o you what to learn to tattoo? Well done. Great career, and we certainly wont discourage anyone from following a dream. So let me tell you how it works: The basis for the following is a full rock n roll shop apprenticeship, where you will learn the technical and artistic side s of tattooing, as well as the business mechanics of running a tattoo shop. apart form this, all of the artists working here to offer lessons privately, if you just want to learn enough to help in you career, or to move on elsewhere.

1) Qualification - Before we even consider anyone we look for the following qualifications:
A) Art degree or equivalent. Equivalent generally being having worked in a creative environment and a basic understanding of contrast, composition and color theory, as well as the ability to accurately render what you see in front of you. If you don't have this, we wont turn you away, but we will have you either work with one of our artists, or point you in a similar direction until you do.
B) Time. An average apprenticeship takes 40-60 hours a week with menial pay at best. also give up on any hopes of a normal social life. we will need you there on weekends and evenings. if you cant restructure your life to meet these demands, you might want to consider another profession.
C) Reliability. If we commit to you, we expect the same in return. so if you don't have everything together in your life, or have other commitments that prevent you from really being available for all of this, definitely wait, or go in a different direction for your art.
D) Work well with others. A shop is a small society in and amongst itself. if you don't play well with others, this is not for you.

2) Candidacy - Usually before we tale on any apprentice we will have them hang out and help with minor things around the shop for a couple of months before offering or asking for a full commitment, we do this for several reasons,. First, of all chemistry. as you will be in working in close proximity to everyone in the shop, there has to be a mutual respect. if this is not there, it will not work.

Second, it gives people a chance to really see behind the scenes and what they are getting into before they commit. We keep a fun relaxed environment, than most people see for an hour at a time. but when someone understands the 60-80 hour work weeks, the constant deadlines, scheduling around clients schedules, constant design changes, they quickly realize that it is not the easy job with great pay that it looks like. and if the talent is there, it is alot easier to make your money elsewhere.

Third, and finally, what is your motivation? If it is financial, I promise you, Painting for a few opening a year and then a few commissions is much easier money. If you really get into people and want to create for them, then this might be for you.

3) Actual Apprenticeship - For the first year of your actual apprenticeship you will learn and practice the following:
• The proper mechanics, set up, break down, and maintenance of you equipment
• Basic fundamentals of tools of construction of basic tattooing styles, i.e. American traditional, borneo and polynesian tribal, japanese traditional, southwest traditional black and grey.
• Basic anatomy and how it applies to tattooing, as well as gender specific physiology
• Different techniques as they apply to different skin types, and or pigments.
• Retail sales and bookkeeping, scheduling and and maintenance.
• Sterilization avoiding contamination and cross contamination.
• Sales and customer service.
• The successful application of small tattoos.

As you are doing this, and as you grasp these concepts your work load will increase and you will be doing more things around the shop. So the better you get, the harder your job will get.

4) In the second year you will actually be on the floor tattooing, at the discretion of the senior artist on duty. you will be salaried, based on your actual production. we will never let anyone bite off more than they can chew, and we won' throw you in with the sharks and let you starve either. But by that same standard we wont let anyone loose on the floor to start "cutthroating" artists who helped then get their in the first place.

In this second year, you will learn:
• Scheduling clients and prioritizing artwork
• Grand composition
• Freehand application
• Stylistic fusion
• Marketing and shameless self promotion
• collaborative design

5) In the third and final year, you will be hired on as a Junior artist, for a probationary period.
In this time you will be expected to have developed you own client base, and to serve them without supervision. in this year we encourage doing several guest spots elsewhere domestically and abroad to maintain the learning curve and develop mutually beneficial relationships within the industry. you will also be expected to start paying for your apprenticeship.

For a shop apprentice we will take no money up front, as this prevents us from dropping someone from the program if they are not up to par.

6) If you make it passed the third year, you will be offered a job as a full fledged artist with Rock n Roll.

7) If all this seems a little much to you, and you just wish to learn, or develop a few things with your technique/art, every artist at rock n oll will teach privately. they do however, expect money upfront.