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
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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