Archive for October, 2011
The first thing you need to understand before pursuing a tattoo artist career is what the regulations are in your state. The only states that currently do not have regulations covering this field or their equipment are New Mexico, North Dakota, and Washington D.C. These regulations vary from state to state. For example, in my state Nevada, the state requires the city or county to develop the regulations for the tattoo artist.
Now some other important things to consider on becoming a tattoo artist are
Talent – You will need to have a talent at drawing. If you do not have this talent you need to develop it by going to a drawing school. If you do have the talent, you will need to continue to practice your art, all the time. Nothing can ruin your career quicker than by being a sloppy drawer. Remember, your drawing is going on someones body and cannot be removed easily. Teacher – You will need to apprentice with a master tattoo artist so you can learn. True there are tattoo artist schools, but be wary of these schools. Especially if there are more than two students per instructor and instruction lasts less than 10 months.There are books you can read but, nothing beats getting one on one instruction from a certified master. Going this way you will more than likely have to sign a contract and pay for the opportunity to learn from a master. Health Training – Being in this field will require you to get health training in blood borne pathogens, cross contamination controls, CPR/first aide, dermatology and other issues dealing with health concerns Good Personality – You will need to be able to communicate effectively with many different personalities. From the big ruff and tumble biker to the sweet little old lady.
Most visual artists dream of having an agent that will market their work, gain collectors for them, and help them by doing all that tedious, non-artsy stuff like marketing and selling.
But the reality is that it’s extremely difficult to find a good agent, and one that you can work well with.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
The agent-artist relationship works differently in every situation. Typically, the agent will agree to represent an artist in exchange for payment, either on a percentage basis or a monthly retainer.
A % payment ranges from 30% to 50%. In this case, the agent would be paid when artworks are sold and paid for.
A monthly retainer or stipend arrangement is where the agent would be paid a specific dollar amount each month. Some agents charge $1,500 per month, others charge $2,500 per month. The downside to this arrangement is that they get paid regardless of what sells.
WHAT GOES WRONG:
The reason it’s difficult to find a good agent and then make it work is that if you paying someone on a % basis, the agent ends up putting in many unpaid hours. Over time, the agent will lose steam and you will lose faith.
Most artists cannot afford to pay an agent a monthly retainer, and so that arrangement is very rare.
THE BEST AGENTS:
The best agents are well connected, and because of that, they put in less time to connect you with buyers and deals. But, to get one of the best agents to work with you, you’ll have to be a proven seller, or the next best emerging artist in their eyes.
ALTERNATIVE TO AGENTS:
Consultants: You can hire consultants on a need basis. I’ve often hired consultants to help me to solve a problem that I have little experience with. They charge by the hour, and they are a great resource.
Represent Yourself: Representing yourself is the most common way to go. It’s preferable, in my opinion. You’ll have more control over what happens to your art, your brand and your connections. You’ll also get to keep all of your proceeds. The down side is, you’ll have to work harder. But many artists do very well representing themselves.
To do the best job of representing yourself, take time to get education on marketing, sales, promotions. Read books for artists – there are many good ones out there. Take classes, online and live. Use the expertise of consultants.
And remember, you aren’t in a race. Take your time and you’ll get to where you want to go.
It seems that more and more people are getting tattoos or talking about getting one. This is great for the industry and even better for those who would like to get a foot in the door in the tattoo industry. But don’t think for a moment that becoming a professional tattoo artist is easy. There really isn’t any such thing as easy money by becoming a tattoo artist.
To begin with, you will need talent. You will never make it in the tattoo industry by tracing or stenciling, you will need to be able to draw great designs. To even get considered as a tattoo artist, a portfolio is needed. This will require you to draw until your hands ache and then a little more. Your portfolio is your proof that you have the skills that are needed to succeed in the industry. Without a portfolio, don’t even bother.
Once you have a portfolio to showcase your talents, you will need a mentor, someone who is willing to teach you the trade and share their secrets with you. Now this is the tricky thing, tattoo artists don’t like giving away their secrets. If you do find someone good, a real professional who is willing to tell you anything at all about the industry, listen up!
In some states you will be required by law to get an apprenticeship and train for a number of years to become a tattoo artist. Unlike a traditional apprenticeship, you will be required to pay the tattoo artist that you are working under a fee and you wont get paid for your work while you are being trained. There is no real time limit on how long you will train. The mentor you choose will tell you when he thinks you are ready to branch off and become a professional.
To train as a tattoo artist, you will need proper, high-quality equipment such as a tattoo machine, power supplies, shading equipment, needles, medical equipment and sanitation supplies. You will also need to know about cleanliness and what can and can’t be reused, as well as how to clean your equipment. The popular professional tattoo artists are successful for a number of reasons, but mainly because they are clean and very talented.
You can succeed in the tattoo industry, but you will need to be talented, self-driven and dedicated. If you want to make millions in the first month as a tattoo artist, you are wasting your time. Become a tattoo artist because you love the art and love to create breath-taking pieces of body art. Be prepared to work for free and, most of all, if you get someone to stop and share a secret or two with you, take their advice. You will definitely need it.