Posts tagged Conference 2019

Point 89: From the Body Piercing Archive, 2019

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Dustin Allor

This past summer we lost a most iconic and beloved member of the body piercing community. It is hard to imagine what the landscape of the piercing industry would look like without Fakir Musafar. He was part of the group who brought body piercing into mainstream western culture from underground society in the 1970s. Fakir inspired countless people to become piercers, taught the skill to approximately 2,000 attendees of his piercing workshop, moved many to try suspension and urged us to claim our bodies as our own, especially through body modification. He firmly believed that piercing was sacred, magical, and could be a special moment for all involved. His life was spent spreading that message and seeking the spirit through exploring and testing the limits of his body. This year’s Body Piercing Archive exhibit unfolded many of the lives, hobbies, jobs, and performances of the multifaceted Fakir Musafar.

Walking into the exhibit was overwhelming in the best sort of way. There was so much information—so many visuals—that it was hard to know where to look. Each time I went in, there were things I hadn’t noticed previously. It would have taken me a couple of focused hours to take in all the information. The outer walls were lined with banners. The inner walls had four alcoves with various displayed items. Several banners featured large photos of Fakir embodying his different personas. There were other banners that stood out to me: the timeline that shared childhood pictures, some of influential people in his life, covers of his Body Play magazines, and collages of the group photos from nearly every class of the Fakir Intensives.

Visitors enter the exhibit.
Photo by Marina Pecorino

Then there were the alcoves. One held books and images that inspired and guided a young Fakir to try so many unconventional practices. A few items in particular caught my  eye: Fakir’s  yoga  book from the 1950s and National Geographic from Fakir’s childhood where he got the idea to perform his first piercing on himself at age 14. Another area had masks, homemade eyelets for stretching his nipple piercings, some of Fakir’s septum jewelry, and articles he had written. There was a section that had a bed of nails, a bed of blades, a kavadi frame, a suspension frame, and other inventions of Fakir’s that I’m not sure have names. Most of these devices were featured in Fakir’s early self photography. Having been born in a rural area in 1930, out of necessity he developed a resourceful and inventive ability. A large portion of the objects in the exhibit were things he made at home by hand. Rarely disposing of his creations, the BPA was able to acquire or borrow many of them from his wife, Cléo Dubois. It was fabulous to see classic Fakir photos right next to the actual items he made and was wearing in the portrait.

View of the exhibit.
Photo by Marina Pecorino

There was a screen toward the back of the exhibit playing the Mark and Dan Jury film Dances Sacred and Profane starring Fakir, Jim Ward, and Charles Gatewood. Mirroring that was a second screen dedicated to performances he had  done,  featuring video from one of his European performances. Between those was information on RE/Search #12: Modern Primitives, the publication where so many of us discovered Fakir for the first time.

View of the exhibit.
Photo by Marina Pecorino

The last alcove in the exhibit was the most solemn. The exhibit overall celebrated Fakir’s life, but the last alcove honored his death. Fakir felt that altars were important. He would make one at the end of every piercing class, a place to look to for focus, to display images and objects that had meaning to him and to help inspire a particular mindset he was looking for. The last alcove of the exhibit, with bright yellow and red walls, was an altar to Fakir. It displayed a large photo of him, photos of those close to him who had also passed, images of deities he was drawn to, fresh fragrant flowers, candles, and a few personal items like his chest spears. When he announced that he was sick and had limited time left, Fakir asked that instead of emails or phone calls, that people hand write and mail him letters if they had anything they wanted to share with him. Hundreds of letters came in and he read all the words of love and thanks before he left us. A selection of those cards were strung from the center back wall of the alcove, extending to either side of the door, framing the altar and giving the space a sense of depth, layers, and sentiment.

Fakir’s memorial altar at the APP Conference, 2019.
Photo by Marina Pecorino

Fakir was so many people wrapped up in one. It was impossible to know everything and everyone he had been in his life. Depending on how you knew him, you would connect and learn about different aspects of his personality and interests, hearing different stories of his past. In addition to all the visuals in the exhibit, docents who were personally known to Fakir gave tours. Each had unique experiences and insight on who Fakir was, having known him in a variety of circles and points of his life. Several of the instructors from the Fakir Intensives gave tours, as well as friends of Fakir’s including Allen Falkner and Annie Sprinkle. Each offered unique flavors, new insight and things to learn about Fakir. Hearing their stories really brought Fakir’s memory to life in a vivid interactive way and I wish I could have seen all the tours.

Annie Sprinkle conducting a tour of the exhibit.
Photo by Marina Pecorino

Working closely with Fakir’s wife, Cléo, the BPA team put together an amazing and moving exhibit. Fakir was always touched and awed by the gratitude, credit, and honor people extended to him. I think he would be absolutely blown away and speechless by the beautiful display and celebration of his life that portrayed so much of who he was. To Paul King, Becky Dill, Devin Ruiz, and all your behind the scenes helpers, thank you for all your hard work in putting together such a rich and beautiful commemoration of Fakir’s life. It was wonderful to get to celebrate Fakir’s life together with the bulk of the piercing community this year at the APP Conference.

Dustin Allor & Fakir Musafar

Point 88: Technical Innovator Award

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Gorilla Glass “Cells” Collection

Interview by Kristina Outland

There is beauty in the complexities of nature. Gorilla Glass has done an incredible job capturing those complexities in their limited edition 2019 collection entitled “Cells”, winner of this year’s Technical Innovator Award.With this design, Gorilla Glass celebrates the building blocks of life; the creation of their jewelry is even environmentally friendly.

“The process used to make this collection involves up-cycling our waste glass to create a high quality, limited edition jewelry line. Reducing our impact on the environment is a major concern for Gorilla Glass, and the new techniques that we are developing are showcased in the ‘Cells’ collection. The ‘Cells’ line is a way to acknowledge and celebrate life on the most basic level,” Jason Pfohl, owner of Gorilla Glass, remarked.

Jason went into an in-depth description of the creation process, and it is incredibly fascinating. “The concept always comes first. In this scenario I wanted the technical innovations that we are developing at Gorilla Glass to be reflected in the design and theme of the collection as well, so the design is married to the up-cycling process. The ‘Cells’ collection is a contemporary version of a very ancient technique that the Venetians perfected, called murrini. The core elements of these pieces are made through a pattern bar technique, where stacks of different strips of colored glass are grouped together somewhat randomly and fused into blocks in a specialized fusing oven. You never see or touch the glass after it is shut in the oven. The result depends on the viscosity of each color, and how gravity manipulates the stacks. Afterwards, the pattern bars are picked up on a steel rod (punti) and dipped in a crucible full of molten recycled glass, creating an even layer of color around the bar. Using gravity, the encapsulated pattern bar is stretched into a long rod using heat as well. Later, the rod is cut into sections and reassembled in a mosaic pattern. The mosaic design is fused again and then cut up, ground, carved, and polished into the final forms. It is a very labor intensive process.”

The process of up-cycling even helped determine the color scheme for this beautiful line.

 The designs include understated off-white tones, with an intense black for contrast. Jason mentioned the hidden transparent blue pictured, can only be seen when the pieces are backlit.

“I enjoy when the colors shift and are revealed, creating a surprise discovery for the viewer. The colors were also chosen from stockpiles of waste glass.”

Twelve different specialized artisans have their hand in this process, and usually work in teams. Jason is personally involved in the hot working of all the murrini up-cycling designs. He mentioned he definitely enjoys being a part of the production process.

“I remember in high school looking at slides through the microscope.  There  was  an amazing feeling of discovery looking at these incredibly beautiful alien and hidden worlds surrounding us and inside us. Cells are the building blocks of life, creating the basic structure, functional, and biological units of all known life. The word ‘cells’ come the the Latin ‘cella’ meaning ‘small room’. Every element in the ‘Cells’ designs are encapsulated in one or two layers of up-cycled glass, creating random geometrical designs in the finished jewelry. I do not try to control the designs, but allow the glass to find its own patterns. The artwork of the German zoologist Ernst Haeckel was also an inspiration for this collection. Haeckel documented thousands of new species as a marine biologist, including many microscopic organisms. His book Art Forms in Nature, has been a big influence for me over the years. What I love about the cells theme is that on the microscopic level everything becomes disembodied and abstract.”

In summary, much time, consideration, curation, and research has gone into this line, making this an award-winning experience jewelry fanatics can wear and enjoy.

“I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my team at GG. I would also like to thank all our great customers and the body modification community at-large, for their long and ongoing support that made this innovation possible. Thank you!”

Point 88: Creative Innovator Award

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Onetribe’s “Crystal Castle” Displays

Interview by Marina Pecorino

Onetribe’s award winning “Crystal Castle” display.
Jewelry by Alan Dumond of Origins Handmade

For the second year in a row, Jared Karnes of Onetribe took home the Creative Innovator Award. Last year it was the multidimensional “Topo” ear weight design. This year, the prize-winning pieces were the “Crystal Castle” displays. I, once again, had the honor of interviewing Jared about running a production queue based business in the piercing industry, and expanding horizons into working with a broader range of materials.

Marina Pecorino: In last year’s interview, you explained the metamorphosis your business made from having numerous employees across several continents, to a small, homebased, personal endeavor. Usually you hear of business models moving in the opposite direction. Can you tell us more about your vision for the future of Onetribe?

Jared Karnes: It’s been a wild ride. It’s easy to find a roadmap for growth, and I became accustomed to thinking about my business as something that  should  continuously  grow.  It was much more challenging to take a step back and decide to be dramatically smaller. Going forward, I’m very interested in play, agility, and unpredictability. I want to spend more time making because I love to do it and not because of a production queue. My sketchbooks need liberation! I will never stop making body jewelry, but I am less interested in being perceived as just a body jewelry company. I have been making a serious effort to explore new forms and use materials in new ways. Ceramic has been an exciting diversion and something I intend to spend a lot more time doing.

MP: I’ve been watching the development of the Crystal Castle displays on social media, and it has been fascinating. Can you explain the development process?

JK: I have always had a fascination with crystalline shapes. The unique facets of quartz crystals and the stacking of perfect pyrite cubes captivate me, but I found myself wondering what these shapes would look like in beautiful colors and textures. I wanted to see these shapes in coral, periwinkle, or sparkly matte black.

There’s been an explosion of body jewelry display options, and I have loved many of the unique shapes from display specific companies, but the use of wood does not inspire me. I thought ceramic would be a great challenge, and it can fit well with a high-end aesthetic for displaying precious metals and stones. Also, a bunch of my friends are making outrageously good ends and hinged rings, and I thought it would be rad to give that work a stage.

I started working with clay in January as a way to let my  hands and mind wander with a forgiving material and meditative process. After hand-making solid prototypes of crystal forms, I realized they were far too heavy to have around glass display cases. I decided to learn slip casting, which uses plaster molds and liquid clay “slip” to cast thin walled hollow objects. After teaching myself mold making and slip casting, I was able to finalize a process and select (or in some cases custom grind) quartz crystals in suitable shapes for single Cryst displays. The larger Crystal Castles are then hand built by modifying and attaching single cast crystals into a more massive structure which I fire as one piece.

MP: Has the result diverged from your original vision at all? What joys and challenges did you face along the way?

JK: They have manifested true to my original intent primarily because I used the crystals as a tool to learn ceramic processes. Early on in the project, I created a specific goal for the product that would require me to learn specific methods in order. It was a challenge to develop a product and processes in a new medium in a little over 90 days, but I enjoyed going for it. Watching something that was soft clay and gloppy liquid glaze transform into stone coated in a layer of glass is mind-boggling.

One of the hardest problems to solve was how to handle the bottoms of both the single Cryst and the Castles. I made several two and three-piece plaster molds that cast pieces with a solid base and a hole in the center. These were faster to cast and clean up, but the molds are more time consuming and fragile. This option also created more waste while building the Castles, limited my access to the interior for installing hardware, and prevented me from being able to adjust the angle of view. I went back to one piece open molds for most shapes and created a “pool” mold for casting a bottom onto each piece. With this additional step of adding the bottom last, I can trim the walls of a display and reduce the height or allow it to lean back for a better viewing angle in different kinds of display cases.

MP: How have you felt about working with these new mediums? What similarities and differences have you discovered that you didn’t expect?

JK: Clay is AMAZING. I never worked it in high school or art school, but it has long been an interest. I recently dug up some notes from a meeting with my employees in 2008; we were discussing options for ceramic in our industry. I started carving and polishing fired porcelain like a stone around 2012, but did not touch soft clay until this year. The profound differences in process and feel changed how I think about materials. Stone carving is both literally and figuratively abrasive. The hands take a lot of abuse, and the process is very loud. Clay is soft and nearly silent. It yields to the touch in a wet state, it maintains a memory of each contact with tool or hand, and it carves easily in a dry state. Through the process of introducing heat, it becomes a hard stone, made from the same essential elements as the stones I carve every day. Once I realized that working ceramic encompasses both this new soft character and the hard nature of the rocks I already work, I was hooked in a way that I did not expect.

MP: Do you have a favorite memory or story to share about this year’s Conference?

JK: My best memories from this year were the result of an unfortunate travel clustercuss. The airline canceled several of my flights, and my booth bag was incorrectly routed. I showed up to the Expo floor in Vegas with no jewelry or booth materials. Many people reached out to me to offer help or to check in and see how I was doing. I felt like I had a big community rooting for me, and that was wonderful. My bag eventually showed up, and all was well.

MP: Every time I walked by your booth this year, you had a small crowd. How has your vendor experience changed over time and in the new space?

JK: My first few years vending I was concerned about bringing a certain amount of product and meeting sales goals that I had set. My outlook overall has shifted, and my conference attendance is now far more rooted in teaching and learning. I am there to make money and create more opportunities for myself, but while doing that I want to see the evolution of our industry, build up newcomers, feel like I am part of a community, and be transparent about what I do and how I do it. Especially now that I am one person in a tiny workshop, the conference experience helps me feel connected to my customers and other makers in a way that the internet cannot replicate.

The new location made everything a little more tense than usual, but I liked it. The Expo floor worked well, and I think most enjoyed the location of the classes, Expo, and rooms relative to each other.

MP: If studios or individuals want to contact you about Onetribe products, what is the best way to reach you? Is there a current average turn-around time that can be expected, or does it vary from project to project?

JK: The shop is always open at onetribe.net and I can be reached directly via the contact form there. I am most active on Instagram and post daily production process and material eye candy @onetribejewelry.

Turn-around times vary wildly on a per-project basis. Products ordered on my site usually ship within 10-14 business days. Custom jewelry work is on average three to four weeks, with complex projects taking longer. Stocked displays ship within a few days, while custom display sets and Crystal Castles depend on all of the other workloads, but are worth the wait.

MP: Is there anything else you’d like to share with The Point readership?

JK: I was delighted to see so many young companies showing great work at Conference this year. While there are some pervasive style trends, I have seen quality from a lot of people who deserve the opportunity to show us how far they can go. I encourage everyone to support small makers whenever possible. This diversity of ideas and the growing culture of positivity over pettiness are hella exciting to see.

Point 88: Piercers of Color Conference Scholarship – Information

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Dear Artists & Owners,

As Body Piercers & Makers, our trade is rooted in indigenous practice, as ancient as 320 CE. Since then, body modification has been co-opted, suppressed, condemned & re-popularized in the Western World. Over the last couple decades, we’ve built an incredibly solid industry based on health & safety. As our field expands further & farther, the diversity of our members must follow. This year we celebrate the 24th Anniversary of our Professional Piercing Conference. 2019 is the first year that we’ve formally broken the silence, regarding our community’s ethnic disparity. After attending the 1st ever Cultural Inclusion Course & POC Roundtable Discussion, it has become very apparent that we need to actively create spaces for our visibility & accessibility. We can aid our profession and honor our extensive history, by culturally socializing our industry. We believe attendance & representation are the first frontier. With your assistance, we can offer a full scholarship to foster higher education for the POC community, by the POC community.

To send two piercers to conference, we’ll need to raise at least $1,807. We’ve prepared a Paypal Pool solely for the POC Scholarship Fund. Paypal will issue a debit/credit card to charge tickets & hotel fees/holds, accordingly.

  • Full Conference & Expo Pass : $425.00 x 2 = $850
  • 5 Day Stay + Daily & Resort Fees + Incidentals at Planet Hollywood = $900
  • Paypal 3.3% Fee = $57

To make a contribution, please send your donations to paypal.me/pools/c/8fZyu8xjfm With this link, you can view our progress until we’ve met the goal. If we exceed the goal, excess funds will stay in the pool for next year’s scholarship recipients.

Sincerely,

Keiana ‘Kookie’ Lynn + KonnichiwaKookie@gmail.com

Point 88: Volunteers at Work

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Photos by Marina Pecorino

Here, and below; David Kelso and Alicia Lowe working the Registration desk during the week
Here, and below: Reuniting & welcoming new volunteers during the pre-Conference meetings and meals
Volunteers working classroom doors: Past and present Al D. Scholars, Victoria Rothman (2019) and Jamie Biggers (2016)
Mark Montgomery…
…and Ryan Clark
Here and below: Celebrating & relaxing after a successful week at the post-Conference Volunteer dinner in the Bellagio after pack-out

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 88: The President’s Corner

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by Cody Vaughn

Hello dear readers of The Point: Journal of Body Piercing! I am incredibly humbled and proud to introduce myself to you all as the new President for the Association of Professional Piercers.

I would like to start by sharing with you all a little about myself. I was born and raised in Monterey, California. I have an amazing wife, Brittney Vaughn, and we both own and pierce at Vaughn Body Arts. We have three children and a big goofy dog named Lobo.

My love of body piercing started as a teenager while watching MTV late at night. I saw a pierced nipple for the very first time and well, here I am now (thank you, Red Hot ChiliPeppers).

I started piercing in 2004. I became an APP Member in 2009 and have been a volunteer with the Membership Committee ever since. I have also volunteered on other various APP committees on and off throughout the years, and have been serving as a Board Member since 2014. In addition to my volunteerism, I am a dedicated educator. I have been an instructor for The Fakir Intensives since 2011. Over the years, I have also had the pleasure of teaching at APP Conference and Camp APP in the United States, LBP in Mexico, and ruAPP in Russia. During my APP Board terms I have served as Vice President, Membership Liaison, and now as President. Needless to say, things have been very busy and exciting these past five years! But that is enough about me, let’s talk about APP Conference!

A few years ago a survey was sent out to APP Members requesting their feedback for Conference. The overwhelming response was that Conference makes the most sense in Las Vegas from a financial and entertainment standpoint. At the request of the membership, we started looking at other hotels to host our Conference.

Some were too small and couldn’t physically house all our attendees. Others were simply too expensive for the daily room rates. Then we toured Planet Hollywood. Making a very long and work-intensive story short, Planet Hollywood looked like the perfect next step for our growing conference.

Now, I’m one of those people that gets used to things and am fine with familiarity. I was always quite fond of Bally’s. I knew where everything was located. Huge group hangouts at the bar were always a sight to see. So why change it? I walked into Planet Hollywood thinking, “well if everybody wants a change of scenery, so be it, but what was wrong with Bally’s?” I am happy to say that I was wrong. So very, very wrong.

Our Conference at Planet Hollywood was simply fantastic. The overall look of the hotel felt updated and refreshing. The rooms were comfy and felt new and modern. And every room had a fridge!! (It’s the little things.)

The easy walk directly from the elevator to the conference space and Expo was incredibly convenient.

It felt wonderful to travel to and from classes without having to go through all the cigarette smoke on the gaming floor. I had the opportunity to speak with a lot of first-time attendees, long-time attendees, and vendors. The overwhelming amount of positive and enthusiastic comments about the new location were simply amazing.

It felt so good as a Board Member to hear how happy attendees were. Personally, this Conference was truly memorable because of the tributes for Fakir Musafar. Fakir was a friend of mine, my boss at The Intensives, and an altogether fun person to be around. He always seemed to have a new story I had never heard about something he did at some point. Did you realize Fakir was a puppeteer on a children’s television show for a little bit?

The Body Piercing Archive’s Fakir exhibit was breathtaking. In my biased opinion, it is their most amazing exhibit as of yet. Seeing all the amazing pictures and original items from Fakir’s body play journey and photography up close and in person was surreal.

Docent tours were lead by Cléo Dubois, Ken Coyote, Ian Bishop, Jef Saunders, Dustin Allor, Allen Falkner, Annie Sprinkle, Cynthia Wright, Betty Ann Peed, and Paul King; the tours were wonderfully done. Hearing each person’s unique relationship with Fakir was a memorable treat that I’ll never forget.

What a Conference! Smiles, tears, hugs, laughs. It was an emotional rollercoaster for sure.

I don’t want to give away any surprises, but with our next Conference in 2020 being our 25th anniversary, it is safe to say it’s going to be a special one.

Thank you for having me as a Board Member these past five years! I look forward to one more year of service and I look forward to learning with you all at our next Camp and Conference

Point 87: The All New Golden Ticket Raffle & Silent Auction

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With Conference just around the corner we wanted to take a moment to let you know about two new and very exciting programs for 2019: the Golden Ticket Raffle and Silent Auction.

THE NEW GOLDEN TICKET RAFFLE

Our Raffle has changed a lot! We encourage everyone to take the time to read this carefully!

The APP would like to sincerely thank all the Vendors who contribute generously to our annual Raffle! This event offers some of the best odds in Vegas, and the odds of winning just got better!

QUICK SUMMARY

1. Information about the Tickets:

Up to 500 tickets will be provided or sold, with 50 unique winners (at least a 1 in 10 chance of winning!) Each ticket will be beautifully printed, numbered, and dated, in the spirit of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket.

The first 500 attendees to register online for a full or partial Conference pass will receive (at no additional cost!) a Golden Ticket at Conference! If there are remaining Golden Tickets, the remainder will be sold for $25 each onsite at Conference.

Winners will be chosen randomly and ticket numbers will be revealed at Closing Party. Each person can receive only one ticket and may win only one prize. Each ticket number will be associated with the unique Conference attendee. Tickets granted to the first 500 full or partial Conference registrants will be printed with the attendee’s name. For tickets purchased onsite, the ticket holder must clearly print their name on the back of the ticket.

The ticket should be treated like currency; the APP is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets.

The Golden Ticket must be presented by the purchaser or an authorized proxy to collect the prize.

2. Information about the prizes:

  • 50 total prizes are available in the Raffle.

    Of the 50 prizes:

  • 25 will be gift certificates with a $50 wholesale value
  • 25 will be gift certificates with a $500 wholesale value

Winners are allowed up to 30 days to claim their prize. Some vendors may stipulate longer claim periods. Vendors are allowed to charge the winner shipping if the prize is not claimed onsite.

Contributors can designate that the prize is “Vendor choice” or “Winner’s choice.” Basically the difference being specific product which meets the financial commitment or credit that the winner can use to select any item. No other details about the prize will be collected by the APP.

OFFICIAL GOLDEN TICKET RAFFLE RULES                                                

Prizes

Your odds of winning got even better!

  • (50) Total prizes (25) $500 wholesale value Gift Certificates, plus (25) $50 wholesale value, non-jewelry merchandise or Gift Certificate.
  • The odds are at least:
    • 1 in 10 of winning a prize of either $500 or $50
    • 1 in 20 of winning a $500 prize
    • 1 in 20 of winning a $50 prize
  • Winning odds are calculated at the maximum ticket sale of 500 with 50 prizes; if fewer tickets are sold, the chances of winning will increase.

How to Enter

  • The Golden Ticket can be purchased onsite only for US$25 from Registration during posted hours.
  • Each participant may own ONLY ONE Golden Raffle Ticket.
  • Golden Tickets cannot be transferred, gifted, or resold.
  • The only transfer exception allowed is a transfer of an entire EARLY registration PRIOR to the early registration cutoff.
  • Each ticket is numbered and dated. If purchased onsite, the purchaser’s name must be printed and signed on the back. The purchaser must provide all contact details at the time of purchase.
  • The Golden Ticket is only valid for the year’s Raffle that it is intended; the ticket cannot be rolled over, traded, or reused.
  • Golden Ticket purchases are final; they are non-refundable.
  • Tickets are sold onsite only; ticket cannot be pre-purchased, purchased online, by mail, or proxy.
  • If an individual purchases more than one Golden Ticket for the same annual contest, then ALL the individual’s tickets will be disqualified from winning AND the ticket costs will not be refunded or credited.
  • The first (500) online EARLY Attendee registrants will receive for FREE a GOLDEN TICKET!

How to Win

  • Entry deadlines and details will be posted onsite and in the Conference mobile app.
  • Entry deadlines are subject to change by the Association of Professional Piercers.
  • The Raffle will select winners from the eligible entries via third-party electronic random-drawing software.
  • The winners will be revealed at the Closing Party.
  • In addition, using the contact information provided by the player to the APP , the APP will notify each winner by email.
  • Winners must sign the Winner Claim Form (in triplicate) in accordance with these Raffle regulations and procedures.
  • Players may not win more than one (1) prize in each year’s drawing.
  • The winner has up to 30 days to claim their prize from the contributor. The first of the 30 days starts 00:01 am the Friday after the Closing Party.
  • If claimed and/or redeemed after Conference, the winner is responsible for shipping and insurance charges.
  • Unclaimed prizes are forfeited after 30 days. The prizes are returned to the contributor; they are not held or rolled-over.

Drawings

  • The Raffle will select winners from the eligible entries via third-party electronic random-drawing software. Each of the purchased Golden Ticket numbers will be entered into the software.
  • The maximum number of tickets presented or sold will be 500.
  • The winning ticket numbers will be revealed at the Closing Party.

Eligibility and Participation

  • Participation is open to persons 18 years of age and older.
  • Must present valid Photo ID
  • Participants must meet eligibility requirements at the time of the Raffle drawing.
  • To purchase a ticket onsite, participants must be registered and attending Conference. This includes all attending members and registered guests, such as: speakers and non-member attendees, health inspectors, press, vendors, and vendor workers.
  • There is no remote participation, such as by proxy, online, or mail order.
  • This Raffle is not open to APP Board Members, Officers, raffle-handling Volunteers, employees or family members residing in the same household.

Additional Terms

  • Participants are responsible for complying with these Official Rules.
  • Proof of age, eligibility, and identity must be furnished upon request.
  • Participants agree to the use of their name, likeness, and studio for advertising and publicity purposes, without compensation.
  • All taxes are the responsibility of the winner.
  • By participating in the program, and/or accepting any prize or promotional award, participants agree to and do release and hold harmless the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and its Volunteers, employees, agents, and Officers from any claim, demand, judgment, award, and/or any liability of any kind whatsoever.
  • The APP reserves the right to modify or terminate this Raffle at any time. In the event of a conflict, these Official Rules supersede any applicable general rules or advertisements of the APP Raffle.

ALL ABOUT THE NEW SILENT AUCTION

The Silent Auction is for wholesale items ONLY. Bidding will occur in the Expo area only. Only  documented industry affiliated Expo pass holders may bid. Vendor Workers & Exhibitors will need to have their industry-affiliated documentation checked with the Silent Auction Manager, Kendra Jane, prior to bidding.

Each bidder may win only a maximum of $10,000 wholesale value. If bidder exceeds the $10,000 limit, an APP official will pick which Gift Certificates are awarded. So bid CAREFULLY.

Designation for distribution of the bids won in excess of $10,000 is at the APP’s sole discretion. Any bids won in excess of the $10,000 value for an individual will be awarded to the second highest bidder. If the second highest bidder is in excess, then the item will be awarded to the third highest bid, and so on. If no one is qualified to win a bid or if the minimum is not met, then the bid reverts back to the contributor. Under no circumstances will any individual collect winnings in excess of $10,000 wholesale value.

Silent Auction Gift Certificates are in the following wholesale value denominations only: $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000, $1,000. Silent Auction Gift Certificate values stand alone; promotions and/or discounts cannot be applied or combined with the Silent Auction Certificates.

The Silent Auction begins at 2pm PDT on Tuesday and ends 30 minutes before closing Tuesday. On Wednesday, bidding begins when Expo opens (Noon PDT) and the FINAL BID will take place no later than 30 minutes before Expo closing on Wednesday (6:30pm PDT). Bidding for the Silent Auction happens ONLY on Tuesday and Wednesday on the Expo floor. Only industry affiliated Expo pass holders may bid.

Qualified bidders MUST provide their full name, phone number, email. If bidder is unable to publicly disclose this information for any reason, bidder is responsible to verify that it is on file with Registration as current and correct.

Winners will be notified by email Wednesday after the Expo floor closes. Winner notification (including Contributor announcement) will also be pushed out through the Conference app.

Silent Auction wins must be paid in full by 2pm on Thursday or they may be awarded to the second highest bidder: in the event the second highest bidder is at the $10,000 threshold then the prize will be awarded to the third highest bidder, and so on.

A “Buy Now” option is available at 75% of the Gift Certificate value:

  • A bid of $3,750 on a $5,000 auction item closes all bids on that item, and the item is considered sold.
  • A bid of $3,000 on a $4,000 auction item closes all bids on that item, and the item is considered sold.
  • A bid of $2,250 on a $3,000 auction item closes all bids on that item, and the item is considered sold.
  • A bid of $1,500 on a $2,000 auction item closes all bids on that item, and the item is considered sold.
  • A bid of $750 on a $1,000 auction item closes all bids on that item, and the item is considered sold.

The starting minimum bid must be at least 10% of prize value ($100 for a $1,000 item, $200 for a $2,000 item, $300 for a $3,000 item, $400 for a $4,000 item, and $500 for a $5,000 item).

All bid increases must be rounded to exactly $100 increments, unless the bid is a “Buy it Now”. For example,

$200 bid, $1,300, and $4,000 dollar bid are acceptable bid amounts; $201, $1,050, $3,000.99 are not acceptable bidding increments.

Only the participating recipient may bid; bids cannot be conducted remotely or by proxy.

Winning bidders must pay for their own Silent Auction winnings; they cannot use a credit card that is not theirs.

Alexandra Dailyn Kleiter, Photo by Kerry Tasker

OFFICIAL SILENT AUCTION RULES                                                

Auction Items

  • The actual number of items and the values will be announced by in late March, 2019.
  • Silent Auction Gift Certificates are in the following wholesale value denominations only: $5000, $4000, $3000, $2000, $1000
  • The auction certificates are for wholesale merchandise ONLY.

How to Enter a Bid

  • The bid is a contractual agreement to purchase.
  • Silent Auction Certificates cannot be transferred, gifted, or resold. Only the participating recipient may bid; bids cannot be conducted remotely or by proxy.
  • The bidder must provide all contact details at the time of purchase.
  • The bid amount and the bidder’s information must be printed clearly in block letters.
  • You must provide full details (name, contact email, amount) for each bid increase.If you are unable to disclose this personal information, it is your responsibility to make sure your contact details are on file with registration (you can also verify your contact information in CVent)
  • Write “On File” in the information box on the bid sheet.
  • The purchase of an auction item is final and non-refundable.
  • Only the participating recipient may bid; bids cannot be conducted remotely or by proxy.
  • The starting minimum bid must be at least 10% of face value ($100 for $1000, $200 for $2000, $300 for $3000, $400 for $4000, $500 for $5000).
  • All bid increases must be rounded to exactly one hundred dollar increments (example: $200 bid, $4000, or $1300 dollar bid are acceptable bids; $3000.99, $201, or $1050 are not acceptable bidding increments).
  • Bidding will occur in the expo area only. Only proven industry affiliated expo pass holders may bid.
  • Each bidder may win only a maximum of $10,000 wholesale value, so bid CAREFULLY.

An example of the Silent Auction Bid Sheet can be viewed here:

How to Win

  • The winner has the highest eligible bid at the time of the Silent Auction closing (30 minutes before Expo closes on Wednesday).
  • If a single bidder inadvertently wins in excess of $10,000 wholesale value, the excess winning bids will be awarded to the second highest bidders. Designation for distribution of the bids won in excess of $10,000 is at the APP’s sole discretion; if you exceed your limit, then WE will pick which Gift Certificates you get, so bid CAREFULLY.
  • Bid entry deadlines and details will be posted onsite and in the Conference mobile app.
  • Bid entry deadlines are subject to change by the Association of Professional Piercers.
  • The APP will notify each winner by email, using the contact information provided on the APP Silent Auction bid sheet by the player..
  • Winners must sign the Winner Claim Form (in triplicate) in accordance with these Silent Auction regulations and procedures.
  • If claimed and/or redeemed after Conference, the winner is responsible for shipping and insurance charges as well as import duties on international shipments.

Deadlines

  • Bidding for the Silent Auction happens during Expo hours on Tuesday and Wednesday in the vendor Expo designated area only.
  • The final bidding ends exactly 30 minutes before the listed closing time of the Expo floor on Wednesday.
  • Silent Auction wins must be paid in full by 2pm PDT on Thursday or they may be awarded to the second highest bidder.
  • Instant bid winners “Buy it Now” must pay for the auction item immediately at the Silent Auction booth.

Eligibility and Participation

  • Participation is open to persons 18-years of age and older.
  • Participants must meet eligibility requirements at the time of bidding.
  • Participants must be registered and attending Conference.
  • Auction participants must be industry affiliated with the ability to resale these wholesale auction items.
  • There is no remote participation, such as proxy, online, or mail order.
  • APP Board Members, Officers, raffle-handling Volunteers, and APP employees may NOT participate.
  • If an individual bid winner forfeits on paying any of their winning bids, they may be ineligible to participate in future Silent Auctions.

Additional Terms

  • Participants are responsible for complying with these Official Rules.
  • Proof of age, eligibility, and identity must be furnished upon request.
  • Participants agree to the use of their name, likeness, and studio for advertising and publicity purposes, without compensation.
  • All taxes, import duties, shipping fees, and declaration forms are the responsibility of the winner.
  • By participating in the Silent Auction or winning any bids, participants agree to and do release and hold harmless the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and its Volunteers, employees, agents, and Officers from any claim, demand, judgment, award, and/or any liability of any kind whatsoever.
  • The APP reserves the right to modify or terminate this Silent Auction at any time.
  • In the event of a conflict, these Official Rules supersede any applicable general rules or advertisements of the APP Silent Auction.
  • Any unclaimed Silent Auction items (either not bid on or not paid for) revert back to the Contributor. There are no rollovers.
  • All Silent Auction items are intended for resale. If the winner chooses not to resell their auction purchase, the winner will be responsible for Nevada state sales tax.
  • All proceeds from the Silent Auction go towards offsetting the costs of Conference.

Point 87: Beyond Conference Sessions

Comments Off on Point 87: Beyond Conference Sessions read Conference, Events, Issue 87

As we all prepare to come together for the 24th annual APP Conference & Exposition, we want to make sure you know about some of the great events that make up our week in Vegas.

OPENING POOL PARTY
Monday, May 12, 8 pm–Midnight
Sponsored by Sleeping Goddess Jewelry, Auris Jewelry, Anatometal, and Industrial Strength Body Jewelry
We will be taking our Opening Pool Party down the street to the fabulous Flamingo Go Pool. After the fantastic party last year, how could we not want to do it again?! Right across from Bally’s, this destination party means even more fun in a beautifully updated pool that was designed specifically for parties like ours. You can even rent your own Cabana so you can enjoy the party in real style. Free shuttles will be available for attendees from Planet Hollywood to The Flamingo Go Pool.

Above and right, the APP pool party, 2017, photos by Autumn Swisher

Tuesday, May 13, 10 am–11 am
Reducing Waste In Your Studio
Kendra Berndt & Harley Plamondon

This roundtable hopes to foster an open conversation with attendees about the ideas of reducing waste and the overall carbon footprint of a shop. We will look at ways in which piercers and shop owners can lessen their impact on the environment from build out to everyday operations in their studios.
When you hear the word “sustainability,” your first thoughts might be of recycling soda cans or composting your vegetable scraps. The idea of being a more environmentally conscientious business is not new, although it is not
necessarily the first thing you think of in reference to tattoo and piercing shops. At home maybe you are already living a greener life; upcycling, sorting your curbside recyclables, and buying your food locally. Meanwhile at work, the computer stays on all night, you use only one side of printer paper and the climate controls keep it a constant 68°F all year long. It’s easy to let the green routine slide at work, since it may not technically be your space. On the other end of the spectrum, you may be your shop’s outspoken green warrior.
The nicest thing about working towards more sustainable business practices is that these changes can be eco-friendly while potentially reducing overhead costs. So even if the benefits to the planet are hard to see, those benefits
to your bottom line may be more visible.


Thursday, May 15, 1 pm–2:30 pm
Giving & Receiving Feedback
Julie Taylor & Cody Vaughn

At last year’s conference I presented “Communication 101: How to Have a Difficult Conversation” with Aaron Pollack. We discussed the reasons we avoid difficult conversations, and how to initiate them. This year Cody Vaughn and I are going to delve into more communication skills, looking at how to give and receive feedback.
Not having control of what the other person says in reaction to you can be very frightening, but it’s worth it! We’re a community of people who are familiar with being brave. Open, honest conversations are part of having what researcher Dr. Brene Brown calls a “Courage Culture” and I want that culture for our industry. It will come as no surprise to readers that it’s often easier for us to feel physical pain, than to be exposed and vulnerable emotionally.
But I think we can make spaces that are psychologically safe
for each other, and help each other grow.
Besides all the touchy feely stuff, we’re also looking at Employee Performance Reviews and Regular Employee Check Ins. Having consistent—and even scheduled—conversations can help to resolve issues, give feedback, and share ideas.
We hope you’ll join us at our class. Let’s talk about stuff that’s
hard to talk about!

EVENING EVENTS
ALTERNATIVES TO THE BAR (ATTB)
The APP Board and Conference Committee are excited to announce that we will once again be offering some evening entertainment options on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. These extra curricular activities are a great alternative to traditional Vegas activities and are free of charge to all attendees of the Conference. They will offer information via interactive discussions and demonstrations from the instructors.
These are alcohol free options and we ask that all attending refrain from drinking or bringing alcohol to these events.

Tuesday, May 13, 8 pm–10 pm, Mezzanine
Needle Bending
Ed Chavarria will provide information and approaches to basic needle bends for various piercings as well as the techniques used to bend them.
There will be needle blanks available for practice. Attendees are asked to sign up in advance, but walk ins are also welcome. (Piercer Only)

Tuesday, May 13, 8 pm–10 pm, Mezzanine
Anodizing is Awesome
Brian Skellie and Lola Slider make it easy for you to anodize your titanium and niobium body jewelry with detailed information and live demonstration. How can this surface
finish process make a difference in your client’s healing results? How can you re-anodize for client jewelry if the color has worn off? These questions and more answered in
this workshop. Attendees are encouraged to sign up, but walk-ins are welcome. (Open to All)

Wednesday, May 14, 8:30 pm–until no one wants to play anymore, Mezzanine
Board Game Night
Bring your favorite board game, or two, or three, and join your fellow game lovers. There will be lots of laughter. This event has been a blast every year. (Open to All)

8:30 pm–10 pm, Melrose 3 & 4
Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention & Response Training
This presentation will introduce the concept of harm reduction in the tattoo/piercing community as wel as provide participants with an in-depth exploration of opiate overdose, prevention strategies, and how to respond to an overdose. (Open to All)

CLOSING PARTY
Thursday, May 16, 8 pm–Midnight
NEW! This year we won’t be having a Banquet!
Our big wrap up event will be in the Gallery Nightclub at Planet Hollywood. Join us for an upscale evening of dancing and entertainment, drinks, and delicious hors d’oeuvres. Mingle the night away in your Moulin Rouge attire with all
your new industry friends. Purchase your tickets when registering; the event is sure to sell out!
Closing Party tickets are also available at the Registration Desk throughout the week; and at the door of the Gallery Nightclub on the night of the event (if not already sold out).