Category President’s Corner

Point #67: President’s Corner

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Elayne Angel_high resBy Elayne Angel

Conference is fast approaching, and my three-year term of service as President of the APP will soon be over. Memories of the events throughout this time period are swirling in my mind—long meetings, countless emails and phone calls, hard work, tons of fun, and a whirlwind of busy days and nights. I will be stepping down from my fourth Board, marking the end of my 12th year as a Director. Whew.

The next time you read this column (and/or see the video) you will find the words of a new President, which is very exciting. Though I do feel a tad melancholy, I’m willing to admit that I’m also somewhat relieved to be passing along my title and the responsibilities of the position. I’m incredibly thankful for having had the opportunity to serve the organization during all of these years. It truly has been an honor and a privilege.

The forthcoming changes in personnel on the Board will result in a wonderful combination of new faces, ideas, and perspectives, balanced with seasoned Directors who have the benefit of long experience with the APP. I’m so looking forward to seeing them in action. And I’m not planning to run off and hide. I will be around and available to support and assist the new Board and the organization in whatever ways I can—as always. I need not hold a title in order to help (nor should you).

Looking over the eons of my APP involvement I began to wonder, “Wow, where did that drive and stamina come from?” Then I thought about all of the years I’ve worked as a piercer, right back to the 1980s, and I became aware that this longevity has been made possible by a very specific emotion: passion. I still feel genuinely passionate about piercing.

I’m referring not only to my work in the industry, but also the piercings I wear, which have provided me with immense enjoyment over these decades. My own piercings have been liberating, gratifying, and perhaps just shy of magical. They have allowed me to know, celebrate, and enhance my body—and my sex life. My piercings have helped me to become my true and best self. They have caused me to face my fears, stand up for myself, and develop independence and self-confidence. Piercing has chanFakir, Elayne, and Jimged and shaped my life into something special and unique. I’m living an existence I never could have imagined as a child.

Seriously, if piercing didn’t exist, who would I be right now? Certainly not the self I am today. The truth of the matter is, I LOVE piercings—having and performing them.  I am deeply appreciative for the fact that I still adore what I do. I feel like the luckiest person on earth.

I have maintained my enthusiasm for this profession over such an extended period by focusing on the many aspects that are in the “plus column” and looking right past the negatives. Are there parts of the job that are tedious and boring? Sure—but every occupation has those. Does it take a lot of patience and energy to deal with indecisive or fearful clients? You bet. But I find that it is worth putting up with that stuff for the bigger rewards.

I concentrate on the fact that what I do, what we piercers do, has the ability to actually improve self-esteem, self-image, and quality of life for our clients. There aren’t all that many careers out there with such potential, and precious few that don’t require a greater investment of resources such as money, time, and formal education.

I’ve experienced the thrill of seeing a customer literally jumping up and down in front of the mirror shouting, “I’m transformed!” Even if we don’t get to witness such obvious confirmations on a regular basis, I remain aware that with this work it is possible.

Regardless of whether a piercee has a profound motivation for getting pierced or not, you have the opportunity to have a positive and affirming impact on that individual. Through your own attitude and the way you facilitate the experience, piercings can be made to feel significant and meaningful to both you and your clients.

I also dodge monotony by continuing to challenge myself. I apply myself totally to each and every perforation I make, focusing on making this one the smoothest, gentlest, and quickest—the most perfect piercing I’ve ever done. By continually working toward these goals, I avoid the potentially deadly pitfalls of stagnation and inertia, and I propose that you do the same.

That old saying, “Life isn’t a dress rehearsal” is apt. This is your life, so get with it and get into what you’re doing. Seek out that passion, embrace it tightly, and don’t let go. If you’re not feeling it, if you’re terminally burnt out and have nothing left to give, allow yourself to go and do something else. Not all of us will be “lifers” in this trade, and that’s okay. But if you cherish piercing as I do, take comfort in the knowledge that it is possible to experience enduring passion and joy in this calling. And be grateful for it; I sure am!

Point #63: President’s Corner

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ThePoint_Issue60_v2_Elayne headshotBy Elayne Angel

I bounded out of bed this morning excited to finally have the time to record my  “President’s Corner” video, having finished the current round of edits on the forthcoming update of the APP Procedure Manual. Imagine my shock and dismay when I looked in the mirror to find that my entire face was hugely blown up with red burned-looking patches of tissue under both eyes and in my nasolabial folds. (One of my eyes was all but swollen shut!) My best guess is that I’m having an allergic reaction to a facial moisturizer that I’ve used for quite some time with no other such incidents, and the doctor I visited thought the same. Unfortunately, this means no video recording for me today…

But this episode did remind me of a problem I experienced while guest piercing a few months back. When I travel, I generally make use of the supplies provided by each studio, requesting only that my glove size (XS) be “on hand.” I had never had any problems with sensitivities or allergies before, so I was very surprised when the backs of my hands swelled up with an itchy and painful red rash. The gloves I wore were nitrile, which according to several sources (i.e., Ambitex University and the National Safety Council) is less apt to cause a reaction than latex, which I have used for decades without issues. On my final day I grimaced in pain each time I changed gloves and washed my hands. The residual effects—including inflammation, soreness, and itching—lasted over a week and were followed by flaking and peeling. It was not pleasant or pretty, and it was kind of scary. What if all types of medical gloves suddenly caused such a reaction?

Granted, my appointment book has been extraordinarily full lately, which is wonderful. I usually pierce one client after the next throughout my workday; so, I wash my hands and wear gloves in a continuous cycle for many hours, day after day, but piercers in very busy studios frequently do the same.

When the problem occurred, I didn’t know whether it was the soap I was using to wash my hands or the gloves themselves. So the next time I worked, I used the same soap and changed up the gloves to chloroprene, and thankfully didn’t have any problems. It became clear that nitrile was the culprit, even though I had worn it successfully in the past. Many piercers are aware that long and/or frequent exposure to a substance can lead to sensitivities, which is one of the reasons latex allergies are so prevalent in the medical and dental fields. (Editor’s note: In fact, another article in this issue—by Kendra Jane—tackles allergies as well. Click here to read more.)

In any case, one takeaway lesson for today is this: situations can change and flexibility is needed.

So, on to the topic I planned to cover in the video:

The Association recently received a plea for help in a message from a piercer in Louisiana who was distressed to learn that as of March 7, 2013, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners has issued a formal opinion outlawing surface anchors (the preferred terminology of the Association of Professional Piercers). It was provided in response to an inquiry from one of the Health Inspectors at the Food and Drug Unit, which is responsible for regulating body artists in the state. The letter from the Medical Board states, “…the practice known as ‘dermal anchoring’ or ‘dermal piercing’ is a medical procedure [emphasis added] in that placement would be underneath the epidermis layer of the skin.”

The piercer who sent us the correspondence mentioned that after speaking with Mr. Warren, the Health Inspector for her area who requested the ruling, she believed the practice was decreed a medical procedure because the State Board was informed that these piercings were all being performed with biopsy punches. In the state of Louisiana, piercers are prohibited from using such punches.

The APP will be sending a letter to the Executive Director of the Medical Board who signed the ruling, and also to the Health Inspector to let them know that surface anchors can be done with ordinary piercing needles and that biopsy punches need not be used—and that the organization does not consider this form of body adornment to be outside the realm of ordinary body piercings. We will also explain that other body piercings routinely traverse this same tissue. Further, we will be sharing our formal position statement with them:

What is the APP Position on Surface Anchors? (Also referred to as Single-Point Piercings, Dermal Anchors, Microdermals, and other names.)

In a surface anchor piercing procedure, a tiny ornament is inserted into a single opening that is formed in the tissue with the same tools that are used for body piercing. This opening is the entrance as well as the exit. When properly performed by a skilled practitioner, surface anchor piercing is no more risky than an ordinary body piercing and takes no longer to perform or to heal. They are considered to be body piercings by the Association of Professional Piercers.

Surface anchor piercings are similar to “surface piercings,” which are done on flat areas of the body, but successful placement options are greatly expanded. Surface anchor piercings are a viable alternative to standard surface piercings as they appear to be easier to heal and not as subject extensive scarring. Any residual scarring is apt to be limited due to the tiny size of the jewelry.

Surface Anchor piercings are much less invasive to insert and remove, and should not be confused with subdermal or transdermal implants, which are more extreme forms of body art that do not fall within the scope of the Association of Professional Piercers.

We hold out hope that our support will be able to get the ban overturned in the state of Louisiana, which is where  I ran my own studio, Rings of Desire, for over a dozen years before Hurricane Katrina hit. But that’s a different story…

In early 2000, I personally assisted the legislators for that state in promulgating the original body art regulations. At that time, they were quite amenable to input from professionals in the community. Hopefully they still are, and the decision will be reversed once they have additional information. The APP has had success in the past getting such a ban overturned in the state of New Jersey. But there is no guarantee, so once again the theme may recur: sometimes situations change and adaptability is necessary.

Point #60 President’s Corner: Elayne Angel

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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!

Point #59: President’s Corner – Elayne Angel

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Recently someone asked me about what it was really like back in the “good ol’ days,” when I first started piercing professionally in the 1980s. Reflecting on the ensuing discussion, I am reminded of how truly new our industry is in the scope of history, yet how far it has come since that time.

Think about it: Body piercing is so young that there are still many areas without any legislation on the subject. One must study and practice for hundreds or even thousands of hours to qualify for a license to cut hair in the United States, but in plenty of locations you can pierce the body without any training or oversight whatsoever. This is because our fledgling field and the agencies regulating it are still getting their footing and figuring it all out—but it really doesn’t make sense. I expect that piercing laws will become the norm in the coming years—and the APP is actively assisting body artists and lawmakers to see that only appropriate legislation is enacted—but it simply hasn’t been prevalent long enough for this to have happened yet.

It is hard to appreciate the widespread acceptance of piercing in modern culture if you don’t know how misunderstood and ostracized it once was not so long ago. Any piercing other than the ears (or sometimes a nostril) was a rarity, and was considered disturbing and aberrant.

For young people today, piercing has always been around. They grew up with it as an ordinary and unremarkable part of the world—just like computers and the internet. It can be difficult to imagine a reality in which these were uncommon, or didn’t even exist. I have a number of clear memories that can help to clarify what a different world it was where piercing was concerned.

Imagine this: In 1981, even though I was legally an adult, my gynecologist broke the ostensibly sacred pact of doctor-patient confidentiality to call my parents and tell them that my nipples were pierced! Why? Because they thought I might need to be institutionalized for harming myself. Piercing was so foreign then there was grave concern for my mental and physical health—over something that has become commonplace today.

One of my other favorite illustrative accounts from that era is how easily I was able to convince people that my tongue piercing was an acupuncture stud for weight control. No one doubted me, since tongue piercings were unheard of at that time, and they couldn’t fathom the idea of doing it for fun. The public had not yet been exposed to body piercings, and when I began my career nipples were by far the most prevalent spot to adorn. It was several years before the navel outshined all the other pierceable body parts put together.

One of the biggest challenges I experienced in my early years working at Gauntlet (the first piercing specialty business in the world, founded in 1975) was that I couldn’t procure enough steel body jewelry to satisfy the fastgrowing demand for piercings. There was just a single supplier for it then, so the quantity of manufacturers now making body jewelry is astonishing. There is an overabundance of the stuff, really—especially if you include the mountains of cheap junk that are being produced, mostly overseas.

I can still remember the moment I saw the first steel 18 gauge 3/8” fixed bead ring. Up until that point, all of the small rings Gauntlet produced were white or yellow gold. It was novel and, well, adorable. I knew with that first glimpse I needed to put it somewhere on my body. I came up with the idea of a horizontal eyebrow piercing, which I’d never seen before. It actually healed well (even with the small ring for initial jewelry), and I had it for many years. I only removed it to get my eyebrows tattooed, and didn’t reinsert it afterward. Now this was before curved bars were available. Imagine doing navel, eyebrow, and other body piercings without curved bars as a jewelry option! Yes, it really was quite primordial in a way, but the world of piercing was just starting to evolve.

I feel like I should be recounting these historic tales from a rocking chair on a porch, my head crowned with gray hair. Yes, I am an “old-timer” in this industry—somewhat ironic since I’m just one notch into my fifth decade of life and by no means elderly. I’m the next generation down from our industry’s founders Jim Ward, Fakir Musafar, and Doug Malloy. (If you want to learn all about the formation of Gauntlet and the launching of our industry, read Jim Ward’s amazing memoir, Running the Gauntlet, available at safepiercing.org.)

Since its humble origins, thousands upon thousands of people worldwide have joined the ranks of “professional piercers”—but I do use the term loosely. Some are hacks who cast a shadow over the whole field, but others have advanced it to an art, melded with science and practiced with fervor and expertise. President’s Corner ElaynE angEl APP President Yucatán, Mexico one of my other favorite illustrative accounts from that era is how easily I was able to convince people that my tongue piercing was an acupuncture stud for weight control.

High-tech materials and production methods have made body jewelry available that approaches true perfection. Innovations in design have brought countless new styles to the market. Now there is even a profusion of aftercare products specifically designed for our customers. (I shudder when I recall the instructions for care of my new nipple piercings: apply rubbing alcohol liberally and rotate the rings. Ouch!)

I’m incredibly thrilled that this “wild and crazy” fringe activity I engaged in back in the 1970s and 80s has become, more-or-less, normal thing to do, and I’m proud to have played a role in that. At the same time, I must admit I have a particular disappointment about the subsequent generations of piercers who are working today.

As the nascent business of piercing began to spread and mature, I expected that piercers would join their industry’s professional organization as an ordinary matter of course. I envisioned piercers becoming members of the APP as a natural part of working in the field, the way professional librarians join the American Library Association. And so I address this message to the piercers who are not (yet) members of the Association of Professional Piercers:

Obviously you’re acquainted with the APP because you’re reading this publication. But in case you are unfamiliar with our precise nature and purpose, I’d like to clarify it and elaborate a bit. We are an international non-profit health, safety, and education organization. The APP is the professional organization for those in the piercing industry. We are a respected and reliable resource that has set the standards for the industry.

Piercers who are “Professional Business Members” uphold a safety agreement that encompasses minimum standards for using quality jewelry, maintaining cleanliness, and behaving professionally. They meet certain personal criteria, such as training with certification in First Aid, CPR, and bloodborne pathogens exposure. Their studios must also pass specific environmental requirements, such as having a separate sterilization room and a spore-tested autoclave.

I can’t help but wonder, and want to ask any piercer who is not a member of the APP, “Why not? Do you fail to come up to the organization’s standards, are you unfamiliar with your industry’s professional association, or are you apathetic?” All of those are poor qualities in a piercer.

Since the publication of my book The Piercing Bible, the number of consumers seeking APP members has skyrocketed, as the public is becoming more educated about what constitutes a competent, qualified piercer. If for no other reason than an increase in business, I’d think more piercers would want to become members.

Perhaps you believe some of the rumors and misconceptions I’ve heard about the organization; I would like to debunk them. We are a group of very diverse piercers who are passionate and caring about our work; we are not an elitist clique! If you place importance on what you do, join up. If you don’t feel that being safe, hygienic, and doing a good job are important, please find another field of endeavor.

The APP is not the piercing police. We do not dictate which piercings our members do, what particular aftercare they are to suggest, or whether our members also practice other forms of body art (where they are allowed by law).

The organization is run by volunteers who are elected by the members. If you are dissatisfied with aspects of how the APP operates, you can join, get involved, and change things if enough other members agree with your perspective. That’s what I did.

Below is some of what the APP does:

  • Provides information to consumers, piercers, health inspectors, medical and dental professionals, legislators, and anyone who wants to learn about safe body piercing.
  • Hosts an amazing annual educational conference for piercers (and you do not have to be a member to attend).
  • Offers piercers, legislators, and the public support and assistance in drafting appropriate legislation for the industry.
  • Disseminates educational and informational materials, including numerous brochures and a Health and Safety Procedure Manual for piercers.
  • Attends health-related conferences and body art conventions to share information.
  • Conveys information and professional opinions to the media when requested and in response to erroneous articles and press about body piercing.
  • Presents lectures to students, health care professionals, and other groups.
  • Publishes The Point, which is dedicated to sharing piercing-related news and information.
  • Staffs an email and phone response system for individuals with questions regarding piercing.
  • Maintains a comprehensive website with information for anyone with questions about body piercing, safepiercing.org.

Among other things, the APP website contains a complete list of current members (you will be on there after becoming a member piercer), a section on getting pierced, FAQs, our brochures and publications, legislative links to all states, applications for membership, a job board, links, and more.

In other words, the APP shares information and works to help make piercing safe and keep it legal. I frequently hear that piercers (or their studios) aren’t “ready” to join. The good news is that when you apply, the membership committee will work with you by making suggestions on how you can bring yourself and your studio up to minimum standards.

We genuinely do not want to keep piercers out; we welcome you into our community of caring professionals. If you have questions, please contact me at president@safepiercing. org, or our Membership Liaison, Sarvas Berry, at members@safepiercing.org.

As I observe and hopefully foster the next phase of development in the body piercing industry, it would be a dream come true to see more piercers take pride in their work and elevate themselves professionally by joining the Association of Professional Piercers.