InkSpired Magazine BEST OF ISSUE | Page 160

life and work is his amazingly unshakable patience. I know firsthand the strength of his patience because I am more than sure I have tried it on occasion. Brian was integral in helping me to get my APP membership application together. I must have contacted him a hundred times over the course of getting it done, and he was always there, available and happy to help. At no time in any of my interactions with him has he been anything but an amiable entity. He is always supportive and caring, honest, open, and informative. He was probably more stoked for me than anyone else when the application was finally complete and submitted. Oh crap, I almost forgot about Johnny Velez, because that guy just makes me happy, that’s all. Sean: Have you ever apprenticed anyone? How did it work out for you and them? Julian: The only piercer I have officially apprenticed is Juan Romo. As far as I know, it has worked out well for him. He now owns a shop in Fresno, California called Mod & Art Studio. It’s the only shop in the area to offer exclusively high quality, implant grade, American made jewelry. Juan is a regular attendee at the APP conference, and is on his way to membership this year, I hope. I knew Juan 158 InkSpiredMagazine.com for about three years before I agreed to teach him anything about piercing. Going into it, I knew I was dealing with someone who would see the grand endeavor through, work hard, and actually make something out of it. Really, though, I was sure in my heart and mind that Juan would become a great piercer, and that piercing for him would not end up as a career as a tattoo artist. He never once let me down, and has continued to move forward with his education and career as a piercer. Juan has also become a hospital sterilization tech, and is doing quality control work for Maya Jewelry. He is the first and last person I will ever apprentice unless one of my sons wishes to learn. So, for now, I think I am walking away a winner in that area. Sean: What would you say you are most known for in the industry and in your place of business? Julian: I am probably most known in the industry for my ear weight jewelry designs, and being the guy in Hawaii. In my place of business, I am most known for safe piercing services, and quality jewelry. Sean: What do you do in your spare time? Julian: When I’m not in the shop or screwing around with jewelry, I am with my family being a husband and dad. Most family days (Sundays) are spent at the beach relaxing and playing with the boys. I am really in love with the ocean, and try to snorkel and be in the water as much as I can. I have gotten to scuba dive a few times and I am looking forward to getting my certification and getting more time underwater for recreation. Sean: What do you think are (if any) problems within the piercing industry? Julian: Problems in the piercing industry? No way, we have none of those. (Wink.) Nothing is perfect. Our industry is no exception. As I looked over all of these questions this is the one that filled me with the most dread. If I really got into the cons, I would be here all day and this would end up being quite a negative interview. I will say though, that I see and hear a lot of self-hatred amongst piercers that can be discouraging. Many are very quick to judge, and quick to anger, yet slow to understand or forgive. It seems like some people take a great deal of pleasure in finding the faults in each other, and very few mention the positives in anyone, or bother