Expo floor with piercer, Shorty
around 370. I say around because membership is in a constant state
of flux.
The Membership Committee is hard at work reviewing applications
and helping piercers improve their studios.
I believe the growth of membership is, in large part, to piercers
working with one another online to improve constantly. You can see in
online forums piercers regularly making steps to improve their education, health and safety, and jewelry quality. This makes membership
more attainable.
SD: What are your hopes for the direction and growth of the APP in
the next five years?
JS: I am really excited for the growth of our educational programs.
This year features our very first Member’s Retreat in Georgia. We
have also just begun offering online educational programs. Currently,
we offer Bloodborne Pathogens, Infection Control, and Exposure
Control Plan classes. There are several more in the works. I am
really happy to see the APP offering educational opportunities to all
piercers.
SD: What was your favorite moment at this year’s conference?
JS: I’d be lying if I pretended that my favorite moment was anything
other than being presented with the President’s Award by Brian
Skellie.
The President’s Award has been given to so many people I look up to,
I’m humbled to be added to their ranks. It really was one of the most
touching moments of my life. The entire conference was amazing,
though.
It’s the little things: the hugs from people you’ve only spoken to a few
The APP wants every piercer out there to be a part of our organization. We want piercers to participate in our conferences, our organization and enthusiastically promote our standards. The Association of
Professional Piercers wants to promote safe piercing worldwide. The
more piercers we can enlist in fulfilling that mission, the better.
SD: What courses did you teach at this year’s APP? How was the
attendance for your classes?
JS: This year, I taught two classes: Initial Jewelry with Cody Vaughn,
and How to Use a StatIM with Johnny Velez. I was thrilled with the
attendance of both classes. Cody and I teach together regularly for
the Fakir Intensives, so working with him is so comfortable and fun.
Johnny Velez is a brilliant piercer and about as passionate as they
come. It was a blast to work with him and I hope to do it again in the
near future. I also co-hosted the Membership Committee roundtable
(with Darrin Walters, Mike Coons, Cody Vaughn, Johnny Velez, Coyote Black, and Eduardo Chavarria) where we discuss how to become
an APP member, and the APP Members Only Techniques roundtable
with Tiffany Diamond and Brian Skellie. These roundtables are always
rewarding. I learn a lot from conference attendees of all experience
levels.
SD: How man y members does the APP currently have and how has
it grown in the past 10 years? How many studios are currently APP
studios?
JS: This is an excellent question because I can clarify membership.
Studios are not APP members, nor are they certified or anything else.
The individual piercer is a member, and the studio they work at is
looked at by the Membership Committee to ensure compliance with
APP standards.
In terms of membership, in 2005, we had 214. In 2015, we have
12
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From left: Michael Hare, Georg Birns, Steve Joyner, Dana Dinius, and tattooist, Anji Marth