This time I’d like to pul on your coat tails about something that I’ve been thinking about for a while.
After visiting The Brighton Tattoo Convention we got into a discussion on That Tattoo Show about some of the new ideas the Brighton show had this year. In particular a dedicated room ‘taken over’ by Femme Fatale. Whilst I clearly wasn’t the ‘target audience’ for Grace Neutrals room, I did enjoy it. It offered a great insight into where modern tattooing is currently at and had a different ‘vibe’ to the rest of the show. One that I heard lots of visitors commenting positively about.
And that got me thinking that the overall idea could be expanded to create other show features. In particular, education focused ones. And that’s something that I’ve been talking and thinking about for quite a while now.
I wanted to find out how people felt about this idea. So, on our instagram (@thattattooshow) we recently asked the question ‘would you like to see more education on our channel and at conventions?’ The response was overwhelmingly ‘YES’. With a few commenters suggesting that I took a look at events in South America as an example of what tattoo education and tattoo education events could look like. So I did. What I saw was a different kind of tattoo event. One that, I think, might be the first step on the road to changing the way we learn to and teach tattooing. But before we all go changing we’re going to have to face up to a few home truths.
LET’S JUST SAY IT, THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG.
I would imagine that a lot of you will (like me) be rightly suspicious of anyone offering ‘online tattoo training’. These ‘courses’ – along with ‘tattoo schools’ have traditionally been nothing more than money making schemes that promise a lot but deliver very little. Leaving most of us with the opinion that they simply produced more and more ‘kitchen magicians’ and ‘scratchers’. It’s all the internets fault right? Actually no, wrong.
Teaching yourself to tattoo isn’t a NEW or internet ‘thing’. For as long as tattooing has existed there have been people teaching themselves, outside of the traditional apprenticeship route and going their own way. Video based tattoo training has been around since the days of VHS. Prior to the internet age you could buy DVD tutorial videos and books by some of todays top artists. Artists have been selling ‘their’ knowledge for a handsome price for as long as I can remember. All that the internet did was put these products (and many more) in front of a much larger audience. The same audience that was suddenly exposed to the world of tattooing via Tattoo TV shows. The internet didn’t put us where we are. We did.
Going ‘overground’ has been hugely beneficially for tattooing in so many ways that our industry is unrecognisable compared to what it was just 15 short years ago when I turned up armed with my laptop and a handful of Graphic Tattoos. I can only imagine how different it must feel to the artists who’ve spent the largest part of their adult lives in it. But, even though going overground has had it’s benefits, it’s come at a price. I think we’d all agree that teaching yourself at home is not ideal and there could be a far better way. But first we have to accept that the cat is out of the bag and that it’s now entirely possible to teach yourself how to tattoo using the web/youtube/etc.
The sooner we accept that simply truth the sooner we can start talking about the negative effect it has on tattooing. We can also start figuring out the best ways to ensure that our art form both moves with the times and keeps it’s unique culture intact. You see, I personally think that the biggest problem posed by online learning is the loss of tattoo culture. All the things that make tattooing what it is are – generally – learnt in the company of other tattooists. Teaching yourself at home eradicates this master to student chain and the (largely) oral history of tattooing is at risk of getting lost
But, formal teaching could ensure the culture survives.
I had this idea when I lectured at BIMM for a couple of years. BIMM is a dedicated music college(s) aimed at teaching all aspects of the music business to young musicians, managers, roadies and producers. What was traditionally learnt at home or on the job is now being taught as a course, with learning outcomes and grades that are all recognised by the education establishment. Not exactly Rock ‘n’ Roll, right? Well, I’ve got news for you. Rock ‘n’ Roll went to college a long time ago and it’s better for it.
IS IT TIME WE CHANGED THE WAY TATTOOING IS TAUGHT?
The rise in popularity of tattooing and the information that’s already out there on the web highlights the need for a more formal system of education. The current system of education in tattooing is largely unorganised and unregulated, relying on apprenticeships and informal training. A regulated system of education in tattooing would ensure that tattoo artists are properly trained, equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job safely and effectively. A more formal system of education in tattooing would also provide a structured and organised way to teach the art of tattooing, ensuring that artists are trained in a consistent and thorough manner.
Currently, apprenticeships are the primary means of training for tattoo artists. While apprenticeships can be a valuable way for artists to learn the trade, the quality of training can vary widely. Additionally, apprenticeships can be expensive and time-consuming, making them inaccessible to many aspiring tattoo artists. But Traditional apprenticeships could still exist too. They could be accredited and made part of the formal learning. The presence of teaching would also be a great route for tattooists as they come to the end of their careers. Imagine teaching everything you know to a room full of kids who are as excited about it as you are. It’s pretty cool, let me tell you.
A more formal system of education in tattooing would provide a wider range of training options, including degree and certification programs. These programs would be designed to provide a comprehensive education in tattooing, covering everything from safety and sanitation to design and artistic techniques. Such programs would be more accessible and affordable than traditional apprenticeships, allowing more people to pursue a career in tattooing.
Moreover, a formal system of education in tattooing would allow for greater collaboration and standardisation within the industry. All stakeholders in the tattoo industry, from artists to tattoo shop owners, would have a say in shaping the curriculum and ensuring that it meets industry standards. This would help to create a more cohesive and professional industry, where everyone is working towards the same goals.
WHERE DO WE START? WHAT ABOUT CONVENTIONS?
As an industry we’re ready for this but we need to start moving towards it. The creation of AI art software has just about every art field terrified that they’re going to be out of a job soon. But, Tattooing will always be hard to automate and that means that EVEN MORE young artists will see it as the only way to make a living drawing.
I would prefer these artists to be able to get their hands on great sources of information, learn formally AND informally and be able to visit an education focused event (or part of an event) to ask questions of pros and educators about the best way to get into the industry and the best places to learn to tattoo. So is it time that a tattoo convention had an ‘education day’? I think so and some people agree with me.
There are already education focused tattoo events happening around the world. As I said, South America has at least one in Columbia and The Paradise Tattoo Gathering in the US – run by my friend Gabe – has been education focused for a long time now. So, isn’t it time we took our heads out of the sand, accepted the truth and started working on making sure that young tattooers coming into our industry can get the best training we can possible offer as an industry?
A regulated system of education in tattooing would ensure that artists are properly trained, equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their job safely and effectively. By providing a structured and organised way to teach the art of tattooing, a more formal system of education would help to create a more cohesive and professional industry, benefiting everyone involved. Young and old.
I know when I use words like ‘formal’, ‘overground’ and ‘industry’ a lot of you will bristle because it all sounds a bit ‘corporate’ doesn’t it? And I agree, it does. But the simple truth is that, that’s where tattooing is now. It’s ‘step into the spotlight’ moment and the fallout from that was out of our hands. All we can do now is get together and steer the ship from this point forward.
Because, like it or not, you can’t put the cat back in the bag.