I believe that Artist and Piercers need to have so many hours of education as well as an apprenticeship before being allowed to tattoo. I think that a 1500 hour educational program would do wonders with weeding all the bad shops out as well as push fines on scratchers that work out of non certified shops. I believe it would help the industry remain stable through the years as well as get rid of fly by nights that are just there for their pocket book.
Well how could something like this work? Well all artist now that are listed on a shops sheet with the State of Illinois would be grandfathered in and regarded as licensed under that shop. Real Estate salespersons have there licensed sponsored by a broker in order to work. I think something similar could work in the Tattoo industry. An artist would have to be licensed but sponsored by a shop only after receiving the appropriate number of hours with a state certified school. Alot of people will pay up to $8000 for an apprenticeship and learn very little and not receive any certification what so ever. If the State of Illinois requires certification then paying that kind of money will mean something and other shops will then recognize that certification as legit.
I truly believe this is where the industry needs to go. Aberration Pro Custom Tattoo has already started a Tattoo School which requires at least a one year schedule. If a law was passed to train artist not only in the arts and safety but also require additional skills that a person can use if they dont make it in the tattoo world it would just be great for everyone involved.
For more info on attending Aberration Pro Custom Tattoos School visit http://www.aberrationink.com or to view information about tattoo laws visit http://tattoos.lovetoknow.com/State_Tattooing_Laws which gives a number of great articles on the regulation of the profession.
I can appreciate this because I am learning a lot during class. It's not just pick up a needle and go, it's consentration, learing. I know I'll be putting in a lot of hours and it's going to be worth it because its going to make me a better artist.
ReplyDeleteas in any job, the people who start out need to be taught the basics they do this by way of training,whether the training be a day or years. when you are styling someones hair a simple mistake can be grown over with new hair but a tattoo is forever yours, tattooing should have required certification years ago. and not just a days worth either
ReplyDeleteYou get what you pay for. I could spend as little as $100 and get a 'complete' kit and be tattooing tomorrow. I would also bet that I'd have a line of pissed-off clients whose tattoos are less-than-perfect...even less-than-OK quality. In this age of referral/social networking-based marketing, you can't afford to lose ANY client.
ReplyDeleteAn upset customer will tell between 15 and 25 people how "so-and-so screwed up my tatt!". One post on my facebook page can be read by over 400 people (my 'friends').
On the flip side, a customer who has had a wonderful and professional experience will only tell 10 of his friends. These are facts, not made up data.
You owe it to your profession and your clientele to be a master of your craft, and a pre-packaged "kit" just won't cut it here. What's the difference between the $1 Made-in-China wrench at Wal-Mart and the $10 Snap-On wrench? YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Cheap machines make cheap tattoos.
It's great to know that Aberration Pro Custom is setting the bar high, and is leading by example to the rest of the industry.
I think certification would be a great idea. I think it would bring down the stigma surrounding tattoos even further. If people saw a good tattoo they could admire and respect it as a work of art. On the other hand if someone saw a poor quality tattoo they could then assume that it was done illegally and think of that person as shady, or however society thinks of all tattooed people now. There would be a more noticable difference. I know it is really judgemental but that is how most of society is. If that makes any sense:)
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