Apprenticeship program

Master fine-line craft inside a hospitality-first studio.

This eight-month immersion pairs technical precision with the choreography of luxury events. Learn directly from our lead artists, producers, and medical partners across four residencies.

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What you’ll experience

Art school rigor. Boutique hospitality DNA. Real shows.

The apprenticeship is invitation-only. We’re building future crew leads who can balance permanent art with concierge-grade guest care.

Paid Residencies

Compensated placements alongside our touring crews in Los Angeles, New York, and destination activations.

Mentor Pairing

Dedicated lead artist and producer guiding each module—from flash composition to queue choreography.

Safety First

BBP, sterilization, and medical partnerships taught by Cedar Medical and audited by compliance leads.

Portfolio Ready

Editorial imagery, brand collaborations, and certified credentials to launch your residency career.

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Curriculum

Build the craft, systems, and presence planners expect.

Five core modules rotate across the eight-month arc. Each one pairs classroom intensives with live-activation labs.

Fine-Line Foundations

Machine technique, needle pairings, line weight control, and flash design labs led by Emerald.

Hospitality Choreography

Guest briefings, accessibility protocols, queue pacing, and aftercare rituals co-taught by our hosts.

Event Systems

Load-in sequencing, layout math, planner communications, and compliance checklists with Oz.

Brand Collaboration

Mood board alignment, co-creating flash sets, and storytelling with experiential marketing teams.

Wellness & Sustainability

Ergonomics, schedule management, mental health support, and recovery routines between activations.

Each cohort co-authors a flash capsule released during the final residency showcase—captured editorially for your portfolio.
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Eight-month arc

From studio lab to touring residencies.

We move quickly, but never without intention. Every phase builds toward leading your own activation.

Month 01

Foundations Lab

Studio intensives, tool calibration, safety certifications, and hospitality scripting.

Months 02-03

Local Shadowing

Assist at Los Angeles activations, manage aftercare lounge, and shadow compliance drills.

Months 04-06

Touring Residency

Travel with the crew, lead flash stations, and support planner walkthroughs in key cities.

Month 07

Specialty Track

Choose piercing, content capture, or producer path with targeted mentorship.

Month 08

Capstone Event

Design a micro-activation, present metrics, and receive final evaluation.

Graduates gain priority placement on future residencies and access to the Alumni talent roster.
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Who you’ll learn from

Mentorship, medical oversight, and hospitality leads.

This program runs on human expertise. Every mentor anchors a different facet of the Tattoo Popups system.

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Emerald
Lead artist & co-founder

Emerald

Guides flash theory, brand collaborations, and creative direction across each residency.

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Oz
Executive producer

Oz

Covers logistics, client choreography, safety protocol integration, and performance under pressure.

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Cedar Medical
Clinical partner

Cedar Medical

Delivers BBP, sterilization, and emergency response training tailored for live events.

Guest Masterclass
Visiting Legends
Visiting artists

Guest Legends

Quarterly masterclasses from fine-line icons, sound designers, and photographers.

Support Infrastructure: therapy stipends, ergonomic coaching, and a dedicated planner liaison throughout every residency.
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Entry criteria

Who thrives inside the cohort.

We look for artists who treat hospitality as a craft and systems as a second language.

  • Portfolio featuring fine-line or micro-realism work, healed or digital.
  • Two-plus years tattoo, piercing, or adjacent craft experience with required licensing.
  • Comfort working hospitality-grade events, late nights, and travel schedules.
  • Willingness to adopt Tattoo Popups systems, documentation, and compliance standards.
  • Collaborative mindset and openness to co-creating flash with studio leads.
International applicants welcome; visas and travel logistics are coordinated case by case.
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Next cohort launches in February

Ready to apprentice with Tattoo Popups?

Share your portfolio, city, and the path you want to pursue. We review applications weekly and invite selected talent to a live interview lab.

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