Interview Dana karanelan

Interview

Dana Karanelan

Name: Dana Karanelan (Dana Dead Girl)
Bodycult, Amsterdam

Can you discribe yourself in one sentence?
Helpfull and friendly

How long have you been a piercer?
I pierce since 2010







Why this profession?

Six years ago a piercer from Bodycult asked me  if I wanted to do an apprenticeship, they needed new piercers, I just lost my job at a online webshop as designer, marketing. This was a great opportunity for me.

How or from who did you learn the skills?
By following the apprenticeship at Bodycult, first shadowing and learning the regulations, set ups and later on slowly started to pierce. I had 3 months of training 4/5 days a week 10 hours a day.

The first piercing you did was a?
I honestly don't know, at my training I did 15-20 piercings a day

Who or what inspires you?
The people around me

Can you tell me something about your workplace?
At the moment I work in Amsterdam, Reguliersbreestraat, one day a week as piercer, the smallest studio of Bodycult, but the busiest with piercings. rest of the week Iam the floormanager. Been working for the last 5 years at the Bodycult studio Warmoestraat as fulltime piercer. and often worked at our other locations in Utrecht and Den Haag.

Which piercing do you prefer to do?
I like to do almost every piercing

What's the best piece of advice you ever got when you started out and think it would help other starters in this industry?
The more relaxed you are as piercer, the faster your customer is also at ease.

A lot of patience because people trust you that it is done well.

Do you have a nice or weird experience as a piercer you want to share with us?
Every day something funny or weird happens. But I do remember, the first customer who fainted in the first week I worked full time alone.
The client wanted a large eyebrow piercing, so I followed all my steps to procede and when I was done with the piercing, he stood up and falls down. I was pretty fast to catch him but didn't realize it was dead weight, so there I laid on the floor with the customer on me, calling out to my colleagues, who rescued me.
Fortunately my customer and I had nothing.

Does your work involve more then just piercing?
Like I said above, I also work a number of days as floor manager, also opening and closing shop. Greet customers, post appointments and all things floor managers do in a tattoo/piercing shop. 

And sometimes I do photoshoots as an alternative model. I used to do it for webshops and stores as a model, and also have been in magazines a number of times. But that's really a hobby.


How do you see yourself in 5 years? I see myself still doing this job. Possibly as a piercer and shop manager. A lot of people always ask whether or not I want to open my own shop because my boyfriend is a tattoo artist. (Joe Sinner operating at Acid Tattoo Alkmaar) But that's not really the plan.
There are enough shops in our frogy country.

Do you have a tip or do you want to add something to this interview?
You can find my work on facebook

www.bodycult.nl

-Answers and photo's: Dana Karanelan
Angie
-Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 110/june2016

Story behind a known piercer/mod artist Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia

Story behind a known piercer/bodymod artist
(interview style)

When started your passion for piercing?

My grandfather had a collection of National Geographic magazines, and I was always in awe of how beautiful the body art and modifications were in the various cultures they showed.  I loved it so much that I began to pierce myself at the age of 10.  

How did you become one? and who was your teacher?

I was initially self taught.  I found a copy of PFIQ (Piercing Fans International Quarterly magazine) in a funky head shop, and it had a "how to" article for a guiche piercing.  I used what they said in the article to pierce anything anyone would let me do. Through trial and error I got somewhat of a handle on things.

Once I moved away to study at university in 1995, I got a job at a shop (Perforations in Washington DC, which has been closed since 1999) as a counter person (they didn't feel that I had enough knowledge yet to pierce, even though I had been piercing several years at that point).  Within 2-3 months they took me on as an apprentice.  My mentors there were Andrew Lewis and Onabe Tashi, both of which have retired from piercing at this point.  After apprenticing for 6 months, I was piercing full time un-observed.  

After you moved to Philly and started working at Infinite body piercing how did you end up as teacher for the APP?

I actually didn't begin teaching for the APP until 2003 or so, after I had moved to NoKaOi Tiki Tattoo and Piercing.  I had loved going to conference and learning.  They were introducing the first surface piercing technique class, and asked me to be part of the teaching panel, along with Phish Goldblatt and Jim Sens.  I enjoyed it so much, and apparently did a good job, so I was kept on as a teacher, and still teach every year.  I have also taught for the APTPI in Italy, BMXnet in Germany, and LBPac in Mexico.

At this point I'm also doing my own educational seminars.  I'll be doing 3-4 seminars this year, and hope to expand to more in 2017.  That will be aside from teaching at BMXnet and for the UKAPP later this year.

Why is your teaching different then others?

I have a relaxed approach.  I make jokes, curse, speak my mind, encourage attendee commentary and questions.  I want people to not just learn, but enjoy my classes, and have fun.  I also speak directly from my mind, not from a pre written speech.  I find it more natural, and less stuffy. 

What are your specialties? why you love it?

Surface piercing is one.  I have always loved surface piercing, and developed an affinity for it.  I still teach it all these years later, because too many piercers still think that surface piercings are not viable, when they totally can be when done properly, with the right jewelry (surface bars).

Ear projects are the other thing I'm known for.  I have always loved intricate ear piercings, and have been doing them for 18 years now.  It's challenging, and very satisfying when you design a one of a kind project for someone that will only work for them, that can't be copied.  

Can you tell something about Earmageddon 2012?

It was interesting, that's for sure.  There was some tough competition, but at the same time, it was eye opening in other ways.  It actually made me develop a class for complex ear piercings, because some of the stuff I saw submitted perplexed me.  

You have amazing entries from piercers like Rob Hill, whose projects always have nice design aspects and jewelry combos.  And entries from Cale Belford, whose projects are highly technical, difficult to execute, yet executed with insane precision. I seriously printed out one of her entries and measured all the distancing.  Everything was perfect, down to the millimeter.  

Then there were other entries with clear irritations on the piercings and obvious execution issues.  There were entries of clearly healing piercings with jewelry that would be very difficult to deal with in the day to day life of the client.  These are all important aspects for ear projects, in my opinion.  Piercers are only human, of course, but with some of those entries, I was mystified that someone not only let a client walk out with such clear mistakes, but looked at it and thought it was competition worthy.  It actually made me kind of sad.  How good can a project or piercing actually be if it looks great for the first month, then becomes a constant problem for the client, or an irritated mess, because the jewelry sticks out in certain ways, or the jewelry digs into another part of the ear?  This is an issue I see with the industry in general, not just competitions.  

Some will for sure take issue what I've just said, but I've always been blunt and spoken my mind.  I don't walk on eggshells.  

What is your goal?

My goal is to keep piercing for as long as I can, and continue to teach.  Eventually as I age, I know I won't be able to keep piercing, so then I'll transfer over to piercing education.  I for sure have a plan, but let's just say I'm not ready to go into detail just yet on it fully.  

Is there something you are proud of in what you’ve been doing?

I'm proud that I'm still piercing, and that I still enjoy piercing itself.  Many of my peers have quit, retired, or become burnt out.  I feel lucky that I'm still passionate about it.  

Do you have any advice for our readers? 

If you are a client, research your piercers, make sure you go to a reputable piercer that uses high quality jewelry.  Appreciate your piercer.  A good piercer has worked hard to evolve and learn to provide the latest techniques and quality jewelry. Do some research on what you want pierced, educate yourself a little so you know what to expect.  And lastly, treat yourself right.  Don't go for the cheapest, go for the best.  Don't lower your self worth.  If you need to save, save up and get yourself something good.  You're worth it. 

 
If you are a piercer, educate yourself, and keep doing so.  I've been piercing for more than decades and still take classes and learn new things all the time.  Also, know your boundaries and limits and work within them.  Ask for advice from more experienced peers.  Take a day to shadow another piercer and see how they work. 

photo credit to Autumn Swisher

www.bodmod.net

www.nokaoitikitattoo.com

facebook Luis Garcia 

-Text and photos: Luis Garcia
Angie
-Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 110/June 2016

Luis & me APP2016 Las Vegas

Interview Sharon looy

Sharon Looy

Interview

Name: Sharon Looy (Stainless Sharon)
Dare 2 Wear, Amsterdam, Jordaan
CLASSIC Ink & Mods, Amsterdam, bij de Dam

Can you describe yourself in one sentence?
I live for arts and beauty, I'm a perfectionist, serious, creative and free minded.

How long have you been a piercer?
Since 1996, so 20 years!



Why this profession?
I'm made for this profession; pierced holes in my ears and nose when I was a child and already had 7 piercings at the age of 7! And I grew up in a jewelry shop; called Sharon Bijoutiek haha.

How or from who did you learned the skills? An American piercer at Body Manipulations (the first professional piercing shop in the Netherlands) thought me piercing and later learned a great deal by various guest spots in America and Japan. 
And of course through the all seminars off the APP in Las Vegas and BMX in Germany.

The first piercing you did was a?
Bellybutton or tong piercing.. It was long time ago, but both placed on my brother.

Who or what inspires you?
All forms of beauty; art, jewelry, piercings, tattoos, all cultures, clothing, travel, my family. And of course my stores and the people who work there!

Can you tell me something about your workplace?
Dare 2 Wear, I own it since 2003 and will always be my 1st child. Easily accessible and just beautiful quality jewelry. Only here pierced by a professional piercer really comes into its own. CLASSIC Ink & Mods is my 2nd shop (the big brother), here we also provide tattoos and do body modifications. This shop is very inspiring with creative and nice people and there's always a good vibe.

Which piercing do you prefer to do? 
A lip frenum/smiley is my favourite piercing to do. Because it's very nice and it's a virtually painless and easy piercing, both to convert as to heal.

What's the best piece of advice you ever got when you started out and think it would help other starters in this industry? Always be open to other/new techniques, materials, jewelry knowledge etc. There is always room for improvement and the customer is King.

Do you have a nice or weird experience as a piercer you want to share with us?
I've been in San Francisco, pierced a man around the age of 70, so after healing, he could wear an ornament he got of his secret lover.

Does your work involve more then just piercing?
Yes, I also do earlobe cutting, scarification, beading, tongue splitting and piercing training when we need a new piercer. I'm also manager of my 2 shops.

How do you see yourself in 5 years? 
Hope to have more time for myself, haha! And I would like to have my own jewelry company, where I make my dream piercing jewelry for my stores and also for other professional shops

Do you have a tip or want to add something to this interview? I'm thankful to my team, for their effort and positivity and enthusiasm!


www.dare2wear.nl
www.classicinkandmods.com


















-answers and photos:Sharon Looy
Angie
-Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 109/may 2016

Material

Material
piercing jewelry material

You can easily buy or order piercing jewelry, in all kinds of material, shapes and sizes. But what exactly do you know about it? What do you put in your ear, and why does your ear itch from one jewelry and not from the other one?


Buying a new ornament for your piercing can sometimes be more difficult than picking out a ring or bracelet. Because a piercing jewelry goes into your skin, it's best to hold off switching before your new piercing is completely healed. Size, material and thickness plays a huge role. Provide the right width and right material. A piercing should not be too tight, not too long and the material must also be of quality. Most well-known materials are: surgical steel, acrylic, titanium, glass and niobium. But what's the difference? Piercing jewelry with hypo-allergenic material means you do not, or hardly get an allergic reaction to it. It's safe for sensitive skin and for not completely healed piercings.



Surgical steel: The most well-known piercing material is 316L / 316 LVM. It's of high-quality stainless steel and contains 13% nickel. This is necessary to make it stainless. The new legislation however, requires a lower nickel content, so this material can no longer be used for new fresh piercings.

However, the alloy is such, that the issue of nickel is within the standards and can be used for healed piercings.


Titanium: The best material for new piercings! Titanium (G23) is high polished, twice as strong as steel and 47% lighter in weight. For most jewellery it's an alloy used for purposes (Ti 6Al 4V Eli) implantation. That's because it's nickel-free and excellent for new piercings. Titanium is as strong as steel and can be colored (anodizing) via electrolysis. It is the perfect material for fresh piercings or piercings that continue to irritate. It is slightly more expensive than other materials.

Acrylic: Is in relation to other materials relatively inexpensive. This plastic is also fairly light and is available in all colors. A disadvantage of acrylic is, it can be porous and can't be sterilized. Acrylic is not that easy to clean and can't be cleaned with alcohol for example. Clean your acrylic piercing therefore with a mild antibacterial soap. It also damages quickly, leaving cracks and crannies bacteria can accumulate and give you more chance of infection. Only fun if you often switch colored balls, or wear it for a short period. But it's mostly not recommended and especially not suitable for a new healing piercing.

Niobium: looks a lot like titanium, is pure and some what heavier and can also be colored through electrolysis (anodise), even black. Is flexible, but also more expensive. Perfect material for piercings.



Glass: Is a popular material for piercings and rightly so! It's available in beautiful colors and feels smooth to the touch. Pyrex glass, or borosilicate glass, contains no lead. Another huge advantage of glass is that it is easy to clean. This can be done with a clean dry or damp cloth. Since glass can be sterilized, contains no nickel and is hypo allergenic, it's recommended as the perfect material for stretching.


There are of course much more materials used for piercings, such as gold, silver, wood and organic products. But not all of these materials can be sterilized. Therefore it's important to explore more about the material you want to use. The most important thing is that you know what it does, and how you should take care of it. Silver oxidizes (tarnishes) when it comes in contact with air and body fluids. Wood must, for example, breathe and absorbs moisture and dirt. Know when you want to use other materials, to wear them only after your piercing is fully healed. If you get a response after switching jewelry, then the material is bad and switch back. It is worth to invest in quality jewelry, to ensure proper healing of your body piercing and enjoy it a lifetime.


How can I recognize an allergy: a nickel allergy is characterised by red itchy skin disorders. After the skin has been in contact for a long time with nickel, the metal salts on blood-protein ingredients. The formed connections are recognized by the immune system as foreign and there is a counter-reaction, which can lead to sensitivity in the form of skin discoloration, itching, blisters or inflammation..




-Angie
Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 109/mei 2016

Update

Update

I've received BIG news!!!
So big, that makes me wanna stand on a roof top and shout (as we say in Dutch!)

This little Dutch girl is going to Vegas!!!!

I am one of the (Lucky) chosen ones who received a scholarship for attending the 21st APP conference in Vegas!

After a nerve-wracking month, going through several rounds, I got the call from Caitlin yesterday with the question: "Do you want to go to Vegas?" Didn't even say goodbye at the end of the conversation, I was just stunned!

I can't express my happiness right now in writing, but I'm jumping up and down, dancing and can't get rid of my big smile.

Being able to meet you guys in person now, shake your hand and say thank you in person to the ones who shared there stories with me. Getting the opportunity to learn more, hear more and to speak with more!!!

Can't wait to  get my hands on some fine jewelry and I promise you a big report with a lot of photos!

Thank you so much APP, for giving out the scholarships! It's such a blessing, especially for the ones overseas.

Overwhelmed by joy, I leave you for now
Thank you

Story behind a known piercer/mod artist Ron Garza

Ron Garza

Story behind a known piercer/bodymod artist
(interview style)

When started your passion for piercing ?

I like so many others was moved deeply the first time I ever saw the modern primitives book.  That book changed my life and put me on this path. I read and re read  the book backwards and forwards where I could actually quote  parts of it. It really was quite a wealth of information at a time before the internet. Back  then you couldn’t just find books  or information like this. It was an excellent learning  guide to cutting your teeth on  many body art subjects and it also had ads in the back where you could contact people. I ended up getting in contact with Allen Falkner and eventually Fakir  because o this book. The Modern Primitives book not only sparked my interest in body piercing, branding and tattooing, which I have dedicated a huge  part of my life to,  but  the interviews with Genesis P' Orridge  and Reallyn Galena  who were both doing scars back then really got me extremely interested in learning more on the scarification subject. Up to that point I had been cutting myself and it was primarily flames, skulls, names until then. With the book  I saw Raellyn doing actual designs as well and Genisis was using scarification as jewelry. He had multiple cuts on each arms  going around  them  as the scars were bracelets.  Subconsciously I think read this and it reinforced  my thoughts on whats scars  and scarification could be, which was not just lines and scratches which is where the scarification movement  of  the 80- early 90’s  was at.

How did you become one? and who was your teacher

As a piercer I would say I am self taught, even though I have taken numerous classes and shadowed some of the best piercers in the world over the last 20 + years.  Some of the people I have had the honor to work along side and learn with/from are Bear, Allen Falkner, Pat Tidwell, Chris Glunt, Ruben Lew, Kevin Jump amongst others. I have also taken classes with Fakir back in the mid 90’s. It is from him I learned to do tradition strike branding.  I also was able to sit in Bear Belmares quite a bit for scarification and advanced body mods.  Working with Delaney Ramsey doing scarification is really where I learned the most early on.  

So much has  changed in this time. The entire piercing industry has formed changed and changed again,  Internationally even!  Plus other forms of body modification are incredibly mainstream these days. Plus we have done  so much  with scarification  that I didn't think was possible  in 2000. It all has happened rather fast  if you think about it. I am honored to be part of it in any way I can.

 Your love for suspension?  is still there ? did you find your break trough to the other side?

Yes I still have a place for suspension deep in my heart. Its just crazy what suspension has become now. When I did my first suspension in 1996,  there was less than a dozen people in the entire USA  that I could speak with about suspension. Now  you can see it on TV all the time or watch it on stage  at rock shows or art performances. It has become incredibly mainstream, to the point where there is an international suspension alliance setting standards worldwide. Quite amazing the extent it is getting to. 

As for my breaking through to the other side,.. you must be referring to the "white light" fakir spoke about  in the modern primitives book. I personally never did  'break through to the other side' with suspensions… But I did come  really close  with tibetan incense branding. In that ‘ritual/act’ a pure incense is applied to the skin and allowed to burn out into the skin. That is quite an incredible sensation, one that has had put me out there into that astral plane  for sure! This was the closest I have come to 'breaking through’. 

Even though suspension can be used a self growth tool and a spiritual outlet, it was not the direction I  chose to pursue after my first few suspensions.  Although  trying to  'break through' was one of the original reasons why I wanted to do a suspension.  They were always just  fun and artistic to me,  so I always presented them in this light and strayed away  from the spiritual aspect of it.

What was your reason to learn and try more out with other mods

When I was cutting my teeth growing up in the 90’s in Texas, there were quite a few people doing mods in the immediate area, but maybe two people that were good. For those that remember, the 90’s were much more intense in terms of body art expression and extreme modifications being done. It was almost if people had just  found out they could take control of their bodies and do what they wanted to them. It was a complete rebirth  in the body art realm. People were getting really intense mods all the time and there were only a hand full of practioners. I worked with Bear Belmares and he was my main mentor. This definitely  was a good time to be in.  I had also been involved with/obssessed with suspensions since the modern primitive book which got me in touch with Allen Falkner.  Before my first suspension, he suggested I watched my first suspension  in 1994 and  from there we stayed in close contact. We became a close group of friends with whom I grew with.  Not only the suspension field, but body art realm altogether as well as shared many life experiences with.  Even if I don’t see Allen  that often, I still consider him a brother. 

What are your specialities? why you love it

In the last 23 years I have been working in this profession, there isn’t too much I haven’t done.  I have tried it all and will say these days I do not do many extreme mods as I used to in the 90’s and 00’s. These days I feel as if I am more of specialist in freehand piercing, scarification and strike branding with a good 15 years spent in the suspension community. There was definitely a lot that I love and hate about every single one of those subjects, but over all  they have all changed me and made me who I am, as well as my outlook and word view.  The body art industry has given me a life I would have never dreamed possible as a punk rock kid growing up in Texas. I also have been traveling quite a bit last couple of decades and began writing and pursuing my photography in earnest. I am extremely fortunate to have been published numerous times and had my work in gallery shows internationally. These, along with teaching and giving seminars on body art are  just some of my passions these days.

Tell me about your dvd’s and teaching/ new techniques

 With  the constant evolution and changes life  and  the piercing industry bring, the DVDs started more as labor of love to give back some of the things that I have learned the hard way at the expense of myself and my clients over the last 20 + years.  Ten years ago I knew my  passions were leading somewhat away from actually being in a piercing shop/room but I felt I had learned so much  that I wanted to give back, but … couldn’t.  There was a strange movement in the APP at the time when I started  the dvds in 2005.  The ruling board  believed that freehand piercing was an ego driven form of piercing and it was not respected by them. There is  so much bullshit piercing politics that I will not get into, but suffice to say I wasn’t allowed to show any techniques or explain much in  the first freehand piercing class ever at APP.  Due to this,  I made the DVDs  and wrote the classes to show it is an actual accredited piercing technique and  to try and explain how and why  we are doing what we are doing to others who know nothing about this method. 

It was quite a daunting task to try to articulate why you are doing things that became second nature after so many years, but it made me think and rethink everything in order to explain it to others. I often questioned myself  and asked if what I was  doing was worth it many times during the process of making the classes and dvds.  Ten years later, seeing Brian Skellie as the President of the APP and seeing the entire piercing industry move towards a more freehand approach to body piercing, I am so incredibly happy I was able to contribute the small part I did  to helping bring freehand piercing to  its  fruition and dominance that we see today.  

I am fortunate enough to have Industrial strength Body jewelry distributing the dvds for me in the USA as well as a couple of other companies  in Europe do European distribution. Of course they can still be ordered through my website at www.RonGarza.com

What is your goal

 All I have ever wanted, even growing up is to be happy  and to be me. After all this time I am blessed to have been able to live my life  on my terms and follow my dreams.  I found an amazing woman with whom to share this glorious life with and every day above ground is a blessing. This is all I want out of life. what everyone wants - to be happy and love and be loved. The rest  is just icing on the cake. 

 Is there something you proud of in what you’ve been doing

While I have done so many things in this industry,  one of the high lights of my career was piercing at the Phuket Vegetarian festival in Thailand. For those that do not know, it is a worship though the body ritual done by  Chinese This Buddhists a few cities in SE Asia where  the possessed spirit mediums pierce their faces and tongues and many other parts of the body  to show their transcendence above this mortal world.  In this possessed state they are said to be able to read the future and answer questions and provide blessing to others as they are possessed by one of 5 spirit gods  and are regards as god in  a mans body when possessed.   With my suspension history and not being able to break through  to the white light,  I was attending the festival initially to look into the eyes of the spirit mediums and see if they were truly possessed or not, and to see if they were breaking through  to the other side with  such intense body alterations. Maybe they could tell I was there searching and had my own special bond with body altering rituals, because I ended up  being adopted into the most hard core, orthodox Chinese-Thia Buddhist temple on the Island of Phuket, and for three years I participated as a priest’s assistant  and pierced the spirit mediums and walked in processions with them, walked on fire and so much more for the entire two week ritual.  It was quite an experience to see it  and learn why from  the inside of the festival and not just as an outsider. That was just something I will never forget. I have been working on a book on the experience. 

How do you see the future? are there plans

Currently  my wife and I have been living in Berlin for the last year and a half and touring around, but  we will be moving back to Los Angeles, California  in September.  We still plan to return for work in Europe as we have been doing for the last decade, but will be making California home base again.  Other than that , just to be happy and follow my passions around the world. 

Do you have any advice for our readers

 Life is too short. Get out there and live!  Don’t live life  behind a computer screen! There is not a better time to do something  than the present. You create your own reality.. and the future is up to you!  It happens whether you want it to or not,  so make it worth  something! :)

www.rongarza.com
http://facebook.com/garzabodyart

-Text and photo's: Ron Garza
Angie
Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 108/ april 2016

Interview Lotje Verherbrugge

Lotje Verherbrugge

interview

Name: Lotje Verherbrugge.Piercer at Gekko Tattoos Terneuzen (NL)

Can you describe yourself in one sentence?Always ready to help others.

How long have you been a piercer?Been a piercer since September 2014, so one and a half year now.

Why this profession?When I was 14, my Dad started tattooing and after a while he opened his own shop together with his brother. I found it to be super cool and wanted the learn piercing so I could work together with my Dad. But since I lived on the other side of Holland, I had to put the idea on the back-burner. 
I moved to the same city after a while and when the piercer by dad hired left, the idea came back to me and started learning to become a piercer.
How or from who did you learn your skills?I started a piercing course, did a lot of piercings, learned about the different materials and the piercing spots. But most of all I learned it myself, and I'm still learning. When in need, I ask colleagues who have more years of experience.

The first piercing you did was a?While learning the Helix was my first, my first one at the studio was a nose piercing.

Who or what inspires you?The human body inspires me, the diversity and the possibility to adorn them.People also inspire me, I love the people who are nerveus and excited to get a piercing and after a little talk, how at ease they are in my chair. It gives me a great feeling!

Can you tell me something about your workplace?I work at my Dad's studio as floormanager/desk and piercer. It's a cosy, friendly and warm studio, a lot of purple and good music, candles and incense. The separate piercing room is all white and steriele with a door for privacy.
Which piercing do you prefer to do?
I like to do ear piercings, but not the common ones, the less chosen ones. I have a poster in the room with different ear piercing spots, so people can see beyond the traditional Tragus and Helix. It does help sometimes. I also like to work with the punch.

What's the best piece of advice you ever got when you started out and think it would help other starters in this industry?I still see myself as a starter, but my advice would be: Be patient and take your time for the placement.

Do you have a nice or weird experience as a piercer you want to share with us?Not that I know off or pops in to my head. It's all been reasonable normal.

Does your work involve more then just piercing?Like I said earlier, desk and floormanager and everything what comes along with helping clients.
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
More developed, but I'm also busy with another project besides piercing and hopefully within 5 years I'll be doing both.
Do you have a tip or do you want to add something to this interview?
I still see enough people with misplaced piercings. If you are not sure about the placement, then just don't do it!

www.gekkotattoos.nl

-Answers and photo's: Lotje Verherbrugge
Angie
-Published Tattoo Planet eMagazine 108/April 2016