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Point 73: BMXnet – Nicole Holmes

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Nicole Holmes
Blue Lotus Piercing, APP Member*

September 3 through 6 of this year, I was fortunate enough to attend my fourth BMX Conference, which was held in the small but beautiful city of Essen, Germany. The conference was coordinated by the charismatic Stefan Schomowski and his team of trusted helpers and volunteers. As much as I always enjoy this conference, I must admit that just visiting Essen is lovely too: scattered city water fountains, the shopping district, and great food. It is honestly the highlight of my piercing year. Each year I arrive earlier and leave a little later.

The venue for BMX is partly the reason I return year after year; the Unperfekthaus is truly a spectacle to behold. As an artist’s village nestled within the city, it really doesn’t disappoint. It is such an inspiration to sit for lunch, walk the corridors, or climb the stairs. Every wall is hand painted, covered in collage, or decorated with a sculpture of sorts. When this venue is full (on registration day, capacity is reached long before breakfast) the atmosphere becomes energized. With so many like-minded people gathering from around the world, BMX embodies a special sense of purpose and community.

I remember my first BMX in 2012. I didn’t know anyone there personally. I was sitting outside alone having coffee at the ungodly hour of 8:00am just because I was excited. The first person that sat by me grew to be the first of many conference friends. Each year BMX expands and there are new faces, new friends to be had. I find it so easy to talk to people during the event. This is another reason I keep attending.

I have attended many seminars, day events, and conventions, but none compare to BMX. There are no similar conferences or events where I live in the North of England. My last large scale, piercing specific event was the 2002 APP Conference & Exposition in Amsterdam. However, 2002 was more than a decade ago and so much has changed. There has been so much grown in the industry since then, I feel a comparison would be irrelevant.

What I can say with certainty is that BMX is not like anything I could have imagined. This year marked the 9th annual conference and it really demonstrated the team’s experience. From the smooth running operation of things to the flow from class to class, the grouping of the lectures was natural and it never felt rushed. Although I feel there was never enough time to visit the expo to do some shopping!

Classes covered topics such as hygiene in the studio, creating sacred space, earlobe reconstruction, and magnet removal. BMX is as it always has been, an umbrella of many topics, not solely piercing based subjects. Tattooing and other modifications are also covered. Many attendees expressed their fondness for this scope of subjects.

I personally feel I absorbed the most this year from the roundtables. These communal discussions based on topics such as “Ethics” led by Samppa Von Cyborg, covering the delicate issue of recording and posting video clips on the internet when you may unwittingly represent the whole industry. In another of this year’s fascinating roundtables, titled “Implantable Technology,” Tim Cannon brought his prototype silicone implant containing LED lights capable of being switched on and off by the users already-implanted magnet. There were even some attendees who were so passionate about the topics that they were willing to hold roundtables at all hours of the day or night. That is a perfect example of the freeform and flexible nature that is BMX.

After classes on both Friday and Saturday, there were striking and eclectic shows from Coco, Superfly, Squid O, and Pain Solution which enchanted the late night crowd with a manifestation of freakshow/sideshow entertainment. This was followed by the annual prize draw raffle.

Overall the whole adventure of BMX was undeniably a special triumph of our industry and community. After discussing this year’s efforts with many other attendees, both new and old, I feel the response was very heartwarming. Everyone that learned and loved at BMX promised to return the following year, myself included.

*Nicole Holmes is one of the newest APP Members in the UK.

Point 73: UKAPP, A Prelude – Ryan Ouellette

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RyanOuelletteRyan Ouellette
Precision Body Arts

In September of 2015 I traveled to Birmingham, England for the first seminars of the newly formed United Kingdom Association of Professional Piercers (UKAPP). When I got home and sat down to write about my experience I found myself thinking more about wider-reaching industry issues which affect not only the UK, but Europe as a whole. My intention was to give a little perspective as to why there are so few APP Members overseas compared here in North America. Once I started I discovered there was much more to the issue than I could properly cover in a single article, so I have decided to make this a two part piece. Hopefully it will give you an idea of the challenges European piercers face if they want to meet APP membership standards, and in turn hopefully it will show you just how impressive and hard working this group of piercers is.

I travel, what many would consider, a fair amount for a full time piercer. Not as much as some, but much more than others. I try to do as much of that travel outside of my home country (the United States) as possible. I like to see new countries and cities, and while I’m travelling I like to meet other piercers and learn how they practice our craft in their respective areas. When I meet piercers from Europe the conversation always ends up being about the APP. I hear quite a few issues voiced when the topic comes up, not necessarily with the organization, but more so in how our Members talk about other regions or parts of the world being “behind” when it comes to piercing. There is the perception that APP Members imply a piercer who does not use the best jewelry available is being unprofessional. I myself have even made the mistake of assuming “good piercing” is all about the jewelry. Now in an era of social media, these perceptions are more important than ever. Anyone can get nice jewelry, install it in a new or healed piercing, and take a picture. That does not make them a good piercer, or a true professional. In my opinion the sign of a professional is continuing to learn and evolve and to strive to give our clients the best work possible. That doesn’t mean you start out doing exactly what you want. For most piercers it is a struggle and you are constantly working towards a goal that, in turn as you progress, changes over time.

I have met piercers in almost a dozen different countries around the world and I see the same challenges that piercers in the US face: “my customers won’t pay X for good quality jewelry”, “my boss won’t invest in quality”, “there are no educational opportunities in my area”. These are all obstacles that a piercer can overcome with time, persistence, education, and a flexible budget. However, there is another aspect that I think US piercers take for granted: access to supplies. In the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), piercers have an additional challenge. As an example, if you want to order Neometal, Anatometal, BVLA, or most other US made jewelry, not only do you have to deal with long wait times, but also increased shipping costs, delays with customs, and substantial import taxes. Canadian and Latin American piercers face these challenges as well, but to a lesser extent, due to their proximity to where most high end piercing supplies are manufactured. In England, if a piercer orders jewelry they have to pay approximately 20% extra to import it into their country, and that is on top of already significant international shipping costs. Imagine waiting even longer and paying even more. How many US piercers, barely keeping internally threaded and threadless jewelry in stock, would implode at that added challenge? There are almost no native companies manufacturing body jewelry in the EU or the UK at this time. Many have moved production to Asia to lessen costs. Those companies left manufacturing in the EU and UK offer little to no internally threaded jewelry, hand polishing, or products made from materials the Association of Professional Piercers would classify as acceptable for initial piercing.

Needles are another obstacle. How many American piercers are aware of the differences between “blade needles” or “cannulas”? There is a simple reason why; you would never need to. Any American piercer can buy needles made specifically for body piercing, in varying qualities. Again, in the EU and UK there is little to no access to what we would consider “piercing needles” without importing them. In most of Europe there are fewer restrictions on medical devices so it is very common for piercers to use medical catheter needles and biopsy punches to perform body piercings. They call what American piercers use a “blade” needle to distinguish it from the more common cannula needles they are using. Since they don’t have the same access to blade needles many of their techniques are built on a foundation of using the cannula sheath for jewelry transfers. If you are unfamiliar with a cannula it is a plastic sheath covering the needle that can slide off and be used as a catheter. If you have had IV fluids in your arm or hand at the hospital. That little tube going into your vein or artery is a cannula. The application is to pierce through the tissue, once the needle and sheath exit you can slide out the needle leaving the cannula in place. You can then insert jewelry (internal or external) into the sheath and back it through the piercing. In theory this covers external threading during insertion so many European and British piercers see it as negating the risk of using external threading. Whether is does or does not could be another whole article.¹

I hope by now you can see where the different mindsets come from between US and Europe counterparts. Imagine all those obstacles, and a piercer without those obstacles calling you lazy or sloppy because you do not have the means to overcome said obstacles. It would be frustrating, it might even make you apprehensive to strive to reach the goals that same piercer holds as being a minimum standard. One of the most common complaints I hear about the APP is that membership is geared almost entirely to piercers in the United States. While it is true that the vast majority of APP Members are operating in the US, I have met APP Members all over the world: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Mexico, England, and more. If APP membership is not an easy goal to achieve in a specific region, another option to improve standards is to create a local organization such as the APTPI (Italy), LBP (Mexico, Central, and South America) and the newly formed UKAPP. The point of these other organizations is not to have lower standards, but to have standards geared towards their specific region. For instance, if jewelry concerns are not the main obstacle, the organization can instead focus on other safety issues such as sterilization, studio layout, and training.

Every Fall I travel to Essen, Germany to teach seminars at the BMXnet (Body Modification Exchange Network) Conference. I’ve met some fantastic piercers from all over Europe there. At the 2014 event I spent quite a while talking with a British piercer named Nici Holmes. We talked about many of the points mentioned above. Specifically, we discussed how it is very challenging to be a piercer who wants to offer quality, especially when the items that go into a “quality” piercing need to be imported from another continent. We talked about how many of the best piercers in the UK could not meet membership standards set forth by the Association of Professional Piercers. One of the concerns she voiced: most, if not all, of the jewelry that meets APP standard is based on ASTM material standards, which has led to some confusion as it previously stood for the AMERICAN Society for Testing and Materials.² The APP jewelry standards were revised in 2009 and currently include both ASTM and ISO designations. Much of Europe is moving away from allowing steel as an acceptable material for body jewelry due to nickel content, but at the same time Europe widely allows the use of G23 grade titanium, which is an industrial grade, rather than an implant grade material. G23 Ti has been used as an alternative to nickel containing alloys and its safety has not been addressed, as regulations focused on eliminating nickel as an allergen, not on validation of a material for safe healing and prolonged wear.

Nici talked about how she wanted to start a dialog with other British, Irish, and Scottish piercers to try to form a new group. At first I thought the intention was just to have some casual meetings and discuss industry issues. Apparently the idea caught on and soon after, with the help of a crowdfunding campaign, there was a new nonprofit formed to focus on safe body piercing in the United Kingdom. One of their first acts was to host a central meet. In the next issue of The Point I plan to elaborate on what was accomplished at their first meeting.

¹The plastic sheath is easily damaged which in turn can damage tissue. Also, the blade length is significantly shorter, limiting or preventing many of the bevel theories modern freehand piercers are so fond of.
²The ASTM has focused on international trade since the 1970’s. In 2001 it was rebranded as ASTM International, and is used globally in more than 140 countries.

Point 73: Beto Madrigal Award

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THE BETO MADRIGAL AWARD
presented to Ed Chavarria
at the LBP Gala
by Beto’s brother Ennio Madrigal
The Point Issue 73 - Beto Madrigal Award - LBP Gala 2015

Unfortunately Beto took his own life last year, Beto had a large role in the LBP and this new award akin to the APP’s Josh Prentice volunteer award was to recognize outstanding volunteer work and contributions to the piercing community.

Spanish Original:
Muy Feliz y agradecido con LBP… por seguir honrando la memoria y el aporte de mi hermano Beto …para con la industria del Body Piercing Latinoamericano … Para mí es un orgullo que hayan nombrado con el nombre Beto Madrigal el premio que entregarán año con año en la gala de Latinoamérica Body Piercing… Este año le correspondió a nuestro querido Eduardo Chavarria….recibir este importante reconocimiento por su entrega y compromiso para con la industria del Body Piercing. Felicidades mi queridísimo Ed…!!! Sé que Beto se encuentra feliz de que te entregaran …tan merecido reconocimiento..!!

Thank you, Luis Garcia, for an English Translation:

I am very happy and thankful to the LBP for continuing to honor the memory of my brother Beto and the support he gave the body piercing industry in Latin America. I am proud that they named the service award after my brother, Beto Madrigal, and that they will be presenting this award year after year at the LBP gala. This year the award was given to the beloved Eduardo Chavarria for his hard work and commitment, not only to the Latin American body piercing community, but the industry worldwide. Congratulations Ed. I know that Beto is happy that you were honored with this much deserved award.

The Point Issue 73 - Beto Madrigal Award presented to Ed Echavarria - LBP 2015

Point 73: LBP Update – Jef Saunders

1 Comment read Conference, International, Issue 73

Jef Saunder headshotJef Saunders
Membership Liaison

The LBP—Asociación Latinoamericana de Body Piercing AC (Latin American Association of Body Piercing) Conference was held in Tlaxcala, Mexico at the Trinity Vacation Center from November 2-6, 2015. This is the third annual official LBP Conference, and the second I was lucky enough to participate in.

The LBP Conference has a special magic air that surrounds it. While it is officially a Spanish speaking conference, piercers from around the globe were in attendance. The remote location of the facility means that most attendees and speakers arrive via buses provided by the LBP. These bus rides are wonderful, which feels weird to say, but the whole trip from Mexico City to the vacation center is a wonderful bonding experience. My experiences vary from practicing my classes to thoughtful discussions, even sing-alongs to ‘80s songs. It fosters a wonderful sense of community amongst the speakers and attendees.

In terms of setting, this year’s LBP was spectacular. The Trinity Vacation Center is a wonderful facility, with brick walls and a stunning view of the volcanic mountains surrounding it. The combination of the remote location, climate (warm days and chilly nights), mountain air and the time of year (Día de Muertos) made for a unique experience that I believe all the attendees enjoyed.

Classes were held throughout the week, and were located in two classrooms connected by a courtyard with a Day of the Dead altar at the center.The Point Issue 73 - LBP Asociacion Latinoamericana de Body Piercing AC

This year I was thrilled to present two separate classes: “Disposable Piercing Studios” and “Navel Piercing: Advanced Fundamentals”. My Spanish is very limited (although the full immersion allowed me to follow along with many conversations, even if I didn’t have the means to contribute in Spanish) so I was fortunate to have translators assist me.

“Disposable Piercing Studios” was co-instructed by Oscar Sandoval, who speaks fluent Spanish and added quite a bit to the presentation. I also had the assistance of Ruben Lew and Jesus “Sala” Cabanas. These two have several projects in the works geared toward Spanish speaking piercers, and I am looking forward to what they have planned.

In my “Navel Piercing: Advanced Fundamentals” class I was joined by Ana Paula Escalante; she seems to be effortlessly everywhere, always helping with everything ensuring a great LBP Conference. There were seemingly endless choices of classes to choose from, but the conference still felt tightly curated. There were presentations by Bethrah Szumski, Autumn Swisher, Nick Wolak, Mauricio Torres, Javier Fingazz, Jesus “Sala” Cabanas, Ruben Lew, Danny Yerna, Luis Garcia, Didier Suarez, Erika Gomez, Oscar Sandoval, Eduardo Chavarria, Ryan Ouellette, Alejandro Hernandez, Ana Paula Escalante and Matias “Rata” Tafel.

I think when one attends a new conference of this type, they can be tempted to draw comparisons and contrasts to familiar events they have attended. What I think is a more honest approach to evaluating any conference is to judge it on its own merits and those alone. The LBP Conference is truly wonderful. The quality of classes are superb. The facility is wonderful, and the people make this experience extra special. The LBP Conference either intentionally or as a happy accident fosters deep friendships amongst piercers who may have otherwise never met. I can’t say enough positive things about the excellent job the LBP Board of Directors and their volunteers do. I hope to be a part of LBP Conferences for many years to come, and I look forward to seeing so many LBP attendees at the APP Conference next year.The Point Issue 73 - LBP group selfie

Point 73: Ohio Legislation Update – Patrick McCarthy

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Patrick McCarthy*
Piercology, Inc., Body Art Solutions

For the last three years, the state of Ohio has been rewriting its body art Rules and Regulations. Beginning in 2013, a number of body modification professionals, health inspectors, medical professionals, legal professionals, Ohio Department of Professional Personnel and more, set out with the purpose of reworking the outdated rules that had been put in place 18 years ago. The Association of Body Art Professionals was formed for the state of Ohio to take on this task. The association had piercers and tattoo artists from the four corners of the state, many of which were fellow APP Members.

Many people don’t realize that when you are dealing with the government and government agencies, you are dealing with two separate things: rules and regulations, and laws. These are two totally different animals. Laws are far more difficult to change and are usually written to be intentionally vague. Revisions or additions to laws must go through the House and Senate in the state and must be signed by the governor. Rules and regulations go into great detail and are usually written by a committee. Laws are set for the state level. However, most states allow local health departments and municipalities to go above the state’s laws in the rules and regulation procedures. For this reason, it is so important to understand what your local municipality requires, because many people, including public officials, don’t realize the significant difference in laws and rules and regulations. We have the issue of travelling artists being allowed to practice their craft in different states. It is like this in most states, however, some states do things a little differently. So make sure you understand how things work in your state, and any states that you may visit while working.

Going back 18 years, Ohio had some of the best body art laws in the nation, with matching rules and regulations. Because of this, many states set up their laws similarly to Ohio. I was fortunate enough to be involved in writing the laws way back then, and this made it a little easier to get involved in the changes this time. Due to the fact that they were previously so well written, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) pretty much left the rules and regulations alone until 2 years ago. Unfortunately, due to the lack of evolution, the rules and regulations had become outdated.

Overhauling the antiquated laws and rules and regulations to reflect the incredible amount of advancement in our industry over that 18 year period was no easy task. Our committee met, on average, once or twice a month, for nine months going over all of the changes that needed to take place. During these meetings, we were able to address many changes that had occurred in our industry.

When originally written, it was stated that studios had to sterilize their own tools. In response to the evolution of pre-sterilized, disposable tools, we added the “Pre-Sterile” law, allowing artists in this state to use presterilized items. Up until this point, an artist was breaking the law if they used pre-sterilized tools. Most states have requirements that rules and regulations be looked at every few years so things like this don’t happen. But, as we all know, if things are working well they never get changed. So I urge each of you to make sure your state stays current with the progress happening in our industry.

The rules and regulations were written with extensive depth and specifications regarding things like quality of jewelry, detailed instruction on how to sterilize instruments, aseptic techniques for set-up and teardown, and even how documentation had to be kept. To ensure that the health inspectors in the state of Ohio were properly trained on the new changes that had taken place, we held back the roll out of the new rules and regulations for six months and offered training to them regarding all of the changes. These training classes were not only open to health inspectors, but also to people in the body art industry, free of charge. This was done so that they could learn how the changes in rules and regulations would affect their studios and to help them understand what changes needed to be implemented.

We taught ten classes throughout the state over a 6 week period with over three hundred health inspectors in attendance. These classes went into great detail regarding instruction for inspectors. We covered topics such as correct procedures for disinfecting and sterilizing, proper aseptic technique for both tattooing and piercing, what to look for in an exposure control plan, and what works and doesn’t work regarding aftercare. Information on industry standards tats was also discussed. We stressed the importance of inspectors observing procedures within the studios to ensure that artists know what they are doing.

The classes were quite successful and the participants enjoyed the opportunity to be in an interactive environment where they could ask questions. These were the first classes that had been offered to them strictly covering body art in the state of Ohio. We learned that making comparisons to the food industry allowed the inspectors to better comprehend the information being taught from that industry to ours. We were asked to record a final class session in a sound studio using the PowerPoint presentation. This prerecorded session is now used for training new inspectors. We were also invited to teach classes for inspectors at four conferences across the state.

I have maintained a great working relationship with ODH over the last 19 years of working with them. It is important to remember a few things when building and maintaining a working relationship with health departments and inspectors. As much as you may not like it, we are in their world, so dress accordingly. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen over the years, and why many in our industry don’t have a working relationship with their public departments, is the simple fact that they don’t dress up. Don’t expect to be seen as a professional if you show up to a meeting dressed in jeans and a tshirt. Also, don’t talk down to them; treat them as a peer. Health inspectors are just there to do their job and keep the public safe, so if they don’t understand everything in our profession, take the time to educate them. I think you will find that most inspectors welcome any knowledge you can offer them.

Most states have conferences to teach inspectors, and they are always looking for new classes. So feel free to ask your health departments if you might be able to help out and teach a class for them.

*Editor’s Note: Pat was also the APP’s first elected president.

Point #73: President’s Corner – Brian Skellie

2 Comments read Issue 73, Medical, President's Corner, Sterilization, Technology
Brian Skellie working with asepsis

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

The APP is always going to be a work in progress, since standards are ever changing with new evidence. Lauded among the guiding principles we maintain as safety standards for our membership is the practice of asepsis. We refer to many procedural acts as practice, as they are rarely ever perfect and require a profound theoretical understanding coupled with regular exercise and critical self observation for improvement. Asepsis requires the right combination of cleaning and sterilization with touching and not touching manual, instrumental and environmental surfaces for infection prevention and control (IPC).

We apply two types of asepsis to reduce or eliminate infection transmission: medical asepsis which emphasizes protection for the client and their environment is more concerned with cleanliness and prevention of the spread of the clients own organisms to other clients, while surgical asepsis which focuses on sterilization and maintaining sterility for items that will be introduced to a wound or piercing cavity or penetrate the skin, thus preventing the introduction of organisms to the client. Medical asepsis can be referred to as clean technique, and surgical asepsis as sterile technique. A thorough and effective means of surgical asepsis should be implemented for all body art procedures. [CE resource]

“Sterile technique is not one set-in-stone method, this is a guideline for establishing your own individual technique.” Nor is it advocating precautions beyond what our sort of minimally invasive ear piercing procedures require for antisepsis and sterility. For those who are curious to learn more about Maximum Sterile Barrier precautions, the CDC HICPAC describes further steps that can be taken for more seriously invasive punctures such as a central venous or arterial catheter. For body artists, an achievable version of surgical asepsis (sterile technique) maintains barriers such as sterile gloves, masks and eye protection, and removes obstacles likely to compromise these barriers such as hanging earrings and necklaces, long hair, rings and watches.

“I think that when you say ‘aseptic technique,’ a lot of people automatically think ‘operating room’ or ‘surgical procedure,’” explains Kathleen Meehan Arias, MS, CIC, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and director of Arias Infection Control Consulting LLC. “That’s rightly so because that is where the bulk of it is. But whenever you are doing anything that bypasses the skin barrier, you should automatically think aseptic technique.” — Applying Aseptic Technique in all Clinical Settings

This outline of technique suggestions comes from the AORN, APIC and CDC standards and recommended practices as well as a number of textbook resources such as Asepsis, the Right Touch. Much of it needs very little interpretation for our purposes. Safety precautions should result in greater control of the procedure, clinical benefits, reduced harm, and limited liability for negligence.

Rationale: There exist standards for prevention of surgical site infection that apply to even minor invasive elective procedures, and piercing falls within this category by definition.

“When implemented, these guidelines should reduce the risk of disease transmission in the piercing environment, from piercee to piercer, and from piercee to piercee. Based on principles of infection control, the document delineates specific guidelines related to protective attire and barrier techniques; handwashing and care of hands; the use and care of sharp instruments and needles; sterilization or disinfection of instruments; cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces; disinfection and the decontamination room; single-use disposable items; the handling of previously worn piercing jewelry; disposal of waste materials; and implementation of recommendations.”— Piercing Experience adapted IPC standards from the CDC

My personal observation is that these policies have helped limit risk at my studio. They have been reviewed by legal counsel, qualified bioscientists, medical professionals, and university professors. That said, I’m sure that they could always use more input and adaptation. Body art safety is an ever-evolving field of interest.

One might say there is no single right way to pierce. Many variations are possible with an understanding and application of asepsis. We are an industry in which studios market based on their specialties, and for some that is participation in continuing education, gaining knowledge, and raising standards. Maintaining a positive tone one can show those as strengths without diminishing others. This is crucial to developing the bonds between us as fellow professionals. If you believe something you do has advantages, feel free to share that with your customers in a way that does not end up overly critical of our other colleagues.

2013 APP Procedure ManualIt should be clear that these position statements in support of surgical asepsis are neither contradictory nor accusatory of others currently using APP minimum standards for medical asepsis according to our 2013 revised Procedure Manual. They build upon them as we are all encouraged to do as Members, employing additional precautions and elective limitations based on evidence and strong theoretical rationale. My preference is to demonstrate best practices as an educator instead of the minimums. If we all did no more than what was required, the industry would not be as interesting.

I believe that it is the responsibility of each of us to uphold the values we feel are important, and to continually advance our standards in order to achieve our goals. I do have romantic hopes that over time the industry will move in the direction of pure, validated, ethical materials and practices that are as harmless as possible. A predictable, consistent, safe, simple, and gentle piercing experience is attainable today and can be refined based on these principles and open communication among colleagues. The recommendations that I make in addition to APP minimums result from a continually researched process of elimination and adaptation, and they are freely shared for peer review. Please consider this a formal request for comments.

Point #73: From the Editor – Marina Pecorino

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Point-70-From-the-Editor-Marina-0.jpgMarina Pecorino
Managing Editor of Content & Statistics

I realized that in planning my pieces for this issue, I composed my outlines in terms of an almost methodical past—present—future format. As a result, it has become apparent to me that even when planning to discuss the current events of our industry, I can’t help but relate it back to where we came from and what has brought us to this point.

In the past, current events within the body modification community were defined within small regional groups, making the reach and influence fairly limited. Then as piercing enthusiasts became less closeted and more prevalent, conferences like the APP Conference and BMXnet, publications like PFIQ (Piercing Fans International Quarterly), and internet communities like BME became available. With this, the barriers of geography were broken and current events were defined more by the shared interests of individual communities. This allowed for a broader reach of knowledge and experience, and for enthusiasts to have more choice available in their involvement with specific interests. But information still had a trickling spread; trends were slower to be replaced with a newer, better, shinier thing.

With the overwhelming prevalence of social media and technology, the wealth of knowledge available is incredible and the reach of information is limitless. Trends change almost as quickly as they are born; in a matter of days, sweeping interest in a particular piercing placement or jewelry style can become global. Unfortunately, the same can be true in regards to misinformation and misconceptions surrounding placements, techniques, jewelry, and aftercare. It is our shared responsibility to ensure the quality and validity of piercing specific information available to our peers and the general public. Please be mindful of what you are sharing with the world.

However, even with this global reserve of knowledge, there are still specific concerns that only affect certain areas. In this issue, we are sharing some of those concerns seen during the revision process of body art laws and rules and regulations within the state of Ohio. You will also get a glimpse into the newly formed UKAPP and the issues specific to body modification artists in the European Union and the United Kingdom.

We hope that these articles help you gain an understanding and greater world view of what is happening within the professional realm of your peers.

Point #72: 2015 Camp APP Member’s Retreat

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The Association of Professional Piercers is proud to announce our first ever APP Members Retreat. The retreat will be held at Hard Labor State Creek Park in Rutledge, GA from September 29, 2015 to October 3, 2015. Attendance is limited to APP Business Members and Business Members at Large and registration is limited to 100 people. Registration closed September 20. We can’t wait to see you there.

How to get here:

For those who are driving from Atlanta:
Take I20 East from Atlanta
Get off at Newborn Rd. Exit and go left
Follow signs to Hard Labor Creek
Follow sign for main park entrance
Continue on that road until you cross a small bridge and then take an immediate right- this is the road to Camp Rutledge. Pass through the gate, entry code is #1234. (Directions)

Permits are required—we will have them for you when you arrive at the camp.

For those taking our transportation from Atlanta:
First, to get to the pick up location:
The Atlanta MARTA train system is VERY simple. There are only 3 trains! The system is convenient and safe and starts at the Atlanta domestic airport terminal. The DORAVILLE train, northbound will take you to the Chamblee station.

Our transport to and from the camp:
Shuttle service will pick up and drop off at the Chamblee station. Departure time September 29th will be 4:30pm. Shuttle will depart from the camp October 3, at 9:30am and arrive at the Chamblee station at around 11:00am.

2015 Camp APP
Camp APP is providing an opportunity to explore previously unused advanced curriculum as well as more thoroughly presenting topics that can only be touched on in Las Vegas. Workshop leads and instructors will be posting about their sessions in the main forum and on the event page. The certificates for this event will both read and be distributed differently than ever before. Attendees will receive their certificates during the closing session.

We also understand how important eating well is when you are in the forest. We are striving to cover all of the bases here. There will be plenty of vegan and omnivore options.

We will also be fortunate enough to have some extra special additions to our menu.

Some other important things to know
No procedures will be performed
No Wi-fi
Limited phone reception
Fishing licenses are available at the ranger station
No pets
No projectile weapons of any sort.

Special events

• Grounding and Public Speaking
(John Johnson)

APP member John Johnson first started teaching Bedside Manner and Grounding in Las Vegas in 2008 and this fall he’s teaching Public Speaking and Grounding at the member’s retreat. The mission of the APP is to disseminate health and safety information relevant to body piercing and public speaking is a great way to fulfill that mission. Our members often get this opportunity and this class will help them be prepared. As a professional piercer you may be asked to speak to groups like schools, health departments, and professional organizations.

Public speaking doesn’t come naturally for anyone. This is a skill we all have to work on and develop through experience and hard work. If you speak to any group about piercing you represent yourself, your studio, and the association. We want you to be confident, competent, and prepared. After attending John’s course you’ll have the tools to prepare both yourself and a presentation that impresses and engages your audience.

• Movies
(Paul King)

What camp out would be complete without a movie night? We will have an assortment of films including action, comedy, body piercing classics, as well as horror films situated in the woods of course!!!!

We even have a surprise Hollywood blockbuster filmed on location at our camp! How terrifying 🙂 Don’t blame us for your nightmares, you guys get to compete for what you watch.

So bring your comfy PJs and enjoy the snacks, popcorn, and soda.

• OSHA— It Isn’t Just About the Blood
(John Johnson, Rick Frueh)

We all know that OSHA is about worker safety. We have all taken a Blood Borne Pathogens courses, many many times. Need to renew your certificate? Well, sorry but this isn’t that class. In this 2 hour seminar we will be going into detail about some other aspects of OSHA that apply directly to the body piercing industry. Topics will range from Fire Safety to Electrical Standards and several points in between. John Johnson and Rick Frueh will be co-instructing. They are both Authorized OSHA Outreach Instructors for General Industry. If you have ever had an OSHA specific question this is the course to ask it.

• Social Media Workshop
(Social Media Committee)

Ever wonder how to make pictures look their best working with the equipment you already have? Do you have poor lighting in your studio or outside and are looking for ways to improve your media content? Join us for our content creation workshop! We will be covering everything from equipment, lighting techniques, apps, detachable lenses and setting up a photo studio in your piercing shop. Bring your smartphones, or even your full sized cameras!

The second part of our workshop will include a round table discussing ways to increase your media reach beyond Facebook and Instagram. We will cover utilizing the social functions of review sites such as Google and Yelp, as well as some newer options like Reddit and Foursquare. See you there!

• Dialing in Jewelry Sales Workshop
(Bethrah Szumski lead)

We have had numerous presentations about how to up-sell. Particularly for gold and genuine stones. The skill involved in selling people not only higher price point products but items that fit their style and personality has been generally under addressed. This session will cover three main points. First how color theory works both in metal/stone combinations and skin tone. Second, how color forecasting effects fashion and design. Third, ways to assess and talk with clients, incorporating these concepts and their personal preferences, to fit them with jewelry that they will be happy about buying.

We will also have four other workshops available, including a hand positioning workshop, we will be sure to update you as details are available.

• Hand Positioning Workshop
(Luis Garcia lead)

Whether you work freehand, with tools or somewhere in between, hand positioning is crucial. This session will focus on this for all style preferences. Participants will be able to focus on areas they find difficult as well as demonstrate the techniques they excell at.

• Fine Tuning the Eye Workshop
(Chrissy Shull lead)

Just as athletes can always find small ways to improve their performance, body piercers can and should as well! Accuracy and consistency can be fine tuned by a better understanding of visual perceptions and how they apply to marking and performing a piercing. This workshop will utilize a series of exercises that will give you the opportunity to discover your blind spots and how to work with them, how you personally perceive depth and shape and how to use your perception to your advantage, and visual illusions and how they might be affecting the quality of your work.

• Advanced Industrial Concepts Workshop
(Rob Hill lead)

Techniques that can apply to the most advanced industrial piercings. Starting off with some modern tips for traditional industrials, we will build off that with some key tips and tricks to help you nail those multi point and curved industrial projects taking your skills to the next level.

• Practical Asepsis Workshop
(Brian Skellie lead)

This workshop will include discussion and demonstration of achievable means to establish and maintain asepsis for procedures. Brian will facilitate a roundtable to concentrate upon the interdependent concepts, methods and equipment available for aseptic contact and non-touch techniques.

This should be an extension of the concepts discussed in the workshops, designed for members to go further. Come share your thoughts and learn more about safety and quality.

Point #72: Membership News & Updates

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Hello Members and Readers! We have just wrapped up another successful Conference and have many big things on the horizon. Here are our most recent updates and announcements.

2015 BILLING & CERTIFICATE UPDATE

Membership dues billing has traditionally taken place in February with the due date at the end of May—when certificates expire. This year the APP changed the timing of when billing takes place and when membership dues are paid.

2015 certificates were issued in May of 2015 with no payment required from an existing member and are good until the end of 2015. Bills will be sent at the end of September, with membership dues for 2016 being due by the end of December 2015. The certificate received from this payment will go from January to December 2016. This will effectively move our billing cycle to the end of the year for all members.

Those new members paying initial dues in July-December, will not be billed for the following year, but will be issued a 2016 certificate along with the rest of paying members in December.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA COMPLIANCE CHECK

Notices were sent to Members this Spring who need to update their environmental criteria.

To ensure all of our members are operating at the current minimum standards, we are requiring that all current members who have a video walk through and environmental criteria older than two years provide an updated video walk through and submit updated environmental criteria.

Members who received this notice will need to submit these updates by January 1st, 2016. There will be no video processing fee with digital or hard copy submissions.

 NEW LATE DUES POLICY

(2016 Billing Cycle: Notice of Membership Dues will be sent September 2015; and due by December 31, 2016.)

Any member who has failed to pay dues and/or provide evidence of membership certification and testing requirements (CPR certification, First Aid Certification, BBP certification, autoclave spore test results) by 6 months after the Membership Renewal due date will be required to re-apply in full with the Membership Committee.

The renewal fee will be the same as the yearly membership dues.

UPCOMING ELECTIONS

In the fall the Association will begin elections for three seats on the board.  These seats are currently occupied by Brian Skellie, Ashley Misako, and Chris Glunt.  Brian is not eligible for re-election at this time; Ashley Misako is able to be re-nominated/elected.

The APP will be sending out nomination forms in the Fall to voting members of the APP, which are business members and business members at large.  This election is for two seats on the Board.

Once received, voting members will have 30 days to return nomination forms selecting two people from the list of eligible members as their choice.  At that time, the office will send Nominees information about what it means to serve as a Board member, and paperwork including a form to return to the office to accept or deny their nomination.

After 30 days, ballots and bios of the nominees will be sent to all voting members.  Please participate in the election and in your Association by voting!  Members will have 30 days to return ballots to the office.  Once the results are tabulated and the entire election is reviewed and certified, the APP will contact the nominees about the results.  Those elected will attend a Board meeting (tentatively March), and take office in July at the Annual Conference.

Who is eligible to run?

Only voting members are eligible; for the APP these are Business Members and Business Members at Large. As specified by the APP’s bylaws, each Director can hold office for no more than three years in any given position, and can serve no more than two consecutive terms. If a member has filled two different seats in two consecutive elections, that person cannot immediately run again and must be off the Board for at least one election cycle before being eligible to serve again.

Nomination packets sent to members will have a list of eligible members to select from. And yes, you are allowed to nominate yourself.

What is the difference between an Officer & a Director?

The bylaws clearly outline the titles of the Officers: President, Secretary, and Chief Financial Officer (or Treasurer); but leave the other titles and job descriptions to the discretion of the Board itself. The bylaws further state the Officers may be members of the Board of Directors, but this is not required, as the Officers are elected to their positions by the Board of Directors. Officers are allowed to be compensated for their work; Directors are not. Officers are not subject to terms limits, unless also Board Members. The current Officers are Brian Skellie, President; Paul King, Treasurer; and Aaron Pollack, Secretary. However, of the Officers, only Brian is also a Director. Brian has voting rights as a Director and is subject to the 3 year term limit.

Is it important that I vote?

Yes. The Board of Directors, while working for the membership and the mission of the Association bring their own talents and experiences to the table. Every Board will govern a little differently or want to push the Association in different directions, have varied outreach interests, and/or see different opportunities available to the Association. As a voting member it is your right and responsibility to be sure those elected will do their very best, have a mission focus rather than a personal agenda, and have time and energy to devote to this important task. If the APP doesn’t get enough votes cast to have a quorum, the entire election has to be redone. This is an avoidable expense and time-suck from the Association. Your vote is important in many ways. Please remember to vote!

How do I know if I (or someone else) would make a good candidate for a Board position?

Ask/Answer these questions:

1. Do you have the time and energy?

All Board Members travel for APP board meetings, annual Conference, health conference/s, and miscellaneous travel such as membership assistance and Conference planning. Average time away from work is twenty five to thirty days per year. Most of the time, you will make your own travel arrangements, but you will be reimbursed your costs. It is estimated a Board Member will spend a minimum of ten hours per week on APP duties for three years.

2. Can you present yourself in a professional manner, verbally and in print? Can you present the APP’s stance even if it differs from your personal opinion?

Most Board Members provide interviews with the press when required, in a professional manner. Most Board Members contribute articles and promote article submission from the APP membership or other potentially informative parties for The Point and other APP publications or online settings.

All Board Members respond to emails from other Board Members, the employee, members, general public, etc. in a timely and professional fashion.

3. Have you been actively serving on a committee or have you volunteered, taught, or led a round table at the APP Conference?

All Board Members actively participate in ongoing projects and the APP educational Conference; including teaching classes and other duties as assigned. Having an ongoing history of performing these duties is the best preparation for serving as a Board Member.

4. Are you able to keep matters to yourself? Not gossip? Understand your behavior will be under scrutiny at all times? Behave professionally even when no one is watching? Keep your cool online? Not be drawn into arguments or into offering your opinion as separate from the APP’s position on something?

All Board Members must sign and abide by a confidentiality statement and statement of conduct. All Board Members must conduct themselves for the duration of their term, in a way that reflects the mission and professional attitude of the Association, acknowledging their position as a leader, role model, and spokesperson for the membership, organization, and industry at large.

It’s a big job and responsibility but it’s also hugely rewarding. Need more information? Talk to your current Board Members; they too wondered what it would be like, and now they most certainly know.

Website Update

Our web presence as an Association is constantly evolving to better serve our members and the public at large. Our newest version of our website has recently launched. Be sure to check it out: www.safepiercing.org

2016 APP Conference and Exposition

We are excited to announce the location and dates for the 2016 APP Conference and Exposition.

Where: Bally’s Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

When: July 24- July 29 2016

Can’t wait to see you all there!

Point #72: BPA Exhibit – Matte Erickson

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Matte Erickson headshotMatte Erickson
Alpha-Omega Body Piercing

 

“If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree. ”  —Michael Crichton

January 2015 started off with a bang. Emails, Facebook notifications, and text messages started flooding our inboxes, as serious discussion began in preparation of creating the Body Piercing Archives. It had begun. Months of casual conversations were now not so casual. They had intent and a purpose to preserve the history of the body piercing industry. The core players were in place with only a general idea of where this was going to take us. The boxes started arriving. Details were worked out. Goals were set. All the pieces were falling into place.

One month later, the three of us (Paul King, Becky Dill, and myself) sat on the floor of Paul’s apartment discussing proper handling of ephemera and other technical details before digging through the boxes and envelopes that had arrived over the last few weeks. Time flew by. We were completely lost in the moment. Eight hours later, we set a time for our next meeting and said our goodbyes.

Alter in memory of Raelyn Gallina
Alter in memory of Raelyn Gallina

It took three meetings to get all the items photographed and categorized by year. During this time we were constantly receiving data, more ephemera, and doing individual research on our off time. Finally, we got to sit back, admire our work, and decide just how we were going to put all this information together into a cohesive display. Over the next two months, we were averaging an eight hour, in person, meeting every two weeks. This involved an insane amount of reading and scanning, as well as at least a half dozen layout changes.

As Conference drew closer, our lives became organized chaos to say the least. Long hours and late night phone calls became the norm. Contributors were pushed to their limits—thank you from the bottom of my heart, Barry Blanchard and Gus Diamond—and vendors were put to the test. We literally received the last printed items 3 days before I was to leave for Las Vegas.

The first day of Conference I found myself standing in Bronze 4 with stacks of boxes. With each box that was opened, our dream came closer to fruition. The next two days were spent unpacking items, filling flash drives, and building a beautiful tribute. With the help of several volunteers, the room slowly took shape and became the Body Piercing Archive’s first exhibit.

First thing Wednesday morning, the doors finally opened to the public. As our peers filed through the exhibit, there were a myriad of emotions. People laughed. Several people cried. People were chomping at the bit to give docent tours—thank you to all the people that volunteered—and even more were excited to hear the stories first hand. There was a definite energy in the air. One of my personal highlights (one of many) was David Vidra watching the slideshow, talking about all the people in the photos in a way only Mama could. Many attendees also brought with them personal stories to share and add to what our docents were offering. This all contributed to the experience. Many stories were passed back and forth between attendees as banners chocked full of data were read, analyzed, and discussed. The banner topics included key articles, Board Members, membership, Conferences, The Point covers (and evolution), volunteer information, Al D. Scholarship recipients, International Conferences, and a touching tribute to Raelyn Gallina. Information on the Sailor Sid archive preservation fundraising campaign and a sneak peek at next year’s exhibition was also included.

Over the two and a half days of the exhibit, hundreds of people filed through. Some reminisced, some learned a few things, many learned quite a bit. I think everyone who attended took something away with them that, I hope, will stay with them for many years to come. I believe our goal was met and exceeded based on the feedback from the attendees. It has truly been a labor of love.

This exhibit could not have been possible without the unwavering dedication of Paul King and Becky Dill. I would also like to thank Bethrah Szumski for never throwing anything away and for having a memory like a steel trap, Caitlin McDiarmid for keeping great records, Barry Blanchard for taking and keeping so many photos, Gus Diamond for having the foresight to shoot lots of video when nobody else was, Brian Skellie for helping fill in some of the blanks, Fakir Musafar and Babs McGary for their generous donations for the Raelyn tribute, and all the people that allowed us to pick their brains. Also a big thanks to The Point staff for getting the word out there for us.

If you would like more information on or would like to make donations to the Body Piercing Archive, please email us at archive@safepiercing.org.Images from the Body Piercing Archives 2015