Piercing Wizard Podcast

I got the opportunity to sit down at Camp APP with Mic Rawls. Mic has such a great perspective of the piercing industry from a career that started in the mid 90s, put him through the Gauntlet seminars and studios in California and New York, saw the beginning and rise of the APP, the ups and downs of huge piercers, and landed him in San Francisco at Cold Steel. I got a small glimpse of an amazingly...

Howard Dolman of SOLabs comes on the show this week to talk about their product Purklenz. Purklenz is a skin cleanser produced for body art. Lots of piercers and tattooers are using their line of products for prep, procedure, and aftercare. Lets learn about the development, testing, and uses of their line.

I was busy being a real world person at Camp APP 2018 so I didn't get many interviews recorded. I did take a few minutes to record how people were feeling on their way back to Atlanta at the end though. PS - I love playing Jenga with piercers.

While I was in Germany at the BMXNET conference I took some time to sit down with British piercers Nicholas Pinch & Ian Human. We started out chatting about their sales strategy class. Then we went off on a lengthy conversation about business and our opinions on what goes into a succesful one.

The deadline to apply for a 2019 APP conference scholarship is November 11th 2018. So I want to get you all the info you need about how to apply and succeed. I talk to Caitlin McDiarmid (chair of the Al D. scholarship committee) about how to submit a solid application. I also chat with Chrissy Shull (head of the No Excuses private scholarship) about what their program offers and how it compliments...

The UKAPP's new Vice President, Kim Hutchinson, joins the show this week to discuss their organization and conference. We talk about some misconceptions about joining a piercing association. How its about strength as a group and establishing safety standards, and not about elitism.

I just got back from the UKAPP conference in Manchester, England AND the BMXNET conference in Essen, Germany. I chat with Cale Belford & Bethrah Szumski about how to be an effective instructor for different markets and I recap my trip.

Kellan Smith of The Powers That Be in Vancouver, Washington joins the show this week. We talk about DIY projects in the shop, finding your own style and working to your strengths, and if we're living in a bubble or riding a wave.

I got the opportunity to sit down with transdisciplinary artist Lukas Zpira at the APP 2018 conference. We talk about Lukas' perspective on art and the many forms he chooses to express it. Body modification, photography, performance, ritual, travel. A diverse conversation with a diverse artist.

Anna Beall of Cowpok in Buffalo, NY comes on the show to discuss LGBTQ inclusiveness in your studio. How to create and nurture a safe space environment, and how to properly communicate to clients in a less biased way. We also discuss the subject of genital piercing while I check my privilege at the door.

This week's show is all about the United Kingdom's Association of Professional Piercers 2018 conference in Manchester, England September 2nd-4th. First I talk to UKAPP President Nici Holmes about their growth, support, and goals for conference. Next up is Seb Pickersgill talking about some of the classes available this year. We finish with Scottish piercer Lola Slider on preparing a Prince Albert...

Three interviews for you. Two short interviews from the APP conference with volunteers John Robberson & Danny Greenwood. Then a longer interview with Eduardo Chavarria discussing what we call the three schools of piercing; Fakir, Guantlet, BME and how our industry is affected by the loss of Fakir Musafar.

Episode 69 (nice) with Derek Lowe of Saint Sabrina's in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Derek has 20+ years of experience as a piercer, studio manager, and APP conference attendee. We talk about what goes in to a successful studio, and a successful staff.

Episode 68 with Jim Ward. Founder of Gauntlet, founder of the APP. In this episode we talk about erotic piercings, sexual functionality of piercings, and how some piercers limit their own growth by not pursuing piercings below the belt line. Also a recap of the APP conference 2018.

Episode 67 LIVE (but not really) from the 23rd annual Association of Professional Piercers conference in Las Vegas. For those of you who couldn't make it to conference I'm going to bring some of it to you. I've got chats with some of the volunteers as well as one with the APP administrator Caitlin McDiarmid. Enjoy.

Episode 66 with Anujin Amarjargal (I'll just call her Anji). Anji has a really interesting story. Starting out as an amateur piercer in Mongolia, coming to the US to attend the Fakir Intensives and up her game, and now she'll be at the 2018 APP conference as a scholar. Really inspiring story, give it a listen.

Episode 65 with AJ Goldman of 12 oz Studios in New Jersey. This is a good one, we talk all about one of the biggest challenges in running a high quality piercing business right now, jewelry order wait times. We talk about how we're currently trying to manage it, our frustrations and compliments over how jewelry companies are running their production, and an idea so crazy it just might work. Listen...

Episode 64 with Ciaron Steer of Old London Road, Kingston upon Thames UK. Ciaron recently attended my London freehand seminar and we got to talking about our ideas on sales techniques. We both feel that pushing a client towards jewelry could lead to some buyer's remorse. We both seem to prefer listening to the client and helping them make their own choices.

Episode 63 with Kendra Jane, vice president of the Association of Professional Piercers. Kendra is in charge of conference registration this year and shares some good insights on how attendees can make the most of their week.

Episode 62 with Barron of Boundless Tattoo Company in Plainfield Illinois. We talk about Barron's motivation to get out and do guest spots, his experience preparing to be a first time instructor at the APP conference, and mostly how to talk to a client when something goes wrong.

Episode 61 with Monica Sabin. Monica is part of the membership committee for the Association of Professional Piercers, so guess what we talk about? Thats right, APP membership issues! How to apply, what are the actual requirements, and what support does the APP offer for applicants.

Episode 60 with Oscar "Chux" Martinez

Episode 59 with Samppa Von Cyborg and his wife Aneta. 2018 has seen the arrest of body modification practitioners in the UK and Australia. Many regions are moving towards banning body mod and we discuss if this will actually make things safer. We talk about how regulation and education can be better ways to protect clients and the public health.

Episode 58 with Ryan's Mom Cathy. I recorded this interview with my mom on mother's day. We get sappy and tell embarassing stories about me piercing myself in my teenage bedroom. Spoiler alert, I did lots of reckless stuff when I was younger. Please don't try this at home.

Episode 57 with Alex Wilkins of Guru Body Piercing in Brighton, England. We talk about Guru's dramatic growth from an external only shop to using some of the best brands in the industry. We also talk about how to give constructive criticism to colleagues and how open dialog is important for everyone.