Piercing Wizard Podcast

Well, most of us expected this announcement. The Association of Professional Piercers' annual conference in Las Vegas has been cancelled for this year. Its a bummer, but it was necessary. I have APP secretary Aaron Pollack on the show this week to give context to the difficult decision and more difficult process to cancel the world's largest event for professional body piercers. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and: https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for access to piercing webinar videos.

Jef Saunders comes on the show this week to discuss the Association of Professional Piercers' suggested protocols for COVID-19. We discuss reopening issues, and the constantly evolving nature of our decisions and the information we rely on to make them. You can read the APP's suggested protocols for free at: https://www.safepiercing.org/psa_covid-19.php.Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba for exclusive access to webinars and other content.

Current UKAPP President, APP member, studio owner, and professional piercer Lola Slider comes on the show this week to talk about how much the closure sucks. We discuss how shops shouldn't rush to get back to work. The world and businesses we had are forever changed. We need to carefully craft our reopening strategies and adapt to the new normal. We also talk about the classes we have been focusing on to stay productive, Lola is writing a new class that she details during our talk. Like and follow the show on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for access to my previous webinars and other exclusive content.

This week I check in with Leo Ziebol, owner of Mint Piercing in Iowa. We talk about what we're doing to support our staff during the closure, how we're settling in to home life, and the financial programs we are focusing on to support our studios. I've put some of my webinars online at www.patreon.com/ryanpba for anyone interested. Like and follow the how on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/.

No guest this week. I'm just giving some updates on COVID issues and talking about the classes I'm working on. I share some news on benefits for people out of work in the US, and I talk about what I'm doing to keep you and I busy. I'll outline my webinar plans, both free and paid options. I also talk about my Patreon page. You can access my previous webinar sessions on Anatomy for the Piercer and Studio Growth Strategies right now at www.patreon.com/ryanpba. I take a few minutes to thank all of the sweethearts who are supporting me, and give you all a nice musical number to cap it off. Stay home, stay safe, stay sharp. Follow: https://www.facebook.com/staysharpryanpba/ for all the info on my free and paid webinar sessions.

This week I talk with Kelsi Siefert about mental health focused on the career piercer and their clientele. Kelsi shares her tips and experience on how to maintain self care and switch off from a busy piercing career at the end of the day. We discuss customer care and bedside manner, and taking care of our mental and physical health in a sometimes hectic work environment. I also detail some of the free and paid educational content I will be putting out over the next few weeks. For more on the show like and follow: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. For more on my webinars like and follow: https://www.facebook.com/staysharpryanpba/. To support the show visit: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for bonus content including webinar videos for the top tier.

I know things are rough for a lot of you right now, so lets just pop back a few weeks and sit in on breakfast with two California piercers named Ciera Baker & Desi Arellano. We met up the morning after one of my seminars and talked about the California piercer community, jewelry selection (and lots of other jewelry stuff), statim maintenance, cold brew coffee, and more. At the end I discuss my plans to offer some free online piercer education over the next few weeks. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Like and follow my education page at: https://www.facebook.com/staysharpryanpba/ for updates on future online classes. Follow industry related COVID-19 news at: https://www.safepiercing.org/psa_covid-19.php.

Welp, I just can't see any argument against it anymore. Its time for us to voluntarily close our shops for the time being. The decision will be taken away from you within days. The best thing you can do is take this as an opportunity to publish a thoughtful statement to your customers. It is in your best interest to be the shop who "closed too early" rather than be the one who stayed open too long. I share some more thoughts in this supplemental episode as well, so please give it a listen. I will be offering some free online piercer education in the days and weeks to come. Follow: https://www.facebook.com/staysharpryanpba/ for updates.

I'm going to post some supplemental episodes to discuss COVID-19 information and tips to stay productive and healthy during this crisis. First is an episode discussing the difficult decisions that lead me to temporarily closing my shop. For studios remaining open I think it is also important to talk about rapidly evolving information and what steps can be made to lower risk to the health of your staff and the public. This is a difficult moment full of difficult decisions. Listen and speak with compassion. Regular episodes of the Piercing Wizard Podcast will still post weekly, but I will add in these supplementals from time to time. I also plan to do some live streams of educational content for free in the coming days and weeks. Follow: https://www.facebook.com/staysharpryanpba/ for those.

The COVID-19 Caronavirus has caught many of us off guard. I talk with Cale DiFrancesco of the Association of Professional Piercers Board of Directors about what we can do to keep our clients and coworkers healthy. We discuss proper disinfection practices, maintaining supply levels, and planning for the APP's conference this summer. You can read updates from the APP on COVID-19 and their annual conference online at: https://www.safepiercing.org/covid-19.php. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO COVID-19 UPDATES WEEKLY ON THE SHOW UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, THIS SITUATION IS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING. I know many of you are dealing with difficult decisions related to closures and financial pressure, we'll get through this together. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

On a recent trip to California I got to spend a day at the Anatometal facilities in Santa Cruz. Founder and CEO Barry Blanchard gave me an extensive tour then sat down to record this interview. We talked about the origin's of not only his company but of the body jewelry designs, materials, and threading our industry uses today. It was an in-depth discussion on their green manufacturing process, the expansion that helped reduce their wait time from months to weeks, and their future plans. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on itunes. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

APP member-at-large Brooke Bittens comes on the show to talk about travelling guest piercer life. Brooke got her start piercing in Connecticut, but now she has taken her show on the road working in top shops across the US. We talk about that enriching experience for career and soul. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on apple podcasts. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

Get your fix of morning drive time banter with your hosts TJ & The Bear. TJ Kruger & William Barron come on the show to discuss a day of classes we'll be holding in Chicago. We also get talking about surface piercing and our experiences with body piercing at tattoo conventions. For more info on the Sunday March 22 2020 seminar email: piercingbykruger@gmail.com. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on apple podcasts. Like and follow the show at: www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

Check out this jawn. James Weber comes on the show to discuss the 25 year history of Infinite Body Piercing in Philadelphia. Many of the industry's top piercers have worked at Infinite over the years. We discuss the early days of Infinite and what piercing was like in the 90's, how to scout talent and staff, and plans for Infinite 2 in Baltimore. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on itunes. Like and follow the show on facebook and instagram. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for exclusive content.

I went to Atlanta for some National Wrestling Alliance shows and while I was there I sat down with a piercer named Cozmo to chat. We talked about working in a super busy studio and how to manage the flow with minimal staff and fuss. We also talk about APP volunteering, jewelry selection, and lots of other bits of piercer nerd info. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on itunes. Like and follow the show on facebook and instagram. Support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba for exclusive content and early access to episodes.

I recently held a seminar in Phoenix, Arizona. While I was there I sat down to talk with my host, Kevin Jump. Kevin is one of the people keeping ritual alive in body piercing. Finding a connection to the spirit in today's industry can be a rarity, but his newly opened Wholehearted Piercing is a space created with that magic in mind. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on apple podcasts. Follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ and https://www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for exclusive content.

NeoMetal body jewelry recently made waves by announcing a new corporate partnership, and the piercing community imploded. I asked NeoMetal's John Kittell to come on the show and tell us about their new business plans and if we should expect any changes in their jewelry going forward. We also discuss their company history and the origin of the threadless jewelry we use today. For more information on the show visit: www.piercingwizardpodcast.com or follow at: www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/ or www.instagram.com/piercingwizardpodcast/.

2019 Association of Professional Piercers conference scholar Ryan Caruana comes on the show this week. He gives insight to the application process, what it was like arriving in Las Vegas and meeting so many other piercers, and what it was like taking all that information home and unpacking it. Reminder the APP's scholarship applications are open until February 6th 2020, so don't delay if you want to apply. Visit: https://www.safepiercing.org for more info. Give the show a 5 star rating and review on apple podcasts, like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/, support the show at www.patreon.com/ryanpba for exclusive content.

John Balk is a busy guy. In between videography projects he sat down to talk about something most of us deal with annually, the slow season. We talk about how to manage a limited income by carefully planning orders, utilizing technology, and paying attention to your customers. We also talk about running specials, is it a benefit or a risk to discount your products and services? We also chat about the boom of earlobe piercings, especially for kids. If you like the show give it a 5 star rating and review on itunes. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba.

Welcome to 2020! My first guest of the year is Canadian piercer Alicia Lowe. On New Year's day we happened to both be in the same city so we sat down at a cafe and recorded a chat about shadowing. We talked about how to take that first step in asking a respected colleague if you can come observe and ask questions, if you plan your day on a structure or if you go with the flow. We also talk about the sticky concept of potentially "training your competition". A nice chat with a nice piercer, enjoy. Give the show a 5 star rating and review. Like and follow the show at: https://www.facebook.com/piercingwizardpodcast/. Support the show at: www.patreon.com/ryanpba for access to bonus content.