The American tattoo industry has come a long way since Martin Hildebrandt opened the first professional tattoo studio in the United States in Boston, way back in 1846. Tattoos have gone mainstream — from old school tattoo ideas to contemporary styles, tattoos are here to stay.
There are thousands of tattoo studios across the country, and one in five American adults has a tattoo. This means that there has never been a better time in America to become a tattoo apprentice.
Old school tattoo ideas are in fashion again and there are a seemingly unlimited number of possibilities for the modern tattoo artist. There are many styles and techniques to learn and many tattoo apprentice programs to choose from, but given that so many of these programs are small, unfunded apprenticeships where the skills learned may be substandard and the prospects for employment afterwards may be very limited, the prospective tattoo artist should consider a program that has a record of demonstrated success.
In other words, it pays to attend a tattoo training school, rather than simply to apprentice oneself to an established artist. Being a successful tattoo artist is about more than learning how to draw anchors and koi fish and pin-up girls — even though these are some of the most popular old school tattoo ideas. It means learning how to manage a shop, understanding sanitation techniques, and even how to market your business.
The tradition of tattooing is an established, but still evolving one in the United States today. If you are looking to get into the field of tattooing, why not get the best education you can by attending a tattoo school to learn from the very best in the business?