Episode 35 – Making it your Own: Revamping Studios

In this week’s episode, we are going to be discussing a topic that seems to becoming more and more important. As many individuals strive to become higher end or to improve their situations, the only option for many seems to be taking over a business or starting your own. However, who is going to help? What things should I focus on? How can I create a space when there are no days off?

We sit down with Christy Lillard, Owner of Laughing Buddha Body Piercing and industry veteran of over 20 years, to talk about revamping shops and businesses. Whether you purchased one to renew, taking over the piercing side of a shop or even just starting out. This episode is full of some amazing information from someone who has started multiple successful businesses from scratch and successfully taken over previously owned ones.

So without further ado, listen in as we talk about creative ways to build and create a new space, what we learned in the process and transiting into a new shop family.

Christy can be found at all of her businesses and their social media, as well as on her Instagram as ChristyLillard.

This episode sponsored by Amory Body Arts.

Episode 35 – Making it your Own: Revamping Studios

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Episode 34 – You Can’t Make Everyone Happy:Dealing with Customer Criticism

Welcome back everyone, in this week’s episode we decided to talk about one of the most dreaded things in our industry, negative customer reviews and unhappy customers. This is something we all know about and we all hate reading or experiencing.  However, we know these are an unpleasant fact in this day and age when everyone has the ability to be a reviewer. So how do we handle this? Do we fight back, do we put on a grin and bear it or do we look at ourselves and try to improve?

We sit down with this episode’s guests, piercer and owner of Six16 Piercing in Pittsburgh, PA; Nick SanGregory gives a direct response with dealing with clients and tells us when it’s ok to say enough is enough. While Brianna Sheehan of Mint Piercing gives her expertise as one of the most experienced front-end staff veterans of the industry on how you can change these scenarios by connecting with clients and understanding where they are coming from.

So without further ado, listen in as we tackle unruly customers, talk about the importance of “internet faces” and how to grow from the experience.

Brianna and Nick can be found on their Instagram’s or at their studios respectively.

This episode sponsored by  Amory Body Arts.

Episode 34 – You Can’t Make Everyone Happy:Dealing with Customer Criticism

Episode 33 – What it takes to Lead: Experiences of a Board Member

In this week’s episode, we talk about a topic that comes up every year in our industry, the annual Association of Professional Piercers board elections. When this episode airs, voting will be in full swing. Many people think that being a board member is a popularity contest but there is a large amount of responsibility and sacrifice that comes with it.

We sit down with two former board members of the Association of Professional Piercers to discuss their experiences and what it truly takes to be one. Kendra Jane, an extremely experienced piercer who is just stepping down from the vice president position, gives her insight on the sacrifices being of a board member and how rewarding the experience is. Our other guest is a piercer who has worked all over the country, Eduardo Chavarria. Eduardo was not only a volunteer for the APP at several conferences but also a former board member. He gives an honest view on what he hopes to see in the future from candidates and the demand that being a board member took.

So without further ado, listen in as we talk about what it takes to be a board member, the APP helicopter and what we would like to see in future candidates.

Eduardo and Kendra can all be found on their Instagrams or in their studios respectively.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 33 – What it takes to Lead: Experiences of a Board Member

Episode 32.6 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Paul Rainer of Bound for Glory Tattoo

Our election nominee’s continue, this episode we feature Paul Rainer of Bound for Glory Tattoo. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 32.6 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Paul Rainer of Bound for Glory Tattoo.

Episode 32.5 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Barron William of Boundless Tattoo Company

Our election nominee’s continue, this episode we feature Barron William of Boundless Tattoo Company. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 32.5 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Barron William of Boundless Tattoo Company

Episode 32.4 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Ryan Ouellette of Precision Body Arts

Our election nominee’s continue, this episode we feature Ryan Ouellette of Precision Body Arts. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 32.4 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Ryan Ouellette of Precision Body Arts

Episode 32.3 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Luis Garcia of NoKaOi

Our election nominee’s continue, this episode we feature Luis Garcia of NoKaOi Tiki Tattoo and Piercing. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry, Gold Heart Woodworks and Amory Body Arts.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 32.3 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Luis Garcia of NoKaOi

Episode 32.2 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Cale Belford of Piercing Emporium

Our election nominee’s continue, this episode we feature Cale Belford of the Piercing Emporium. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

 

Episode 32.2 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Cale Belford of Piercing Emporium

Episode 32.1 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Becky Dill of Cold Steel

In the first of several mini episodes, we will be featuring candidates for the upcoming APP board election. This episode we feature Becky Dill of Cold Steel. Listen in as we learn about each candidate, hear their unique responses to our questions and why that person deserves your vote.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the candidate on their social media.

Your vote is incredibly important. Please do not waste the chance to shape the APP Board.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 32.1 – 2018 APP Board Nominees: Becky Dill of Cold Steel

Episode 31 – Freehand Versus Tools: Why can’t we just get along?

In this week’s episode, we have a casual discussion with some good friends of mine about a topic that always seems to stay relevant in the industry. This week we are discussing freehand piercing versus using tools. This topic is one that comes up constantly. Whether it be in job interviews, guesting opportunities or on the internet, it is something that comes up every day. Nevertheless, if the client is happy and the piercing is done safely and is well done, does it really matter?

We sit down for this round table with three different guests, each presenting their own unique view on the topic. Luis Garcia of NoKaOi Tiki Tattoo and Piercing in Philadelphia gives his brutally honest view as a long time veteran of the industry. Dana Dinius of Dorje Adornments in Rochester, New York gives us some insight into working in shops of various different volumes.  Lastly, Kelly Carvara of Monarch Body Piercing in Chattanooga, Tennessee gives us a shocking look into being a shop owner of a fully freehand and disposable business in a climate where “freehand” means something different to everyone.

So without further ado, listen in as we talk about if tools are the devil, if one is better than the other, and what happens when your attitude writes a check that your skills can’t cash.

Luis, Dana and Kelly can all be found on their Instagrams or in their studios respectively.

This episode sponsored by Other Couture Jewelry and Amory Body Arts.

Episode 31 – Freehand Versus Tools: Why can’t we just get along?