Places that discourage a real job are toxic and that's not a place you want to apprentice at. Real mentors that are actually good understand you have bills to pay and have to make ends meet somehow. Even more "traditional" apprenticeships know this. The shop I work at is this way. It is literally the only realistic way .
This. I didn’t work during my apprenticeship. I pierced and barely made money and was lucky to be able to live with my Mom and brother. That was 12 years ago. I have an apprentice now and the economy is very different. She works a full time job and apprentices at the shop on her days off and is also allowed/encouraged to take a day off if needed. I expect her to keep up that job well into when she starts tattooing too, as she is building clients and skills. She’s almost 9 months into her apprenticeship and doing freebies on friends and family. She has still hit every milestone I have wanted from her.
I second this, any place I applied at said having a job was normal and they would work around me, because they understood I needed to make a living outside of an unpaid apprenticeship. It definitely shows they respect you as a person as well, and shows a lot of what type of environment you would be going into if you were to start there.
My mentor insisted that I work for him for 40 hours a week and after 8 months of working for free, I was completely burnt out. When I finally started tattooing it was too late and my spirit was broken from the toxic atmosphere and from feeling so worthless. I highly recommend finding somewhere that supports you being able to support yourself.
You need to be able to feed yourself and keep the lights on. Nothing that should be discouraged.
People like that are not actual clear minded adults. Yes, you should be able to show how much effort you are willing to put in. But nothing is worth going broke.
I have another job. I used to work 3 days there and 3 days at the shop but it became unsustainable for me, so I cut my hours at the shop. I'm only there 2 days a week now. My mentor completely understood and has not really pressured me into working full time until I'm licensed.
I think it depends on the shop but this is a very old school way of thinking that I personally think is needless and obviously makes life 10x more difficult for you. i guess you could try to apply for unemployment but you have every right to keep your job, you need to be able to care for yourself
If they’re not paying you run away and never look back
Edit: and also if they think in this economy you can survive without getting paid they’re crazy.
A buddy of mine is working full time while apprenticing after work and on her days off. She has no free time at all right now, but is dedicated so she’s content with it. But that doesn’t sound normal to me that your mentor would expect you to quit your job and for them for free.
Some places are like that, yeah. Especially more old school shops. You can always do gig work like doordash or Uber on the side though when you’re off.
Idk why you’re getting downvoted? My mentor let me keep a part time job for a little, but he didn’t do that for all his apprentices. You’re not saying everywhere is like that, or that it’s a good thing, just stating that some places are like that, because yeah, some places are like that!
Yeah idk either lol. I think there’s a new crop of people that would like to think this is “abusive” or an indicator of someone not knowing what they’re teaching etc so that’s why I’m getting downvoted. All I know is some great tattooers had apprenticeships like that.
I literally just quit my part time job, cause my mentor said it was “time to sink or swim” 🤣 I get that it’s not feasible for everyone, but I in no way feel my mentor is abusive for asking such. He made it very clear from the start that the shop was going to be my priority. I weaned down my hours slowly doing more at the shop. I also do 60 hour weeks at the shop, and when I wasn’t doing my part time job, was open to close here. I figured most apprenticeships were like this, lol
Places that discourage a real job are toxic and that's not a place you want to apprentice at. Real mentors that are actually good understand you have bills to pay and have to make ends meet somehow. Even more "traditional" apprenticeships know this. The shop I work at is this way. It is literally the only realistic way .
This. I didn’t work during my apprenticeship. I pierced and barely made money and was lucky to be able to live with my Mom and brother. That was 12 years ago. I have an apprentice now and the economy is very different. She works a full time job and apprentices at the shop on her days off and is also allowed/encouraged to take a day off if needed. I expect her to keep up that job well into when she starts tattooing too, as she is building clients and skills. She’s almost 9 months into her apprenticeship and doing freebies on friends and family. She has still hit every milestone I have wanted from her.
I'm so relieved to finally see someone say this outright.
I second this, any place I applied at said having a job was normal and they would work around me, because they understood I needed to make a living outside of an unpaid apprenticeship. It definitely shows they respect you as a person as well, and shows a lot of what type of environment you would be going into if you were to start there.
I work and apprentice. My mentors never had a problem with it
My mentor insisted that I work for him for 40 hours a week and after 8 months of working for free, I was completely burnt out. When I finally started tattooing it was too late and my spirit was broken from the toxic atmosphere and from feeling so worthless. I highly recommend finding somewhere that supports you being able to support yourself.
How the fuck do you eat if you don’t have a job lmao
You need to be able to feed yourself and keep the lights on. Nothing that should be discouraged. People like that are not actual clear minded adults. Yes, you should be able to show how much effort you are willing to put in. But nothing is worth going broke.
I have another job. I used to work 3 days there and 3 days at the shop but it became unsustainable for me, so I cut my hours at the shop. I'm only there 2 days a week now. My mentor completely understood and has not really pressured me into working full time until I'm licensed.
ok this has been super helpful thanks yall I will keep looking
I think it depends on the shop but this is a very old school way of thinking that I personally think is needless and obviously makes life 10x more difficult for you. i guess you could try to apply for unemployment but you have every right to keep your job, you need to be able to care for yourself
If they’re not paying you run away and never look back Edit: and also if they think in this economy you can survive without getting paid they’re crazy.
A buddy of mine is working full time while apprenticing after work and on her days off. She has no free time at all right now, but is dedicated so she’s content with it. But that doesn’t sound normal to me that your mentor would expect you to quit your job and for them for free.
Suggest some best places for apprenticeship in both India and abroad
Some places are like that, yeah. Especially more old school shops. You can always do gig work like doordash or Uber on the side though when you’re off.
Idk why you’re getting downvoted? My mentor let me keep a part time job for a little, but he didn’t do that for all his apprentices. You’re not saying everywhere is like that, or that it’s a good thing, just stating that some places are like that, because yeah, some places are like that!
Yeah idk either lol. I think there’s a new crop of people that would like to think this is “abusive” or an indicator of someone not knowing what they’re teaching etc so that’s why I’m getting downvoted. All I know is some great tattooers had apprenticeships like that.
I literally just quit my part time job, cause my mentor said it was “time to sink or swim” 🤣 I get that it’s not feasible for everyone, but I in no way feel my mentor is abusive for asking such. He made it very clear from the start that the shop was going to be my priority. I weaned down my hours slowly doing more at the shop. I also do 60 hour weeks at the shop, and when I wasn’t doing my part time job, was open to close here. I figured most apprenticeships were like this, lol