APP for Nonconformists

Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world.
Self Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson

You may find this conversation interesting or useful as a colleague if you are on the fence about joining the Association of Professional Piercers. From facebook [permalink] in regards to Reputable Body Piercers In This Forum

  • Logan Myles Edwards
    We are not an APP studio yet, but are working on it and should be soon :)

    January 24 at 4:59pm ·  · 1
  • Stephie Von Hütter Thomas
    neither are we…I was just going to say…as helpful as the APP list is…it is not an all inclusive list of reputable shops…only shops that have managed to meet their very strict requirements…many of us have been striving for this for years…many simply don’t want to join…and many have just recently joined or are in the middle of the process

    January 24 at 5:28pm ·  · 6
  • Brian Skellie?
    Stephie Von Hütter Thomas makes a valid point, that the APP membership list is not all inclusive. She also made it clear that the organization has established rational minimum health and safety standards, which may seem strict to some piercers.
  • We are, after all, a profession full of nonconformists ;)

    Standards for members are here if you are curious: https://www.safepiercing.org/join-the-app/

    Nonetheless, the APP list has many qualified piercers and is well maintained and updated.

    I notice that people often exaggerate about the APP in a variety of ways. and misinformation about the APP seems to keep a few people who could otherwise be members from joining.

    APP is an information resource. It doesn’t tell anyone what to do, just provides a point of reference and lots of suggestions.

    https://www.safepiercing.org/home/what-is-the-app/

    APP offers a minimum set of safety standards for the facility, jewelry and operator to agree to live up to if they choose to join. Becoming a member means lots of referrals from other members (over 1500 last week through the website alone), because they are assured that you and your shop and jewelry measure up to the minimums that they have also agreed to, and can feel comfortable with.

    Most members aim to exceed those standards, and to know more about fellow members to be able to make personal referrals and arrange guest piercer exchanges. Members are not accepted based on their skill, but business members (piercers) are expected to know what they are doing enough to prove that they have been piercing in a studio for at least a year. This means that they have already gone through a sink or swim phase, and should have some skill. The organization exists for everyone to improve their practice, their facility and their jewelry, and to better inform their clients. Basically, to help you improve your business as a piercer.

    There is no mystery involved, and the organization wants to be inclusive, not exclusive.

    January 25 at 8:14am ·  · 8 · 
  • Stephie Von Hütter Thomas
    thanks for backing me on that statement Brian Skellie …I just wanted to clarify that while the majority of us strive to uphold APP standards as much as possible…many of us have not yet become members due to setbacks regarding our physical locations etc….and then of course as you mentioned there are those who simply wont join because it is their perception of conforming…either way…the APP list is certainly a good starting point:)

Share what you think

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.