Point 86: Communicating Science in the Age of Fake News

May 29, 2020 Comments Off read Features, Issue 86, Science & Body Modifications

by Chris Beierschmitt

BA Biological Sciences – Columbia University

PhD candidate in Molecular Biology – US San Diego

Although the internet and social media have been boons for the distribution of information and ideas, most will agree that they have served as a double-edged sword. For every fact-based and informative article shared, it seems that there are two more that dabble in pseudoscience or outright lies. As professional piercers, we have a unique opportunity (and maybe an obligation) to utilize our platform to educate our clients and fellow industry people about a wide range of subjects. The problem is: scientific literature is written with language that allows researchers to appreciate the mechanical and technical nuances of a given topic, but it’s nearly indecipherable to the general public (i.e.: the taxpayers funding the research). Tackling this divide between scientific writing and comprehension by the average reader is a rough task, and while this burden should largely fall on the shoulders of the scientific community, there are methods piercing professionals can use to sift out pearls of relevant information from these daunting piles of data.

Consider the Source

In order to stay profitable, news organizations rely on click traffic to their websites so advertisers will buy ad space from them. It’s no mistake that headlines often share similar architecture, a la: “Scientists prove…;” “…you won’t believe what happens next;” or “Doctors are baffled by….” The unifying theme behind a majority of these articles is that, somewhere deep down, they are rooted in some intentional or accidental distortion of a real scientific finding. Like a childhood game of telephone, where an initial message is gradually corrupted as it passes from person to person, so do the relevant findings of a scientific publication as it is interpreted and communicated by people who don’t fully understand it. Before sharing one of these articles, it is our responsibility to find out how the authors came to their conclusion and if it makes sense. This means reading the article with a skeptical eye and finding the root of the author’s claims. Hopefully, the base of their writing can be found in apeer-reviewed scientific journal. The struggle isn’t over here, though, as many journals are behind paywalls and/or so jam-packed with difficult language that they are nearly unreadable. Knowing this, why should we strive to find a peer-reviewed source instead of just taking someone’s word for It?

Why Does Peer-reviewed Matter?

A scientific paper is (in most cases) the result of months to years of hard work and revision. In order to be published, it must be submitted with some novel finding, have published references for any claims about previous research, and must have data for any new claims. After submitting a paper to a scientific journal, it is preliminarily reviewed for novelty and general content. If this is found acceptable, it is given to several scientists unrelated to the journal for review. After weeks to months of review, the journal decides whether the author should be allowed (or is able to) address any concerns that the reviewers had. If the journal decides that the author will be able to revise their paper to address reviewer concerns, they will be given time to perform the necessary experiments and/or gather the appropriate data to do so. This revision process will take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on how demanding the revisions are. Finally, the paper is re-submitted with revisions, the journal performs any necessary editing for grammar and format, and in a few weeks to months, the paper is published. Authors must declare where their funding is coming from (e.g.: government, private industry, etc.), as well as any potential conflicts of interest. If an author is found to be lying about these details, they risk ruining their reputation as well as the journal redacting their paper.

Where Do I Find Peer-reviewed Papers?

This is where things get a bit tricky. While open-access journals are steadily becoming more and more common, many papers are stuck behind paywalls. University systems, research institutions, and some libraries pay subscription fees so their members can access these pay-to view journals, but this leaves the average reader with the option to only read the paper’s abstract or buy access to an article. There are some legal grey areas and blatantly illegal ways to circumvent paywalls for science articles. For legal reasons I won’t be naming them in this article—though, if you spend a short bit of time on a search engine, I’m sure you wouldn’t have trouble figuring it out. If we wish to remain within the law, it’s best to first read a paper’s abstract to determine if it might contain information that is interesting or relevant. In a vast majority of cases, an abstract will let you know if it is worth investing your time in decoding a paper in its entirety. A repository of listings for nearly all research articles can be found at PubMed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed/), which is maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the U.S. National Library of Medicine, located at the National Institutes of Health. While not all listings on PubMed contain links to the full-text of an article, you can at least find an abstract and contact information for the author(s) of a given paper. If you are a taxpayer in the US, you are paying for this archiving service, so don’t be shy about making use of it.

What If I Can’t Find the Full Text?

Since every listing in PubMed should have contact information for the author(s) of a paper, you have a direct way of contacting the researcher and/or physician who knows the most about the article you are interested in. While there is no guarantee, I can say with high confidence that if you send an email to a paper’s author requesting a copy of their work, they are going to be happy to send it to you directly. This might seem a bit weird, but it’s more common a request than you think. To increase your chances for success, try to send an email to the first author listed on the paper. The order in which names are listed for a research paper are (for the most part) organized in such a way that the person who contributed most to a project will be listed first, and the person who runs the lab where they are employed is listed last. As such, by sending a correspondence to the first author, you are directly asking for information from the person who probably knows more about the paper’s contents than anyone else on Earth. After you do your due diligence and carefully read the paper, you could even send an email back to the author to ask them any questions you may have. If you decide to ask questions, be sure to give the researcher an “out,” and ask them if there is someone else you should be contacting with questions (e.g.: a postdoctoral worker or graduate student in their lab). Don’t be surprised if responses take a while; researchers are often inundated with mountains of email and it takes a while to sort through all of them.

Working together with scientists

Reaching out to the scientific community is a step forward in the direction of further legitimizing the piercing industry. If we want to be regarded as professionals who are progressive and interested in the health of our clients (as well as ourselves), we should be using resources outside of the piercing community to prevent our well-intentioned sentiments from becoming an echo chamber. The next time you see a health or science-related news article shared on social media, take a moment to evaluate the source and investigate it yourself. Start a dialog with fellow piercers about what the findings of a publication might mean for client health. Encourage others to engage with this material and ask questions of their own. Together, with a keen set of skeptical eyes and help from scientific literature, we can be sure our industry will continue to improve for years to come.

Point 86: Social Change Within the Industry

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Features, Issue 86

by Victoria Rothman, Graceland Tattoo

The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.”—James Baldwin

I’m a piercer located in the Hudson Valley of New York. I have been piercing professionally for about five and a half years. Though I am not an APP Member, I value the work of the APP and its Members, both in health and safety, and education. It gives me great pleasure to be able to contribute to this organization.

As naive a thought as it may have been, my initial expectation in being part of the visibly modified community was to be relatively free from common prejudice within its walls. We are, after all, the moderately modified and the minority (in factions of power, whether it pertain to race, sex, sexual orientation, etc.): two groups that share the experience of commonly being “othered” by greater society.

Krista Breault, Kirsten Janusewski, & Dominee Sunshine
Photo by Shanna Hutchins

The obvious difference being those who are able to conceal their differences enough to “pass”, and those who cannot. Since it is in no one’s best interest to harbor an environment wherein one feels the need to hide a piece of their identity in order to advance, the matter must be flushed to the surface.

With full recognition that I cannot speak to everyone’s experience, what I aim to do is echo what I’ve learned from the parallel in hardships between myself and my peers of similar background; the more severe hardships ranging from borderline harassment to outright discrimination. There is simply no excuse for denying another the right to a fundamental level of respect, and it is not enough to pay lip service to the problem.

One of the most notable aspects of human bias is that in its most insidious form, it thrives subconsciously, making its existence easy to deny. Regardless, the colonization and oppression of select ethnicities by our most powerful governments still remains evident within centuries of history; this is necessary to acknowledge when weighing factors of racial divide within the United States, and abroad. Let us suppose now that this gap in living standard, education, monetary wealth, and access to necessary resources exists passively—that it is purely by cause and effect of our predecessors that one individual is benefited by the gap, and one is disadvantaged. Our past would dictate that it is imperative those in the minority of power positions have a voice in maintaining a level of acceptance within society or risk becoming an afterthought entirely. This applies as much to the piercing industry as it does any other faction.

Yasuhiro Chiba, 2018 APP Conference
Photo by Shanna Hutchins

Professional piercing has revealed to me some of the most benevolent, hardworking individuals I’ve ever encountered, and I am proud to be part of a community that holds the quality of their craft in such high regard. The APP Conference has been my chosen gathering for a couple of years now, it is the place I feel most accurately reflects the collective face of this industry. I consider conference attendance to have been an integral part of my career and I urge any piercer who has not yet had the opportunity to join us, to work on doing so. That being said, Vegas is sensory overload. The climate is unforgiving, everything is expensive, and classes run consecutively from morning to evening. On top of that, there is virtually no relief from the reality of being packed into a hotel with hundreds of others, many of whom, by the second or third night, newbie or veteran, tend to look more put-together than they actually feel. It is in this climate that the consequences of allowing our culture of discrimination to seep into our community became most apparent to me. To imply that most of the problematic behavior I’ve experienced, or become aware of, was intended to offend would be a misrepresentation of the problem. Often times it is derived from an ignorance of appropriate conduct, and not a will of malice.

If it is our intention to continue to thrive progressively as an industry, it is of vital importance that we acknowledge not only the problem of sexism, but also the issue of race. This industry has a race issue. The first clue being its sheer lack of representation of minorities, which I’d noticed, but have only recently cited as a problem. The apparent irony is, given the global history of modification, its roots, and the peoples who’ve practiced its most ancient rituals, that for decades the face of body piercing largely became the angsty, white male; more recently, the young and wealthy.

We’ve already begun to diversify our community and it’s image. During the 2017 APP Conference “Women in Leadership” panel discussion, Kendra Jane’s plea to the women of this industry to step up and make their voices heard served as a beautiful call to action, and reminder that the need for social change is ever-present. Alicia Cardena’s 2016 speech regarding who is really served by our jewelry companies displayed exactly the vigilance needed to redirect our efforts. In her speech, she outlined the problem of preferential treatment toward wealthy individuals, both inside and outside our studios; and how it contributes to a culture of socioeconomic inequality.

Faced with issues that threaten the well-being of our group success we, as a community of professionals, become the sum of our parts. Every single member of the community becomes responsible for their contribution to the solution, or lack thereof. Our jewelry companies, marketing agencies, photographers, aftercare companies, office clerks, volunteers, and studio members have more power than they realize. Let us continue to support those who may not have been born into equal opportunity, remembering that a single decision has the potential to inspire a wave of difference. We can advocate for, sponsor, apprentice, and give platforms to those who aren’t being heard. We can speak out. We can listen. Not every contribution needs to be radical; most of them won’t be, but collectively they’ll amount to a world of difference.

Point 86: 2019 Exhibit Planet Hollywood — Fakir Musafar

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Body Piercing Archives, Conference, Events, Features, In Memorium, Issue 86, News

In honor and celebration of the life of Fakir Musafar, the Body Piercing Archive will present the most comprehensive exhibit that’s ever been seen on Fakir’s art and legacy.

Over 2000 square feet staged with his original iconic images and fabricated sculptures made famous over eight decades of accumulated artwork and Body Play.

Exhibited as well will be many items that have never been on public display.

This will be the largest and most ambitious BPA exhibit to date, so come learn, remember, and celebrate!

Exhibit Hours:

Monday 10 am–6 pm
Tuesday 10 am–6 pm
Wednesday 10 am–6 pm
Thursday 10 am–6 pm

Docent Tours:

MONDAY

Paul King 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Ian Bishop 1 pm–2 pm
Allen Falkner 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Dustin Allor 4 pm–5 pm

TUESDAY

Cody Vaughn 10 am–11 am
Paul King 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Ian Bishop 1 pm–2 pm
Betty Ann Peed 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Jef Saunders 4 pm–5 pm

WEDNESDAY

Cynthia Wright 10 am–11 am
Ken Coyote 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Yossi Silverman 1 pm–2 pm
Grin 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Annie Sprinkle 4 pm–5 pm

THURSDAY

Grin 10 am–11 am
Paul King 11:30 am–12:30 pm
Allen Falkner 1 pm–2 pm
Cynthia Wright 2:30 pm–3:30 pm
Ken Coyote 4 pm–5 pm

Point 86: Office Update – Meet Our New Board Members

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Editorial, In the Office, Issue 86, Membership, News

In addition to being an educator at the annual Conference and annual Members’ Only Retreat, I put in a lot of my free time volunteering for the Association. I’ve been the head of the Social Media Committee for over three years, and am part of the Outreach Committee and the Al D. Scholarship Committee. Two years ago, I took over the Mentor Program and have worked diligently to expand and strengthen the program to better reach first time Conference attendees and piercers of all levels. I also do various other tasks for the Association, have written articles for The Point and have been featured in many educational podcasts. I excel at multitasking, am highly organized, and I especially enjoy working with new Conference attendees. It’s time for me to move forward, and am excited that my next step is to join the Board of Directors!

After nearly ten years as an APP Member, I am thrilled to be at a point in my career where I know I am ready to serve on the APP’s Board of Directors. While it is an honor to be nominated, I understand that the position on the Board is not about status, it’s about hard work.

Deciding to finally run was not a decision I made on my own. I am very fortunate to have a team of people supporting me. What that means for the organization is that I have the stability in my personal life and career to work hard for our organization. I have the ability to commit to a dozen hours a week of additional work, to jump on a plane, or rush to the phone because there are people I work with and live with that also believe in the APP’s mission.

Willingness to work is only half the equation. Below are some of my relevant qualifications.

My APP experience:

Member since 2009
Attended Conference since 2006 (I’ve missed only one)
Speaker at Conference since 2013, and have earned the title of Senior Instructor
Volunteered at Conference
Attended all four years of Camp APP, and have led workshops since 2016
I am a founding committee member of the Body Piercing Archive. While preserving, learning, and presenting our history, my duties and skill sets include program planning and goal setting, management of volunteers, proficiency in Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint, and also in Google Suite (Google Suite is the APP’s preferred management software.)

My Bay Area Piercers’ Group experience:

I’ve been a body piercer for fifteen years, and I come from humble beginnings. My thirst for knowledge and community has always been strong. In 2009, I founded the Bay Area Piercers’ Group. This group has brought the local piercers in our area together so that we may learn and inspire each other without ego or competition getting in the way. The formation of this group also inspired other communities to get together; now you can find piercer groups across the U.S. and other parts of the world.

My Fakir Intensives experience:

I have also been serving the industry as an Instructor for the Fakir’s Body Piercing and Branding Intensives in San Francisco.

When I found out about my nomination, I spoke with some of our current Board of Directors as well as sent an email to the Oversight Committee. My initial concern was that there may be a conflict of interest because of my nine year working relationship with APP Treasurer, Paul King. Thankfully I have been given a green light to proceed. I will also recuse myself from participation in decisions that involve the Treasurer.

Working on the Board will be no easy task. I think it’s important to have stability and a strong work ethic. These jobs are done best by leaders in our community. I want to be a Board Member, not because of the impact it will have on my career, but because I want to work hard for an organization that changed my life and created the person I am today.

I currently serve as the Membership Coordinator for the Association, and am honored to have been elected to a seat on the Board of Directors. I hope to further my long-running involvement and contributions to the APP. I have to say, this has been a dream of mine since the beginning of my career.

Some of you may have seen me working a booth or door at Conference over the years, seen my name answering posts on the APP Non-Members and APP Members Only forum on social media, as well as my email responding to questions pertaining to membership. Almost 8 years of my piercing career has been spent volunteering my time to the APP.

I have been a:

Professional piercer since 2010
Proud recipient of an Al D. Scholarship, allowing me to attend Conference and start volunteering for the APP in 2012
Business Member of the APP since 2014
Member of the Membership Committee since 2015
Membership Coordinator since 2017
Volunteer to represent the APP at ACHA & NEHA Conferences in 2015
Conference volunteer from 2012 to 2017
Mentor to first time attendees at Conference multiple times
Speaker at Conference 2017, 2018, and will be again in 2019

As the Membership Coordinator, I help to run the Membership Committee, alongside the Board Member assigned to the Membership Liaison position, which has been Jef Saunders followed by Cody Vaughn.

My current position was created a couple of years ago in response to the exponential growth in membership (around 300 Members in 2014, to around 700 Members in 2017) and increasing number of piercers aspiring to become Members. Heading our hard working committee has become such a large task that it requires the attention and dedication of more than just one person, and that is amazing!

My current workload involves processing applications, answering all emails and communications directed to the Membership Committee, as well as managing membership documents received during the application process. I’ve also headed and assisted with many projects with the committee.

I believe that I have been an integral part of the growth of our organization. I stepped into the Membership Committee during a time where there was tremendous growth, but a need for direction, organization, and improved communication. These are my strong suites and led to me rapidly taking on more responsibility. I believe that through this position I have gained insight and experience into the inner workings of the organization and the workload required of a Board Member. I am ready for this commitment.

I have helped bring on new Membership Committee volunteers that have a strong drive to help, as well as positively shape the organization. I have helped many Members through their applications. We recently launched MemberLeap and an application system that offers a more streamlined process of applying for and maintaining membership records. The future and vitality of the organization is dependent on new energy and a fresh perspective, which I strongly believe that I will provide. There is also a need for more diverse representation of our industry through the Board Members of our organization. Amongst many things, my main goals as a Board Member are to open a dialogue, while respecting and representing the interests of our growing diverse membership and industry, to continue furthering the reach of the organization while maintaining the quality and integrity of membership, as well as carry on the hard work of those who have led our organization and committees previously.

Point 86: The President’s Corner

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Editorial, Issue 86, President's Corner

by Jef Saunders

In this issue celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary, we ponder the future of the body piercing industry, our community, and the Association of Professional Piercers. As President, considering the future of our organization and industry is one of my highest priorities. The opportunity to help establish policies and safeguards which help our organization flourish, and our industry to become safer and better-educated, has been one of the greatest honors of my career. As such, I’m excited to discuss how we hope to aid in the growth and success of our industry.

It is the goal of the APP, and hopefully the goal of everyone in our community, to foster inclusivity and diversity. With that goal in mind, the

APP has added several new classes, roundtables, and TalkAPP sessions to our 2019 Conference. These courses are intended to highlight diverse perspectives and ideas, provide education about the challenges faced by people of color in our industry, and discuss actionable steps we can take to minimize those challenges.

In addition, the APP has added the following language to our Member’s Code of Conduct:

“I agree to provide a work environment that is free from harassment, bigotry, and discrimination. I will not discriminate or harass employees or clientele based upon an individual’s sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, size, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, age (except where legally required), religion, ability, or any other legally protected characteristic(s).

“Declining to perform a piercing on an individual (who has provided legally required valid identification) based on minimum age requirements, anatomy viability assessment, or potential health complications is not considered a violation of the APP Code of Conduct, unless it is done to explicitly discriminate against a legally protected characteristic. Refraining from piercing when there is a reasonable risk that the piercing will fail or result in complications is considered appropriate, safe, and ethical piercing practice.”

The APP will continue to expand our educational offerings and improve pre-existing classes at our annual Conference. In addition, we will continue to broaden the scope of our online courses; it is imperative that we offer a wide variety of options for education, so that all individuals looking to learn are able to do so regardless of distance or financial concerns. Furthermore, as sister organizations spring up around the globe, we will do everything we can to assist these colleagues in nurturing their organizations and developing educational materials.

I am truly excited to see what our industry’s jewelry manufacturers and other suppliers deliver in the coming years. I am in awe of the high-quality, innovative creations our sponsors have produced in the past 25 years, and I think we are all looking forward to seeing what they have in store in the next quarter century.

Finally, as the APP’s educational mission continues to succeed, I expect to see further growth in our membership. In the last three years alone, we have seen membership increase by more than double. Our next big benchmark will be one thousand APP Members from all over the world!

The future has some big things in store for our community, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish! Excelsior!

Point 86: From the Editor – Marina Pecorino

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Editorial, From the Editor, Issue 86

In April, the Association of Professional Piercers will be 25 years old. As a community, we’ve come a long way; from bedrooms, basements, and dungeons to a reputable international industry with professional organizations, standards, best practices, and training opportunities. With that change, we’ve also experienced a drastic shift in the public’s perception of our trade.

With public attention comes public scrutiny. As both an industry and individual practitioners, we have a decision to step up our game and work toward professional growth and advancement, or rebel in an attempt to hang on to our subculture status. It is my feeling that we should not settle for mediocrity and succumb to doing things the way they’ve always been done, just because change is challenging and intimidating. Learn new skills. Educate yourself and your staff. Make professional and personal development a priority. Aim for continual improvement.

Along those lines, the APP has made some updates to what was previously called our Health and Safety Agreement. This document has now been expanded to address the diversity and inclusivity of our industry, and has been retitled as the APP Member’s Code of Conduct.

Read about these changes and inspiring words on this topic from APP President, Jef Saunders, later in this issue. Staying grounded is a key component of professional and personal development. Logical and level-headed decisions are difficult to make when egos are unrealistically inflated or emotions are heated. Jacob Spjut explains the difference between an industry’s knowledgeable elites and the attitude of elitism. Knowing who in our community has a wealth of expertise on a particular topic is an important step to forever learning. On the same token, Chris Beierschmitt’s article provides information on finding reliable, credible, and trustworthy information from sources outside of our industry, including peer-reviewed research. We are human and not expected to know everything. As any good teacher will tell you, it is not about rote memorization, but about knowing where to look to find what you need. As the APP’s Membership Administrator, I am experiencing first hand the rapid and immense growth the organization and industry are undergoing. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing what new directions our leadership and industry elites will lead us in next. But it is important to remember that each individual plays an integral role as well. As Kendra Jane expresses, it is time to step up and be the change you want to see.

Point 86: From the Editors – Kendra Jane B.

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Editorial, From the Editor, Issue 86

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”

—Noam Chomsky

Kendra Jane B. & Marina Pecorino, 2017 APP Conference

I am a glass half full, the sun will come out tomorrow kind of person; a believer that everyone deserves a second chance and that humans are innately good beings. I’m an eternal optimist if you will.

When I started piercing almost a decade ago it was amazing; piercing became an overnight passion I didn’t know I had. I wanted to learn everything I could about every aspect of our industry. I dove in head first. I have had the privilege of being chosen as an Al D. Scholar, and have now become a longtime conference volunteer. I have been a contributing writer and an Editor for The Point for several years. The culmination of all this hard work and diligence has been the opportunity to serve as this organization’s Vice President. Looking back, it honestly seems so surreal. I have met soulmates, best friends, and my chosen family. Being a part of this industry has allowed me to be the change I wanted to see. I wanted to make a difference and this industry gave me the chance to do that.

Although I may be a glass half full kinda of girl, I would be lying if I led you to believe that my time in the piercing industry has been all sunshine and lollipops. It is very easy to let piercing throw off a work life balance, as it seems piercers like to eat, breathe, and sleep piercing. In my case it allowed me to indulge in my first choice for self harmful behaviour, being a workaholic. I used my career as an excuse to miss family gatherings, maintain toxic relationships, and to define myself as a person through my career alone. This sadly means that I, like so many piercers I know, have spent the past few years teetering ever so cautiously on the precipice of complete burnout.

Badur Ramji & Kendra Jane B., 2016 APP Conference
Photo by Autumn Swisher

After almost a decade in this industry it was a strange reality for me to have worked so hard for so long to get exactly where I wanted to be, only to realize that place was not at all like I had envisioned it. I am so very proud to say that I feel I have made real changes within the piercing industry, but I am now realizing the changes I’ve made in myself during my involvement in the industry are the real prize. I have said it before and I will say it again, this industry has taught me self worth, the ability to set boundaries, and to stand up for what I believe in. The piercing industry has also shown me that it is ok to step aside when you are no longer the best person for the task at hand, and the time has come for me to step aside and let the next shepherds of our industry take the lead.

Kendra Jane B. & Caitlin McDiarmid, 2018 APP Conference
Photo by Shanna Hutchins

I believe that this industry and this publication deserve a new voice, the voice of the next generation of piercers. The time has come for me to say goodbye to The Point and my role as Managing Editor. I would like to thank James Weber, Elayne Angel, Kim Zapata, Jim Ward, Caitlin McDiarmid and Marina Pecorino; whether they know it or not, each of them played an integral part in my editorial journey with this publication.

The Point – Issue 86

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Issue 86

Point 85: RuAPP

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read Events, International, Issue 85, News, Other Conferences, Sister Organization

by Arseniy Andersson

Left to Right: Brian Skellie (USA), Dmitry Sizov (Russia), Sergi Tinault (Spain)

While things have come a long way in the United States, in many places all over the world the professional piercing industry is only at the beginning. Russia is one of them. Traditionally, Russians are kept away from American community. Why? Well, it is not a big secret that there is political tension between the United States and Russia, so for common citizens it isn’t easy to get a visa to travel to the US.

I think in the whole history of the APP, only two or three piercers from Russia have attended an APP Conference, this is likely due to a combination of low Russian economy, language barriers, expensive flights, and poor industry standards (in Russia) that all play a part. So, this year we are so excited that we were able to hold the first and second of what we hope to be many of our own conferences, read on to find out more about the RuAPP and our Conference!

Russian Piercers Ofelia (left) and Zhanna (right)

I would like to give credit to fellow piercer Ruben Lew, and his article about LBP as I used it as a template for my article. .

RuAPP was officially established in November of 2017, but was conceived long before that date. We currently stand at 24 members. Requirements are significantly different than for the APP, but RuAPP has a 3-year member requirement rising plan (like the UKAPP has hi, fellows!), which is going to bring RuAPP to APP standards (slow and steady wins the race).

Our first RuAPP conference was held in Moscow in January of 2018, where 60 Russian-speaking piercers gathered from all over Europe. The second RuAPP conference was held only 7 months later due to overwhelming interest form local piercers so eager to learn. Hosted once again in Moscow, attendance nearly doubled to 110 people, 95 of which were piercers, including APP Board Members, Cody Vaughn and Brian Skellie, APP Business Members, Sergi Tinaut from Spain and Javier Retamal from Chile, who all taught 2-3 classes at our Conference. Overall, 25 classes and several live demonstrations were taught over the three day period of RuAPP #2. Eight vendors were present in the conference expo area, including companies such as Industrial Strength and Auris Jewellery. Also there we saw other crucial things as Katana Needles and even Statims!

We would like to show thankfulness to the APP for all of their help in ensuring we had a successful Conference.

Andrey Neurozis from Ukraine (left) and Valeriya Chigovanina from Czech Republic (right) making fun and preparing for the raffle!

Both conferences to date have been predominantly Russian-speaking, and lectures have had translations, but the next one is to become international in a fuller sense and have at least half of the classes taught in English with no translation. From now on we plan to have annual conferences and you can visit RuAPP #3 from June 18-22th, 2019 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. So save the date!

From the very beginning of the first conference, I realised that we had changed the game in Russia. Lots of old piercers who were “enemies” before were sitting at one table together right in front of me with no drama, no fights, no insults. Lots of new piercers who were unknown before the Conference and a bit shy to come out from the shadows showed themselves. I had no idea we have so many piercers interested learning! At that moment I understood that we’re doing our work correctly. There is no better motivation in this world than seeing a result that was supposed to be impossible!

I was really happy to have our first foreign speakers it was a totally new organizing experience to me! I think you all understand that for many of us, conference is not only a temple of Forever Learning, but a social hub full of friends and dedicated inspiring people! Lots of attendees found a huge source of motivation and inspiration and I could read it on their faces!

Mario Santana and Javier Fingazz, owners of Shangri-La Body Arts in Chile

My personal view on our industry is that piercers are the kind of people who are not just making holes in a safe manner; we are more than that. What I intend to do within my piercing career is to solve clients’ troubles, and inspire them to change their lives for the better! The feeling of thankfulness I receive back is an unbelievable source of my inner motivation. During the conference, I think of all the piercers as my clients who I want to inspire. What we did gives me inspirational feedback and huge motivation to do it even better. After conference I have no post-conference depression, I’m running around full of projects and ideas along with energy as do a lot of other piercers and RuAPP organizers!

Arseniy Andersson makes marking on Andrey Safonov before freehand microdermal live demonstration

Industrial Strength Russia and their beautiful Marta Vagner

Did you already buy all the raffle tickets? If not, you have the last chance!

Sergi Tinaut (Spain) gives his class about anatomy together with Dmitry Sizov (Russia), who helps with translation

Of course, not everything goes according to plan and we make mistakes. There were issues with translations, issues with sound system; but no critical mistakes happened. We can analyse and improve our event planning to make the next one even better, same as we all analyse and learn how to do each piercing better.

I can’t as we start preparing the third RuAPP. For now I will have to do with the warm feelings I get while thinking of all those friends I met at APP, GEP, LBP, BMXNet, YouModify and UKAPP, who wished us luck and who want to come to Russia in 2019!

As know my opinions about the success of our Conference are likely biased so please read what some of our attendees had to say;

Vlad Bodmodov gives his class about microdermals

Cody Vaughn: Having the opportunity to attend and teach at RuAPP this year was an absolute pleasure and an honor.

The attendees and other speakers were incredibly nice and very eager to learn. The classes I attended were very insightful and it was great to see where Russia was at with their current piercing techniques and practices. Seeing and hearing so many similarities to what I have encountered at conferences such as APP and LBP popping up at RuAPP really made me proud to see how far and wide the piercing industry has become.

I sincerely thank everybody I got to meet and interact with. The RuAPP attendees and speakers were a pleasure to spend the week with, both teaching and learning. I wish you many more successful conferences in the future.

Brian Skellie: Thanks to the RuAPP for an enthusiastic and curious experience as a speaker and participant. I would be pleased to return in 2019 if you’ll have me. Overall, the conference seemed well put together with a balance of educational and social interaction. I arrived to the St. Scalpelburg shop in Moscow to the lovely view of Yuri Gagarin’s golden statue who welcomed me along with the smiles of friendly fellow speakers, organizers, and participants. The uncertainty that preceded about my visa, my travel arrangements, and my unfamiliarity with the language faded quickly. By the time we got to the event location, many productive conversations were started, and the group was dynamic and involved.

The presentations were a high quality and seemed well received despite a few complexities with translation. The questions and feedback addressed felt useful and impactful on many levels, towards a shiny future.

The vendors brought an impressive quantity of attractive jewelry designs, quite aware of the industry trends in precious metals and minerals. Their generosity to the raffle was greatly appreciated. APP Board Members, Cody Vaughn and I, were able to donate two of our full conference passes for 2019 in Las Vegas for two fortunate piercers Lala and Yuliana.

Javier Retamal: I had the great honor of being invited to do classes in Russia for the first time in my life. I felt completely happy to meet many people with the same passion that I can find every time I go to Brazil or Mexico; people looking to grow as professionals and at the same time as human beings. I always felt very welcome and with certainty RuAPP is going to be one of the best conferences in this part of the world!

Postscriptum: If you ever want to explore a new exotic destination and combine it with shopping or selling jewelry, taking or teaching classes, feel free to contact RuAPP international liaison, Arseniy Andersson, and remember: it is bad manners to keep an adventure waiting!

Point 85: New UKAPP Brochures

May 28, 2020 Comments Off read APP Brochures, International, Issue 85, News, Publications, Sister Organization

The UKAPP has created two new informational brochures addressing female genital piercings and national concerns regarding the same. Please read the previous articles in The Point (Issue 70, Issue 74, and Issue 77) regarding the classification of consensual female genital piercings as mutilation in Europe. These UKAPP brochures were written in full cooperation with the APP and are of interest to anyone concerned about issues of body piercing, female health, and human rights.

Print ready PDFs of these may be downloaded from the organization’s website: https://www.ukapp.org.uk/ Please note that the order of the brochure is formatted to allow for tri-folding when printed, much like the brochures available from the Association of Professional Piercers: https://www.safepiercing.org/brochures.php

The Point