I have been drawing tattoo designs for a while and have free-handed designs w/ sharpie for friends to see what they'd look like as a tattoo so they can decide what would look best. I have been told I should actually tattoo. I love the Idea of tattooing, what would I have to do to get started?
I do not want to simply buy a tattoo gun and start tattooing people not knowing what I am doing. Is there any formal training I need or do I start as an apprentice or what?
I live in a small town with 2 tattoo shops so chances of getting an apprenticeship are low I would think.
And I do have 2 tattoos that were professionally done.
Thanks for any help.

Mate, i'm in the same position as you. To my way of thinking, you need to prove yourself as a worthy apprentice. Myself, i'm currently working on my own portfolio, with my own drawings, designs, and some sample tattoos that i will be doing on some 'pracice skins'. Once you have everything, you think you will nedd, approach your local palour/s to see if they will put you on as the apprentice, and see where that leads you. Your lucky, my town here in Australia, has 1 shop, so things don't look fantastic for me either, but i won't give up, even if i have to self teach myself, lol.