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In 2014 I was working as a tattoo artist and averaging $50-$500 a month in pay. It's a rough industry and prior to being bestowed the title of tattooer, I was an apprentice. I walked into 14 shops across the bay area with my portfolio. And was turned down by almost all...
Then an old biker dude that owned a shop gave me a chance. I apprenticed under one of the tattooers. For months I scrubbed toilets, mopped floors and cleaned the shop. Ran errands. 10-12 hours a day with no pay. I was living off my savings so I could pursue this childhood dream.
I would clean and draw and was the shop bish. Eventually they would let me watch and start to teach me. After more months I would get to tattoo myself, then friends, and then the other artists. Almost a year in I was able to do clients. I made little money. 1/2 went to the shop.
I busted my ass anyways. I accomplished that dream. I knew I wouldn't be able to survive though as it takes years to build a clientele. I wanted to work as an animator again, something I had already done for 6 years in the game industry. But it had been over a decade since.
I enrolled at Animation Mentor, and started to learn Maya. Shop owner told me to quit school or quit the shop. I quit the shop. I focused full time on my classes. I took the mindset that I didn't know anything, and that I would start from the beginning again. That's what I did.
Broke up with my ex. Moved back in with my parents, yes I was fortunate to have that option. I used all my remaining money for my tuition. I went through the entire program and spent countless hours studying and working on my school projects. I quit smoking weed, I quit drinking.
My parents moved to Oregon, I stayed in the bay area as I was on my last class. Was living in different Airbnb spots. I had sold lots of prints and originals of my artwork which helped pay for my classes. One of the co-founders of AM was a big supporter too.
After 20 months I graduated from AM in late 2015. A month later I landed a job at a mocap studio in LA. Trained me on the entire mocap pipeline. From working on set suiting up the talent, to retargeting motions, to animating with mocap. I was very thankful for this opportunity.
I worked on RE7, contract ended. Moved to Oregon. Got hired by another studio came back to LA, worked on Injustice 2, contract ended. Applied at various studios. After a couple months and with literally $600 left in my account, I landed the job at SMS on GOW.
I did the best damn job I could and it was awesome to be there. Contract ended but they extended it. Did more work on GOW and then I was done. Gave me a nice bonus. Studio where I'm at now offered me a full-time position, I accepted and moved to Austin. Where I'm still at today.
From the time I was tattooing to today, I stayed in 12 different places. Mainly different Airbnb. I had an apartment in LA and now a house in Austin. I went from around $500 a month tattooing in 2014 to over 6 figures at SMS in 2017.
I didn't complain about the tattoo industry, I put myself in that. And it was a very difficult and often negative experience. Clients put hands on me without consent when drunk. I didn't want to tattoo them. Shop owner was an asshole. Told me to tattoo minors. I refused.
Lots of crazy things happened during that time. I didn't want to be part of it. I wanted to be with professionals again. I didn't sit around, I took my life, future in my own hands. I took risks, studied, learned, worked hard af. Made my goals happen. Made myself valuable again.
I didn't do it alone though. I had help from many people along the way. And I helped as many people as I could too. To me, the game industry is magical. Yes it's difficult, yes it's a challenge, yes I've moved all over for it. Both times in. I do feel privileged to be part of it.
It's imperfect, and my experience as a tattoo apprentice gives me my own different perspective, that's maybe more rose colored than some. That's ok. I respect each individual's views. But I don't support the narrative it sucks to work on games. It's rad! We are lucky to be here.
There are some wrong, illegal, and downright shitty things that some do in this industry. Some companies take advantage of people too. It's not right. No question about that. I don't support that whatsoever. I encourage people to take their future in their hands. As I have.
I don't like seeing young, aspiring developers being afraid to join this industry. The twitter narrative is the industry sucks. It's no different from any other. It's a great career. It's going to be hard at times, but if you pay your dues, you'll eventually find a happy place.
It may take you years to find a place you can plant roots and call home. Moving sucks. Crunch sucks. Not getting paid what you deserve sucks. Life often sucks. But we get to work on amazing projects that touch the lives of millions of players. And that's priceless.
