Apprenticeship...MAN..OH..MAN

I work two jobs, one part time at a motorcycle gear and leather shop and the other is IT for a college during the week. While working at the part time gig I do a lot of gel pen tattoos for the bikers that work there. They all ask me to draw different designs that they have been thinking about getting a tattoo of, before they have it permanently done. Well last weekend I had a customer come up to me and say that I do really good work with the gel pen temp tattoos and asked me if I wanted to come work for him in his TATTOO SHOP!!! I about flipped, I always wanted to get into tattooing, but I always knew that an apprenticeship was very hard to find and you had to invest a ton of time (full time). Two things that are problems, is that his shop is 2 hours away from my house and, I have a wife, two year old daughter, mortgage, and bills (hence the two jobs) so I'm not sure if I could dedicate enough time to it. I would love to tattoo part time on the weekends and drop the motorcycle gear and leather gig, but I could not quit my main job which offers the security and benefits needed to support my family. I know I will probably get flamed for this, but for the distance and time issue I will have to really think about this. If I was single with no responsibilities...I WOULD BE ALL OVER THIS!!!! I really would love to start tattooing, I always have but have not and will not go out to ebay and buy some stupid ass kit and try and teach myself. If I do this it will be the right way through an apprenticeship/mentor. Maybe if circumstances were different I would take it, but it just does not fit right now. I will continue to work on my drawing and maybe try my hand in some Flash (does anyone have info on any type of guidelines needed to produce shop quality flash?). Please don't flame me for turning down an apprenticeship, my family always comes first, and right now I would need a shop closer to where I live and maybe one day it will happen (hopefully soon because I'm 32 years old!!!). Anyway, I've been reading this message board for over a year now and this forum stopped me from buying my own "Tattoo Kit" and teaching myself, I really do respect the profession and maybe one day I can get in to the biz full time...THE RIGHT WAY!!! Please don't go out and buy a kit and F@#$k up someone's health, GET AN APPRENTICESHIP AND HAVE PATIENCE.

Mark...seems to me you have a good head on yer shoulders. I am not gonna flame ya for being reluctant about takin the leap to the tattoo shop offer....if you have doubts DON"T DO IT....but remeber this...an offer like that comes but once a lifetime and some people never get the chance....its all on you bro...sometimes ya have to sacrifice for what ya want...dreams will forever stay dreams and never come to fruition if ya don't take that leap of faith! Do whats right for you and never look back....it all depends on how bad you want to be a tattoo artist...

Thank you Taz, I'm struggling with myself with making this decision, I really want this bad, but I would put my family into some financial struggle if I did. I think when I'm out of debt I will call him up and see if he could still use me, he gave me his card and said I'm welcome anytime. Taz, do you have any guidelines that a shop would look for when buying flash from someone. All of my tattoo's are pretty much custom work and I really never looked at much flash in the shops, I'm going to work on my drawings a lot more until I can do an apprenticeship. Any input?

dont start something you cant finish, and its not that wierd to be approached, indeed, many of the best tattoo artists are "brought into" the business from another art. Cause professional artists with kick ass portfolios who get amazing tattoos have have what it takes usually get offers. I was at an amusement park recently and wanted to check out the portrait air brushers... Next time I go I might see whos tearing it up and tell em to stop on by the studio... People who do art for hire in the real world get loads of great on the job art training... Graphic design, air brushing, rock posters, that kinda thing...

Thanks Gabe, Thats good to know, I think I'll keep practicing on my drawing skills and doing the temp tattoos. Hell, maybe one day everything will work out and I won't be too old to start tattooing (I'm 32 now) :)