Practical guide to open a tattoo studio

The term "tattoo" comes from the Polynesian word "tattoo" or "tatatu." The seafarer and explorer, James Cook, discovered the process on his voyages to Tahiti in 1869. He brought the concept back to Europe. In a short period, "tattoos" became popular among all classes of people.Tattooing is an ancient art. Historians have documented it among many ancient peoples. Tattooing dates back as far as 3,000 B.C. It was known and practiced among the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans, the natives of North America, the pre-Colombian inhabitants of Peru and Chile, and various Asian peoples. The reason for each group to use tattoos to mark or modify their body differs. For some people, it was a status symbol, for others, an indication of their criminality. Tattoos upon the different parts of the body can indicate so many different things. In the past and present, they signify declarations of love or act as talismans of protection. They are pure adornments and signs of remembrance.Tattoos, like many cultural forms of expression, wax, and wane in popularity. In the mid to late 19th century, tattooing found popularity among the British and European aristocracy. It was also accepted among miners and sailors. During the early 20th century, the trend waned among the upper classes but remained a staple part of the identification and right-of-passage among sailors. The young seaman got his tattoo at a tattoo parlor. Many of these small shops were found close to the ports of call of large cities.The sleazy image of tattoos and tattoo parlors continued to remain a staple image of movies featuring sailors or drunk, foolish boys. The tattoo was a sign of male manhood and male stupidity. This was particularly true in jokes where some character was depicted with the name of a girlfriend on his arm tattooed above the name of another girlfriend scratched out. Numerous jokes worked around the tattooing of the word "Mother" on a beefy arm.In the 1990s, the image of tattooing as a rough-and-tumble art began to change. The artistic merit of tattoos began to rise to the fore. A series of art shows and a change in public attitude brought tattoos and the art of tattooing reintroduced this ancient form of descriptive design back into the mainstream. People began to admire tattoos and see them as visual works of art. The Chicago Exhibition of 2009 titled "Freaks and Flash" further enhanced the changing image.Today, tattooing has become more popular than ever. The television shows Inked, Miami Ink, LA Ink, and London Ink both influence and reflects the changing approach to tattoos and body modification. While the old-time tattoo parlor still exists, there are more instances of tattoo salons. More people are realizing the creativity that entails producing a tattoo. The regulation of the application of this art has also legitimized the business of tattooing. This is a good time to set up your tattoo salon.Although the timing for starting up your tattoo salon may be right, are you ready? Whether you should embark upon this new business venture and if you can do so successfully, are legitimate questions you need to consider.This book hopes to put to rest any doubts you may have about your suitability for this ongoing project. It looks at what it takes and what you will need to set up and open a tattoo salon. It will look at such things as your requirements, your qualifications, the demands of the business, and other related aspects. There is a myriad of details to consider even before you decide to become the owner, manager, and employee of a tattoo salon. It is always best to start with the first crucial question. Why do you want to set yourself up in a tattoo salon?