JEWELRY USAGE & MATERIALS

• Initial Jewelry Size & Style
• Basic Steel & Titanium
• Precious Metals & Gemstones

TECHNIQUES:

• Members Only: Techniques
• Members Only: Sexual Effectiveness & Practicality of Genital Piercings
• Stretching
• Female Genital Techniques
• Workshop format: Surface Piercing
• Workshop format: Piercing Techniques with Tools
• Workshop format: Tool-less Piercing Techniques
• Ear Projects

STUDIO PRACTICES & PROCEDURES

• Grounding and Bedside Manner
• Medical Risk Assessment
• Aftercare: Wound Healing Dynamics
• Aftercare: Client Home Care
• Aftercare: Troubleshooting
• Statim Basics
• Studio Documentation and Manual
• Workshop format: Sterilization & Piercing Room Aseptic Tech.
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• First Aid
• CPR

BUSINESS PRACTICES

• Customer Service
• Utilizing the SBDC
• Going Paperless
• Photography
• Studio Aesthetics
• Dealing with Difficult Clients
• Disabilities 101

INDUSTRY & CULTURE

• Industry History
• Anthropology
• Suspension

ROUNDTABLE TOPICS

• Intro to APP Membership
• Vegan Practices
• Aftercare Speeches
• Statim Troubleshooting
• Upselling/Studio Transition
• Shop Owners
• New Attendee & Mentors
• Interpersonal Studio Dynamics
• Legislation
• Transgendered Clientele
• Starting a Piercer Group
• Finding your professional / personal life balance
• Outreach

*Members Only TBA (must be an active APP Business/Business Member at Large to attend)

There are so many classes offered, how can I take them all?

You can’t in a single year. The APP encourages studios to send multiple representatives to maximize the number of classes and amount of education a single studio can obtain. Remember, we have many piercers who attend this Conference every year and we try to offer enough variety for everyone to have a unique experience each time they attend Conference.

What are Roundtable Discussions?

The APP believes that much of the education at Conference takes place from peer to peer. In keeping with that belief we encourage you to find time to participate in these more casual, information sharing discussions, mediated by expert piercers and/or professionals. There is no charge to attend these discussions. An attendee/vendor badge, however, must be shown in order to attend.  Please see the Schedule and Course Listing pages (when available) for details.

I am a Health Inspector/Regulator, can I attend the Conference? How much does it cost me?

Yes, and for the 8th year in a row the APP invites Health Inspectors / Regulators to attend the Conference free of charge. The only requirement for this offer is that the person(s) attending reserves and stays in a room in the host hotel within the APP room block. Book early to get your room. Our room block does fill!

If you need documentation confirming this offer, contact info@safepiercing.org or 888-888-1277

ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN JANUARY

 

SPECIAL NEEDS

Hablo español. ¿Me puede ayudar usted?

Por favor contacta international@safepiercing.org si usted necesita hablar con alguien en español.

Je parle français. Pouvez-vous m’aider?

Vous pouvez contacter international@safepiercing.org si vous souhaitez parler avec quelqu’un en francais.

Translation of the above: Please contact international@safepiercing.org if you need to speak with someone in Spanish or French.

I have a disability. Can you help me?

The APP wants Conference to be a great experience for all its Attendees. If you have a need for special services or concerns about access etc. please do not hesitate to contact us. 1-888-888-1277 or 785-841-6060 or info@safepiercing.org

I have no money. Can you help me?

The APP has a limited number of scholarships available. Before he passed away in February of 2001, Al D. Sowers devoted much of his piercing career to the education of piercers. It is only fitting that this scholarship be named for him. This is funding for eight piercers in need of financial assistance to attend the APP conference. Accommodations and Conference registration are included in the Scholarship. Scholarship recipients are expected to share a room with other recipients and work more than 30 hours during the Conference. In addition, they must provide their own transportation to and from the conference. 2013 application forms can be obtained by calling or emailing info@safepiercing.org at the end of November, 2012. Applications must be submitted January 1-March 1, 2012. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than April 7, 2012. Please contact Caitlin with any questions!

I am easily stressed. Can you help me?

The APP encourages all participants to take care of themselves during Conference. Due to long hours and the excitement of the event, many attendees find themselves overwhelmed. Daily morning Yoga classes are free to all attendees. The Friends of Bill W. and Al-Anon will have meetings during the week. The staff and volunteers at Conference are available should you need assistance in finding emotional support, medical care, or a quiet place to rest – please let us help.

I want to Volunteer – how can I help?

Volunteers made a big difference in the success of our Conference if you are interested in joining our team in 2013 please contact Caitlin at info@safepiercing.org. Hours and schedules can be adjusted to suit your desires.

 

CONFERENCE REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS

Can I get pierced at the Conference or do piercings in my hotel room?

Absolutely not! To maintain space in our host hotel and comply with insurance requirements, absolutely no piercing, scarification, branding or implants; or any other form of body modification from hotel rooms (in any hotel) will be tolerated. Any APP members participating in these types of activities risk losing their membership. Any member or non-member risks expulsion from the hotel and/or Conference. This type of behavior contradicts everything the APP represents and promotes in its educational outreach and mission.

REGISTRATION AND CHECK IN

Please bring a valid form of photo identification — Driver’s license, State I.D., passport etc. in order to Register onsite or pick up your Conference Badge. Don’t forget proof of your industry affiliation!

CONFERENCE BADGES, WRISTBANDS, & PRINTED AGENDAS

Conference badges should be worn while in the Conference/Exposition area. Badges must be on your person if entering a class, roundtable or the Exposition. Printed agendas and/or wristbands must also be available. Banquet Tickets must be shown for entry into the Banquet Dinner. The APP reserves the right to refuse to reissue lost items without additional fees.

EXPOSITION FLOOR RESTRICTIONS

Admittance to the Expo is restricted to those affiliated with the industry as it is considered to be a trade show floor. These restrictions protect our vendors, who are selling to retailers at wholesale prices. Attendees who purchase an Expo pass will be asked to show proof of industry affiliation (business license, business card with name, other documentation). The APP can refuse entry to the Exposition Floor without proof of industry affiliation.

IMPORTANT – NEW / UPDATED POLICIES

MINOR POLICY

Individuals under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Individuals 18-20 may attend the Conference without a parent/guardian but are not allowed in the gambling areas and must share a room with someone at least 21 years of age and the room must be registered to that person per hotel policy: “Each guestroom must have at least one registered guest twenty-one (21) years of age or older”.

WORKSHOP POLICY

Only Attendees that register for a FULL CONFERENCE pass will be allowed to sign up for any classes offered in the workshop format.  Full Conference Pass Attendees can take 1 session of each of the classes offered in the workshop format, HOWEVER, space is limited and we encourage everyone to sign up early as they will fill.   Each session is the same material although different instructors may lead each session.

CLASS CREDIT PROCEDURE & POLICY

Attendees will be given a printed agenda at the time of badge pick up – this agenda will be their “class ticket” into each class.  This agenda will include a bar code on it which will be scanned at the door to confirm attendance in the class.  Badges will still be required and will need to match the agenda.  No other class tickets will be required.  Nor will any class credit cards be required in the classroom.  If any changes are made to the Attendee’s schedule they will need to obtain an updated printed agenda.