Feeling lost, mid thirties

[PastelPixie]

Hi all. Thanks for having me. I’m feeling a bit lost right now so if anybody has been in a similar situation to me and has any advice that would be much appreciated.

I’m a tattoo artist by trade, self employed and have been for the past 6 years. It only really started taking off after the pandemic when I started working in good shops, so coming on 3 years technically of doing it with no side job for financial support. I’m good at my job, love it and have great returning clients. I managed to do well to save some money and build up savings, but by end of year 2022 they’d all but gone due to cost of living etc and since then work has been very slow. It’s been a year now of struggling to get steady work and I’m in a constant state of worry about money.

As I’m getting older (not old by any means) I’m starting to think of the future future. Our industry has been hit hard by the cost of living crisis and while I’m confident it will bounce back eventually, I’m beginning to crave more stability in my life in regards to my finances and job. Being self employed we don’t have a pension, sick pay etc and even if I wanted to tattoo full time forever, when I got to a certain age it wouldn’t be viable due to the toll it takes on the body. So one day I will have to go part time or find another job regardless. I have no savings put aside and I can’t afford to, I’m working the equivalent of a part time wage right now and I am trying everything to build my business but it’s very difficult at the moment.

This is where I’m struggling. I’m wanting to get some irons in the fire now. I have a university degree but it’s useless and it’s nothing I would like to take further in regards to my career. I can’t afford to go back to uni again. Right now I’d like to possibly get into something part time alongside tattooing that I could potentially make into a career one day. I’m not ready to give up on tattooing yet but I’m also aware I can’t keep this up much longer in terms of financial and mental health aspects.

I’m just having trouble of thinking of anything I’d enjoy. I know there’s nothing out there I’d enjoy as much as tattooing in terms of job satisfaction but what I’m looking for is something I somewhat enjoy (or fully, you never know), in a sector with good job prospects with the scope to work up/promotion, security and stability. I looked at graphic design but a lot of places need a degree and I’ve heard the industry is competitive and not well paid. Considered the NHS due to room for promotions but again, a lot of the roles require degrees and only a few appealed to me (those in which degrees were essential) Currently looking into civil service but I’d need to research job roles a bit more.

I’m a creative person so I need variety in my job and something that challenges me where I have to use my brain. If I do the same thing day in day out I know I won’t stick to it or enjoy it. I’ve done my time in retail/customer service and I’m well and truly over it so those roles are out. I actually do really enjoy working with people but more on a one to one personal basis or with small groups. I can chat to my clients for hours and build good relationships.

I’m empathetic, good listener, patient, like helping people. I’m not very savvy with any advanced technology (so I’d struggle with digital marketing, websites or coding) but I am confident with all the basic computer stuff. If I can find something that I’m somewhat passionate about, has room for progression and good career prospects and where I can maybe make a bit of a difference in this world, that would be good.

Sorry for the long post but I realised the other day how quickly time is passing and I have no security for the future, and it kinda scared me. If anybody has any job suggestions or anyone has been where I have that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

What is your degree in? Maybe there is some overlap or transferable skills.

Could you diversify your current business, make it more of a brand and sell artwork as prints, t-shirts etc? Maybe that could help in the short term.
Could you also train others? Offer classes/advice on tattoo art?

I’m mid thirties and a bit lost myself. Have you considered an art technician role in a secondary school? It’s like a TA role but specifically for art/graphics etc.

I agree with ShittyGlitter, could you add to your portfolio a bit - by training other tattoo artists, or selling your designs or doing merchandise? Set up an Etsy store and sell your own stuff on the side.

I actually do really enjoy working with people but more on a one to one personal basis or with small groups. I can chat to my clients for hours

What about training to be a counsellor?

https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/art-technician-coventry-1903955

something like this. You would be able to use your creativity whilst working with small groups. No experience needed, full training given. A reliable income with pension etc. Plus you could also do a lot on the side but this ticks a few boxes.

Edited due to double posting.

My degree is in Drama but I’ve unfortunately lost the love for theatre I had back then and I’ve become way more introverted as the years have gone on so teaching drama wouldn’t be right for me.

I’ve been there a few times over the years selling merch etc but it doesn’t generate much steady income.

Generally in the industry if someone wants to learn to tattoo they get an apprenticeship with an experienced artist and work under them for a few years until they’re ready to tattoo. That’s the only way I’d really teach someone and I wouldn’t charge them for it as that’s not really the way it’s done. Tattoo schools are becoming more of a thing in the UK but they’re generally frowned upon in the industry and I agree with that stance. They charge people thousands to learn a skill that can’t possibly be learned in the space of a few weeks and it’s just creating bad tattooers one after the other, so I wouldn’t feel morally right about participating in anything like that. But I’ll give the merch thing another go, maybe I can generate some pocket money in the meantime.

Ah, I was going to suggest drama therapy!

Never mind.

You must have amazing people skills to sit with customers for so long while they're nervous etc.

That's not a very helpful observation is it, sorry. I agree about graphic design being really competitive and low paid to begin with too.

Ummm. Will think a bit more.

I really hope you figure something out too! It can be a frustrating feeling when you feel like you don’t know what to do next!

I’d not thought of a AT, @Tribevibes suggested that too so thank you both! There’s nothing like that around where I am as I’ve just had a look at vacancies but I’ll keep an eye out.

I’ve thought about that quite a few times so I’ll definitely look into that properly as I’m unsure if a degree is needed to become a counsellor. But it is something that definitely appeals to me!

I’m 34 and also trying to work out what I want to do career wise. I am so envious of people who know, it is such a hard decision to make especially when retraining is involved.

No I really appreciate your feedback and suggestions! I actually did look into drama therapy as I wouldn’t mind working with people one on one in that sense. Problem is there’s only 5 MA courses in the UK I could take to get the qualification and they’re in London, I’m in Liverpool :( There are no local universities which offer the degree.

And thank you I honestly do love just chatting to them to make them feel more comfortable. A lot of my clients say their tattoo sessions feel like therapy so maybe that’s telling me something about the direction I could head in 😂

I hope you figure it out! What is it that you do now?

I totally feel that one! It seems if you wish to retrain and already have a degree there are so many stumbling blocks to get through the second time around. Either you’re not eligible for funding due to your first degree, if you are then they’re only full time studies which isn’t viable if you have bills to pay and/or a family to support, apprenticeships are usually full time too with unsustainable pay. Some courses in uni are funded by the NHS but only at 5 grand a year, which means you’d have to fund the rest yourself. And the courses that are funded often need a relevant degree or A level to even get on to them. And again are full time. It’s just so frustrating.

I was also going to suggest counselling.

You don't need a degree.

You can go the CPCAB route (Google it). You'd need to do Level 2 (1 year - 1 evening a week), Level 3 (1 year - 1 evening a week) and then need a Level 4 diploma (2 years - 1 or 2 days a week).

4 years seems like a long time to qualify but it's very doable part-time whilst you are doing your tattoo work.

It's also not ridiculously expensive, especially compared to a degree. Level 2 and 3 are usually a few hundred quid each, and Level 4 is around £3000 a year depending where you do it.

It's well worth looking into it, especially if you enjoy the chats with your clients and listening/ helping people. Often people like tattoo artists, hairdressers, beauticians already have loads of the skills needed for counselling.

Professional calligrapher? Possibly not a main job but you would have the aptitude for it. And could teach others once you were good enough. I imagine a tattooist would excel in giving calligraphy a modern twist.

@PastelPixie I have only just returned to work after a few years off with DS. I am a catering assistant in a school at the moment. It is 2.5 hours a day term time only so fits perfectly around DS but is not challenging enough intellectually for me long term. I am thinking of becoming a speech and language therapist as I know I want to work with children and I have always found language fascinating. However it means 3 more years at university so feels like a very big commitment to make when I am not 100% sure.

I'm the same age as you and had a career change recently, felt very stuck in my old job so totally empathise as I had the same barriers to doing a second degree.
But the good news is you don't have to!
If you're creative you can look into courses from the Chartered Institute of Marketing or the Chartered Institute of PR. You can do them either from home or hybrid. It's not a degree, but it's counts as a CDP (Continued Professional Development) qualification.
They do cost money but nowhere near as much a degree, and you can choose from short or longer courses.
I did a 10 month one while looking after a baby on mat leave and got a design-related job (not in marketing or PR but in an adjacent field) a few months after.

Also don't discount graphic design, it doesn't pay megabucks but there are decent jobs to be had in the public sector where you can earn a steady £30-40k a year with a great pension, flexible working and job stability. You don't necessarily need a full degree in graphic design, you can do a shorter course and some work experience.
I did some free work for a small local charity (again, from home while with baby) to pad out my CV with relevant experience.

Funnily enough I also looked into counselling but decided against it. It seems that to make decent money from it you do need a lot of qualifications and experience (understandable), and I needed to start earning right away to pay bills etc.

Wow thank you for this! I looked into that route briefly last night but need to enquire more in regards to the training centre prices but this has actually given me some hope! Especially if the first two levels aren’t super expensive, it gives me time during those two years to put money aside for the last qualification. I wouldn’t even mind the 4 years either, at least I know I’d have something at the end of it. I’d be around 37/38 by qualification time.

Have you done this by any chance?

I’ll have a look into this! It could be a nice little side hustle!

That’s crazy because I was looking at a SLT too! I think it’s something I’d enjoy also but I was the same as you, I looked into the university courses and I couldn’t commit to 3 years full time study again. And there were no part time courses available near me. It’s a shame too because even looking at jobs a couple days ago a good few SLT vacancies were being advertised for good money too. But it feels limiting when you’ve already studied in terms of getting further uni education.

Have a look at what @fatrascall suggested up above about the counselling route if that would appeal to you. Seems much more doable for people like us! I hope you figure it out though 🙏

Such great and helpful info thank you!! I’d not even heard of the first suggestion! Can I ask what Marketing and PR are like to work in? I’ve always thought about those kinds of jobs but honestly have no idea what they entail. I envisage things like the Apprentice where you work in groups trying to come up with ideas with everyone shouting over each other 😂 I’m not great in business or selling so that’s why I’ve never really gone for those types of roles but I could be way off the mark about what it actually is.

I’ll look a bit further into graphic design. The reading I have done about it just seems to be people with a lot of negative experiences but I’ll still keep that in my mind! I taught myself to use photoshop when I was a teenager so I could probably pick it up quite quickly again. I just have no experience of Illustrator and it seems like a lot of job roles require that. But again I could take a course. I mainly just work in Procreate now due to my job so I’d need to branch out on the software.

Yeah I’ve been reading about counselling and it definitely would take a good few years. But I do have the time. I’m almost 34 so my plan is to have some kind of qualification or relevant experience to potentially kick start a second career by the time I’m 40. I think a lot of tattoo artists have a shelf life of 45-50 max before they really start to see detriments to their bodies and full time tattooing just isn’t viable.

Art Psychotherapy might be another route? I can see that being quite a natural fit for a tattooist.

I don't know why but the first thought that came to my head is a phlebotomist - if your interested in something in the NHS x

@Chocolatehobnobs2948 also do you have any online course recommendations for graphic design? I feel like I’d get to grips pretty quick with the software etc, the thing I’d need to work most on is what makes a good design. Do you still do graphic design now?

I’d actually think I’d really enjoy art therapy but the uni and qualification routes are quite difficult second time around unfortunately. I don’t think I’d have the finances or the time to dedicate to it.