Tattoo Art Forums » Scratchers

**REHAB Reply** Posted: 6/3/2008 12:40:10 PM

fvSFD

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 7/10/2008 8:07:29 PM

I think your way of thinking is ass backwards. And what gives you the knowledge of this industry, other than building a website, to know what information should be given to people who give away free staph infections in the kitchen? But what the hell do you care, your making the money now right?

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 7/15/2008 6:07:13 AM

Hmmm another way over protective post. Some people are unable to get an app'p, why should they be unable to follow a love of tattooing because of this. You are tarring everyone who can't get an app'p with the same brush, I could be more knowledgable than you with regards to infection provention etc, you just don't know nor take the time to find out. Hence my feeling when a reply like this is given is that your reasons for not education people is a million miles away from said reasons. Sorry if my instincts are incorrect, but at the end of the day, keeping an area clean and free from infection, avoiding cross contamination etc is not that difficult once you know, albeit THE most important issue, once you have a routine and the knowledge down, it isn't rocket science, is it!!

**(Deleted Post)** Posted: 7/15/2008 12:33:48 PM

(This Post was deleted by Gone From Here on 11/1/2010 6:14 AM.)

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 7/15/2008 2:22:29 PM

I agree completely with you for the most part, I don't like the idea that we are all tarred with the same brush though. For some of us we have no option but to work full time in another job, not even a question of getting an appt'p as we have our bills to pay. Does the fact that we would like to tattoo (personally I tattoo myself for now and have no intention of tattooing anyone else in the near future) in the way we want to automatically make us irresponsible within our cleanliness? our love of what we do? and the fact that we respect the artform? For some yes maybe, but to judge without question is something that the tattooed community has been trying to escape for many years, I still get turned away from nightclubs, still get looked at in the silent disrespected manner while doing my shopping on a saturday, I still get, 'Oh look what that silly man has done to his body', everywhere around me. I really could do without being judged by the people who have the same stigma attached to them that I do.
My personal thoughts are, I have done my app'p in tattooing in the chair for 20 years, for sure the urge to need to understand what it is about, how it feels to ink skin, I'm sure that is normal. My main point is, I've always left the bottoms of my legs for myself, I am clean, I have a separate room for tattooing, fully tiled, easy cleaning surface, the only thing I don't have is an Autoclav, but I'm only tattooing myself, I do with alternative steralisinf and use disposable tubes, tips, and needles, my machine gets a good wiping down with the best stuff I could find. Does the job. Now what harm an I doing? And please do not pigeon hole me.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 7/18/2008 3:24:09 PM

The last paragraph says it all.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 8/21/2008 2:33:43 AM

I want to get into the tattoo business. I have all my equipment, but the autoclav. I've tattooed myself and I guarantee I use disposable needles, tips and tubes. I've being involved with drawings since I was 8 years old. I'm almost 40. I think I have enough skills to start tattooing. Here's the problem that appears to be very common. I have a full time job. I need to keep up with it. There's no other way to survive, but working hard. What is so bad in tattooing friends, once is done in a disinfected environment? Why is so hard to get into appt'p? My guessing is the shops are interested in making money. It's all about money. They don't want to spend time teaching their "secrets". They don't think about how good somebody could be. They ask for a portfolio, before you walk into their shops. So, who was born first? The chicken or the egg?

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 1/23/2009 10:52:05 PM

ahhh this will never end, i know and learned a while ago, this gets you nowhere.
so here,i put some clues down to help those who love this art form, and are serious.

first-never,ever,ever, tell anyone that you are tatt2ing at home, its illegal, do you go around telling people on the net/local home area) that you are the local drug dealer do you?its illegal,again.
2-go get inked,meet, and make friends with your local artist/shop you like,really try to make a friend, if you love this, you already have something in common,hangout outside of work,like really make a friend, don't use someone.
3-practice,practice,practice drawing,show your work, take in critizism,learn and show again,keep pushing foward, and trying.all this has worked for me. i have a couple of professional friends,yeah im not in a shop yet but they push me, and they know im hungry.
just like everyone here, i won't spit any secrets ive learned cause its not easy,i work everyday hard for what i know.
i work full time, i have a wife, and i still bust my butt and make things happen.if you want it bad enough you wouldn't be here searching it for free.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 3/22/2009 10:11:30 AM

I don't understand all the negativity here. I've have been trying to get into a shop now for at least 8 years. No one is offereing apprenticeships and trade secrets are impossible to learn for newbies. Recently I became friends with an older tattooist who used to run a shop and now tattoos from his home studio. After mentoring me for about a year and a half we went our seperate ways. Now, I tattoo out of my home studio, and have been for almost 2 years, because I still can't land an apprenticeship. I have ALL the equipment that would be found in a regular studio. I've done over 20 tats on friends not to mention that I've covered almost every reachable part of myself. I have the skill but unfortunately the shops are only into making money, they're not in it for the art it seems. So, I ask you, in my position, what is wrong with me applying my art from home? I'm sure that people engage in other art mediums from home, ie. painting, sculpting, etc. and none of you would have the slightest problem with it. Peace.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 5/21/2009 11:52:06 AM

In most states it is illegal to perform the art of tattooing as a business in your home.I have researched this. If you aren't making any money,then you aren't a business.Personally I do all mine for free.I might ask them to buy the supplies if I don't have them at hand but guess what? I make no profit and therefore I am not a BUSINESS, plus I get to yank a few dollars out of the local shops, seeing as they won't give out apprenticeships either.I think it is funny because there are no telling how many artists started out as scratchers, then when they get a shop they act all self righteous and claim they apprenticed into the art and bitch about other scratchers because they are stealing money out of their pockets.
Do I think it is fair? Hell no
Do I take the art seriously? Hell Yes
Do I take cleanliness seriously? Hell Yes
Do I give a fuck? Hell no
Do I think it's funny? Hell Yes
Life isn't fair, get a helmet.
Truth is JONO the ones that will care the MOST about what you are doing are the people you work on and the people you are stealing business from.I do it for free because I am proving to myself and anyone else that I am not like the rest and in it just for the money.Plus since I am not making money, I am not doing anything illegal.Problem->solution I get to do what I love and learn about it and a few people get some free art.Sure it costs me time and some of my own money, but dues are going to be paid somewhere, if it's not apprenticing at a shop then it will be something else,at least thats what i figure.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 6/4/2009 2:39:35 AM

if you can draw well you can find an apprenticeship. if you cant draw well, go pick up some job applications cuz there is no place in our industry for you.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 6/30/2009 3:22:32 PM

hahaha

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 12/9/2009 12:13:32 PM

ok so....so called "PRO" in the shop Tattooer's....wtf happens when you shop closes....and your mentor goes down in flames with it, and dosen't have a # you can hold of him or her....so no proof other then your portfolio that you were in a shop........and then you run into these so called "Pros" that say no you can't work here blah blaH BLAH.....BUT YOU YOURSELF a Professional is forced to do your art from a home studio......you guys that call your self "pro's" just cause your in a shop...........bagging on some of these guys that in all honesty are more proessional then yourselves Because they have "Professinalism" some thing alot of you forget or were never taught that in your so called..."apprenticships" which BTW speaking from Experiance if yours decides he's done with tattooing and you are not well established YOUR SCREWED and if you continue your a Scratcher.....so blow it out your.........comes down to it we are in a new era almost a rennisance....we need a school that teaches the right way and is like any other Profession out there...and a Bachlor in fine arts should be a must to get into this school.....uh oh did I just make a preReq yup cause If you can't draw or know the fundementals and how to talk about art....you will not last long in tattooing....Example My "MENTOR"

**(Deleted Post)** Posted: 12/10/2009 1:40:39 PM

(This Post was deleted by The House Of Ink on 12/10/2009 1:54 PM.)

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 12/21/2009 5:12:30 AM

NO to tattoo school
stop watching tv reality shows about tattooing. At least once a week someone tells me they are getting a tattoo kit from eBay. Once a client (woman) told me she had seen Miami Ink and so got herself a tattoo kit from eBay(wanna be the next kat von D coz she loook like just drawing and the rest is party time ). As a result of all these amateur tattooists who see reality shows, the tattoo industry is over-saturated ,get apprenticeships or to become tattoo artists.
a school will kill what ever tattooing have left.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 1/8/2010 11:56:03 AM

I find this post interesting. I'm currently finishing up my first year as an apprentice and I can see now that I am EXTREMELY lucky. I met my mentor in a liquor store...his friend gave me a card and said I should stop by the shop. When I called I told him a bit about my background, such as art school, web design, etc and asked if he would consider teaching me. He said he had just told his wife he might need a new shop girl and if I was willing to clean up the shop, sterilize all the instruments and look after the waiting room, he would teach me.

No one has mentioned this as a way in. If you want an apprenticeship look in the want ads or go to the shops that are looking for help and volunteer yourself. They're about to pay somebody to clean, wash floors, whatever; say you'll do it for free if you can hang around and learn. Even if you have a full time job this can work. I had a full time job and I was pregnant. I worked at the shop every evening from 5 till midnight.

Draw while your there! When I wasn't cleaning I was in my book drawing original flash for the shop. Draw good quality stuff that they can sell at conventions or online. If an artist has a project ask if you can sketch up something, if they're busy eventually they'll take you up on your offer. I then made it my business to draw up as many requests as I could. I them moved into stenciling them. Work on a full portfolio of your own hand done designs.

Get a foot in the door and make yourself irreplaceable. Most assistants and desk people don't do a good job and they're getting paid, you should go in and do a good job for free. Be consistant and reliable, give yourself a schedule and show up. Eventually they'll be looking for you. Have a little folder or shoe box where artists can leave you notes or little assignments, check it often and complete things right away. Become a pest, a good excuse to go in the booth and watch is cleaning up. Pop your head in once an hour looking to empty the trash can, replenish paper towels, lend a hand in wrapping, sweep up, make soda and snack runs.

Stop asking for apprenticeships, stop asking someone to do something for you. Try asking them if you can do something for them for free. This is what Gaby means by make a friend. Become a part of the shop and in a few months remind someone that you are still trying to learn. You'll have an instant apprenticeship.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 3/17/2010 8:53:51 AM

There is a lot of truth to what some people say about artist working in a shop. My mentor started tattooing his friends useing the needle thread method, and going around to other shops and asking how they started most of them started tattooing friends and relatives before they learned how to do it the right way.

but during the time of the shop wars most people kept that to them selfs. but now its different.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 3/21/2010 11:43:34 AM

to scratch or not to scratch i'v bin tattooing for years now i'v met inkers from all over wether it be in a shop on the block. I my self and proud to say i am a "scratcher"for about fifteen years.from my point i think the only diff from a "pro" and a "scratcher" is a pro heads in to a shop for a day while a scratcher makes due.whare ever he is as long as you do things right and when i mean right i mean cleen and san. i also agree if you go to a shop to learn and apprentis all the better bottom line is if your going to submet somone or somebody to a life time of ink do it right take your time and for godsake practus first be for you do any thing .....thank you....

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 3/23/2010 12:45:50 PM

It's really ,really simple.
Its up to the person getting the tat to do their homework on the artist. PERIOD

Ive seen filthy "pro" shops and clean ones
I've seen filthy "scratcher" shops and clean ones

It all boils down to who the artist is... is he sanitary or not ? does he come well recommended or not ? etc.

On the subject of scratcher/pro... its just funny to me. What's the BIG SECRET you learn in a tat shop ? I would say all you will learn in a tat shop is the traits of your mentor...that could be good, bad, or just "ok".
Any moron can learn to be sanitary with a little homework.
BUT , why ? WHY ? would you want to keep that info hard to find ( as if ).... anyone SHOULD know how to keep everything clean... but lets just say someone doesnt... why not share the info ?
Ill tell you why.... there is NO info to be shared...lol Just comman sense.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 10/29/2010 3:27:54 AM

i totally agree! why not share the info? its not like someone cant just simply take courses through the colleges or hospitals to get certified and learn the sterilization process! its really just commom sense, no secret...

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 12/28/2010 1:56:43 PM

jesus, stop crying that you dont have time. i am active duty united states navy, i have been for ten years. i work from five in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, and funny i found time to do an apprenticeship. yes, i am married, yes i have a daughter. i now tattoo seven days a week ON TOP OF MY ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE. if you want it so bad and respect it so much have the integrity to go about it the right way, get off your ass and go earn it. stop expecting everyone to just tell you over the internet. remember, we earned our way and we DONT OWE YOU ANYTHING!

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 12/28/2010 1:58:22 PM

and as far as the teaching sterilization goes i will GLADLY TEACH ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT STERILIZATION. i am not red cross, but i can guide you to courses and links, etc. I WILL NOT DISCUSS ANY OF THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF TATTOOING SUCH AS MACHINES, NEEDLES ETC. but if you want to know about clean we can chat at any time

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 1/18/2011 12:54:22 PM

The real reason pros won't help educate is they do not want the competition. Bottom line is if ten shops opened up next to me my art will speak for itself, and if I'm getting my ass handed to me then I better step up. I don't ever want to stop improving my art and new blood next door will only keep me on my toes. Should people be tattooing in their kitchen? HELL NO!!! So lets educate them and explain why they need to step up. More scratchers simply means more bad work that I get to fix lol! Scratchers will never get the exposure and quantity of work because they can't advertise, why, because scratching is illegal! Illegeal or not it will never be stopped so I'd rather fix a bad tat on a healthy person than a corpse. And again, if there is a scratcher in town doing better work than me then I better do something about my artistic ability or stop tattooing.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 1/18/2011 5:20:15 PM

Hate to say it, but after years working in a "legit shop" and seeing how I get treated now that i am not affiliated with a shop, I will stick with working at home. Some companies will not sell to me even with my credentials but will sell to a "legit shop" owner with zero experience, just the health dept. license. If licenses were perhaps only given to those that demonstrate proper sterilization standards AND had to demonstrate technical proficiency that would be different(and a lot of legit shop owners would be nervous). Instead, what we have is this heirarchy of "legit shop" and "scratcher" when in reality, some scratchers are better than some people in shops. Usally the legit shop owners that suck cry the loudest; the elite artists don't really care.

LOL at the comment about "if you are a good artist you will find and apprenticeship" line. This industry is super-saturated. If you are not in the right place at the right time, you could have the artistic ability of Filip Leu and still not score an apprenticeship.

**Re: REHAB Reply** Posted: 3/8/2012 12:36:30 PM

Well I guess I'm considered a scratcher but I dont tattoo other people on the streets I tattoo myself and my wife cause I know its illegal and dont want to go to jail for it but I agree with some of the posts, I gurentee U can find some of the best arrtist working in their homes and would be considered "scratchers". If I had $10,000 to just dish out on a apprenticeship I would but then there reality I have to support to babys and a wife so I cant and dont have $10,000 to have someone apprentice me, and it drives me Fucking nuts when Someone like me asked a question in here and it pretty much gets shot down cause I'm a "scratcher" and not a profesional but the profesional should give people like me advise so I dont end up going out and fucking someone up or spreading diseases, not that I would it common sence U dont reuse ink, You dont reuse needles and You clean and disifect your station after every tattoo, it doesnt take brain surgery to know that or being a profesional tattoo artist.

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