Category Editorial

Point 76: Member Updates – Aaron Pollack

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The Point: Issue 76 - Cover

Elections
2016 Elections are in full swing at the APP office. We currently have four Board of Directors positions that will end their terms at Conference 2017. Check your email inbox for your ballot. Remember that to participate in voting or running for a position on the Board of Directors the nominee must have completed a membership renewal if necessary, and have all necessary membership documentation including BBP and First Aid/CPR on file with the front office.

Conference Certificates and Photos
Certificates and photos from Conference 2016 are being processed and will be released soon. Keep an eye out for both! The photos will be posted to an official tumblr page for easy access, and will be promoted through email and conference social media pages.

Certificates will be mailed upon completion.

Conference 2016 Recap
Conference 2016 was a resounding success. We had a week jam packed with classes, expo, and our biggest raffle ever!

By the end of the week we had 986 attendees and gave away over $165,000 worth of generously donated prizes.

Thank you to every person who attended, all of our volunteers, our corporate sponsors, vendors, and those who donated.

Conference 2017 will be held June 11–June 16, 2017
at Bally’s Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

Point 76: Tether – Creative Innovator Award & Best Single Booth

1 Comment read Awards & Recognition, Conference, Issue 76, Questions & Answers
The Point: Issue 76 - Cover

Kendra Jane: Tether Jewelry had a very strong first show at this year’s expo. Tell us how it came to be and what the line is all about?

Tether Jewelry: Tether is about creating a jewelry brand that is not only innovative and beautiful, but can reach a wide audience. Riding that line between where designs can be enjoyed and embraced by all people. No matter gender/scene/age, jewelry for all. With each piece of jewelry we hope to take you on a journey; our story is just beginning. That is why this season is called Genesis.

Spending 15 years at a very jewelry-centric studio was where I truly fell in love with body jewelry and all it’s diversity. I started asking “why isn’t anyone making this/doing this better?”

It was at that time I was blessed with the job of designing a line for the shop, I got my first taste as a jewelry designer, and began to bring answers to that question. During that time it really inspired me to explore my designing capability further.

It was 3 years ago, at the 2013 Conference that I decided I wanted to finally pull the trigger on starting my very own jewelry line. The following year was tough; I kept running into obstacles and other frustrations. All while continuing to pierce. I finally decided to take a huge leap of faith and step away from piercing last year to give Tether all my energy. Fast forward to now, after an amazing response at the Expo. It feels so good to have overcome those roadblocks and have reassurance that the leap of faith I took was worth it. The future looks very bright and I’m excited to continue in this industry I love so very much as a jewelry designer and manufacturer.

Kendra Jane: How did you come up with the name of your company?

Tether Jewelry: Naming things/projects is the hardest thing for me. My brain can’t seem to commit to one idea. But there was something very natural and easy when “Tether” popped into my head. The name comes from a place of feeling anchored and connected to things. Being a social shapeshifter myself, I like to be fluid and sit in between two social scenes or two places, taking inspiration from different places and surrounding myself with many peer groups. Tether comes from that place too. There is something uniting and comfortable about that flexibility.Tether Jewelry display

Kendra Jane: This year Tether took home not only the Innovator’s Creative Award but also the Best Single Booth Award, what was the inspiration behind the design of your booth?

Tether Jewelry: I wanted to bring the feeling and identity of Tether out and present all my products in a striking yet minimal environment. We wanted to create a visual experience that was uniquely Tether. We arranged our jewelry display in a way that made you feel like you were looking at an alien language, and as our guest, to feel like you’re a space explorer that just stepped into another world.

Kendra Jane: The design of your booth was unique, but everything about your presentation is very well thought out, right down to your packaging. Tell us more about this.

Tether Jewelry: It took over 2 years to come up with a more complete system for the line. Tether isn’t just about the jewelry. It’s a true exploration of those great feelings you get from adornment and fashion. When you open a box and it contains something that when you put into your hands, or put on, it gives you joy. You get a smile, smirk, or goosebumps. I know we all have felt it. This is my compass in my journey as a designer.

Everything has been designed together and iterated many times. Every color we use is deliberate: our displays, the font, our images on social media, all of it.

There is a quote that has always rang true for me from Doug Tompkins who founded a successful outdoor line: “There is no such thing as small details.”

I also say “we” because all of this wouldn’t have happened without the team of artists/designers and dreamers that are part of Tether. And, of course, to our wearers. Tether is about building something bigger than myself and trusting collaborations and making long term, deeper connections to bring forward something truly special. I hope people can feel that.Tether clicker display

Kendra Jane: Each one of your pieces has a name and a story, please tell us what some of them are?

Tether Jewelry: The 2017 Collection was named Genesis as it marks the beginning of our journey. Our first experiment to glimpse into a future unknown. It’s inspired by water and crafts of travel; both space and sea. Also comes from a passion for machines, science fiction and architecture. Some of the designs were brilliant accidents.

• Navigator — The very first locket ear weight. The name came from the movie Flight of the Navigator. I adored that movie as a kid. The shape of this design was inspired by the spaceship in the movie and a traditional gold ear weight from the Tamil Nadu region of India. This is my ode to alien spacecrafts that can travel our deep blue seas as well as the vast expanse of space.

• Melange — Inspired by the distinctive work of H.R. Giger, I wanted to create a piece to have depth, and texture, but from more angles. It’s my own take on gold granulation, stacking together long tubular ellipsoids to create patterns.

• Drake Series — The Genesis collection is inspired by ocean and water. One of the most well known civilizations that had their own innovations on the sea were the Vikings. The longships were way ahead of their time. And so this design is an ode to one of their ships. The Drake name comes from the word Draken which means dragon. The Vikings sometimes had a dragon-shaped prow on their longships as a symbol for protection. Out of that design, using the curving lines of a Viking longship keel, manifested the Drake cuff. The Drake hoop was an accident from an early iteration of the cuff that was too large, I immediately thought how a larger clicker weight would be great in earlobes.

Kendra Jane: What are your plans for the next year?

Tether Jewelry: You can expect more designs next year. I am committed to ensure we are delivering the best product to the end customer. Our primary goal for next year is how to be a better wholesale-only design house. All the while enjoying ourselves and trying to create a memorable and lasting experience.

Kendra Jane: Do you have any advice to those small companies that are thinking about making their first appearance on the Expo floor at Conference?

Tether Jewelry: This took a huge leap of faith for me. Plan for the long game, there are no shortcuts. This industry is growing fast and there is a little piece for all of us. Don’t be afraid to partner with someone. We can’t do everything ourselves, especially when doing it well.

Tether Jewelry - 2016 APP Expo Booth

Point 76: Tawapa – Best Multiple Booth

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The Point: Issue 76 - Cover

Marina Pecorino headshotMarina Pecorino
Managing Editor of Content & Statistics

At this year’s Exposition, Tawapa won the multiple booth award with their dark unicorn themed display. I had the opportunity to interview Phoebe, owner and designer for Tawapa, about how their processes and ideas have evolved during 20 years of producing jewelry for the industry. Manufacturing and distribution to over 200 countries is a huge job, and it sounds like Tawapa is constantly fine-tuning their processes to meet demand and introduce new designs.

Marina: Tawapa has been producing jewelry for our industry for 20 years. How have the manufacturing and order processes changed in that time?

Tawapa: 20 years is a long time. Everything has changed, and then changed back, and then changed again. The manufacturing process used to be much much simpler. In the beginning we only produced carved jewelry. Ideas were communicated to the carvers via my drawings. I started Tawapa in 1996 working with the carver who was making buttons for my clothing line at the time. I loved him, but the industry grew quickly in the beginning; he began taking on a lot of clients and our quality and security were compromised. So I started the Tawapa carving workshop in about ‘98 or ‘99. Building our own workshop made it possible to hire a team focused only on Tawapa. This meant, better quality, consistency and prices. It also gave steady jobs to a small team who really got to know our product and our vision. These are the guys who still carve all of Tawapa’s organic jewelry. Our relationship has been long and prosperous. It’s been great growing up together.

We are now, clearly, more focused on metals which is a huge shift in manufacturing (and designing). I started the Tawapa metal workshop about 7-8 years ago. This was the next major milestone in our production capabilities. I learned so much in this process and was once again able to provide solid jobs to a strong team who could grow with us. Here we have our master wax carver who works beside me on new designs. She is, incidentally one of the only female wax carvers in Bali. She is highly skilled and can work sometimes up to one month on extremely complicated designs. Her finished waxes go to casting and then come back to the workshop for finishing. Besides our wax carver we have 2 amazing sample makers. These guys make hand made samples that don’t need cast pieces for the design. They are also the ones who finish our “masters” for casting and who consistently help me problem solve; they are our engineers. Their skill surpasses most silversmiths I have met, so their time is precious.

Next we have our production team. These people are piecing every item of jewelry together with their hands, their bench, a torch and some solder. Our team is stellar and coincidentally predominantly female, which is very uncommon in the jewelry business. They come to us with different degrees of skills. It’s been amazing to watch these women excel, deepening their skills while sharing, teaching, and learning from each other. The intent is that everyone who works for us learns greater skills for the future while they become experts working piece by piece on Tawapa jewelry.

Using metal is infinitely inspiring to me. Every day and every year I learn more about the process, while creating new processes and transforming old ones.

Regarding the ordering process, we have gone from producing stock and selling what we have, to primarily taking orders and filling them, to finding a happy medium. Producing quantity and quality to fill orders in a timely fashion is an inherent challenge in this business where everything is handmade in small facilities. Through the combination of in-house stock and taking orders, we are able to hone in on this great conundrum and continue to fill orders better and faster.

Marina: Tawapa is woman-owned and operated. Has Tawapa chosen to always employ only women and why?

Tawapa: This has been a natural evolution of the company. We do not exclude men. We love men 🙂 I think energetically, the environment Jenella and I have created over time is more feminine, and therefore we attract females. I know that in our production studio, since we have balanced the gender scheme, it is a much gentler environment for everyone to work in. Incidentally, this choice was not at my request, it just happened naturally.

Marina: Tawapa offers a huge selection of designs and materials, which must require a lot of space and a wide variety of skills. How is quality control handled within the manufacturing process.

Tawapa: As I mentioned earlier, we have a carving workshop and a metals workshop. We also have started sampling ourselves here in Los Angeles, which helps speed the whole process along.

We have at least 3 stages of QC. The carving workshop quality controls everything they produce, then they deliver to the metal workshop. Here, we have full time QC people dedicated to checking the quality while also checking and testing and double testing everything that is produced in the metal workshop. Next, all of that jewelry lands in our studio in Los Angeles, where we have 1-3 people checking every single piece of jewelry that comes through here…. again. It’s a very important process that takes a lot of time and employs several people.

Marina: Where do you guys find inspiration for new designs and jewelry lines?

Tawapa: I am inspired by everything all the time! It’s limitless. But I like to focus on a few important topics every year or every season.

We did a large collection of geometric inspired jewelry a couple years ago. This year I was inspired by gothic and deco stained glass. I mean, it is infinite, and this inspiration is what drives me.Tawapa - unicorn display

Marina: Tawapa has released all sorts of new designs within the last year. Which new designs are the Tawapa pirates most excited about this season?

Tawapa: Oh wow… so much! To begin with, we are excited about horn again for the first time in awhile. The simple sophisticated geometric shapes that are a long way from previous “tribal jewelry” are really changing our current outlook on carved jewelry. I wear horn again! Besides that, the bondage eyelets are super innovative and new. (We love all the new eyelets.)

We are thrilled about all of the septum jewelry and push pins. The black nano coating has added a refreshing new look to everything. A few favorite designs would be the Minona, Valkyrie Shield, the Owl, Origami Weights, Unicorn Weights, and Notre Dame (inspired from the window of Notre Dame). We are also excited about the inclusion of stone in so many of our new designs.

Marina: Where does Tawapa find inspiration for the Conference booth displays?

Tawapa: We LOVE creating displays! We spend way too much time, effort and money on it, because we enjoy it so much. This year that unicorn (previously a horse) came to us magically, and we sort of built the display around her, deciding that matte black was this year’s color choice. I’ve also been really inspired by street art lately. I’ve been learning screen printing, so some of that carried over to the overall look of the campaign. Every year is different depending on current inspirations. #currentmood Going all white a couple years ago was a bold move for a dark industry that I think everyone found surprisingly refreshing.

Marina: Does Tawapa have any suggestions about how to handle and display your jewelry in the shop?

Tawapa: Be innovative with your materials. Think outside of traditional “displays” and use unusual items and materials for your displays. Creating multiple levels is really important to us. The key is to create a visually stimulating display that maintains an essence of simplicity so that it does not overwhelm the viewer. It’s a thin line. You need to wow your customers with an amazing display that doesn’t take focus away from the jewelry, but rather, draws them in and makes it easy for them to digest, and want to buy.

Marina: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Point readership?

Tawapa: We are just really humbled that we are still here after 20 years! It has been an exciting ride. It is awesome to be 20 years in and feeling more inspired than ever. We are so grateful to all of our shops, piercers, friends, and community who have stood by us all of these years. I think that in this industry more than most, there is a very symbiotic relationship between all of us. All of us at Tawapa love and respect the relationship we have within this greater community that goes beyond manufacturing jewelry. It is a relationship that has withstood the test of time… and it feels great! So, thanks, you guys! We love you!

Tawapa - 2016 APP Expo

Point 76: Conference Volunteers

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2016 Association of Professional Piercers Conference Volunteers

2016 Conference VolunteersAl D. Scholars
Aldo Booth Gissi
Angie Van Dijken
Anthony Watts
Fabrício Cardoso
Hannah Bough
Jamie Biggers
Jane Absinth
Juan Manuel Mora
Maree Fowler
Nicole Holmes

Managers
Sarah Wooten
Will Spencer

Registration
Kendra Jane B
Theo Sheffler
Anna York
Badur Ramji
Tiana McGuire
Marina Pecorino
Stephanie Hill

Info Booth
Jezebel Voulé

Merchandise Booth
Casey Hosch
Danny Greenwood


Raffle Booth
Aaron Foster
Ken Seyler
Zane Nichols


AV
Aiden Johnson
Allen Falkner
Brian Moeller
Gus Diamond
Paul Ranier
Shana Gyure

Mobile App Helpdesk
Shorty Calma
Ryan Clark

Classroom Doors
Chadwick Jackson
Mike McInnes
Seven Wolfe

Multiple Stations
Andre Berg
Andru Rogge
Dianna Brown
Frankie Pistone
Hika Kiekenupp
Ismael Vargas Guerrero
Jacob Spjut
John Robberson
Jose Carlos Salgado
Julie Taylor
Kenny  Hughes
Logan Wright
Luna Duran
Marita Wikström
Mark Montgomery
Monica Sabin
Zach Fitzgerald

2016 Association of Professional Piercers Conference Volunteers
2016 Conference Volunteers – Banquet Dinner

Point 76: President’s Corner – Jef Saunders

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Jef thanks Brian for his service as APP President

Jef Saunder headshotJef Saunders
APP President

The first time I ever heard Brian Skellie’s name was in a discussion about “how crazy people can get about cleanliness.” This was in 2001 or 2002 and I kind of just assumed Brian was some nut who wanted to turn body piercing into surgery. Little did I know I’d become an enormous fan of Brian’s, a proponent of much of his philosophy, a fellow Board Member and a friend.

Brian’s tenure as President was really a joy to behold. For those not in the know, Brian is a spectacular navigator of choppy waters. To him, no problem seems insurmountable; every issue fraught with emotion has a rational conclusion. Brian is the rare worker-bee that is also an expert boss.

During Brian’s tenure, the APP had it’s largest conferences to date. He helped process the application and renewals of literally hundreds of Members and applicants. He acted as a resource to the Legislation Committee. He served as International Liaison, supporting piercers all over the globe with their questions about piercing and the Association of Professional Piercers. He also filled in as Medical Liaison by committee. He spoke at industry related conferences all over the world. During all of this, he also ran businesses on two continents. Did I mention he did all of this from France, while raising two young children?

It really is difficult to imagine body piercing being quite what it is without Brian’s influence. Whether the discussion centers around health and safety, freehand technique, material standards, anodization, StatIM autoclaves, or disposable studios, Brian’s name will come up. He’s a master of all things piercing related.

If Brian’s tenure as President marked his departure from APP work, I’d write about how much we’d miss him. Of course, that’s not Brian’s style at all (and we are very thankful for this.) He will continue to assist the Board in all things technical and web related. He is now deeply entrenched in the work of updating the data processing of our ever-expanding membership. Thus giving the organization, and all APP Members, a modern and streamlined method of maintaining membership standards.

Brian hasn’t done this alone. I know this from my own personal experience. Without a dedicated partner, the kind of volunteer hours someone like Brian puts in are simply not possible. His wonderful wife Sandrine is as much a part of this work as Brian is. Thank you Sandrine!

Brian has taught me a lot about piercing, but he’s also taught me a lot about being a dad. One of my favorite experiences with Brian was talking about fatherhood in Mexico late one night while we attended the LBP Conference. It was one of those conversations you think back to and say, “I really needed that at that point in my life.” He may not have thought much about it, but I did… and still do.

So thank you, Brian. You’ve been an exceptional Board Member and President of the Association of Professional Piercers. Thank you for your ongoing support of not only the APP, but the entire piercing community.

Jef thanks Brian for his service as APP President
Jef Saunders honors Brian Skellie at the 2016 APP Conference

Point 76: From the Editor – Kendra Jane B

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The Point: Issue 76 - Cover

Kendra Jane headshotKendra Jane Berndt
Managing Editor of Content & Archives

With a blink of an eye it is over; another Conference has come and gone. The 21st annual Association of Professional Piercers Conference was my sixth, and these six years have been quite the journey. I have gone from apprentice and Al D. Scholar to Board Member. This year’s Conference had me wearing more hats and running more steps than ever, but it also came with the chance for me to share what I do with my two daughters (and show them off a bit). Being able to share the one week of the year that makes me feel the most alive and like myself with the two people that I love more than words; I have to say it was the most rewarding experience. It was an honor to introduce them to a wonderful group of people, my community, my family, the most beautiful people I know. After all they say it takes a village to raise a child, and I belong to a great village.

I consider myself very fortunate to have grown up in a household with a mother that is not only educated, but owned her own business, travelled the world, and can change a tire or build a deck. She set me up for success without even realizing it. She allowed me to learn from my own mistakes while still showing me compassion. She may not have agreed with all of my life choices, but she always supported me. As a female leader in our community, I feel that I have a responsibility to be supportive, compassionate, and to encourage the growth of those around me.

I am so fortunate to be one of just a handful of women to have served the APP as a member of the Board of Directors. My way has been paved by powerhouses like Bethrah Szumski, Alicia Cardenas, Elayne Angel, and Ash Misako. This gives me some very big shoes to fill. These amazing ladies have shown that intelligence, hard work, determination, and perseverance will succeed. So I want to take this opportunity to say how fortunate I feel to have had the support of these fierce ladies in my career. It is no secret that our industry has been a male dominated industry since its inception (as with the majority of industries). Now that I have the opportunity to set an example for generations of young ladies, it is difficult to find words to express my appreciation. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be my best, both personally and professionally.

Point 76: From the Editor – Marina Pecorino

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The Point: Issue 76 - Cover

Marina Pecorino headshotMarina Pecorino
Managing Editor of Content & Statistics

“Good morning. Today is going to be epic!” A note with these words is how my conference experience started, and they couldn’t have been more true. is conference experience for me was epic. As my third APP Conference, this one takes the cake, but I’m sure future Conferences will be even sweeter.

I started the rough draft for this editorial after attending the week’s opening festivities at the pool party. As early morning light started peeking through my hotel window, I had an almost giddy appreciation of the events of the previous evening. For the first time at an opening party, I felt like I finally broke out of my shell. I willingly and enthusiastically floated between groups, sharing conversations about professional and personal topics; social media marketing techniques, obstacles faced by international piercers, organizing state-wide groups for piercers. I credit the awesome APP unisex underpants largely for my brazen approach.

Truthfully though, the credit should go to the incredible people in our industry, this community, and my tribe. Conference is a week of hardcore learning and aisles of unbelievably gorgeous merchandise, but it’s also a week for connecting with a much larger family. We welcome new people from around the world with an open attitude and without judgement.

My first class of Conference this year was a round table about disorders in the industry, and I heard many attendees mention social anxiety. This is certainly something I face especially in such a large crowd in such an overwhelming city, but support is strong with this group, and I feel that is a vital component for many of us. This support and lack of judgement allows Conference to serve as a safe space where ideas can flow.

Every year, I’m continually impressed by our international attendees traveling so far to share in the event. For some, the experience was only possible because of generous donations from others in our community. As an industry, the self improvement of one piercer benefits us all. The give and take of knowledge is a communal effort. Sitting around the “Splash Bar”, there are never ending opportunities to learn from exposure to new perspective through a casual conversation.

On Thursday night at the annual Banquet dinner, everyone was sporting their most futuristic attire. Quite a few folks won life-changing prizes. The scholars and volunteers cheered each other on for a week of hard work. The Board of Directors had another changing of the guard, allowing some great leaders to move on to new projects and others to take on new responsibilities. We said hello, goodbye, and thank you to members of our industry family.

And then, before we knew it, the week was over. The vibe died down and the piercing tribe dispersed. We all trickled back home and started counting the days until our next chance to gather. For many, this count-down will be short, thanks to opportunities like guest spots, Camp APP, and conferences like UKAPP (congrats on the second annual!) and BMXnet. Personally, I can’t wait to see you all in Vegas for the 22nd annual APP Conference; mark your calendars now for June 11-16, 2017.

Point 75: President’s Corner – Brian Skellie

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Brian Skellie headshot at 2014 APP conference by April Berardi

Brian Skellie headshot at 2014 APP conference by April BerardiBrian Skellie
APP President

As I eagerly anticipate our next meeting, the gratitude that I feel towards my colleagues in this organization is responsible for a reliable renewal of enthusiasm. The APP mission, presence, and conscientiousness are core to my personal experience, education, and priorities. My purpose remains the same although my responsibilities change after this Conference.

Getting to know the membership better over these years working within the organization and at the helm has been a privilege. By making certain sacrifices and spending a lot of time on the road, I have appreciated real life meetings with quite a few of you. It has been both informative and delightful to visit with you, your studios, and manufacturing facilities.

These days, it is much easier (via the myriad of technological advancements available) to find out more about our colleagues and their work and attitudes. I’m convinced that this friendly professional espionage/stalking following is one of the best things for collegiality in our business. Evermore accessible technology has facilitated a greater sense of familiarization and a willingness to communicate. This development has provided a foundation for friendships and interaction with people who I may have otherwise been more reserved with, and I live with a daily appreciation of how online translation provides access to the world.

Our community seems to be rising, bolstered by social media and a culture of sharing among peers. Access to current information and peer review alongside beautiful examples of our work have created a level of accountability for achieving our goals and is keeping this trade lively. Aptitude and quality are continually improved upon and excellence may be recognized.

Even as I step down from Presidency this summer, we have committed to participate internationally to keep the momentum with fellow trade organizations going. I find it refreshing to see the progress of LBP and the UKAPP, along with the continuing success of our Associate Corporate Members, APTPI, ASAP, BMXnet and meetings in Germany, Spain, and France. Let’s make this happen!

Point 75: From the Editor – Kendra Jane B

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The Point Issue 75 Cover

Kendra Jane headshotKendra Jane Berndt
Managing Editor of Content & Archives

On May 1, 2016 the province I live in was struck with the largest disaster in my country’s history. What I have also seen come out of this tragedy is a special intimacy, and openness to help and to share with those in need. Although I do not live in Fort McMurray, where this tragedy occurred, it is a city that has supported my family for decades and is home to many of my friends. As this tragedy and the recovery efforts unfold, we are all coping in different ways, as is the case when struck with grief, sorrow, or any other very intense emotion. When I am sad or happy or anywhere inbetween I work through my feelings in the kitchen.

I have also been reading a book that has struck a chord in me. It is is both about life and cooking and I would like to share a little of it with you, our readers.

When we cook, we are expressing ourselves completely, for we always cook within the context of our lives. If we are feeling lonely, stressed, generous, too busy, happy—whatever is happening in that moment—when we step up to the stove, we cook with these circumstances as much as any ingredient or recipe. This kind of attention to the particulars of the moment won’t be found in the recipe we are using, yet it will have an enormous influence on the final product and how much enjoyment we will receive from both the doing and the consuming of it.

I want to encourage and support us to look more deeply and experience more deeply, in our everyday lives. There is a hunger for a more considered life, one where our everyday circumstances are not a series of inconveniences to get through (or around) as quickly as possible, but rather a source of awakening and pleasure. We don’t have to go looking for it, we don’t have to purchase it, because it’s right here. 1

I think I have already read the above passage a hundred times and the contents of its message makes me look more forward to our Conference than ever before. This is the one week a year I soak in every minute, every $6.00 bottle of water, every smoke filled casino, and every tired morning. There are absolutely no inconveniences, and everything is a pure source of genuine happiness and awakening.

As you read our pre-conference issue I urge you to change your mindset as you pack and prepare. In this issue you will find excellent tips from our mentor team to lessen the stress before you even leave home, setting yourself up for a successful week. If your worry is about leaving your shop while at Conference, April Thomas and Julie Taylor have put together some advice on ensuring your studio will be more than prepared for your absence.

As I wrote, edited, and compiled this issue I felt the butterflies start in my stomach, but this year I will be approaching Conference from a different perspective, one that will allow me to see my conference family in a whole new light. I urge you to do the same; open your hearts and minds, let down your guard (as hard as it may seem) and experience the week, really experience it. Amazing things can happen when you do. I look forward very much to hugging my family, my friends, and the best colleagues on the planet. So whether this is your first or your twenty-first Conference, I hope you will allow yourself to find the extraordinary in the mundane, the irreplaceable in what others dismiss as irrelevant; to have a deeper life experience.

1 Velden, Dana. Finding Yourself in the Kitchen. Rodale. New York. 2015.

Point 75: From the Editor – Marina Pecorino

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The Point Issue 75 Cover

Marina Pecorino headshotMarina Pecorino
Managing Editor of Content & Statistics

I was born and raised in north Florida, which unfortunately is not known for its diversity. So, having the chance to experience a convention space filled with piercing industry professionals definitely has a unique impact on me each year at Conference. Seeing so many members of a subculture in close proximity is incredible on its own, but experiencing such a high level of colleague support and strong eagerness for professional growth makes all the difference. As we all prepare for this exciting week of classes, camaraderie, and fun, please take a read through our pre-Conference issue. Julie Taylor and April Thomas have provided some tips for preparing from a business perspective. Frankie Pistone has written some very important things to consider if you are covering at a studio during Conference as well.

As I get ready to embark on my second Grand Summer Adventure and a shift in career directions, I find myself thinking about the role that APP has played in the past several years of my life. I can honestly say that volunteering has forever changed me. The support I’ve received from my fellow volunteers and colleagues has helped provide me with the confidence to take professional risks, from which I’ve had some incredible experiences. It has been quite a journey to learn that there is a place (or several) for the real “me” in the workforce. In this issue, Stephie Von Hütter Thomas describes a similar sensation during her graduate studies. The people I’ve met and worked with as a result of Conference and the APP have played a significant role in my professional identity and the course of my work life.

As I prepare to embark on a summer’s worth of exploration, culminating in our shared week in Vegas, I reflect on all the professionals I’ve connected with since my first APP Conference in 2012. Since then, I’ve witnessed and been a part of industry collaborations at all different levels around the world. As a result, I am finally learning that travel and consistent work are not mutually exclusive.

Conference is a family reunion of sorts. Every year piercers save up, plan, and buzz about seeing all of their industry family. The volunteer family is already buzzing with talks of hugs, coffee runs, nerdy late night puzzling, and Legos. It truly is an amazing week, I can’t wait to see my industry family and meet new members of our tribe in just a few short weeks!