What are the pros and cons of being a tattoo artist?

• Flexible work schedules. Many tattoo artists can create their own work schedules, especially those that become successful or run their own tattoo parlors.

  Choosing your own hours is a major pro in any profession. This gives tattoo artists a chance to dedicate enough time to their personal lives year-round if they bring in a strong income from tattooing.

• Work structure. Not many industries follow the same work structure as tattoo artists. Many tattoo parlors consist of collectives of tattooers, meaning they don't have a boss. While there might be an owner of the tattoo shop, tattoo artists still normally see a fair amount of autonomy.

  This also means they can often set their own prices with their customers.

• It's a creative field. Being a tattoo artist can be extremely creatively satisfying. You are putting works of art permanently on someone's body. This means thousands of people will see your work throughout the person's lifetime.

  Tattoo artists can draw their own tattoos and display them to customers or collaborate with customers to conceive a piece.

Cons:

• It is relatively hard to become a tattoo artist. Even if you have natural drawing ability, it does not automatically mean you will be good at tattooing. Tattooing is a specialized art form that should not be taken lightly.

  Tattoos are permanent, so artists must approach their jobs seriously and professionally. It is an art form that does not allow for trial and error, making it different from most creative professions.

• Working for free at first. To build a good portfolio, tattoo artists often have to work for free. Consider yourself lucky if you can get a paid apprenticeship from the start.

  Most tattoo artists must put in time working for free, and this can be stressful. Many have to have second or third jobs to support themselves until they can get hired full-time at a tattoo parlor.

• The path to becoming a successful tattoo artist. Becoming a successful tattoo artist is even more difficult. First, you need to build an impressive portfolio of your tattoo art. You also need to stay extremely focused for hours on end while tattooing.

  Jobs at popular tattoo studios are quite competitive and hard to get. A tattoo artist typically takes years of dedication and hard work to succeed.

• Physical pain. Many tattoo artists experience physical back, neck, and arm pain from constantly bending over and using their arms to tattoo.

  When tattoo artists don't practice self-care and seek medical attention for issues, these pains can become exacerbated and even somewhat permanent. Tattooing takes a physical toll on most artists.