Tattoo Reality Show Not Really Reality

So im a bit late on this but there is a TLC reality show about becoming a tattoo artist and it is pissing people off. Apparently they are going to train people to be "Pro Tattoo artists" in 2 weeks and, I assume, will pick a winner at the end. Now that doesn't too bad, except that you can't just become a pro at pretty much anything in 2 weeks. Tattoo artists see it as degrading or demeaning. Something many of them spent years practicing and building toward is now being offered in less than two weeks. Also, they think it shows tattooing in a very "untrue" light. They have kids tattooing on wooden benches and without plastic covers, something a respectable and safe tattoo shop would never do. Many tattoo artists are saying the show undermines all of the safety and quality improvements that the time-honored practice has made in the last decade. They say that it reduces it from a professional job, to a hobby someone can just pick up and do at their will. Anyways, as art has proven, the fact is that NOT everyone can do it and when people express that view, it will always annoy some of the real artists. I understand the concern and especially the note about safety, but also realize that the show probably won't spur a ton of amateurs to believe that they truly are professionals. It's frustrating to see your "craft" or "trade" shown as less valuable than you believe, but also realize that every profession deals with it. As long as your shop is clean, abides by rules and creates quality products, you shouldn't have a problem. It's really the show that could face problems. If they are using unsanitary means and displaying them as correct, there could be legal ramifications...as for the real tattoo artists and shops, I wouldn't worry all that much about the "new perception" the show might create. Anyways, I won't watch the show based on the fact that most reality shows I've seen are carbon copies of one another, with slightly interesting people doing slightly interesting things. That said, it definitely does not help your case if you aren't portraying the "craft" in a realistic manner...not very cool TLC...

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