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Point #68: In the Office – Volunteer Thank You

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Caitlin McDiarmid headshotCaitlin McDiarmid

I think if I had to identify my favorite part of my job it would be the work I do with the volunteers at Conference and throughout the year. It wasn’t always that way, and I have to credit them for making me grow as a manager, and become a better person over the last ten plus years. I never thought I would be a good mentor, but now I feel like I am one.

In the months leading up to Conference we had a record number of “love” volunteers come forward and, strangely enough, they all wanted a schedule to commit to volunteering. We have always had a good group of helpers, those who volunteer for the sake of volunteering and giving back with nothing in return, but usually it’s for limited hours or on a drop-by basis. A lot of times they are unable to commit in advance of  Conference, so they are a help in the trenches but I can’t schedule them for shifts. This year, it was different.

We also had a rough year, especially our SUPERS. Many of them were not able to make it due to emergencies, family issues, medical concerns, and financial considerations. Our team missed them horribly, and we hope they return. But when all was said and done, we made it—and this year every single volunteer was critical to that success, and everyone performed extremely well.

We had even our “love” volunteers go through online training in advance of Conference, which was new this year. Our SUPERS went through even more extensive training online and, in some cases, one-on-one. We have hit critical mass with the workload, and I am delegating as fast as I can, this means  many of the SUPER volunteers took on training responsibilities.

Once on-site, they stepped up even further and honed their management and supervisory skills. I am forever grateful to my ducklings who DID manage to find their way home this year:

Our Booth & Classroom SUPERS:

  • Aaron Foster
  • Casey Hosch
  • Chadwick Jackson
  • Dannielle Greenwood
  • Jovi Croes
  • Ken Seyler
  • KennyHughes
  • KristinYoung
  • MarahKelso
  • Mark Montgomery
  • Monica Sabin
  • Seven Wolfe
  • William Spencer

Our Registration SUPERS

  • Anna York
  • Badur Ramji
  • David Kelso
  • Jezebel Voule
  • Kirsten Eblin
  • Kendra Berndt
  • Sarah Wooten
  • Luna Duran
  • Theo Sheffler

Our AV Supers:

  • Gus Diamond, Allen Falkner, Brian Moeller, and Shana Gyurə

Will Spencer and the amazing Sarah Wooten have to be recognized for their continued dedication to the APP and the Conference. Without these two doing what they do each year, and supporting the other Supers and myself, Conference would not be the success it is today.

Our Al D. Scholars came from far and wide; including four from Norway, Germany, and Mexico:

  • Ryan Clark
  • Dae Jedic
  • Ismael VargasGuerrero
  • Eugenia Vazquez
  • Andre Berg
  • Zach Fitzgerald
  • KennyHayden
  • John Robberson
  • Marita Wikstroem
  • Logan Wright

They all performed their work well, but I was even more impressed at how they bonded as a team straight away and integrated into the volunteer group at large.

Once again I want to thank J.D. Lorenz and the crew at Industrial Strength Body Jewelry for donating two complete scholarships, and Buddha Jewelry; Gorilla Glass; Quetzalli Jewelry; and Intrinsic Body, Inc. for contributing to the Scholarship fund.

We had some private scholarships and some piercer-sponsored scholarships. The recipients (Hika Kierkenupp, Adrian Sanchez, Trist’n Peterson, Molly Bennett, Aaron Pounds, and Heather Weber) worked alongside the rest of our volunteers. And while the “no excuse” scholars weren’t required to work many hours, some of them took it upon themselves to work additional ones (don’t think I didn’t notice).

This year we invited back all of the Al D.’s from last year, but not everyone could be present.

ShortyCalma, Frankie Pistone, Ryan Feagin, MikeMcInnes, and Dianna Brown all returned to show they could work just as hard, even without a full scholarship.

Our LOVE volunteers exploded in numbers and we found new friends and hard workers in this group: Amanda Badger, Arik Johnson, Chance Sledge, Christina  Blossey, Corey Hobe, Damian Lynch, Eric Grippe, Solo Paige-Turner, Hugo Hernandez, Jess Ekdahl, Justin Naffziger, Krystal  Slager (Klos), KT Wallick, Lani Soleil, Leah-Jean Jett, Megan Naito, Melissa Scogin, Omar Toxqui, Robyn Johnson, Vivi Eye, and Stephanie Segal.

We had non-industry folks, health inspectors, partners, return “love” volunteers, members and non-members.

I’d also like to thank Ash Misako and the Mentor Team. This is a critical program for our event and I think it’s implementation in 2009 has set the course for the APP in a great direction.

I struggled this year, both before Conference and during Conference, to complete the tasks that must be done in order for this event to happen. Yet this Conference was another brilliant one and I can tell that all of the growth and expansion has affected me in a very significant way. With that said a couple of people made a significant contribution of time, which went well above expectations: Jezebel Voule, Kristin Young, and Theo Sheffler all traveled to Lawrence, Kansas, stayed for a few days, worked a full day (Conference hours, not this nine-to-five stuff), and got the 786 pre-Con badge packets completed and in the mail along with the equipment. Frankly, they saved my sanity and really made Conference possible this year.

As always, to the men in my life, Thaddeous Love and Paul King; thank you. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself. For putting up with my bad days and celebrating my good ones. For being there, always. For loving me, and always knowing I can get it done. I am forever grateful that T has been able to join me these last two years and experience all the joy and love that Conference is—thank you all for welcoming him.

2014 Conference Volunteers. Photo by Autumn Swisher.
2014 Conference Volunteers. Photo by Autumn Swisher.

Point #67: In the Office

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Caitlin McDiarmid headshotBy Caitlin McDiarmid

Even though it’s been quite a while since I wrote for The Point, I haven’t gone anywhere; I am still right here in the office. It’s my 12th year with the APP, and I feel a bit like the mom of a graduating teenager. Our organization has grown and matured so much during this period, and this growth is reflected in our fiscal health, our expanded Conference offerings, and our exploding membership.

Fiscally, the organization is healthier than it’s ever been. The APP has weathered difficult financial periods over the last 12 years. (When I first started, Board Members were paying for their own travel, food, hotel bills, and office supplies, etc.) The economy has had fluctuations that have affected our entire industry, and the Association tightened its belt when prudent. As a team, the Board, Officers, and myself have critically evaluated every expense and program over the years—even during flush times—and I pride myself on doing effective and comprehensive cost comparisons (whether shopping for supplies, a provider of exhibitor services, or a new laptop).

Treasurer Paul King keeps us on track and knows when the Association can spend more on outreach efforts and perks at Conference, and when the budget does not allow it. The rewards of these efforts are being felt now, and will continue to be felt in the future. While those responsible for the Association’s financial well-being will continue to watch pennies, we are pleased to say that we have arrived at a place where we can stretch our reach a bit and offer a few of the programs and projects that have been in the wings—waiting until we had the economic resources.

Our annual Conference is bigger and better than ever! Attendance grew by 18% last year.  (Eighteen percent!) For years our numbers grew by 1% or 2%, but last year we jumped by 18%. Individual class attendance also grew by 26%. And this year seems to be panning out much like last. We are are offering over 100 hours of classes, roundtable discussions, and workshops. (To put that in perspective, in 2003—my first year—we offered 43 hours of classes.) We will have 70 people volunteering at Conference. (My first year we had 9.) Our growth will continue. As such, we are already working hard to figure out new ways to structure scheduling, attendee classification, and badging for 2015, and we will continue to push ourselves and our systems to keep Conference exciting and cutting edge.

Membership is exploding. A number of years ago I remember reading in The Tipping Point (by Malcolm Gladwell) about the number 150 in the context of social/work groups. He discussed the research and findings that support the idea that functional social groups should and do remain in the 150 – 200 range. I paid attention because, at that time, I had noticed this pattern occurring with our Business Membership (our piercers). We would grow each year with new members, but then over the year we would lose members—negating significant growth. We always seemed to hover just under 200 business members. One year ago (June 2013) we were over 200, but just slightly. Right now we have 247 business members; we’ve added 39 new business members (June 2013 to May 2014). (Last year we added 32 new business members; the year prior we only added 16.) Better yet: There’s a good chance that by Conference we will have over 55 new business members. That would be an increase of 26%!

There are a lot of reasons all of this growth is happening. Many people are giving their time to help make this change, and there are a lot of piercers, both members and not, who are doing what is necessary to change what the public sees as professional, safe, and important when they get a piercing. I have never been so proud of our organization and our Association as I am these days, and I have never been so proud to be a part of this industry.

This kid isn’t a kid anymore; this kid has grown up and is graduating to the next level. Yes, we have—and still will—suffer growing pains, and those of us who have been around the longest (and around longer than I)—the Mommas and the Poppas of our industry—may have a hard time letting go during this transition. It doesn’t mean we aren’t proud, or excited. It doesn’t mean we don’t want it to grow and change, develop and find new ways to do things and new possibilities. It just means we care deeply about its success, and know how far we’ve come—and how hard it was—to get here.

 

Point #65: International Suspension Alliance (ISA)

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PKing photo for conference 2011By Paul King
APP Treasurer

In the summer of 2012 Allen Falkner contacted me, requesting help from the APP for a member of the suspension community. A woman was having a legal custody battle over her children. The other party’s attorney was using her participation in hook suspension as evidence that she was an unfit mother. I recommended that he take the issue to the APP Board, as  I was sure they would help in some way. But I wasn’t sure exactly what help would look like and what the implications, would be.

The APP’s primary purpose is laid out in the mission statement: The Association of Professional Piercers (APP) is an international health and safety organization. It is a nonprofit voluntary alliance dedicated to the dissemination of information about body piercing.

As a modern adaptation, (hook) suspension utilizes body piercing needles to pierce the tissue rather ISA_2than the actual hook. However, after this commonality, the differences start to outweigh the similarities: Suspension is temporary without the complication of trying to heal the body with a foreign object present. Suspension requires knowledge of, and experience with, placements and configurations with considerations for differences in weight and torque bearing tissues. This must all be done in tandem with an expertise of the support rigging that rivals that of a mountaineer. Body piercing is almost always performed by a single practitioner while suspension is usually done with well-practiced and coordinated teams.

The mission statement goes on to say: the APP is a united group of piercing professionals…

Anyone that looks around the APP’s annual conference, online forums, or The Point publications will see faces of people that suspend and those of people that pierce. However, not everyone that professionally pierces suspends, and vice versa. Many people that are active in the suspension community participate within teams without needing to learn or to perform piercing. These are two distinct-yet-overlapping communities that have independent jargon, histories, skill sets, social norms, and motivations.

Body piercing has become a professional industry. While there are some who perform suspensions professionally, I’m unaware of a single person that financially sustains themselves on suspension. For most in the suspension community the words “paid professional” have no place. Although some appreciate donations to cover costs, most practitioners perform the services out of love of the experience, the benefits of gathering together, and the privilege of being entrusted to guide another through this powerful process.

The APP has political clout, but does it have the legitimacy and the authority to represent the suspension community before judicial, legislative, and public health officials? I don’t think so, and some veterans of the suspension community agree. On March 28, 2013, leaders from all the teams present during the Dallas Suscon met for dinner to discuss openly if they felt there was a need for greater community-wide coordination and cooperation, and what that might look like. Some of the needs that emerged were safety standardization, legislative representation, international cooperation, and contact consolidation. Simply put, there is a need for a common, stable, and readily accessible location that anyone, anywhere, can go to for reliable information and help.

ISA_1A small work group formed from the initial Dallas meeting. This group’s primary tasks are to solicit feedback and ideas from teams and individuals within the suspension community at various Suscons around the world, investigate these community-proposed options, organize and delegate viable plans, work their butts off, and continue to hold meetings to report on progress. At present, the group includes seven workers: Allen Falkner, team member of Traumatic Stress Discipline (TSD), USA; Bruno Valsecchi, member of APTPI, Italy; Eden Thomson, team member of Skindependent, New Zealand; Håvve Fjell, team member of Wings of Desire (WoD), Norway; Mike Coons, team member of Hooked, USA; Misty Forsberg, team member of Hanging City, USA; and Steve Joyner, team member of Constructs of Ritual Evolution (CoRE), USA.

On June 12, 2013, while at the APP conference, suspension teams and individuals came together for the second forum. During this meeting, the group submitted a working mission statement for a proposed new organization, to be known as the International Suspension Alliance (ISA): The International Suspension Alliance (ISA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the unification of the body suspension community through education, outreach, and the dissemination of information pertaining to the safe practice of human suspension to practitioners, the general public, and health care professionals.

86 people attended the open meeting. The entire meeting, including presentation and Q&A, was videotaped and is available for everyone to see here.

The third open meeting occurred in Oslo, Norway, July 24, 2013. Transparency and solid communication with the greater suspension community remain paramount for the work group. Allen Falkner et al. compiled a list of concerns and addressed them frankly. A complete video of this meeting is also available.

Over the next several months, more open meeting times and locations are scheduled:

September 2013 – Livorno Italy during Italian Suscon
September 2013 – Omaha, Nebraska during Mecca
April 2014 – Dallas, Texas during Dallas Suscon

The need for community organization is not theoretical; it is very real. In some U.S. cities, counties,602361_530168800353022_1022412352_n and states legislation is circulating that—if passed—will dictate, restrict, and in some cases, prohibit hook suspension. On December 6, 2002, the Florida Board of Medicine determined and then ratified that hook suspension was a medical procedure and therefore requires an M.D. to be present for and approve of all suspensions performed in the state.  In 2010, the city of Minneapolis prohibited all suspension practices. December 5, 2012, Coconino County Public Health Department, AZ implemented the revised Body Art Code, which banned suspension. The Coconino regulation acknowledges that suspension could be motivated by the desire for a “spiritualistic ritual.” It seems easy to imagine that any law blatantly banning what in some circumstances is an expression of religious belief and in other circumstances is performance art could be defeated in a U.S. court under First Amendment protections, but this of course assumes that the community has the resources and organization to challenge such discrimination.

Time and time again, body modification (tattooing, piercing, scarification, suspension, and extreme/heavy) communities are at the mercy of legislators, medical and mental health professionals, local law enforcement, and health inspectors. The people in power have their perspectives, informed by their own biases and agendas. We can let them establish whether or not these practices are legal or illegal, ethical or unethical, healthy and cathartic, or emotionally unstable and dangerous—or we can establish our own. Operating only from a position of defense and reaction to what they do is inefficient and garners as many defeats as victories. It’s exhausting and we’re always fighting these battles on their terms and their turfs. Like it or not, much of this comes down to good old fashion PR. How we talk about our practices and how we portray and organize ourselves in person, in the media, and on the internet does matter in shaping the minds of policymakers and the greater public opinion.

I talked to Allen about the group’s progress. His words sum this article up best: The future is really up to the suspension community.  The work group’s only function is to set up and establish the organization.  Once we have membership, the real work begins.  At this point I cannot speak for the organization. I am simply one person, but it is my hope that we will soon have one unified voice that will work to help those within our community.

1  There is at least one other documented custody battle in which suspension participation was used as evidence that a parent was unfit for custody. In the second case this tactic was applied towards the father. In both of these instances, the individuals requested to remain publicly anonymous.
2 Steve Joyner, Allen Falkner, and www.suspension.org are credible resources.
3 http://www.floridahealth.gov/Environment/community/body-piercing/newinfo.htm
4 minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@council/documents/webcontent/convert_260915.pdf
5 http://www.coconino.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1044

Point #64: Volunteer Thank You

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Caitlin McDiarmid headshotBy Caitlin McDiarmid

Our 18th Annual Conference and Exposition has come and gone, and I am proud to say it was our biggest success, personally and professionally. It’s been a tough year, and I have to toot my own horn, I f***ing kicked its ass! But I also didn’t do it alone, and a lot of the people who take care of things at Conference took care of me this entire year.

Throughout the year, I felt their love and their support. I got their cards and their presents during a tough time. They were strong, positive, and present. They shaved their heads, they got tattoos, they visited. This year—more than ever—I needed them and Conference. I needed all of the hugs, all of the laughs, all of the quiet talks in the wee hours, and all of the frantic moments solving problems as a team. I needed to know I mattered, that my work mattered, and I needed to know my team could step up and take on just a bit more and still shine, still produce a brilliant event. They could and they did.

I was so happy that I made it this year: happy and grateful.

Moreso than in years past, I need to thank the Board of Directors and the Officers of the APP for their support of me and my family. There really is no way for me to express how much having an employer with a heart can mean in times of need, and I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

I also need to thank all the attendees for their warmth and recognition. So many strangers come up to me these days at Conference and thank me, and it makes all the work worth it.  (I’ve received thanks at the Banquet Dinner before, but this year it really was something special.)

This year all the “Super” volunteers went through advanced online training—some more than one session—and many of whom pitched in to help with review of schedules, organization, and training. This year, we added four “Super” volunteers and three “Supers in training” (Al D.’s that we felt were exceptional last year). The Supers really are the backbone of the team; they do all the heavy lifting (so-to-speak) at Conference, and I have learned the more I stand back and let them do their work, the more successful they become—and the better the Conference is.

Registration Supers:

  • Alexander Kumaritakis

  • Anna York

  • David Kelso

  • Kendra Berndt

  • Theo Sheffler

  • Marah Kelso

Booth and Classroom Supers

  • Aaron Foster

  • Casey Hosch

  • Zane Nichols

  • Tiana McGuire

  • Kenny Hughes

  • Chadwick Jackson

  • Luna Duran

  • Autumn Spinks

  • Danielle Greenwood

  • Jezebel Voulé

  • Kristin Young

Our AV Supers

  • Gus Diamond

  • Allen Falkner

  • Brian Moeller

  • Badur Ramji

Supers-in-training:

  • Ken Seyler

  • Andrew Rogge

  • Monica Sabin

Special thanks to Will Spencer and Sarah Wooten; they are both “Super” volunteers and serve on the Conference Committee. They are my friends and work extremely hard in their respective areas of Speaker Wrangling/Registration and Raffle; they have my back all the time, and I could not do this job without them.

We were graced this year with another outstanding group of Al. D. Scholars—they rivaled the “dream team” of 2011! They were extremely excited, incredibly humble, warm, and hardworking. Many of them gave impromptu thank-you speeches at the shuttle stop, and all of them grabbed the Conference experience with both hands and dove in.

  • Mike McInnes

  • Shorty Calma

  • Frankie Pistone

  • Nathan Grosvenor

  • Apple Murray

  • Dianna Brown

  • Jacob Spjut

  • Jane Marie Ravelo

  • Parker Webb

  • Ryan Feagin

If that list seemed longer than usual, it’s because it was. Thanks to JD Lorenz and Industrial Strength Body Jewelry, the funds for two additional full scholarships were made available—in Shannon Larratt’s name.

Believe it or not, I have a few more people to thank. In fact, I have more people each year approaching me to volunteer, and I hope that means that we are doing things right—that volunteering isn’t seen as a burden, and that people are beginning to understand that acting in service to the organization at Conference brings about a different level of joy.

This year’s love volunteers were:

  • Shannon Dey

  • Madicken  Engström

  • Brianna Belladonna

  • Kelly Zeien

  • Megan Naito

  • Chris Smith

  • Eric Grippe

  • Jared Silverman

  • Mark Montgomery

  • Marley Cote

  • Mike Araya Baker

  • Seven Wolfe

  • Justin Naffziger

  • Shea Derifield

I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank Courtney Maxwell and all of the mentors who—hopefully—made Conference a bit easier and more welcoming for our first-time attendees.

A special thanks to:

  • Gus Diamond – for giving “T” the tour, and for being you.

  • Sarah Wooten – for never ending hard work, showing that you’re human, and for introducing me (and others) to Bouchon.

  • Jezebel Voulé – for saving my ass before Conference and for making it sweat after (paddleboats).

  • Theo & Kristin – for schlepping me around Vegas.

  • Jacob Spjut – who got it, truly got it, this year—and shared it with me, so I knew I was doing things right.

  • Will Spencer – for stepping in and up on a moment’s notice when needed.

  • Courtney Maxwell – for showing grace and strength; for showing me how to fall down, get up, make the most of it, and turn it around so fast and beautiful it made my head spin. Now that’s a teacher!

And finally, every year I thank the two men in my life—Paul King and Thaddeous (“T”) Love—and this year is no different. Without these two guys I would not be the person I am, or be able to do the things I do. I was lucky enough to share part of my Conference experience with “T” this year, and I thank all of you for welcoming him, razzing him, hugging him, and making him see how wonderful it all is. (Thanks babe, for being there through all of it.)  And Paul, we’ll always have Paris.

Point64-Volunteers

Point #61: BMXnet 2012 Review – Essen, Germany October 12-14, 2012

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By Elayne Angel

The sixth annual Body Modification Exchange Network (BMXnet) Conference in Essen, Germany October 12-14, 2012 was well attended by piercers, tattooists, and body modification artists from around Europe and beyond. Given its great distance from the US, there was a strong representation of American speakers present including Jim Ward, James Weber, Bethra Szumski, Brian Skellie, Ryan Ouellette, Steve Haworth, Paul King, Allen Falkner, and myself. There was also a “Sponsors Expo” featuring vendors of body jewelry and supplies for piercing, tattooing, body modification, and suspension, with merchants coming from as far away as Mexico to participate.

Photo by Rolf Buchholz

The eclectic and wonderful venue, for this years festivities, Unperfekehaus (imperfect house) is a large converted Franciscan nunnery in the heart of Essen. Now it is a combination artist’s colony/gallery, hotel, and  a restaurant/internet coffeehouse. It contains five floors of artists’ studios, plus meeting rooms, performance spaces, and more. The hotel rooms share common bathrooms, a full kitchen, and also a sauna, which was put to good use in the evenings. There is free wireless Internet throughout.

A vast buffet was available in the restaurant 12 hours a day to keep the conference-goers fed, and coffee, cappuccino, and tea were free flowing to keep us warm. Unlimited sodas, juices, and sparkling water drinks were also provided to the participants in this welcoming establishment with the “all you can eat and drink” BMX package deal.

There is no way to impart how incredibly cool the setting was if you weren’t there to enjoy and experience it, and even the best photos won’t do it justice. (One example being the large open space on the upper level had a huge skylight in the ceiling.) Some of the vendors were housed in this area, and others were set up on two of the floors below, which were surrounded by artists’ workshops.

Photo by Rolf Buchholz

Each studio is open to the visiting public and has a plaque out front explaining the individual’s background and artistic philosophy. Costume and jewelry designers, sculptors, and painters shared their colorful creations in the series of connected buildings which form the Unperfekehaus. Artworks of all types (much of it for sale) lined the halls and walls, as well as the studio spaces, lending a festive and creative vibe to the scene. Three separate dining rooms and several other public spaces provided plenty of opportunities for hanging out and socializing.  A rounded alcove filled with comfortable pillows and surrounded by psychedelic paintings was a popular retreat. A well-equipped theater complete with lighting and stage was the location for some classes, suspensions, and the entertainment in the evenings.

The wide array of courses, roundtables, demonstrations, and workshops included advanced body modification topics not in the curriculum at APP conferences such as Ear Reconstruction, Flesh Stapling, Wound Suturing, Advanced Scarification, Tongue Splitting, and Electrocautery and Laser Branding. More standard subjects were covered such as Jewelry Design, Anodizing, Sterilization and Instrument Management for Piercing, Stretching, Aseptic Technique, Troubleshooting and Scars, and Surface Piercings.

Photo by Rolf Buchholz

James Weber presented “A History of Body Piercing US Periodicals: from PFIQ to The Point,” which was a great precursor to Jim Ward’s talk later in the day, Gauntlet and the Evolution of the Modern Body Modification Movement. Many of the conference-goers were very excited to have their photos taken with the “Granddaddy of the Modern Piercing Movement” and have him sign their copies of his book, Running the Gauntlet. Paul King shared his knowledge with a fascinating presentation on the Piercing Rituals of the Plains Native Americans.
Offerings for tattoo artists included Hand-poking Tattoos, Automatic Sketching, Tattoo Machine Tuning, Lasers and the Tattoo Industry, and Sterilization and Instrument Management for Tattooing. Some classes were suited to all of the attending professionals, such as Marketing and Managing Difficult Clients.

Photo by Rolf Buchholz

As the conference progressed additional sessions called “barcamps” were scheduled into the times and spaces allotted for them. Once planned, they were announced via a bulletin board in the entryway. This permitted a useful spontaneity for new topics to be covered, or more in-depth discussions held on subjects of greater interest. I was asked to do a barcamp session of my Safe and Effective Female Genital Piercing course with a German translator present.
This allowed the students who were not fluent enough in English to understand the entire content of my class. Jim Ward, Paul King, and I also gathered for a showing of  “A Social History of Body Piercing,” an MTV documentary in which we all appeared.

In addition to the numerous educational courses, there was plenty of entertainment in the evenings. Fetish-pinup-glamor model and burlesque performer Courtney Crave graced the stage on both Friday and Saturday nights. The first evening she played doctor with a teddy bear to Weird Al Yankovic’s song, “Like a Surgeon” and eviscerated the stuffed animal to find it filled with sex toys.

Photo by Rolf Buchholz

Coco Katsura gave a dramatic performance as a flying ninja suspended from hooks while brandishing a flaming sword. And finally, in the Superfly Suspension Show, two young men, hanging one from the other, swung around the stage at length with contented expressions on their modified faces. On Saturday night, Courtney performed her  “Sympathy for the Devil” floor routine to the Guns ‘n Roses cover of the tune. It was a dark and sexy show full of back bends and contortion work. CoRE staged their Embers of the Lotus suspension performance, and SchmerzMöbel (the “Pain Furniture Performance Crew”) created their Living Harp for the audience as a lyrical finale for the evening’s festivities.

There was widespread accord among the repeat attendees that this was best BMXnet gathering ever. Warm thanks and hearty congratulations to Stephan Stresik and his crew for hosting a truly wonderful event!

Point #61: From the Editor

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By Kimberly Zapata

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Søren Kierkegaard

The Point: The Quarterly Journal of the Association of Professional Piercers is a sixty-one issue publication, in its seventeenth year (and counting). It is – without a doubt – the living history of our industry, but we cannot move forward without stopping to look back at where we have been.

When The Point began in 1995, it was a black and white Xerox-copied leaflet that provided APP members with legislation information, early organizational outreach updates, and general piercing-related stories. There was no particular editor; instead, a handful of individuals worked to create issues #1 through #17; as such, there was no regular print schedule. Instead, the first seventeen issues trickled out over the course of six years. (These early issues of The Point, along with all back issues, can be viewed here.)

In 2001, Elayne Angel took the reigns as Editor—a position she held until June 2005. During her time, Elayne managed to bring something to The Point it very much needed: a consistent publishing schedule. She oversaw 16 issues during this period, authoring many articles herself and worked diligently to expand the content and scope of The Point. However, the most obvious and sweeping changes came about—in full color—in issue #33. Without even opening the cover, it is apparent when James Weber took the helm. He was responsible, with the design work of Jon Loudon, for much of what you see today. As James pointed out in that issue of The Point:

“The Point, like the APP, has come from very humble beginnings to become an established publication   with distribution among not only it’s membership, but to diverse medical professional and legislators in not only this country, but around the world.”

Our publication would not look the same without the work of these two men over the last six years, and I personally owe them a great deal of gratitude. If it were not for James introducing me to The Point and the piercing industry in 2009, I would not be taking the reigns today.

I began my own work with The Point in late 2009, just after I started working at Infinite Body Piercing, Inc. Both positions were obtained as a result of being at the right place at the right time. Prior to my employment at Infinite, I worked in corporate America as an administrative assistant in your typical dress-or-pantsuit sort of position. I came of age in this environment, learning that while I was growing as a person, corporate America wasn’t growing with me. As each year passed, I became more and more visibly modified—and more and more publicly scrutinized. I began looking for a new job the day I was forced to write a policy banning visible tattoos, body piercings, or “unnatural” hair colors or styles in our workplace.

The Point is the perfect culmination of my passion for this industry and my passion for writing. Aside from my work at Infinite and with The Point, I also hold an AA in Liberal Arts and Certificate in Creative Writing, and I am currently an English major at Temple University. I am the founder and editor-in-chief of Transient Publishing, an online literary magazine and writing community, and I continue to write on a freelance basis.

In issue #59, James’ last as Editor, he noted that The Point “belongs to all of us, our industry and our community. It’s going to be what we choose to make of it.”  So what are my hopes for the next phase in The Point’s “life?” What are yours?

By now you are aware of the most obvious change—that The Point is entirely online—but I personally hope to devote some more time to exploring the many names and faces of our industry. In issue #59, Cody Vaughn conducted an extensive interview of Paul King. While many of us know Paul—have taken his courses at Conference, spoken with him in the halls, or simply chatted online—I think few of us knew “all-about” Paul. This seems especially true of younger piercers and, as much as I hate to date myself, my generation. We all know their names, have seen their faces; however, I believe there is still a great deal to learn about their early professional lives and rise in our industry.

I also hope we can begin some open dialogues about topics that we tend to shy away from. Elayne Angel began one of these dialogues, also in issue #59, when she broached the topic of piercing videos online, putting out a call out for quality videos to combat all of the poorly performed procedures that tend to top YouTube view lists. In the current issue, we are opening yet another one of those dialogues with Kendra Janes’s  article “An Exploration of Pain:” where Kendra attempts to define pain and its relationship to the piercing industry.

As a member of the piercing community, I am very much in my infancy. I know I still have a great deal to learn, and I look forward to learning it from you, my piercing friends and family.

So now I ask you to sit back and enjoy this very special issue of The Point—the first ever fully-online APP publication.

Point 89: Grupo de Estudos de Piercing (GEP)

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Bethrah Szumski

Brazil! That’s all I could think about for months before I went. This would be my first time to the country and that idea is always super exciting to me. I first met André Fernandes in Mexico for LBP and had been hearing news of the organization and event in South America. There was much discussion about the difficulty, financial and practical for South Americans to get to the US and Mexico for education. When I started looking at tickets, that made a lot of sense. The flight to Sao Paulo was nine hours. It’s pricey and requires a lot of extra work to bring in foreign language speakers from the US. It’s a real honor to get that invitation.

Sao Paulo is grimy and amazing. Unlike many places I’ve visited, every place I went to shop took credit cards. Maybe more practical than carrying cash? The petty crime rate is off the hook. I was never worried about my safety at any moment though. The first day was only really about FOOD. Delicious food plus more delicious food. Small groups, big groups, food, food, food. Of course, I had sprained my ankle within ten minutes of arrival  so part  of the day was an exploration of the Brazilian pharmacy. The only thing better than a grocery store in a new country is a pharmacy. SO many strange items I can’t read the labels on. I found some good (non-narcotic) meds that would see me through. I had to repeat this mission homebound for the head cold I got at the end. Travel while you’re young folks: it’ll kick your butt!

Buses gathered to take the whole attendee group to the venue in the afternoon of the next day. The drive was beautiful. Jungles, mountains, and waterfalls the whole way to the beach. The venue is a quaint beach resort during off season. The beach was right across the street. It rained most of the week, but it hardly mattered. The place was lovely. Orchids everywhere and jungle noises really made me feel how different of a place I was in.

The set up felt super relaxed, but the organizers were on top of everything. They did this thing that I found super interesting from an organizational perspective. First let me qualify with the fact that a lot can fall down that will affect whether a speaker can do a good class. This has created a bit of hyper vigilance for me and some other travel educators I know. Things like, will there be a computer? Some events are so loose you never know just what to expect. So, here is the thing I really enjoyed. They managed all things with no sense of urgency. Normally, I would consider this with concern. No need, it was just good planning. There was an AV person available at all times to help with anything. Even with a language barrier everyone was SO amazingly helpful. Meals were set up buffet style and really nice. Vegan options for each, including dessert.

The sentiment that “the people in my town won’t buy gold” is time and again proving to be false. The expo boasted quite a few gold jewelers that work exclusively for the South American market. Importing from the US can be quite problematic. I’m generally impressed by companies that have a clear vision of what they are doing and for whom. It was great to see a lot of support from bigger companies as well.

If you know me, you know I’m a talker. Even so, I find some things quite difficult to express. One of those things about this event was how very impressed I was with the organizers André and his partner, Tati. Everything I could think to say just seemed sappy. Really though, I’m a fan. These guys really put together an amazing event. The things they do to help people come to the event just blew my mind. There is an eye for the big picture of piercing  in South America. It’s the ONLY event I’ve EVER been to where female identified piercers well outnumber the  men. While I was still one of the very few female speakers, I’m confident that will change quickly in Brazil. There was a unity and mindset amongst these women that I    can only describe as FIERCE. Also, a big thank you to Roberta, the event interpreter. It’s one thing to stand a few hours to teach over the week. Another to stand, translating new ideas, in real time all day, every day.

Point 88: Volunteers, Thank You

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by Jacob Spjut

Pre-Conference Volunteer Meeting
Photo by Darrin Walters, courtesy of Paul Rainer

Every year The Point publishes a thank you letter from Caitlin McDiarmid after the annual APP Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to express through writing, and with a readership that may not have attended that year, or ever, appreciation from an individual in a leadership position. Caitlin does wonders to remind her “ducklings” that their contribution is noticed and has an impact. This year, though, we are trying something different.

I was very fortunate to be asked to write a thank you letter to the volunteers this year. Most volunteers are aware, but for those who do not know, I, during my first year as a volunteer in 2013, created the tradition of the “bus stop speech.” So, being able to compose a piece of writing that illuminates the thanks that I feel to those who work so hard is humbling.

The dedication of those involved with helping to create the APP Conference every year is astounding. It would not be mischaracterizing to say that the contribution made by every volunteer, every year, helps to continue the single greatest educational and social event our industry has ever had. While there are great opportunities for piercers to join together in the name of education at events all over the world, the event held every year in Las Vegas is paramount to the future of our industry.

Why is it important to have this image of grandiosity in one’s mind when reading a thank you letter? Because this grand event—and I mean to use that word, grand, in its full power— would not, and could not, exist if not for the volunteers that place their time, energy, resources, and soul into bringing it to life. It is easy for a lot of these volunteers to disappear from what is seen when an attendee is at Conference, as they are almost always on the run to their next task, but their contribution must be noted. The volunteer family, which   I am honored to have a part in, truly creates something otherworldly.

Volunteers at the closing party
Photo by Autumn Swisher

But, though we have a great number of volunteers who, over the last number of years, have ascended themselves to become great leaders in our group, the very foundation is built squarely upon the shoulders of the tiniest giant, Caitlin. To say so is not to dismiss the tremendous amount of work put in by so many other people every year, but, as a group, we are guided almost exclusively by Caitlin. This is what I am here to give thanks for.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once remarked that if you want to build a ship you must not just gather men to collect wood, divide the work, and give orders. One must instead teach those building to yearn for the endless sea. A great leader creates a community that is driven to greatness by establishing a common goal and aspiration. In a time when a word like “leader” is greatly diluted to mean any number of qualities required by an individual working together with others, finding the  exceptional qualities in an individual that represents something bordering on ethereal must be undertaken. It is not so difficult with Caitlin.

When a volunteer becomes tired, yearns for home, and is overexposed to the infinite possibilities presented at Conference, they seek the guidance of such a leader as Caitlin. We seek solace in Caitlin’s empathy and are rejuvenated by her desire to see us succeed. She drives any individual to work towards what they, deep inside, feel is right and worth accomplishing. This is most apparent in her approach to the Al D. Scholars that grace our group every year with new skills and with new eyes.

It is almost a cliche to say that coming on as a Scholar creates a great deal of internal turmoil that makes the very act of walking into the hotel the first day feel burdensome. When that level of apprehension poisons the well of one’s experience before it even begins, it takes an exceptional personality to bring that individual back above water and into a space that helps to build them up again.

Pre-Conference Volunteer breakfast at Bouchon of The Venetian

In the atmosphere Caitlin has cultivated, many have risen to make real change outside of their specific Conference duties, as well. Some are elected to be APP Board Members. Others become teachers. A few have even found work in studios they had once viewed as unattainable.

Caitlin, who is the first to interact with all new volunteers, welcomes all that want to progress the group and industry forward. In her kindness we find acceptance. In her diligence we find strength. We look to her because she not only gets us to love the endless sea, she paradoxically tames it for us while also allowing us to ride its tumultuous waves. This helps create, in those that allow it to be created, an antifragility, to use a term from Nassim Nicholas Taleb. We find we can accomplish anything, thanks to the strength we garner from her.

To many who attend Conference she is a recognizable name; a quiet speech giver at the closing party; a name at the bottom of an email from the APP. To us, her volunteer family, she is Mama Duck, and I do not think I am out of line to speak for every volunteer in expressing our gratitude for her presence and guidance. Thank you, Caitlin.

Point 85: Camp APP, 2018

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A LETTER FROM SHORTY

photos by April Thomas

Shorty is ecstatic about taking home a bottle of
Surrender the Booty hot sauce from the Camp raffle.

Dear Momma Duck,

This week has been a blur! Piercer Camp is so much fun. I’ve met so many new people and had a lot of fun with my friends from last year. Unfortunately most of the “Boat Bois” couldn’t make it this year, but that hasn’t stopped John Robberson and me from recruiting some new ones. I got the same cabin as last year and everything was still set up the way we left it. My cabin-mates were John (of course), Frankie “3 Pens” (aka Frankie Diamonds), Pauly “Slippaz” from Staten Island, Sosa (he’s from Venezuela, but now lives in Ohio), and Barron from Illinois. Barron and Sosa didn’t end up sleeping in our cabin though as they joined Hammock City in the Activity building. Hammock City is comprised of about 30 or 40 hammocks that are hanging from the rafters all over the place. It’s pretty rad! Everyone hangs out in their hammock during class, then hangs out in their hammocks at night until they just fall asleep.

Brian Skellie enthusiastically explaining techniques

The weather has been so all over the place. The week started off hot and humid, then rainy and dreary. Then, overnight, we had Hurricane Michael blow by us about 2 hours south. It wasn’t bad except the power went out at 3 am; I woke up and my air conditioner was off. I know, I know, Momma… you know I’m a bit of a Princess. I need my air conditioning at night or I can’t sleep. It wasn’t all that bad though, the wind blew my window shutters open so I had a constant misty rain blowing across me which kind of kept me cool until the power came back on around 8 am. Beside the rain and some gusty winds, it was pretty much a non-event which lead to the most gorgeous weather for the rest of the week!

I’ve been learning so much great stuff from all these really cool instructors. We had a class all about finances and money stuff. I know, sounds kind of boring right? It really wasn’t! Chrissy Shull, the instructor, had a lot of great tips on how to make credit cards and loans work for you and actually save money while getting lots of free stuff. Pretty cool, I mean who doesn’t like free stuff?

Elayne Angel and Sara Johnson enjoying conversation and engagement in the great outdoors.

Also there was this guy, Rob Hill (funny story: I actually thought he was a shaved sasquatch when I first saw him, because we’re in the middle of the woods and this dude is huge) who talked to us about security. I’m pretty sure he’s a ninja! He actually showed how easy it was to bypass common security protocols by breaking into another camper’s shop right before he got to Camp, with her permission and knowledge of course! He gave us so much good information and so much to think about. Momma, we’ve got to tighten things up a bit more at the shop when I get home.

Cale Belford teaching a class on social media techniques

Cale Belford did a bang up job on her social media class; she’s always so good to listen to. Jef Saunders taught about how to teach. This was especially great and funny at the same time because after his class all the other instructors were instantly questioning their own classes and presentations -even though they were all excellent, it still made them squirm a bit. I definitely enjoyed Ryan Ouellette’s Thunderdome class, it was a buffet of quality information on some wide ranging topics. There was a ton of interaction and it seemed like all the campers really loved this class style and the topics he presented.

Jef Saunders sporting a Camp APP 2015 shirt

Beside classes, there was tons of chill time. Of course you know I spent most of my freetime by the lake fishing. I caught soooo many catfish. John and I have a little fishing contest going and he’s winning with a score of 26 to 22, but I swear he cheated more than once by catching the same fish twice. We also had a rad game of kickball; I got to be pitcher and my team won! Bethrah Szumski also organized a long walk in the pouring rain. Everyone put on bathing suits (or birthday suits) and they hiked all around in the rain. I skipped this to go fishing, but all the campers that went said it was so nice. We had a huge campfire on the last night and told scary piercing stories. We even roasted marshmallows and made s’mores!

Pat Pierce and Matt Bavougian working hard in the kitchen

There was a really terrifying moment at the campfire where we heard some growling from the woods. It started kind of far away and slowly got closer and louder. Everyone was swearing there was an actual sasquatch in the woods watching us so Paul, John and I all ran into the woods to look. Turns out there wasn’t a sasquatch, but there was a European Hornet’s nest that apparently didn’t like us, because all three of us got stung. It was pretty painful, but at least we all can say we got pierced by a hornet at Piercer Camp! There were also very large wolf spiders (some of them looked like baby tarantulas, but were actually like kitties) and this crazy daddy long leg that liked pie and crawling on people randomly. I also saw a cute little millipede in my room that was moving super fast. On the way into Camp, John and I saw a deer run across the road. A few other campers said they saw a sasquatch in the woods just past the Activity building, but I never saw it. We didn’t see any armadillos or scorpions this year though.

Erika Gomez looking fancy in the forest

The food, OMG, Momma, the food is exceptional and there was so much of it! I don’t think I ever eat this much. It seems like all I’ve done is eat. Our Head Chefs, John Johnson and Matt Bavougian, really are talented and did a great job accommodating all of our special diets. A few of the other instructors and campers even jumped in and made some special snacks. Jef made some really yummy pizzas; you know how much I LOVEEEEEEE pizza, so this was extra special!

We had a raffle where everyone is supposed to donate something. It could be anything, a shirt from the shop, a rock from a hike, something silly from back home, something super special, something homemade, pretty much anything. Bethrah put everyone’s names into a bucket and then she pulled names until all the prizes were gone. I won some Professor Phardtpounders Colon Cleaner Hot Sauce and a slingshot! Pat Pierce was the winner of my raffle prize! I was super excited, and apparently he’s a huge fan of it already! Pretty rad.

The main classroom becomes a hammock city during the week as piercers kick back during the learning process.

I’m so sad that everyone will be leaving tomorrow and Camp will be over. This is honestly my favorite trip every year. So much laughing, so much learning, and so much time to just be in the moment. It’s always hard that first day to adjust to “roughing it” with not always being connected, but then it’s actually kind of nice to just be away in the middle of nowhere with a group of really good people. The cool thing though is that I won’t have to wait very long to see everyone again since APP Conference 2019 is in May. We will be doing our closing talks here in a few minutes and then I have to pack up. Tomorrow we clean up our cabins and turn in our bedding and then we’re done. I think we’re driving the Pauls to the airport early in the morning too, so it’ll be an early night for me.

Whelp Momma, I hear the meeting whistle now, so I’ve gotta run! I’ll be seeing you real soon though! — Shorty

Point 82: Alicia Cardenas

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By Casey Hosch, Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo & Body Piercing

Casey: Who are you?

Alicia: My name is Alicia Cardenas. I am a professional body piercer, tattooer, modification artist, and business owner in Denver, Colorado.

CH: How long have you been in the industry?

AC: Since July of 1994, so 24 years.

CH: Tell me a little about your apprenticeship.

AC: It was a very non-traditional apprenticeship under a woman who was very involved in the BDSM community. Her name was PJ and she was a Fakir Intensive graduate. She ran a tattoo/piercing/ dungeon shop in Denver called Bound by Design. My apprenticeship was very traumatizing! It was an unethical fast track to ritual in piercing. I don’t have any regret regarding the way I was taught, but would never do that to someone else. I consider myself to be a lifetime apprentice, forever learning especially in and around my involvement with the APP. I apprenticed for about 3 months. I went from never touching a client to full time body piercer in that three month period. Benefits of such a difficult apprenticeship are that I learned very quickly what I did and did not want to be involved in. I learned boundaries by  having  my  boundaries  pushed too far. I learned respect from not receiving any. I learned that even women can be abusive to other women. I learned that there is no amount of money that can replace trauma.

CH: Can you comment on the duality of science versus ritual, the importance of both in the piercing industry? With such a short apprenticeship, when did you experience/delineate both sides?

AC: When I started in the industry, there was very little science involved. We didn’t even package tools in disposable pouches. Tools went from autoclave into drawers and we used glutaraldehydes (cold sterilization) to disinfect. There were no regulations, no standards, and even the APP was merely beginning. There was only ritual and it was based (because of my teacher) in BDSM. Quickly I learned that this was not my way, sexually that is, but that I liked the ritual aspect of it. The intention and layers of emotion and spirituality called to me. The science and aspects of mathematics like measurements and clinical practices came much later and also intrigued me. I definitely helped bring the science to it after I became involved with different movements to get the industry regulated. The NEHA Body Art Code that all states use as their model codes, that was me in 1999.

CH: When you started, what was it like being a woman in a male run industry?

AC: DIFFICULT!!! I had to work twice as hard for half as much. I learned quickly to work with the shortcomings of my male counterparts, so we could  thrive as a team. I basically learned to wipe everyone’s ass to make myself an asset. I protected myself by laying down boundaries, basically telling all the men that I would not sleep with them to make my way to the top.

CH: How long have you been a business owner?

AC: Since 1996. I opened Addictions Tattoo Company with Chris Chrome in ‘96. In the summer of 1997 I opened Twisted Sol with Mike Nichols, and in 2009 I opened Sol Tribe with Kevin Strawbridge. Now I am the sole owner of Sol Tribe. So 21 years.

CH: I find it interesting that all your business partners have been men? Touch on that and why you have decided to go solo.

AC: I guess that is true. I have had many different collaborators over the years and many of them are men. My experience around male counterparts has been all over the spectrum. I have grown from having known them, I have emulated aspects of them, and I have outgrown them. I no longer wish to collaborate with anyone on a business level mostly because I work circles around people. I work hard and I have a lot of raw experience (I have fucked up a lot). I am, however, extremely grateful for all my partners even the one I don’t communicate with anymore. Each person I worked with has given me gifts of which I would not have gained on my own. I consider all my partnerships to have been successful.

CH: Who helped you on your journey to being the boss?

AC: My mother is my greatest influence and taught me to run my own show. She helped me open Twisted Sol the same year she passed away. I was always a bossy girl though, so it came very naturally to me. Turns out that bossy just means you are a strong leader.

CH: Why was it important to you to own your own business?

AC: If I didn’t own my own business, I would want to work for someone like me. Until that someone comes along I will continue do this (run my business). It’s important to follow your dreams and allow your visions to be realized.

CH: What change have you seen in the industry in the last 20 years?

AC: OMG! It’s almost unrecognizable. It’s heartbreaking… there is what I see as serious lack of ethics and respect in the younger generations of piercers. I have observed that many are no longer concerned with our history or lineage. BUMMER! Social media has changed the world and has certainly changed our industry. In my opinion you can have a huge following, do mediocre work (but you just happen to be able to take a decent photo of it), be a nightmare human who is cruel to others and to clients, and still be a sensation. Some things are going to need to change, and people are going to need to stop hiding behind their screens and learn to be good humans again.

CH: Let’s talk cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation?

AC: WOW. That’s a huge subject, and almost an article of its own. Let’s just say cultural appropriation is taking something, or using sacred symbolism, that is not culturally yours, for your gain. And using it without acknowledgment or education or even sensitivity of its original intention. Now having said that I would like to introduce a new phrase we should all become familiar with and that is cultural fascism. Cultural fascism is trying to control other people’s creative and free expression around cultural experience.

CH: Recently there was an ad from a jewelry company that didn’t sit well with a lot of folks due to the idea of cultural appropriation? What are your thoughts on that?

AC: It’s Cultural Fascism! Social justice warriors who are using social justice as a weapon to destroy people without knowing the entirety of the story. In my opinion, this is a huge subject and deserves a lot of attention. In this situation things went way too far. If your attempt to right a wrong (point out cultural appropriation) results in you threatening to harm someone over it, you have gone way beyond doing the work based in justice and you need to reexamine your work and vision.

CH: How does that affect you as a woman of color?

AC: Watching a bunch of people work out their decolonization and indoctrination is no longer interesting to me, especially on the internet. What America needs to know is that we, as a culture, were raised with white supremacy at the core of our values. And it’s going to take a lot more than a black president to pull us away from that. I am sad that we get caught up with what other people are choosing to do with their bodies when we still live in a world where people don’t have clean water and healthcare. Everyone needs to check their privilege and be rooted in the abundance we have come to know and stop taking it for granted. As a woman of color I am still distraught that there are not more women or women of color in our industry. I am horrified that a huge amount of the women in our industry still are on the outskirts of the industry and are heavily undereducated. I am mystified that people of color are not encouraged to start career paths in tattooing and body piercing. An industry with balance and diversity makes for a far richer industry (society). PERIOD.

CH: What advice would you give a young woman for success in the workplace? Or how do you continue to support women in the workplace?

AC: I continue to support women in the industry by investing in them. Teaching them and empowering them. My shop is an example of that! It’s run by badass women.

CH: Who have you trained? What is your experience around training others?

AC: I have trained only three people with full on apprenticeships, and only one is a full time piercer. It’s not a job for the weak. It takes constant growth and attentiveness. I am lucky to have trained you and consider our apprenticeship together to be one of the most thorough trainings I have ever witnessed, which only has half to do with me!!!!

CH: You trained me, the interviewer, what was that like as a whole? Why did you pick me?

AC: I picked you because you called and emailed me like 40 times. You being gifted in customer service was huge. I trained you because you would not take no for an answer and in this industry you have to fight for what you want. You were a natural born fighter. I am grateful that you carry on my legacy, not only in the moment of clean and effective piercing, but in a warmth, compassion, and effectiveness in touching other’s hearts.

CH: How do you achieve your work/life balance?

AC: I don’t! hahaha!!! I still live, work, and screw up my personal life constantly. But I would say having a system in place for self-care is what I am currently working on.

CH: Has being a mother changed any facts or opinions of the industry for you?

AC: Being a mother changed everything. Suddenly I had two kids, the shop and my real kiddo. Everything I learned in piercing has prepared me for parenthood. Compassion and patience. My child has expanded my conscientiousness.

CH: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? 10 years?

AC: I will always do body art. ALWAYS. It’s a lifestyle, not a job. But I imagine I will focus more on artwork and parenting and let you (the interviewer) run the shop until my kid can help you run it. I’d like to disappear into the woods and make a retreat center for healing. I would also like to sing in a mariachi band someday! 😉

CH: Who are some of your influences? Shout outs!

AC: Professionally—Women in the professional piercing industry who have inspired me include Elayne Angel, Gigi Gits from Kolo Piercing, Crystal Sims from Evolution, Ericka Smicenski from Somatic, Kristin Otter from Metamorphosis, Christiane Lofblad from Pinpoint in Oslo. And the anthropological efforts of Erika Skadsen. My favorite piercers also include Luis Garcia, Derek Lowe, Casey Hosch, Aaron Foster, Danny Yerna, Ryan Ouellette, Courtney Jane Maxwell, Chris Jennell. And on a personal level, Dave Field, Ana Paula Escalante, Caitlin McDiarmid, Beverly DeOlivera, Monica Larrea, Theresa Preston, Corey Lolley, and Casey Hosch.