't think too much of it(and they did not send me their information I requested as they said they would). I did hear of another one where it was about a 3 month course but I did not hear cost and I forget where they were( this getting old shit ani't all it cracked up to be just ask Taz!) Good Luck

If you try getting a job at a respectable shop, they're gonna laugh you out the door with your little 3 month degree from a "tattoo school". Yeah, you may find a job at a scratcher shop, and then you'll just get a bad reputation that will take several years to shake. Read the back posts on this scam. You'll see that the only people that see nothing wrong with it are scratchers and dreamers, and the pros all stand apart from that group for a reason.

Had a guy come in to apply for an artist job...Said he was a grad of the tattoo school up in mn.....when he started using the term "gun" and had no clue as to what a armature bar is or what it s function was I just smiled and showed him the door.

Someone sent me to a "online training" site where they send you like a bunch of books and videos and then you do like 1000 hours of tattooing over the internet I guess working with the person or him watching you do it..dont know i dont really understand the whole concept I can put the website up if you all want to take a look..and then your suppose to get certified and a certifiate of completion..

Please don't post the website. These places definitely don't need any free advertising on a legitimate site such as this one.

Well, it doesnt look like them 'schools' teach you EVERYTHING you need to know about getting started. You'd think they'd at least give you a few pointers on what machine parts are called or something... I dont think anything will ever beat out a good 'ol apprenticeship. They kind of instill that respect for the artform rather than letting just any ol' shmuck pick up a machine and have at it.
Are there any reputable artists who have learned from one of these schools? Most are either self taught through trial and error or have done apprenticeships somewhere right??

I wont post the website out of respect if someone wants to see what im talking about they can just email me. I just think its unbelieveable that they would actually have something like that and people would spend that kind of money for what a pretty cert. on the wall.

And Liz....remember just what that pretty certificate is woth....
....NOT A DAMN THING!!!!!!!!!>>>T

thats what I figured a big waste of time..can you imagine...walking into a shop..explaining my credentials.. owners looking at me like im crazy...but im certified..see my online certificate..but.but..but..my ass in now out on the street..thats my nice little scenrio..

ANd that is EXACTLY what would happen if ya went into ANY real tattoo studio...They would get a good laugh at you expense...TAz

I have looked at about 10-20 different so called schools most of which claim to have a person tattooing in around 3-6 months and I definately think those are crap, but one school stood out as a fairly legitimate school/apprenticeship program. Maybe some of you regular guys would like to check this place out for the hell of it.
Maybe a small blip of decency umong the scams.
www.notorioused's.com
He says the course is 2 years and involves everythink from ink production to machine building to technique and they have been teaching for some time.

Also I've talked to this guy on the phone several times and he reamed my ass for terminology and scratching and the like.
He sounds really legit but........
Please someone check out his site for me and tell me what you think.

ps: Found alot of different sights that mention the shop but not the school and no details.

I checked the site out and found absolutely NO pics to see what kind of work these supposed teachers and students are capable of putting out. Maybe the link was right in front of me and I didn't see it, but usually those are the things that would be plastered all over a site such as that. Makes me wonder, thats all.

bad enough there are hackin,non artistic,ego trippin tattooists with apprentices lets have classrooms full..............
maybe you get to ride the short bus there,that would be worth it

"cross" you comments show that your an ass. People don't post honest questions to get stupid answers thanks. Krystof thanks for the honest look. I think I'm going to take the advice and keep looking for a traditional apprenticeship.
If anyone knows of some good shops to check out in n. texas the info would be greatly appreciated.

Take a deep breath and relax, he wasn't saying YOU can take the short bus, but the students in general. You have to understand that we take tattooing very seriously and get beraded with the same questions on a day to day basis, we feel that schools like this ARE a joke and he was retorting to the joke. There are several back posts about the "Tattoo School". It seems that anyone who wants to consider the "Tattoo School" are already aware of the apprenticeship option but want to find another way that may be quicker and cheaper, and it is insulting to us on a daily basis, so if we get a little defensive, I'm sorry, but it's no need to get into name calling. If you took that as personal as you're going to potentially get criticized for your work, you better grow a thicker skin ASAP.

While i understand how annoying it can be hearing the same things over and over every day (i mean, i work in a daycare with 3 year olds...if that isn't repetative enough), is that an excuse to come out of nowhere with a rude comment? It's almost the whole "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" idea. Nobody makes anyone open these posts, it's an open forum. And, even tho it is obvious that the schools are looked down on if you read the back-posts, some people dun do that, they just post. But, while he may need to "grow a thicker skin ASAP", maybe some artists shouldn't act so harshly...cuz i know having a piss-ass attitude when u hear the same question over and over is gonna turn me away from gettin tattooed by someone if it's my first time...cuz i'm gonna have questions, and i don't want to have to feel like i'm an idiot for askin.

Just remember, artists gotta keep themselves in a good light too...for all you know, one of the people posting on here might be a future client

the only way anyonc can become a tattoo artist is to either pay a few thousand dollars for an apprenticeship or like i did become a shop bitch for it, thats the bottom line.
you can't go to a school and learn anything, about tattooing.
who the hell is teaching these classes anyway ?
i'v never herd of aaron cain, soba, or paul booth teaching tattooing at a school.
if you have your heart set on becomeing a tattooist then go to every shop you can and beg to be a shop bitch or get a few thousand dollars .

still hard to get in..i offered to be a shop bitch and still no luck..too many artist tattooing in one small place..they had two shops but both were demolished by the hurricane now they have everyone working in one place they were lucky enough to find.
I wish I had the ablility to travel!!!