The APP is excited to announce the winners of the 2024 Legacy Scholarships! Congratulations everyone! Our scholarship program was fully funded by our generous sponsors and the APP. We appreciate you! Sponsored by Stiletto Piercing Supplies Dave Kelso Scholarship – mi33tsu (Canada) Ryan Markwell Scholarship – Josh King (USA) David Vidra Scholarship – Breo Hoek (UK) Gail Shub Scholarship – Xhules Gega (Germany) Sponsored by LeRoi Fine Body Jewellery Rick Frueh Scholarship – Georgia (UK) Rick Frueh Scholarship – Andy Forest (Australia) Sponsored by Canasteel Jewelry David Vidra Scholarship (Cana ..read more

Originally published in The Point: Issue 52 Article by Ryan Ouellette or Precision Body Arts in Nashua, NH. So you’re back from Conference. Now what are you going to do with what you learned? I have always found it challenging to take what I’ve gotten out of Conference and incorporate it into my studio effectively. I’ve been going to Conference for eight years, and every year I come home with a laundry list of ideas. Honestly though, not many are finished before I lose my motivation. My main problem is that I try to tackle them all right away instead of focusing on one and seeing it through t ..read more

If you’re wanting to get a head start on Conference planning, the room block at Planet Hollywood is active for the Association of Professional Piercers Conference! This year’s Conference is taking place June 23-28, 2024. We always suggest that you book with the host hotel, as filling the room block has an impact on the organization’s ability to negotiate the conference spaces and rates in the future. Additionally, staying at the host hotel fosters a bigger sense of community at the event and keeps you close to your “home base” for the week. After a long day of classes and socializing, taking t ..read more

In the 1990’s, Jim Ward observed that there were a lot of body piercing studios opening up. Over the years since the 1975 establishment of Gauntlet, Jim and his staff had developed and refined the best in body piercing techniques, with safety and successful outcomes in mind. Jim decided that that expertise should be shared with the inevitably expanding body piercing profession. First the Pierce With A Pro videos, and then Gauntlet’s body piercing seminars – Responsible Body Piercing – made the techniques widely available. Go to runningthegauntlet-book.com to get your copies of these historical ..read more

By Jezebel Voulé What has been your favorite piercing moment? It is a question that has haunted me since the first time I was asked. An echo of this makes the voice in my head always think “maybe this piercing will be the one that defines my piercing career.” Several people have shared their defining moments with me: some of these turning points involved meeting their piercing idol while, for others, it was defined by where they worked, who they worked with (or worked on), and, in some cases, a paycheck. The ways people have been affected by their careers are as unique as the individuals who ..read more

The 2024 Legacy Scholarship Program is now taking applications to attend the upcoming APP Conference & Exposition, taking place at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, June 23-28! This is funding for approximately 8 piercers in need of financial assistance to attend this educational event and recipients are required to work more than 30 hours during the Conference. Accommodations and Conference registration are included in the Scholarship, but you must provide your own transportation to and from the Conference and cover your own meals. So, do you qualify? Here’s a few things that are required ..read more

Queen of the Ashes award winning design “Kwaidan.” Picture by @connorfornow At this year’s APP Conference, Queen of the Ashes won the Creative Innovators Award for their design “Kwaidan.” We had the opportunity to talk to Hika K, the owner of Queen of the Ashes, to discuss her award winning design and her company. The Point Blog: Congratulations on your Innovative Award win, Hika! Your company, Queen of the Ashes, has been gaining a lot of popularity lately and your newest earring design was a hit at this years APP Conference. We also saw quite a few folks wearing other pieces from your comp ..read more

By Lola Slider, Forest Piercing, Glasgow They say sixty percent of new business fail in the first 3 years. As my studio approaches it’s 3 year anniversary, I wanted to look back over this time and compare it to the 9 years prior I spent working in someone else’s business, and share some of what I’ve learned about that transition from independent piercing contractor to business owner. Going it Alone… Are we ever really alone in our endeavours? Are we ever truly without help and support? Opening your own business it can feel like nobody understands what you’re trying to do but each year I loo ..read more

The APP is pleased to announce that the Legacy Scholarship Program is now taking applications to attend the 2023 APP Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas! This is funding for approximately 8 piercers in need of financial assistance to attend this educational event and recipients are required to work more than 30 hours during the Conference. Accommodations and Conference registration are included in the Scholarship, but you must provide your own transportation to and from the Conference and cover your own meals. So, do you qualify? Here’s a few things that are required for eligibility. -Yo ..read more

Another APP Board of Electors election is happening right now and is going on until December 1st! Your vote matters! If you are a Business Member or Business Member At Large in good standing then you are eligible to vote. Check your email for more information or view the candidate biographies and vote through your member portal on our website www.safepiercing.org. It is our duty and responsibility as business members to participate in the APP elections, so make your voice heard and vote today. Good luck to all of the candidates! The post 2022 Board of Directors Election first appeared on The ..read more