I’ve heard “if you specialize, you’ll starve” a lot from old school folks. And maybe being at a shop 10+ years ago, it was true. But now that we have shops popping up like McDonald’s… it’s not enough anymore. Building a clientele is more important than ever now, and specializing can make you cut through the noise. Plus it attracts the tattoos you ACTUALLY want to do, instead of the tattoos you HAVE to do.
I will start it now at 28 years old. I wanted to be a tattoo artist when I was 14 but my parents did not support the idea. Never even held a machine but your videos made me feel like I have a chance. 👏🏼 All my supplies will be shipped in two weeks, can’t wait to start. 🔥
@@KIPHC Thats nice, wish you the best! So basically I started to practice on fake skin, after a terrible first session I stareted to get a grip on it and being better day by day. Then I started to practice on myself first, so now I have a few fcked up tattoo and a few not too bad ones either 😂. After that a few of my friends got the courage to let me do some on them, they turned out pretty good, with some minor mistakes obviously. And now I have the chance to work in a studio whenever I have a brave participant to work on. I don’t really like to practice on fake skin anymore because for me, it has nothing to do with the real skin experience so far. Overall I love everything about tattooing, and I’ll keep going. 🙌🏽😃
As a self taught 2nd year tattooer, this video resonated with me so loudly. You spoke on everything I am trying to implement in my life right now to be even more professional and this was a great refresh and reminder about what it's all about. Thank you for being so transparent about not only your own path in the industry, but the realities many people like you and I face while just trying to perfect a craft we love. You got a new long time follower, here.
@@Szbazsu89 Did you watch the vid? He mentions it directly- every resource you could need to learn technique, is on youtube or the online class sites now. ☺
I’m really late on learning to tattoo at the age of 49 but finding your videos on how to do it & all the in’s & out of tattooing & how to do lines shading & the basics really helpful, I’m only doing it for myself & won’t be tattoo anyone I’m doing it for my knowledge & take my mind off my pain & I find it really good for a distraction from it, if I do decide to do it in a shop I will be asking one of my good friends who owns a shop to help me. Thank You for your videos really helpful & informative.
I’m 41 and just getting into it. Been a mixed media artist all my life, so I’ve always done art. A good friend of mine gifted me my first tattoo machine, he and everyone in my life believe in me and I do as well, however my big hang up is how exactly I’m going to apprentice working full time. I simply cannot afford to work for free for an extended period of time. My local shop owner is willing to teach me but I’ll only be able to learn on weekends, hopefully this will work out for me, we’ll see
3 take aways from this video for me. It's more than just tattoos. The connections. It's a soul bond when done right. Self care. This is some great advice for anyone!! Your art reflects you heart. And AFTERCARE!!! I come from a medical lab setting. Proper cleanliness and aftercare are huge!! Can't wait to put a machine to some fake skin and develope this skill. Your videos are an amazing journey for the amateur💯
Been following a while now and I just wanted to let you know that I, and I am sure many others, really appreciate you taking time out to put this video together for us. Thank you
My brother just passed from suicide we are same age an always did little stuff not to great growing up dreamed of pursuing this passion I just got my my machine today an plan follow threw it 100% for him I thank you for your videos it gonna be alot of work time but Im officially ready for this
This meant a lot to me. Thank you. I commented on another video on this topic. Therapy helped me soo much. It's crazy. I felt like I couldn't have friends...or a girlfriend because they wouldn't like me for me...only my job...they always wanted something....just not me....but therapy helps. Still learning at 40 lol!
Great video, thanks. I’m an ex graphic designer and I’ve been painting ans selling my work for a number of years now. I’m moving into tattooing and have been on several training courses now, I’m lucky in that I already have my studio from my painting work, so will set up from there. I have found that all of the information that I’ve seen from Tattooing 101 has been so helpful as it’s so easy to go down the wrong path when starting out. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences to help others avoid the pitfalls of tattooing. Darius Soon to be Monkey Daz Tattooing 🙂
absolutely love your videos and the book you guys have online. Thanks for being one of the few positive tattoo artists that actually help other people get into it
Perfect video to help guide a beginner, like me. This was incredibly important to hear so definitely appreciate the time you take in sharing your obstacles. I know they are already helping me on my journey ✌
Blowouts happen to everyone starting out, especially on areas with thinner skin. Don’t beat yourself up-use it as a learning experience to improve. Your mom probably still loves it because it’s from you!
I too am just learning the industry and your right about finding a place that has the knowledge and care to really show you how to properly work. Thanks for the love of art luv ya bro
Thank you for your generosity! I’ve learnt so much from your videos. They’re truly inspiring because you share so much of your life experience and wisdom, not just technical knowledge 😊
Brandon, thank you for all the work and tips you provided. It’s helped me a great deal on my journey as an artist. You’re absolutely right without guidance you can lose yourself in this industry. Much respect bro, keep on with what you do, it’ll help people grow as artists whether new or experienced artists improve which there’s always room for to become the best. Great content!
I also want to take the opportunity to thank you for all your videos, I think you have helped thousand of people optimizing their skills and get their foot into the industry. I am thankful for your work and I hope you're doing good
I really love your videos! I'm an independent nail tech and artist who loves tattoos and I so badly want to get into tattooing so I got a machine and the supplies. I also got your e-book and it's been amazing as well as your videos. Thank you for doing what you do!! I'm excited for this journey with your help :)
I'm a lawyer and i just started learning, thing For me is i think i'm too old For this (38) but i don't want to die thinking that i could have done it but didn't.....thanks For the advice bruv...
So many awful apprenticeships out there, 7 years to learn the basics is insane. Good advice. I still think that you should learn all styles and then niche in to one style because I feel you will really struggle to get clients at the start if you don't do every tattoo. Great video though! Love your style of filming.
I’m a drummer and just watch this for fun. Question for you tho. Can u copy a stencil to make it smaller without having to drawing 3 different variations?
When I was 16 I lived down the street from a Bike Club Run tattoo shop in 75'. I was very interested in Tattooing and did a lot of drawing of flash designs which I would sell to the shop for a free tattoo or a little bit of cash. After I sold them flash for about a year they asked me if I wanted to learn how to tattoo which I jumped right onto. I didn't learn the right way period. The Sterility of their work was abysmal we would smoke and drink while tattooing and the work was BAD. My entire apprentice experience was 1 day of learning how to set up coil machines and that was IT. No tips on actually Tattooing except for needle depth and I had to have my partner in the shop set my depth for me for my first few months. I learned nothing about the art at all and they allowed me to go at it my second day and I would hate to see what I put out back then only thing is most of my customers are probably gone by now . When I actually got better at tattooing they started charging me 100.00 a day for the chair and 35% of every Tattoo I did and I didn't get any good pieces, only tiny flash that I made no money doing. I quit and went into the Army and haven't tattooed anyone in over 30 years. I am just now going back to it at 62 years old. I've had people already because I let it slip that I was getting back into it again bug the crap out of me to tattoo them for free. I'm not ready by any means to do anything on People but I did do one on myself and one on a close friend who knew my limitations and my not wanting to do them on people yet. Just by sheer luck the tattoo came out looking really nice, It was an atomic blast and he has taken very good care of it. I am NOT going to do any more until I am very well versed with the new machines and learn technique and get good at it first. I am looking at taking your course on line and I believe that I will do it in the next month or so. I'm a disabled Vet. and have cancer that is terminal so I don't have a long time to learn and I'm doing them on Fake skin mostly to stave off the depression that comes with this diagnosis. My oncologist got VERY mad at me for Tattooing my leg, I have leukemia and it's not a good idea, so no more on myself. I really wish I had kept doing them while in the Army but it was against the rules back then and I couldn't get or do any on anyone because it had to be hidden well. So I am enjoying your videos a LOT they are teaching me stuff I never knew before. Thank you SO much for sharing your experience with everyone, I know it's made MY life a lot easier actually Learning the right way and I love just watching. Thanks Brother for helping me deal with my fate.
this is kind of off topic but the plant behind you looks like it needs some food that's why the leaf's are going yellow because its pulling nutrients from its leaf's for food
Question: I was never super artistic, but I always loved art. I recently spent 800$ on a tattoo artist I know’s whole setup. From a Sol Nova 4.0 unlimited to all the ink, cartridges, gloves, everything you need to do a lot of sanitary tattoos. Anyways, my question. If I practice line work, and learn shading, can I still be a good tattoo artist?
Hello I did ask my tattoo artist can I become a tattoo artist if i cant draw? And he answer me "can" because before this my tattoo artist also dont know how to draw. May i know your opinion? Thanks bro
Thank you so much for this video!!! 🫶 that’s exactly what I felt while I’m starting out and that tells me, that my intuition lead me exactly the right way
![If I Wanted To Become a Tattoo Artist in 2025, This Is What I'd Do [FULL BLUEPRINT]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEpPDfTje40/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ve heard “if you specialize, you’ll starve” a lot from old school folks. And maybe being at a shop 10+ years ago, it was true. But now that we have shops popping up like McDonald’s… it’s not enough anymore.
Building a clientele is more important than ever now, and specializing can make you cut through the noise. Plus it attracts the tattoos you ACTUALLY want to do, instead of the tattoos you HAVE to do.
This is very true times are changing for the better for sure
I will start it now at 28 years old.
I wanted to be a tattoo artist when I was 14 but my parents did not support the idea.
Never even held a machine but your videos made me feel like I have a chance. 👏🏼 All my supplies will be shipped in two weeks, can’t wait to start. 🔥
Go for it!
@@iamorhon 9 times out of 10, you’ll bang people up for about 6 months and quit.
same here bro! 28 and want to start as well, would love to hear from u and how its going.
@@KIPHC Thats nice, wish you the best!
So basically I started to practice on fake skin, after a terrible first session I stareted to get a grip on it and being better day by day. Then I started to practice on myself first, so now I have a few fcked up tattoo and a few not too bad ones either 😂. After that a few of my friends got the courage to let me do some on them, they turned out pretty good, with some minor mistakes obviously. And now I have the chance to work in a studio whenever I have a brave participant to work on. I don’t really like to practice on fake skin anymore because for me, it has nothing to do with the real skin experience so far. Overall I love everything about tattooing, and I’ll keep going. 🙌🏽😃
@@iamorhon thats so good and inspiring to hear! wish u the best man
As a self taught 2nd year tattooer, this video resonated with me so loudly. You spoke on everything I am trying to implement in my life right now to be even more professional and this was a great refresh and reminder about what it's all about. Thank you for being so transparent about not only your own path in the industry, but the realities many people like you and I face while just trying to perfect a craft we love. You got a new long time follower, here.
Sorry to ask out of the blue, but (if i may ask) how did you start on your own? How did you not learn "wrong technique"?
@@Szbazsu89 Did you watch the vid? He mentions it directly- every resource you could need to learn technique, is on youtube or the online class sites now. ☺
Im 33 getting back intonthw craft. This is what I needed to hear.
I’m really late on learning to tattoo at the age of 49 but finding your videos on how to do it & all the in’s & out of tattooing & how to do lines shading & the basics really helpful, I’m only doing it for myself & won’t be tattoo anyone I’m doing it for my knowledge & take my mind off my pain & I find it really good for a distraction from it, if I do decide to do it in a shop I will be asking one of my good friends who owns a shop to help me.
Thank You for your videos really helpful & informative.
Never too late! I’ve learned more from here and other channels than I did from any shop.
Wishing you the best from someone starting at 59 years young
I'm 47 and want to do it for this very reason, for myself
I'm 36 and i hope one day i will open litel studio!
I’m 41 and just getting into it. Been a mixed media artist all my life, so I’ve always done art. A good friend of mine gifted me my first tattoo machine, he and everyone in my life believe in me and I do as well, however my big hang up is how exactly I’m going to apprentice working full time. I simply cannot afford to work for free for an extended period of time. My local shop owner is willing to teach me but I’ll only be able to learn on weekends, hopefully this will work out for me, we’ll see
3 take aways from this video for me. It's more than just tattoos. The connections. It's a soul bond when done right. Self care. This is some great advice for anyone!! Your art reflects you heart. And AFTERCARE!!! I come from a medical lab setting. Proper cleanliness and aftercare are huge!! Can't wait to put a machine to some fake skin and develope this skill. Your videos are an amazing journey for the amateur💯
There is a lot more to tattooing than just tattooing. But it’s also not just a job if you love doing what you do
Go for it
Been following a while now and I just wanted to let you know that I, and I am sure many others, really appreciate you taking time out to put this video together for us. Thank you
No problem at all! I love being able to help so many people
Absolutely agree!! You’re videos are so refreshing
you are the best mentor out there seriously
My brother just passed from suicide we are same age an always did little stuff not to great growing up dreamed of pursuing this passion I just got my my machine today an plan follow threw it 100% for him I thank you for your videos it gonna be alot of work time but Im officially ready for this
I'm 26 from Hernando ms anybody know people I can get in touch with to further myself into this profession id appreciate it
Sorry to hear about that and its awesome who you're doing this for. You got this 💪
This meant a lot to me. Thank you. I commented on another video on this topic. Therapy helped me soo much. It's crazy. I felt like I couldn't have friends...or a girlfriend because they wouldn't like me for me...only my job...they always wanted something....just not me....but therapy helps. Still learning at 40 lol!
Great video, thanks. I’m an ex graphic designer and I’ve been painting ans selling my work for a number of years now.
I’m moving into tattooing and have been on several training courses now, I’m lucky in that I already have my studio from my painting work, so will set up from there.
I have found that all of the information that I’ve seen from Tattooing 101 has been so helpful as it’s so easy to go down the wrong path when starting out.
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences to help others avoid the pitfalls of tattooing.
Darius
Soon to be Monkey Daz Tattooing 🙂
The not missing out on life is so important for any creative career!
Your videos are very inspiring, always love the content it helps tons with new advice for my career path!
Oh I am so in alignment super excited!!!! You even have a berkey!?!! I’m sold 😅
Berkey gang 😎
absolutely love your videos and the book you guys have online. Thanks for being one of the few positive tattoo artists that actually help other people get into it
That’s why I do what I do so together we can change the industry
Thank you Brandon you’re a real one
Perfect video to help guide a beginner, like me. This was incredibly important to hear so definitely appreciate the time you take in sharing your obstacles. I know they are already helping me on my journey ✌
Thanks for these helpful vids man.
Thank you so much for this video ♥️
Yes I'm recently just learning and I felt sooo bad when I had my 1st blowout, sucks, that feeling I had let her down which was my mother 😭😭
Blowouts happen to everyone starting out, especially on areas with thinner skin. Don’t beat yourself up-use it as a learning experience to improve. Your mom probably still loves it because it’s from you!
Hey Brandon you are so heart-warming to me🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💖💖 tnx for al the useful experiences you are sharing with us.
I too am just learning the industry and your right about finding a place that has the knowledge and care to really show you how to properly work. Thanks for the love of art luv ya bro
Shrimp back is real! Get good lighting and seating.
Get massage therapy frequently, along with chiropractic.
Thank you for your generosity! I’ve learnt so much from your videos. They’re truly inspiring because you share so much of your life experience and wisdom, not just technical knowledge 😊
Brandon, thank you for all the work and tips you provided. It’s helped me a great deal on my journey as an artist. You’re absolutely right without guidance you can lose yourself in this industry. Much respect bro, keep on with what you do, it’ll help people grow as artists whether new or experienced artists improve which there’s always room for to become the best. Great content!
I’ve lost myself plenty of time over the years I’ve learned a lot I don’t want anyone else to go through the same mistakes!
I also want to take the opportunity to thank you for all your videos, I think you have helped thousand of people optimizing their skills and get their foot into the industry.
I am thankful for your work and I hope you're doing good
That was really great thank you for the openess and advice, helps a lot ❤
Thank you for all the great information. Love your videos . Also love your Monstera plant
Thank you!
I really love your videos! I'm an independent nail tech and artist who loves tattoos and I so badly want to get into tattooing so I got a machine and the supplies. I also got your e-book and it's been amazing as well as your videos. Thank you for doing what you do!! I'm excited for this journey with your help :)
whats your nail ig page?
I feel people who love plants, aquariums, tattoos, and motorcycles are the most cool peeps I've met
Love & Respect !
great video, man ! tnx for sharing
That was great thank you for the advice
Great advice
I'm a lawyer and i just started learning, thing For me is i think i'm too old For this (38) but i don't want to die thinking that i could have done it but didn't.....thanks For the advice bruv...
Great video man.
Cheers thanks for the great videos! -David Nedved
Thank you sir Brandon for your videos❤❤❤
Thank you for watching!
Thank you
I never was told those things to that helps a lot
Here and doing it
Thank you for sharing this B-Dog
Thank you for sharing. 😊
Thanks For The Info…🙌🙌🙌🙌
What a legend
You are a good man
So many awful apprenticeships out there, 7 years to learn the basics is insane. Good advice. I still think that you should learn all styles and then niche in to one style because I feel you will really struggle to get clients at the start if you don't do every tattoo. Great video though! Love your style of filming.
Thank you!
Brandon u the man
Thank you I try!
Continue to create good content
Do you have any advice on getting a job in a shop if you did learn online? I feel like that's still pretty looked down on.
Times are changing keep looking keep learning it doesn’t matter where you learned if you are good at what you do
I’m a drummer and just watch this for fun. Question for you tho. Can u copy a stencil to make it smaller without having to drawing 3 different variations?
When I was 16 I lived down the street from a Bike Club Run tattoo shop in 75'. I was very interested in Tattooing and did a lot of drawing of flash designs which I would sell to the shop for a free tattoo or a little bit of cash. After I sold them flash for about a year they asked me if I wanted to learn how to tattoo which I jumped right onto. I didn't learn the right way period. The Sterility of their work was abysmal we would smoke and drink while tattooing and the work was BAD. My entire apprentice experience was 1 day of learning how to set up coil machines and that was IT. No tips on actually Tattooing except for needle depth and I had to have my partner in the shop set my depth for me for my first few months. I learned nothing about the art at all and they allowed me to go at it my second day and I would hate to see what I put out back then only thing is most of my customers are probably gone by now . When I actually got better at tattooing they started charging me 100.00 a day for the chair and 35% of every Tattoo I did and I didn't get any good pieces, only tiny flash that I made no money doing. I quit and went into the Army and haven't tattooed anyone in over 30 years. I am just now going back to it at 62 years old. I've had people already because I let it slip that I was getting back into it again bug the crap out of me to tattoo them for free. I'm not ready by any means to do anything on People but I did do one on myself and one on a close friend who knew my limitations and my not wanting to do them on people yet. Just by sheer luck the tattoo came out looking really nice, It was an atomic blast and he has taken very good care of it. I am NOT going to do any more until I am very well versed with the new machines and learn technique and get good at it first. I am looking at taking your course on line and I believe that I will do it in the next month or so. I'm a disabled Vet. and have cancer that is terminal so I don't have a long time to learn and I'm doing them on Fake skin mostly to stave off the depression that comes with this diagnosis. My oncologist got VERY mad at me for Tattooing my leg, I have leukemia and it's not a good idea, so no more on myself. I really wish I had kept doing them while in the Army but it was against the rules back then and I couldn't get or do any on anyone because it had to be hidden well. So I am enjoying your videos a LOT they are teaching me stuff I never knew before. Thank you SO much for sharing your experience with everyone, I know it's made MY life a lot easier actually Learning the right way and I love just watching. Thanks Brother for helping me deal with my fate.
this is kind of off topic but the plant behind you looks like it needs some food that's why the leaf's are going yellow because its pulling nutrients from its leaf's for food
Thank you I will say plants are not my specialty
That’s the light shining on it. Even the light alls have the yellow light on it. 😂
what about the new robot black dot?
I'm 12 years old and I want to go into Tattoo Artistry in the future but I'm nervous. How should I deside?
Don't worry about deciding yet. Just learn as much as you can and practice drawing everyday.
😊
I too love making fires 🔥
I loooove your Channel 🩵🩵🩵
Thank you!
Question: I was never super artistic, but I always loved art. I recently spent 800$ on a tattoo artist I know’s whole setup. From a Sol Nova 4.0 unlimited to all the ink, cartridges, gloves, everything you need to do a lot of sanitary tattoos. Anyways, my question. If I practice line work, and learn shading, can I still be a good tattoo artist?
100 % any one can learn art it’s just the want to learn. It’s not a gift it takes time and effort
@@Tattooing101 thank you!!!
Wow.
You resemble the guy from the show “baby reindeer”
💀 Please don't encourage them
He does omg 😅
That times are f. Up can't get any place in any studio ..... Good bad studio no matter
Hey I have a couple questions for you if you don’t mind
What’s up!
ngl, that must ash is nice af that its a bit distracting
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
Hello I did ask my tattoo artist can I become a tattoo artist if i cant draw? And he answer me "can" because before this my tattoo artist also dont know how to draw. May i know your opinion? Thanks bro
You are either a sagittarius, Aries, or taurus
Aquarius ♒️
We have enough tattooers
Go do something else
This is very far from true.
@@Tattooing101 the last thing the tattoo industry needs is someone on TH-cam taking about tattoos.
i'm starting a tattoo apprenticeship soon, i'm so nervous but your account is literally a lifesaver :) thank you
Good luck!!
Thank you so much for this video!!! 🫶 that’s exactly what I felt while I’m starting out and that tells me, that my intuition lead me exactly the right way