Elayne Angel
APP President
Yucatan, Mexico
Our yearly conference marks the culmination of a massive amount of preparation and effort by the organizers and also the attendees. Sometimes the aftermath of a highly anticipated experience can be a downer, but I feel elated and effusive about the whole thing. Since I didn’t write the review of Conference or the other coverage about it that appears in this issue, I feel that our crowning achievement is deserving of additional consideration.
I’ve been to many piercing conferences over the years, but there was something special and different about this one. From my personal perspective, it felt magical to spend a week in huge rooms filled with others who share my calling and passion for piercing. It is a high contrast to the isolation of being the only piercer in any given crowd during the early part of my career. From a professional standpoint, I’m impressed with the apparent development and maturation of our industry.
This year’s Conference had a palpable vibe of positivity that ran like an electrical current throughout the venue. Being in the presence of so much upbeat energy was moving and inspiring. During other conferences, I’ve felt that I was simply at a gathering where piercers from various places had assembled. This time, unspoken barriers came down and there was a notable atmosphere of genuine community. It was great to watch piercers form connections and excitedly communicate about vocational matters with their contemporaries. I also noted heightened tolerance and respect for differences in the piercing methods and styles of others.
The fact that over one hundred piercers traveled from other countries speaks highly of our organization and our reputation. (Come to think of it, I was one of them!) Living in Mexico is fabulous in numerous ways, though I don’t pierce when I’m at home. Between guest-piercing visits I’ll go for weeks or even months having no live interaction with other piercers. I don’t realize how much I miss the company of my own kind until I get back into a studio. But there’s no place like Conference to get a colossal dose of fellowship with a throng of like-minded associates.
Piercers of varying skill and experience levels were present, as always, yet there was an overall tone of dedication as compared to previous years. It seemed that higher numbers of studious pros were taking their craft more seriously than before. These piercers are not just going through the motions of making holes in peoples’ bodies; they are aware of the need for safe practices and honoring our clients’ trust with integrity. They applied themselves by attending as many classes, round table discussions, and workshops as they could, and obtained a lot of valuable knowledge in the process.
Another thing I noticed is that we’re starting to realize our potential and take our place in the world as legitimate professionals, and acting in ways that command the respect that we deserve. This progress was demonstrated during our interactions with others—hotel staff and the guests who were not part of our cadre. I saw a lot of heavily modified body artists comfortably conversing with everyday folks from around the country. As individuals and as a group, we handled ourselves with decorum, and we were treated accordingly. I didn’t witness a single incident involving any negative reactions as I have in the past.
In a society that does not always honor its elders, I also loved seeing the enthusiasm and reverence the attendees showed for my colleagues at the authors’ table—a new feature at Conference. Industry pioneers Jim Ward and Fakir Musafar, along with veteran photographer Charles Gatewood, posed for countless photos and exchanged an abundance of hugs and handshakes with their admirers.
One other aspect of the convention I want to touch on is the vendor Expo. When I first began my career, we didn’t even have curved barbells; styles were simple and extremely limited, so I never envisioned there could exist the vast variety of body jewelry that is available now. It was a delight to see innovation in this field continuing to expand. Not only was the selection at the Expo truly incredible, but also the quality produced by many manufacturers was superb.
Yet another aspect of the event that deserves recognition is the excellence in overall organization, pre-conference planning, and preparation. This was handled phenomenally well. It may sound like I’m tooting my own horn, but that is not the case. Though I am President, I’m not a member of the Conference committee, and the accolades are theirs.
The amount of labor that goes into putting on such a multi-faceted happening is outrageous: from coordinating pre-registration to developing the curriculum and wrangling the instructors and their course materials to arranging for catering; dealing with room blocks; designing and ordering signage, programs, and APP merchandise; generating raffle rules; designing the expo floor layout; scheduling volunteers; and on and on and on. The enormous number of tasks—and the details that must be dealt with—is beyond overwhelming, yet the Conference committee hashes it all out. What we see at Conference are the results of thousands of small decisions made and duties handled.
You know what they say about the “best laid plans,” so it also bears mentioning that the on-site execution was equally outstanding. A large crew of tireless volunteers contributed tremendously and reaped the gratifying rewards found in providing such service.
The talented magician who pulled the levers and knobs behind the curtain at Bally’s was the remarkable Caitlin McDiarmid, APP Administrator. She is worth her weight in gold. Possessed of a peerless skill set, cast-iron commitment, and flair for multi-tasking, she kept it all rolling smoothly. I want to also express my appreciation and admiration for Bethra Szumski, APP Secretary and Conference Committee Chair. She negotiates our contracts with the hotel, which is a tough job. I don’t know whether she was naturally blessed with the talent or if she developed her expertise, but we are so lucky to have her. I have one final shout-out going to Sarah Wooten, the previously mentioned wrangler of instructors. Thanks for your patience and diligence.
Congratulations team, on a job remarkably well done! Attendees also deserve acknowledgment since the majority of people in our industry did not make it a priority to be there.
The 2012 APP Conference was thoroughly enjoyable, but more importantly it delivered a substantial amount of vital information for piercers to do a safer, superior job. Additionally, it provided a setting for us to interact and socialize, and a terrific expo, too. Having used every superlative I could think of, I’ll finish by encouraging you join us at next year’s event if you weren’t already planning to attend. I hope to see you there!