Our 17th Annual Conference and Exposition will be in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 17-June 22, 2012. We are happy to announce next year our conference returns to Bally’s after an excellent time in 2011.  Join us in the heart of the strip for comprehensive dining, unwavering service, and a signature style that attracts high-rollers from around the world.

Spend your time outside of conference in one of their numerous restaurants or shops. Relax and treat yourself to a day at the spa, or in a private cabana next to the Bally’s Blu pool. While still embodying the classic spirit of Las Vegas, Bally’s is centrally positioned on the Strip to keep you close to all the finest in shopping, dining, gaming, and nightlife. Located next to Paris and across from the Bellagio, Bally’s is a Vegas value in a convenient location.

Our educational-based Conference is the only one of its kind, dedicated solely to Body Piercing, attracting 800-1000 participants every year. Nowhere else will you be able to talk with as many piercers at one event, nor meet with the leaders in the industry.

Our attendees know that this is THE event to meet the best of our Industry’s vendors of jewelry, products, and industry related services. Piercers come prepared to purchase stock for their studios, try out new products, and meet the Vendors face to face. We encourage those Vendors who may not be in the Piercing Industry, but whose product(s) are of interest to those in the Body Modification Industry to consider vending with us as well. Our speakers, attendees and vendors gather just this one time a year to share information, discuss innovations in the industry, and socialize at this week long event, please come join us!

Please note: all information posted here is subject to change until such time that Vendor Registration opens.  As 2012’s Conference is planned, we will update and final our information; the information listed here at this time is to give potential vendors an idea of what to expect.

LOCATION:

Bally’s Las Vegas

3645 Las Vegas Blvd South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Ph: (877) 603-4390

LODGING

Where can I stay? Do we get a reduced rate at the host hotel?

Bally’s Las Vegas is our host hotel, and the APP reserves a block of rooms for attendees of the Conference.  When making your reservation, request rates for The Association of Professional Piercers. By booking in the APP room block you are supporting our event. The APP is able to expand its budgets for Conference instructors, perks, and events when the room block is filled. Staying in the host hotel fosters a bigger sense of community at the event and keeps you close to your “home base” for the week!

Please support our Conference by staying at Bally’s!    If you plan to stay at the hotel the weekend before or after conference book as soon as possible, weekend rates are subject to availability.

 

APP Reservation link: Coming soon!

 

Or contact Bally’s at 800-358-8777

 

2011 Room rates were $69.00-$79.00 a night per double occupancy depending on which tower you booked into.  2012 Room Rates have not yet been set.

 

Please note that special requests such as non-smoking room, connecting or adjoining rooms, room location, king or double-double bed type, etc. are subject to availability at the time of check-in.

 

Rates are net, non-commissionable and will be subject to Clark County Room Tax

 

ADDITIONAL PERSON (for above double occupancy)

Additional persons will be charged at a rate of $30.00 per person, per night, with a maximum of four (4) persons per guestroom.

 

Important Hotel Policies:

Individuals must identify themselves as part of Group to receive the special Group rate.  All reservations must be guaranteed with a deposit for the first night’s guestroom and tax charge.  If reservation is guaranteed to a credit card, the first night’s guestroom and tax charge, per guestroom, will be billed immediately to the cardholder’s account.

 

Hotel allows individual cancellations without penalty up to seventy-two (72) hours prior to the attendees’ scheduled arrival date.  Hotel shall charge the individual attendee one (1) night’s guaranteed guestroom rate plus tax for cancellation within seventy-two (72) hours of the scheduled arrival date or failure of the individual to check-in on the scheduled arrival date.  Any remaining nights of a “no-show” reservation will be canceled.  It is policy to require a credit card or cash deposit for incidental charges.

 

Hotel accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or Diners Club.

 

Check-in time is 4:00 PM and check-out time is 11:00 AM.  Any departures after 11:00 AM are subject to the full day charge.

 

Each guestroom must have at least one registered guest twenty-one (21) years of age or older.

PRE-CONFERENCE CALENDAR*

December 15, 2011            Early Registration Opens: Preferred Vendors

(for vendors who vended in 2011)

January 2012                        Full Conference Registration Opens Attendees

January 15, 2012                         ALL Vendor Registration opens

January 2012                        Individual Class Registration Opens Attendees

January 15, 2012            Deadline for Ads: Point Spring Issue

March 15, 2012            Deadline for Booth Location requests

 

March 15, 2012            Deadline to Register and be included in Program

March 15, 2012            Deadline for early Registration Discount

Week of March 18th            Expo Floor Layout

March 23, 2012            Deadline for Program Ad Submission

March 31, 2012            Deadline to get a 50% refund if canceling

April 15, 2012                        Deadline for Point Ad – Summer (Conference Issue)

May 15, 2012                        Deadline for Raffle prize submission

May 15, 2012                        Deadline to submit Badge names

June 1, 2012                        Deadline: Innovator’s Award form submission

NEW EXPO HOURS:

Monday June 18:  Vendor Move-In 1pm-5pm

Set up for Vendors moved in already 5pm-7pm

Tuesday June 19: Vendor Move-In 8am-11am

Floor opens to APP Members only 12-1pm

Floor opens to All Attendees 1pm-8pm

Wednesday June 20: Floor Open to Attendees Noon-6pm (NEW)

Thursday June 21: Floor Opens to Attendees 10am-6pm (NEW)

Friday June 22: Floor Opens to Attendees 10am-2pm

EXPOSITION INFORMATION

Please read the following – even if you have vended with us before – our policies are updated every year and may have changed!

Booth  Details

Expo booth spaces are 10’ x 10’. Each booth includes one 8ft table, and two chairs. Each booth will be separated by sidewall drapes 3ft high, and backwall drape 8ft high. Basic Id signs are provided. Any additional furniture, cases, chairs, services, accessories will need to be brought by the vendor or ordered from Exhibitor Services or in the case of electrical, phone or data lines, obtained through the host hotel or its service providers.

Registration

Please note: no registration materials will be mailed out to Vendors this year. If you need the registration form and information mailed to you – please contact the office.

Preferred Vendor Registration Starts – December 15 (or thereabout)

All Vendor Registration Starts – January 15, 2012

2012 VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM Download the 2012 vendor registration form and register by mail, fax, phone or email.

2011/2012 Expo Floor Booth(s) Rates: Rates will remain the same for 2012!

Early Registration, with/without raffle donation initial booth $675.00/ $725.00; each additional booth $625/$675

Late Registration, with/without raffle donation initial booth $725.00/$775.00 additional booth $675/$725

Special Rates exist for Non-Profit; or Educational Based Companies – please contact the APP

Cancellations
If a Vendor cancels before April 1, 2012 the APP will refund 50% of the contracted space. After said date, the exhibitor forfeits the entire payment.

Sharing Booths:

Vendors can share individual booths – but pricing for “sharing” multiple booths will be as follows:

 

Company A and Company B share a single booth: They split cost of initial booth price

Company A and Company B “share” two booths: They each pay the initial booth price for their booth.

Company A and Company B “share” three booths:  Companies are charged for 2 initial booths; with one additional at the reduced price.

 

Companies are allowed to host/sponsor other companies within their own booths (no matter the number of booths) but secondary companies will not be listed or promoted in Conference materials.

 

Companies who are getting educational rates can only host other educational companies in their booth(s); any non-educational companies will be charged the pro-rated regular vendor rates.

 

For example: Educational Company A hosts non-educational Company B in a single booth; Company A pays ½ of the educational discounted rate; Company B pays ½ of the regular initial booth rate.

 

Sharing/Sponsors:

In order for companies to receive the benefits of sponsoring – if they are sharing more than one booth with another company AND they want to listed/promoted in Conference Materials – both companies must sponsor.

Booth Assignments

Booths are assigned based on the following:

1. Sponsorship (paid for in full)
2. APP Membership
3. Preferred Vendor status
4. Date registration completed (paid for in full).

The APP will consider all location requests and do their best to accommodate all vendors. Decisions by the APP are final. Requests for a specific location or “neighboring” vendors must be received by March 15, 2012. Booth Assignments will be announced via email. A map of the booth assignments will be available soon after booths are assigned, upon request.

Map of Venue: coming at a later date

Show Rules, Regulations, and Restrictions

The APP requests that vendors who choose to attend our Conference are mindful of the APP standards for initial piercing body jewelry and bring jewelry that meets or exceeds this standard if selling jewelry which can be used in initial piercings. The APP encourages all its vendors to be respectful of their fellow vendors and to act professionally at all times**

See our information here on initial piercing jewelry: http://www.safepiercing.org/piercing/jewelry-for-initial-piercings/

The APP reserves the right to refuse or rescind vending space at its discretion. During the Expo the APP reserves the right to restrict or relocate, at the exhibitor’s expense, any exhibit that because of noise, method of operation, traffic congestion, or any other reason, becomes objectionable. Exhibit demonstration must be confined within the boundaries of the respective booth(s). Companies selling products must comply with all state and local sales permits, and requirements. All product and jewelry materials, in particular natural or wildlife, must have been legally mined, harvested, imported, obtained and/or fashioned. Booth holding vendors are welcome to offer private product showings from their hotel room, however, no vending from hotel rooms will be tolerated.

The APP requires that its vendors remain open during the hours of the Exposition. Leaving early on the closing day or failure to adequately “man” your booth during the Exposition can result in a $100.00 fine per booth space. If a vendor must leave due to illness/family emergency, they must discuss this matter with a Board Member prior to departure in order to avoid potential fines. Please see your Orientation Packet for suggestions on how to cover your booth on breaks etc.

Violation of the regulations as set out may result in eviction from the Conference, the expo floor, the hotel and/or restriction from future Conferences. In the event of vendor restriction or eviction, the APP is not liable for any damages, nor will it refund exhibit fees or expenses.

Badges

No one will be allowed on the Exhibit Floor without a badge. Vendors receive (3) three free badges for the initial booth space. Vendors are allowed (2) two additional free badges for each additional booth space. Vendors are allowed to purchase (1) one additional badge per booth space at the rate of $15.00 per badge. If a Vendor is also a Speaker, they are allowed one additional free badge.

Temporary Badges will be issued during set up and breakdown. Temporary badges can only be used during set up and breakdown. They will not be valid to work at the booth once the floor is open to attendees or during the week during vendor only hours. No one is allowed on the floor during set-up and breakdown without a badge.

Vendor Badges are NOT transferable. Vendors caught transferring badges may be evicted from the expo floor. All booths must be staffed when the Expo is open to attendees. Vendor badges do not allow you access into classes, those tickets/badges must be purchased separately.

Security

The APP hires security to guard the Exhibit Hall after the floor has closed. Once the hall closes no one is allowed back in. Vendors are responsible for making sure all necessary belongings are taken with them when the hall closes for the night.

Shipping

The Exhibitor Services company, Shepard will be in charge of shipped materials. They will provide a kit which has information regarding shipping, storage and additional services (electric, computer lines, and AV information will be provided by them but are contracted through other agencies).

 

Onsite Labor

All work involved in the erection, touch-up painting, dismantling, and repair of all exhibits when done by persons other than your full-time company personnel will fall under union jurisdiction. This work is to include wall coverings, floor coverings, pipe and drape, painting, hanging of signs and/or decorative materials from the ceiling, placement of all signs, and the erection of platforms used for the exhibit purpose.

 

Materials Handling /Freight Handling

All work involved in loading and unloading of all trucks, trailers, and common & contract carriers as well as the handling of empty crates and the operation of material handling equipment is under union jurisdiction.  The Union also has the jurisdiction of the unloading, uncrating, unskidding, leveling, painting, and assembly of machinery and equipment as well as the reverse process.  An exhibitor may “hand-carry” material provided they do not use material handling equipment (nothing with wheels).  When exhibitors do choose to hand carry they may not be permitted access to the loading dock/freight door areas.  Another entrance will be assigned.  All exhibitors are expected to comply with any union requirements in effect.  Further information can be found in the Exhibitor Service Kit.

Exhibitor Services Kit: Exhibitor Service Information will be posted later

ORIENTATION

Orientation packets will be sent to all registered vendors with additional information regarding the schedule of events, sponsorship opportunities, advertising specs, NEW policies and procedures, and updated information regarding the innovators award process etc. You will be sent a separate packet from Shepard on shipping/receiving/handling; electric, phone, & computer lines; furniture, etc. If you have not received your Exhibit Service Provider packet within 10 days after registering, please contact the APP office.

PROMOTING YOUR COMPANY AT THE APP!

Benefit/Event Sponsorship allows the Vendor to show their support of the Conference and the APP through sponsorship of events/benefits found at the Conference. All event sponsorships are available to multiple parties. No benefits will be provided until sponsorships are paid in full.

Vendors receive the following for their support:

$1,500.00: The Banquet Dinner

Sponsor(s) receive full page ad in the program, 4 tickets to the Banquet, and first choice of booth location, in order received.

 

$1,000.00: The Opening Party

Sponsor(s) receive a ½ page ad in the program and second choice of booth location, in order received.

 

$500.00: Exposition Food & Beverage

Sponsor(s) receive a quarter page ad in the program and third choice of booth location, in order received.

 

$300: Al D. Scholarship

Sponsor(s) receive two banquet dinner tickets, honorable mention in the program, and fourth choice of booth location in order received.

Advertisement provides a visual reminder of your presence at the Conference, and can be used as a reference for attendees after the show. Vendors are encouraged to advertise both in the Conference Point Journal and the Conference Program; both publications are now in FULL COLOR. Details will be in your orientation packet from the APP.

Conference Program Advertisement

Download a pdf sheet here: APP_2012_AdSpecs

Point Rates are single insertion pricing; multiple insertions are discounted

(Full Page Interior Cover currently unavailable)

Deadline for Point Journal: April 15

Point Subscription

Subscriptions to the print version of The Point are $20 for four issues.

Download Order Form/Subscription Form

APP Dues