u/Prize-Ad-964

TLDR: If i leave my apprenticeship can i continue where i left off with a new studio or will i need to start over?

Id like to start off saying i know im very privilaged to even be getting payed during my apprenticeship, Ive had shit for complaining before about my boss but im at my limit here.

Basically im a tattoo apprentice that has been tattooing people for a few months now, Since january i think.

My studio owner is HORRIBLE, I work part time as a receptionist and part time as an apprentice.

Since working here the owner has threatened to strangle me, Screams at me basically every week (this week it was because i reorganised a shelf without her permission), Threatened to reduce my pay because the building owner needed to borrow a key to check the gas meter outside of work hours (which she said i shouldve come in at 7am, unpaid, to let him into the studio, I dont start my shift until 11.30am), and has now been refusing to pay me because she "cant afford it"

Im currently waiting for my April paycheck which was meant to be given to me on May 4th, It is now the 20th and still no pay.

Im seriously thinking of leaving because its getting to the point where im having anxiety attacks just thinking about going into work incase she is there.

I love my mentor, I love the piercer, I just hate the owner and im fed up of having to sort out her rent and shit as an 18yr old who doesnt know what im doing and then getting screamed at because i dont know what im doing

IM A RECEPTIONIST ON APPRENTICE WAGE AND IM DOING MANAGER LEVEL JOBS (even the landlord thinks im the manager because of everything i do for this place, Im just meant to be answering the phone and making adverts)

legally she cant even have me on apprentice wage as she never gave me any training in the first place. The job was listed as an "apprentice receptionist position" which for the first 3 months i recieved no training so legally it wasnt an apprenticeship and she couldnt charge me apprentice wages. I only let it slide because i said im happy to stay on apprentice wages if i get the tattoo apprenticeship that our tattoo artist wanted me to have (We had to try sweeten her up with that deal because shes a bitch)

I want to leave for so many reasons but with how far into my apprenticeship i am is there any point? Will i have to completely start over? And theres literally no studios wanting apprentices at the moment so should i just suck it up and deal with it?

Edit: Yes i am meant to be getting paid, Ive been getting paid since october. I have two contracts, One as a receptionist which i get payed for and one as a tattoo apprentice which i dont get payed for and dont expect to get payed for

TLDR: If i leave my apprenticeship can i continue where i left off with a new studio or will i need to start over?

Basically im a tattoo apprentice that has been tattooing people for a few months now, Since january i think.

My studio owner is HORRIBLE, I work part time as a receptionist and part time as an apprentice.

Since working here the owner has threatened to strangle me, Screams at me basically every week (this week it was because i reorganised a shelf without her permission), Threatened to reduce my pay because the building owner needed to borrow a key to check the gas meter outside of work hours (which she said i shouldve come in at 7am, unpaid, to let him into the studio, I dont start my shift until 11.30am), and has now been refusing to pay me because she "cant afford it"

Im currently waiting for my April paycheck which was meant to be given to me on May 4th, It is now the 20th and still no pay.

Im seriously thinking of leaving because its getting to the point where im having anxiety attacks just thinking about going into work incase she is there.

I love my mentor, I love the piercer, I just hate the owner and im fed up of having to sort out her rent and shit as an 18yr old who doesnt know what im doing and then getting screamed at because i dont know what im doing

IM A RECEPTIONIST ON APPRENTICE WAGE AND IM DOING MANAGER LEVEL JOBS (even the landlord thinks im the manager because of everything i do for this place, Im just meant to be answering the phone and making adverts)

legally she cant even have me on apprentice wage as she never gave me any training in the first place. The job was listed as an "apprentice receptionist position" which for the first 3 months i recieved no training so legally it wasnt an apprenticeship and she couldnt charge me apprentice wages. I only let it slide because i said im happy to stay on apprentice wages if i get the tattoo apprenticeship that our tattoo artist wanted me to have (We had to try sweeten her up with that deal because shes a bitch)

I want to leave for so many reasons but with how far into my apprenticeship i am is there any point? Will i have to completely start over? And theres literally no studios wanting apprentices at the moment so should i just suck it up and deal with it?

Ive seen alot of people on here recently and on instagram asking others to rate their portfolios and id like to give some advice on the topic as someone who has an apprenticeship and the advice I was given.

1st off, Alot of you have amazing ART portfolios but not good TATTOO portfolios. You need to include the basics.

Not many (if any) tattoo studios will accept a portfolio of just your artwork, They want to see a huge variety of american traditional, japanese, script, tribal, realism, mandala etc etc

You need to show you are adaptable as when you get clients you will be doing WHATEVER comes through the door, Not just what you want to do.

When i first started my portfolio my main criticism from artists id met was "Include the basic styles"

2nd, Have a physical portfolio. I work part time at the reception of a tattoo studio and no one wants to spend time going through your emailed portfolio, Or your instagram message saying "Hi is there any space for apprenticeships"

Have a folder with all your BEST AND FINISHED work in there, Make it look professional.

And go around studios asking them for a place, If they dont have one, then ask them for advice, you can always improve

3rd Its best to get to know the studio you want to apprentice at, So many people i know rush into the first place that accepts them and the owner is a complete dick, They then get accepted at a studio they know and have been tattooed at before and they love it there

You CAN include your personal style but dont let it overshadow everything else

As for including digital pieces, Keep it around 2-3

They prefer to see your raw skill without a chance of tracing or added line-stability

Possible styles:

American traditional

Realism

Blackwork

Japanese

Tribal

Fine-line

Geometric

Script

Neo-trad

Mandala

(You may hate some of these styles but just do it, They want to see it)