catchaser

I really appreciate the honest advise. You guys are telling me what I already knew but was afraid to say out loud. I would love to help these guys out, especially since one of them is my son but, I can't gift them the money. Business is business and if my chances of success are stacked against me from the inside out that could very well be what it is (a gift, not an investment). I understand the "community" protects itself but it's a shame an outsider can't help. I've tried to understand it watching my son develop his career and I'm not sure I completely get it yet...

The legal stuff and the business doesn't scare me in the least. I know business, that's why I have the means to help these guys out. But this is what does scare me. If down the road somebody gets restless and decides to move on I'm going to have a hell of a time finding a quality artist to fill their shoes. I know from watching my son trying to find an apprenticeship that it's a pretty closed community...

I'd like to revive this thread with an honest question of "What do you think about this situation?" A year into his apprenticeship the shop where my son was working went under because of allot of bad circumstances all happening at once. The owner and artist is interested in "just working" because he is burned out on the business side of things. I would have a firm commitment from him. I know another artist who would be interested as well. Although my son is on his way it would allow him to finish his apprenticeship under the artist he started with. For what it's worth from a "Non-Tattooer" these guys both do amazing work! Both have won awards and have been published in the trade magazines. I'm interested in opening this shop to provide a place for these artists to work and to provide my son with the opportunity to continue his education. Hell, I'd be happy to just make my initial investment back but for the success of the shop I'd hope it would be profitable. Should I entertain this or run like hell and hope they find some opportunity somewhere else?