What I Wish I’d Known Before Becoming a Tattoo Apprentice — And How E'lever Makes It Different

When I first became a tattoo apprentice, I thought I’d found my dream. I landed in a good shop, with kind people who gave me the time, patience, and belief I needed to grow. And I have grown — as an artist and a person.

But there’s one truth I wish I’d known from day one: learning to tattoo is just the beginning. If you don’t learn how to build a career, the art alone won’t pay your rent.

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The Part They Don’t Tell You

Nobody told me about the 60/40 shop cuts, the hidden booth fees, or the tax headaches that eat half your income. Nobody told me that talent alone isn’t enough — that you also need to know how to get seen, book clients, handle money, and protect your time and energy.

No one tells you that even the best art can be overlooked if you don’t know how to market it — or that social media can feel like a second, exhausting job you never clock out of.

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Why So Many Apprentices Struggle

• Too many apprenticeships teach you just enough to keep you stuck:

• Hours of cleaning, but barely any real practice.

• No clear plan for building a strong portfolio.

• No advice on finding clients outside walk-ins.

• No training on social media that actually converts followers into bookings.

• Zero help with self-employment or taxes.

It’s no surprise that so many new artists burn out or give up — not because they’re not talented enough, but because nobody showed them how to turn skill into a living.

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How Elever Training Institute Makes It Different

At Elever, we don’t believe in half-training. We believe your training should set you up for real, lasting success.

Here’s how we do it:

✅Practical Tattoo & Piercing Skills You’ll train under real working artists and piercers, not just theory or YouTube clips. You’ll practise on synthetic skins and safe, supervised live models when you’re ready.

✅ Portfolio Support That Opens Doors We help you build a strong, eye-catching portfolio — the kind that makes shops want you. We’ll even show you how to photograph your work professionally.

✅ Social Media Training That Works It’s not enough to post random flash — we’ll teach you how to share your work, grow your audience, reach local clients, and stay booked without having to fake a personality you don’t want.

✅ Pathways to Apprenticeships & Self-Employment You’ll leave with clear next steps: how to approach shops, find real apprenticeships, or go self-employed with confidence. We’ll even guide you on contracts, taxes, and pricing — so you know how to protect your earnings.

✅ A Supportive Community You don’t have to do this alone. Our network of instructors, peers, and alumni means you’ll always have someone to ask for advice — long after your training is done.

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What I’d Tell Any Future Artist

If you’re thinking about tattooing or piercing, don’t let the dream stay a dream — and don’t step in blind. Choose a place that gives you more than just technical skills. Choose training that sets you up to thrive in the real world.

Your art deserves to be seen. Your time deserves to be valued. Your future deserves a foundation that actually supports you.

Train with Elever. Learn the craft. Build your business. Protect your passion.

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📩 Ready to talk?

Check out www.eleverinstitute.com

Email: info@eleverinstitute.com

Follow: @eleverinstitute

Become the artist you know you can be — with training that backs you all the way.