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Break Into the Tattoo Industry

Ready to break into tattooing? Get industry insights and personalized guidance in this online beginner's class!

Alexander Hayden

3k followers

5.0 (3)

ClassBento donates with every booking to

1 hour

1 to 2 guests

$50

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Overview

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Teacher

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What you'll do

Breaking into the tattoo industry can be challenging, and figuring out where to start often feels overwhelming. This online class will teach you how to take those crucial first steps. What better way to learn than from someone who has been through it themselves? Led by an experienced instructor who completed a formal, year-long apprenticeship under a professional artist with over a decade of experience, this class is designed to help aspiring tattoo artists navigate the path toward a real career.

This introductory session is perfect for beginners who are serious about becoming tattoo artists but aren’t sure where to start. Whether you’re just curious or already searching for an apprenticeship, you’ll gain valuable insights on avoiding common mistakes, building essential skills, and creating a clear plan to move forward with confidence.

What This Class Covers:

Where you are in your journey – personalized assessment & feedback
How to break into the industry – realistic expectations on time, costs, and skill development
How apprenticeships work – why they’re necessary and how to find a good one
How to build a strong portfolio – what tattoo studios actually look for
Live Q&A session – ask me anything about starting your tattoo career

By the end of this class, you’ll have:

A clear understanding of how the tattoo industry works
A personalized roadmap for your next steps
The confidence to approach studios the right way

Important: This is NOT an apprenticeship or technical tattooing course. You will NOT be tattooing real skin, and we will NOT supervise any tattooing. This mentorship focuses on research, portfolio development, and industry knowledge to help you prepare for and get accepted to a formal apprenticeship in your city. Tattooing requires hands-on, in-person training under a professional artist. If you're looking for a DIY tattooing course, this is not for you.

What’s Next? After this class, you can book a one-on-one mentorship session for deeper guidance on portfolio building, studio outreach, and career strategy.

Future Mentorship Topics (Optional One-on-One Sessions)

Building a Strong Portfolio
What shops actually look for in an apprentice
How to develop consistency in your drawing & design skills
Best exercises for improving line work, shading, and composition

Finding an Apprenticeship (The Right Way)

How to approach studios professionally (and avoid rejection)
Red flags in bad apprenticeships & how to avoid exploitation
How to network & build industry connections

Understanding Tattoo Equipment & Techniques (Theory Only)

Tattoo machines, needles, inks – what they do, not how to use them
The tattoo process from stencil to healed piece
Why self-teaching tattooing is dangerous & leads to bad habits

The Business Side of Tattooing

How to start making money as a tattoo artist once trained
Pricing, working with clients, contracts, and taxes
How to market yourself using social media & advertising

If you’re serious about becoming a tattoo artist, this class will help you start the right way. Book now and take the first step toward your career.

Knowledge required

None! We'll assess where you're at and build an action plan for you.

What to bring

This is a theory-based session, so no materials are needed. We’ll go over the best tools and resources to help you start preparing for an apprenticeship.

More about this class

This class is new, and is covered by ClassBento's money-back guarantee.

Your teacher

Alexander Hayden

3k followers

5.0 (3)

Hi, my name is Alexander Hayden and I'm an artist.

I began working with charcoal and oil paint at age 14, and now have 15 years of consistent experience with drawing (graphite and charcoal), painting with acrylic, oil, and pastel, photography (film + digital, as well as editing experience), digital art (well-versed in ProCreate), tattoos, art business work (preparing and selling art, navigating gallery and museum relationships), and more generally how to live as an artist and maintain an obsession with artistic expression and growth. That includes how art can be a tool to help you live a better life. I've shown work in galleries in NYC and Chicago, I now split my time between NYC and Paris and am well-involved in the artistic communities of each of these art hubs.

I've studied many well-respected teachers and artists and understand how best to learn the skills of figurative artwork and portraiture from the foundation up. I’ve lost count of the number of books on anatomy, figure drawing, oil painting techniques and materials, and philosophy of artmaking that I’ve read. Having been through a long journey of learning to draw and paint and photograph, I can caution against pitfalls and guide towards efficient growth. You get to learn from my experience.

I love to teach.

I teach above all because I truly enjoy it. The moment people go "Aha! This is working" is a moment I live for in my own work, and to see it in others is to experience that same joy myself.

We'll tailor teaching methodology to your level of experience and your goals, and we'll keep the focus on building your portfolio of artwork. The more work you make, the better. Building and maintaining the habit of good art-making is a process that requires accountability, and I'll help you maintain that accountability to yourself.

Our classes will be focused on helping you make final pieces of artwork that you'll be proud of, and constantly making even better work after that.