@jeffreygrahamtattoos: There will be a part two to this so if you’re interested in the part two stick around #t#tattoot#tattoost#tattooingl#Love

Shannon Winders :

People love to romanticize tattooing but its just customer service 🫩

JT | 📍 MD Tattoo Artist :

No PTO, no health insurance, taxes, irritating clients, no days off…yeah ur not crazy for quitting given the chance 😭

eddie :

Tattooing is cool and fairly lucrative while you’re young but as you get older you realize the industry is not really set up for the long haul

Jordan :

You put my exact feelings into words, and I appreciate that.

JoshulaGriswald :

I agree, I truly believe that the love of the crafts ebbs and flows just as almost everything else. Been in 20 years and I’ve done some of my best work at times when I didn’t love it at all. Right now I’m in a love cycle but I’ve been around long enough to know that it may and probably will

KᗩᖇMIᑎᗩ ᑕOᖇE 🎪 :

Awww lol I wanna learn how to tattoo!!!

diffi.d :

I dont know man your tats are pretty great can’t lie

MrPayneTattoo :

No, that actually makes sense. Good speech.

Sydney Mulvaney :

Relatable

opaquelace :

I love it so much and will never walk away from it if I can help it. However, I am not the primary breadwinner. And because of that I get to enjoy it in a way I think people who are the primary breadwinner don’t get to. My husband carries the insurance and most of the important stuff. Tattooing gives me, and us as a family, more financial freedom and a more adventurous life in general. Plus, part of the reason I love it so much is my shop. I’m in an amazing shop with amazing coworkers and my mentor who took me in as an apprentice at 35 with multiple sclerosis and two kids. And he didn’t bat an eye.

Mariposa Tattoo :

Do what you’re good at not what you love

Hannah:) :

I don’t love labor and work , I’d rather just not have to work

skeletortattoo :

Marked_by_mani :

I love tattooing but I didn’t enjoy doing it, constantly drawing only for appointments and over analyzing every single mistake I made took the enjoyment away. Haven’t tattooed in months and I have to relearn who I am and what I really like and it’s really confusing after a decade of only living as a tattoo artist.

Jay_del💍❤️ :

I would quit everything to become a tattoo artist, it is the only career I have continuously wanted to do throughout my life

Mr Inky Pants :

This…

Gazsi Art :

software engineering will be my day job as long as it's there and AI doesn't take it away, happy if tattooing only remains the side hustle, of the hedge becomes the main thing it means something went wrong with the tech jobs

Tacosdoestattoos | Maryland :

I mean I would walk away because my son and his needs comes first! I am learning to photograph to one day only tattoo part time so that this can be for the real love of it

Barbie cubez :

It's just not that serious. People who work in the office aren't passionate about paperwork but guess what? It pays the bills. I've considered quitting tattooing a thousand times. After a certain point you've contributed enough to the industry that it feels enough yk?

Deven Davis Tattoos :

Idk man I’m pretty new to it but I love it still. Choose your schedule, work as little or as much as you want. Make as much money as you want if you have the clientele.… what else could you want

ytbcidhzysks :

You gonna be selling your machines?

StephanieLivesHere :

You really are the best. You’re amazing at what you do but it’s not easy to switch careers for sure.

john :

love your work bro ..keep at it

Roy Lee Rowlett :

I really think there’s a balance to it. You don’t have to be obsessed with it, but it does help to love it. I’ve been at it for 22 years and couldn’t imagine a life without art and tattooing. I love the freedom of tattooing. I love that I can go pretty much anywhere and have a job. I’m not in it for the money but I also can’t think of another job that I could make anywhere close to the money I make now. Even with health insurance and benefits. So I don’t think anyone should give you shit for not obsessing over every little aspect of tattooing. But again, I do think loving art and tattoos in general helps guide the way.

Tate Phelen :

I agree and disagree, I whole hearted still think you get out of the industry what you put in. so there has to be some level of love for the trade to make it as far as we have. at the same time I never have blinked twice when someone decides to give it up. it is an extremely hard life and not alot of people can put up with it for that long. no benefits, work outside of work, the physical strain, the mental strain, so I could absolutely see someone falling out of love for the craft, but continue to do good tattoos because they are literally a great artist.