by John Joyce

While driving to work, listening to NPR and sipping coffee, I heard an interview that drew parallels to some things I see in our industry.

The interview was with a classically trained musician who was releasing new work. She was explaining how her process has changed, and how she has found a new joy and connection to music. It was a connection she hadn’t realized she was even missing.

The woman in the interview explained how her training shaped how she approaches her work. Being classically trained, you are taught to replicate something, look at your work, and look for mistakes. Do this over and over until you can say, “I replicated this; it is perfect with no mistakes.” This type of critique what was done differently, then redo it until you are doing it the same way as whoever posted the original video. What I think is missing here is connecting with the client, and the moment of seeing and feeling what works best for you. The way the person in the video is doing something may not be the most comfortable way for you to do it. Rather than straight replication, what if we paid close attention to what felt uncomfortable about an experience, which will likely lead to a way that works better for you. When you are just looking for mistakes and trying to replicate what the person in the video did, you are missing an opportunity. I believe that one of the defining characteristics of our industry was that it was born of hands on learning.

Your hands might not be the same size as the person in the video. You might have different levels of dexterity. The configuration/height/angle of the equipment in your environment may be different. Trying things the way someone else does them is fine, but pay attention to what works for you and what is comfortable for you, instead of forcing someone else’s technique on yourself. Tools, no tools, 2″ needle, 3″ needle, etc… what connects with you? What clicks?

The woman in the article went on to say how after spending time and playing with musicians in New Orleans, they changed her perspective on performing and appreciating music. After playing and working with them, she was taught that mistakes are part of the process; those mistakes are what make the music feel alive and continues the personal growth of the musician. Don’t be afraid to make the mistake, roll with it, and still come out with something great. Be in the moment, make that connection with your audience, your client. If it didn’t go as well as hoped, ask why and what you could have done differently? Don’t just attempt to do it the same way over and over.

This also hits on the second thing I see in our industry. Make that connection. Don’t forget you are working on a whole person. I see so many videos being posted looking for critiques from peers, that might as well be a demonstration on a silicone body part. Again look to the roots of our industry and see that those personal connections are what made the industry as we see it today. When you are piercing an ear, or a nostril, or whatever, you are also piercing the person sitting in front of you. Include them; this is their experience. I understand that the experience now is a lot different than it was 20 years ago, that the clients are different, but you are still the facilitator of their experience.

When you draped half their upper body for that simple helix piercing, they didn’t disappear. Just because you no longer have eye contact with them, doesn’t mean they can’t feel what is happening, feel your nervous energy, or your excitement. Include them in that. So many of the videos I see focus on the wrong things: “Look at this great jewelry.”“Look at this crazy needle bend.” “Look at my drape level 900.” “Look at my fly freehand technique.” “Look how fast I was.” This all screams, “Look at me, other piercers. Am I worthy yet?”

All that is great: you should absolutely strive to be as aseptic as possible, want to try new techniques that might work better for you, and push yourself to be more technically sound. My current worry is, a lot of piercers seem so focused on the task at hand, so worried about doing the perfect piercing, that they miss out on the perfect experience. It is important not to miss out on the connection with the client, and the bond that can come from that interaction. In that moment, the client should be the piercer’s best friend, the only person that matters. Yes, you should absolutely be giving them the best nostril, helix, navel, or whatever piercing you have ever done, each and every time, but if all they are getting is a perfect piercing and not the perfect experience, you are both missing out. For them, the initial excitement is probably enough to not realize they missed out on anything. For you though, over time, without that connection, just piercing nostrils gets old after a few years. It becomes a job. Each time, you care a little less, and each day becomes a little harder to show up for.

As someone who has been in this industry for just over 20 years, there have been times where I too had lost that connection and many times didn’t even realize it. I used to fall in love about 20 times a day: with the client, with the piercing, with the connection. Granted the experiences were very different when I first started, and it was hard not to feel a great connection when so many of the piercings were very private, personal, and intimate, for a variety of different reasons. Many of those reasons, new piercers won’t understand; it’s a very different industry now. While that doesn’t happen as often anymore, it still happens. I love our clients. I love what we do. I love learning about them. I love that they let me be part of their life experience. That connection and being a part of so many different people’s lives has helped shape who I am, what the industry has been to me. It has filled me with empathy and understanding in a way that I wouldn’t have if I ended up anywhere else. Even though the client/piercer connection has evolved, I still feel it, and I urge you, as you move forward in your career to find it as well.