Hello there. I am writing this simply because I think it needs to be said; it needs to be "put out there" so to speak. I am not even sure it will get accepted to BME, but at least I know I tried. First off, let me tell you some things; I am an IAM member, however I am choosing to remain anonymous to avoid hate mail. But if you are friends with me, then you probably know who I am. I am a professional body modification artist, with many years' experience. I am decently well known on BME, and I would like to think that I know what I am doing (at least most of the time.) What follows is mostly just a bitch session, but it serves a purpose. It serves to educate those who may think that they know what they are talking about, but really don't. I don't pretend to know it all, but I would like to think that I know a lot about body modification. With that said, please read the following with a somewhat sense of humor, and please take it all with a grain of salt. Enjoy.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact [email protected] When N/A 1. First of all, we need to discuss "coolness". There is a lot of one upmanship on BME, sort of like the "my dick is bigger" scenario. It doesn't really matter how many mods you have, or what they are. That is not what makes you cool. This goes for real life too. I am tired of people walking through the door of the shop and being like "I have 20 piercings in each ear; aren't I cool!?" No you are not. As a matter of fact, just for saying that you are less cool then when you walked in the door. Also, on the other side of the fence, just because you have lots of piercings, and lots of tattoos, and multiple implants... etc. That does not make you higher than the 16-year-old girl that just walked in with nothing but a navel piercing. Your shit still stinks as bad as everyone else's. I have run into to many body modification artists who thought that they were god's gift to the world of piercing/tattooing/whatever. I personally don't think there is a "best." I just think that eve ryone should put their ego in check, that's all.
2. Secondly, as you all should know, Shannon is a wonderful man. I personally don't know what I would have done with out him. So yeah, say thanks, but people, Shannon is not a god. Praise is one thing; brown nosing is another. I know so many people who just freak out like he is some sort of super mega star or something. He is flesh and blood just like the rest of us.
3. Third, there is no such thing as a "gross" or "wrong" mod. I want to smack people who come into the shop, or post in a forum about how "that is gross. I would never do that." Cool and good for you, but it is not a far step from that tongue piercing you have to testicle removal. It is all modifying the body, no matter how you look at it.
4. Fourth, and this goes mostly for people who don't have many mods or plan on getting more done, it hurts. I don't care what it is you're getting done. Do you know how many experiences I see where the person is like "I didn't even feel the piercing!" A lot. Well, my friend, that is a crock. Anyone who told you it didn't hurt is lying to you. I don't care if it's a tongue piercing, a tattoo, a suspension, or a meateotomy. It all hurts. So don't go into a shop and say "is this gonna hurt? My friend got it done and said it didn't hurt." Because it all hurts. Most of it doesn't hurt that badly, but unless there is something like Xylocaine involved, there is pain. Period.
5. Sterility. This should be so important to you it is pathetic. A piercing/tattoo shop should be cleaner than a doctor's office. And I am not kidding here. I personally don't think I have EVER seen a doctor's office that was cleaner than my shop. If your piercer (or tattooist, or whatever) touches anything that isn't sterile, then they need to change gloves. This includes counters, drawers, you, anything. Think about it this way: piercers assume their clients have everything in the book. AIDS, hepatitis, everything. Well, you should assume the same. They could have hepatitis X for all you know. Treat it the same way.
6. Experience. Ask to see a portfolio. Always. Just because someone works in a shop, doesn't mean they know diddily about body mods. Think about it this way: Bill Gates could open up the worlds largest piercing and tattoo shop tomorrow, and it could look awesome; but that doesn't mean he has ever touched a pair of clamps or a tattoo gun in his whole life.
7. Have trust, but not too much. Trust what your piercer says, but never hesitate to get a second opinion if you think it would be a good idea to do so. Any good piercer will not hesitate if you say you want a second opinion about something. But you should usually go with their advice. And forget doctors. 99.9% of doctor's don't know squat about piercings. You might as well ask a lawyer or a cop about it, because they probably know about the same thing.
8. And lastly; it is not "cool" to be a piercer or tattooist or whatever. They're way too many people trying to become tomorrow's world-renowned tattooist or piercer. Honestly, nowadays bod mod artists come a dime a dozen, and a lot get into it thinking they can hit the jackpot. Well, some of us don't make crap, and some of us make a lot, but most of us make just barely enough to live on and buy the occasional unnecessary thing. The point is, if you are ok with not making anything, and you still want to do this as a career, then it might work out for you. Otherwise, you could probably make more money flipping burgers somewhere.
OK well thank you for your time. Hopefully I have not outraged too many people on this, and I would like to say that I have love for every modded person out there. Thank you.