Is this tattoo apprenticeship sketchy?

[Anonymous]

So I want to learn tattooing and I talked with a local artist that owns a shop. He said I'd have to sign a 5 year contract and if I break it I'll owe $5,000. I'm also trying to go to school and 5 years is a long time. Is this normal? I want to learn but at the same time I don't want to be trapped and there's no way out.

[ChrisMaster69]

You would need any contract checked over by an employment lawyer, contracts etc.

5 years seems really long, however it’s other things such as wage increases over that 5 years, being not being able to open a shop within say 10 miles for 10 years, things like that. What they have to do if they go bust or shut up shop.

get this type of thing checked out.

[Asker]

Yes anything can happen in 5 years I could leave but I don't want to be legally binding and be trapped.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if that's common or not, but regardless I'd say it's not for you and don't do it. Find another place. It's seems strange to me and I don't know what this contract would be for? You'd be an employee not a contractor? Or maybe not? But not for you either way.

[Asker]

I guess so I won't just leave without paying for his services. He said it's happened before I don't know why he wants payment.

[Opinion Owner]

You have to pay him for the experience? I don't know about that work, but that doesn't seem right to me at all.

[Opinion Owner]

Apprenticeships are usually free.

[Asker]

Yeah it's free just can't leave until the 5 years are up or else I'll owe $5k

[Opinion Owner]

Assuming you don't just look for some place else (other options?), you can always talk to a lawyer. They usually give 30 min free consultations and can at least tell you if this is reasonable or not.

[TenkRealist]

Yeah that looks like a trap. In the UK, apprenticeships are approx two years and you owe nothing. You can leave any time.

[Asker]

Yeah 5 years is a long time and I probably won't be able to work several hours especially if I have school. I don't want to be trapped and owe $5k