I once started an "aprenticeship" at a major melbourne tattooist. The selection process included two interviews and a "test" on drawing and copying skill. There was well over 100 people vying for the position and only two of us were selected. I was stoked that i finally had my dream job and was on my way down the path i had always wanted to be on. I lasted two weeks. The first hurdle was the pay. I left a secure job as a labourer getting $500 for five days a week down to getting $200 for 6 days of varying hours. Being the new guy all the cleaning up at the end of the day was mostly left to me and sometimes the day would finish at 10pm. This wouldnt have bothered me that much if like the other employees i lived in neighbouring suburbs but i lived in Moonee Ponds and the studios are at Ringwood and Lilydale. This prolly doesnt mean much to anyone that isnt from Melbourne but its about 4 hours travell each day on public transport. This left me with barley enough time in the day to scratch my arse let alone do all the normal things one needs to do, ie- shopping, washing and basic cleaning "BRAND NEW NEEDLES EVERY TATTOO" haha, brand new straight out of the autoclave. My main job was cleaning needles but i also cleaned floors, windows, mirrors and even toilets, wow. I also sorted magazines(the owner is the owner/editor of a tatt mag) into piles. I did get taught how to pierce various body parts but a drunk chimp could do piercing as far as im concerned. When i asked the boss about having a go with the gun on the pig skin, he laughed and replied "yeah one day mate, we have to teach you to clean first" <___base_url___>/uploads/emoticons/default_BANGHEAD2.gif So i only lasted 2 weeks, but if i had of continued i prolly would have starved to death anyway or died from exhaustion. I have only enquired about one other "aprenticeship" since then, and just like you said creach, you have to buy your way in. The price asked was $8000. Screw that. The only way i will get into it now is backyarding. I know it conjurs up all sorts of nasty images but it is the only way to really get into the trade if you dont wanna be a shitkicker or part with heaps of coin. Anyone got an old gun layin around <___base_url___>/uploads/emoticons/default_tongue.png