Contracts... Do you think I did the right thing?

[ArtAche]

I was an apprentice at a tattoo shop here in Georgia for about 5 months. They also made me shop manager about 3 months ago. Talk about a f@#ked up situation. I could take s&!t and give it. Not a very comfortable environment! Well, I was doing great! They had me tattoo myself about a month ago and now I have done around 13 tattoos on my friends. Sunday, August 2nd, the owner asked me to sign a contract. I said it wouldn't be a big deal and that I would. Well, I had a whole week to think about it and discuss it with other tattoo artists and friends. And of course my mother! Anyways, this is what the contract said. I would work for them for 2 years and if I got fired or quit within those 2 years I would have to pay 5 grand! I didn't agree with it and no one else did either so I brought it up to the owner and told him, maybe we could renegotiate. And here I am.... without an apprenticeship and a job cause I told him I wasn't going to sign it. I honestly can't blame them for doing what they did.... but it does sting a lil'. I'm taking this as an opportunity!

Here are a few of the tattoos I've done.