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I'd never want to learn how to tattoo from somebody with work like that. Yikes

I would never recommend going to a tattoo school since it seems like a rip off. Try to get a proper apprenticeship by a solid tattoo artist. If that doesn't work out(like most times), then my next suggestion is to try it on your own with good quality products and watch hours and hours of footage of tattoos or get tattooed by an actual tattoo artist and try to gather as much information as you can. And use the internet as a tool to gather information of how to improve your trade if possible. Before i took an apprenticeship I already knew how to take a machine a part and put it together, and the different effects of all the small components of a machine down to the material of the frame. And of course sterilization is the most important here and should be the common sense part. If you really have passion for tattooing, you will really try hard to learn everything you can with the limited resources you have. And if you don't have an artistic background, then good luck with actually making a living out of it or having any retirement funds.

There is no school for tattooing,thats just a play on words PERIOD!!If I find one that is a minimum year long course and has a proper curriculum I will drop what I have said here.Better off winging and saving the big pay off to that crook.If I was to make a school like that my first day would be testing,and yes you could fail and be kicked out and no your money wouldnt be refunded.You would be sat down with a nice set of art supplies and I would then put up basic tattoo themed art that should be redrawn and not traced by the student,if they redraw it better thats great,but if they are having a hard time getting out a decent rose, dagger, banner, script then maybe they shouldn't be trying to tattoo period.Just as if I was to apprentice I wouldn't take on an artist that wasnt a better one than me.

missed the point guys,trying to find out about this paticular school,seems a bit bogus to me.

The school of body art DVD is sort of OK. But the video's they sell are quite low quality, noisy and have gaps in the knowledge offered. So they can be a real pain to watch and learn from. If you do buy them, take lots of notes and make your own workbook to work from. Because of lot of it as far as i can tell, is method, method, method, repeat, imitate and practice.
http://www.academyoftattoo.net/ the DVDs on this website are alot better production wise, and do things like show you the method they use and outline things such as the needles you need to produce the simpler tattoos demonstrated.
Higher quality powerful tattoo machines are a must. But after reading a few of the books out there, you should be able to build your own machines.
Looking at tattooing now, its the drawing skills that are at the forefront, so you need to get your art high quality as well as application of tattoo. (I'm saying all this as a total novice, not a professional)

nope,ya still all missed the point,not for me,I've been tattooing nearly 30yrs but had a young man here tell me he was doing an online apprenticeship thru this place i mentioned,sounded bogus to me and they just taking his money.Just wondered if anyone else heard of these so-called online apprenticeships.Thought I'd heard it all,cheers.

Wicked,

There is an online course offering for just about anything these days. For some really, really determined individuals who have the drive to do anything; An online course can be another useful tool in their box. For people who do not know how to self-study, or have difficulty learning without an instructor - Online courses can be really frustrating, and may be abandoned prematurely by the student.

Guy Aitchinson has been pretty successful with the online portion of his "Reinventing the Tattoo" lessons. But the caveat there, is that Guy's course is meant for people who are already experienced with the craft of tattoo,

I hope and imagine that Guy's *and others* model of online tattoo mentorship can be the spearhead into a new way of teaching and learning the technical art of tattoo.

Just my $.02

I know the course your speaking of. Of all of the "tattoo schools" this course actually does seem to at least have the right idea. I'll give a run down of what I "know" I'm only going to post things I know to be fact. I do not like giving advice based on hearsay, or assumption. So I'm sticking to just the facts.
1. It's a year long course.... this is the first bonus point they get over other schools. Most "tattoo schools" offer a 2 week course, and call it complete. We all know that's a joke.
2. The curriculum involves both video lessons, and live web cam lessons with the instructor via the net.
3. You have 24/7 access to the instructor for the full year. For any questions you have, help you need, or something your having a hard time getting. He's obviously not right beside you like a real mentor, but you can get live help via web cam or email any time you need it for the full year.
4. The curriculum covers more than just basic tattoo skills. It covers things such as safety, sterilization, setting up, and maintaining a proper/clean work station. It covers developing your drawing skills, proper ways to practice, and it also includes BBP certification.
Number 4 to me is the biggest bonus over the other "tattoo schools"
5. They teach you to use fruit, practice skin, ect... not real skin like the other schools.

I'm sure there is more, but these are the big ones that stand out to me. It's not too badly priced either. I've actually thought about taking the course just for fun to see first hand. I've been tattooing since the mid 90's legally. But I'm one of those artists who has an un quenchable thirst for knowledge, and I'm always looking for any little snippet of information that can help to better my craft in any way. I still enroll in art classes every chance I get, watch every video that comes out, read, read, and read some more. Anywhere I can get info I'm all in. This course is cheap enough I've thought about taking it just to see if how well they do. I figure if I pick up 1 new tip or technique it'll be worth the price.
But then again.......... I'll just leave it at that lol.
Hope this helps
Dave

Tattoo Schools,
Most are a joke, However several states now require tattoo course in order to get licensed. I know Louisiana, Florida, & I believe New York & Texas as well for any new artist. However the schools must be accredited in that state. More like some politicians got pay offs!

Florida Requires all Tattoo Shops to have a media Doctor as a partner. Fact.. look at Mario Barths seminar video he has Painful Pleasures or & Tattoo Super Store YouTube channels. He tried to get New Jersey Shop owners to join him protesting the fact that Tattooing is illegal in New Jersey, he even opened a shop there. They do not enforce the law.. Since New Jersey has tons of shops. But Tattoo Shops contribute to employment, tax base, pay utilities etc.. Not one shop owner would join him !!! WTF! They said it could worse, Really worse than illegal ???!

The video course you mentioned, had a free 2012 video to get business. 1 of our apprentices pointed it out OMG! The disaster tattoo I saw..

IMO unless required by your state health department no! Schools are a joke the sad part is most artist fail to get involved with local political parties ... IMO Do Not Pay for an Apprenticeship. Ask questions, how long tattooing, what styles do they do. What other forums of art do they do. How long a Shop owner, How Long does a typical apprenticeship last. What's covered, curriculum.. What is expected, how much time learning, watching versus cleaning etc..

Good Video on You Tube, Type in search, The Art of Tattooing, Good book Amazon.com Tattooing From A to Z Huck Spaulding. Good YouTube Channels * Undergrounddemagraphix, SINCITYTATTOOZ, Tattoo Lan, The Broken Puppet, TattooSuperior1, Bishop Rotary, FK Irons, TriWood1973 has a discovery channel video, How a Tattoo Machine Works, undergrounddemagraphix, videos Frame Geometry for beginners, Machine Tuning the death of The Nickel & Dime, The Difference Between a Liner & a Shader, How to use a multi meter, how to Mark your clip cord. SINCITYTATTOOZ videos, Disc1 & Disc 2, Voltage Bleeding, How to line a Tattoo, Tattoo Superior1 , Black & Grey Shading, also how to color a rose. Look at GIMP & OR PHOTO SHOP YouTube Channels, Look at Hibiclense video, also type in Blood Born pantheons, handling dangerous chemicals, After 60 days of practice Look at Joshua Carlton's Book & DVD SET, MIKE'D Animal Realism etc.. Nikko Hurtado DVD'S, Guy Atchison Reinventing the Tattoo.

Log on to Amazon.com, look at my reviews packed with educational information all free .. go to Amazon.com, type in search Moms Black Pearl Outlining Tattoo Ink, Look for my review by name, my name is { Bill Kearney } click on review, then click all reviews by this person. Educational Information, Links to free videos free PDF'S etc.. geared towards the beginner to intermediate tattoo artist. This Should Help You Out. Good Luck in Your New Career!

Take Care, Bill Kearney. :-)