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Tattooing and Piercing have ancient roots and a growing number of devotees across the world, as the 8000 people who come to Derby's Assembly Rooms for the annual tattoo and body art convention prove. The two-day event welcomes hundreds of artists. There are live bands, tattoo competitions and plenty of show-offs proudly exhibiting their tattoos and piercings for admiring (and envious) fans. With over 200 exhibitors, artists and trades stands.The State of The Art International Tattoo Convention is held annually at the Assembly Rooms in Derby
For the the 5th year the Pierce Artist team consisting of Senior Piercer Tracy Perkins, associate piercer Bexi & Junior Piercer Jordan, were in attendance piercing 92 people over the two day event.
Afterwards we spoke to Tracy about the show, Pierce Artist and the industry as a whole. . |
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| Pierced at State of the Art Derby.. |
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Q. Firstly how do feel after that marathon session
A. Well fortunately i didn't have to do all the 92 piercings myself. Luckily I have got a great young lady call Bex, who I trained 6 years ago when I had a shop down in the south west of England. She worked for me for four years, we stay in touch as much as possible and try to get together for the Tattoo and Piercing convention circuit.
Q.What was the best thing about the show this year
A. Well it's been our 5th year at the show and the organisers always do a fanatic job getting people turning up to the show . It was great to see old customers coming back from last year. I met a lady that I had pierced 3 years ago and she was back for some more work.
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I also met a few people that I had trained over the years, most of them had now opened shops or were at least piercing on regular basis. It's also good to see people from the tattoo convention circuit. I have a mad friend from Perth in Scotland call Piper Jim that I only ever see at the shows. He's a complete nutcase, but it's great to see him. Over the years, Derby has become a social event as well as business and the people that we meet regularly have become friends.
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Q.What was the worst
A. The show it self was fantastic and I really don't complaints, but our banners for the show stand didn't turn up until two days after the show finished. Which was a bit of a downer, but we stuck up a load of our giant street posters, which I think ended up more effective than the banners.
Q.What was the most popular piercing at the show
A. We did a lot septums, which I found quite strange, as they are not requested as much as they used to be. It was great because I did about 15 and blew away a few cobwebs at the same time. We did a lot of surface work and loads of male genital work. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that staff were showing the Prince Albert Tool video at the stand. The funny thing was, that women were watching it more than men. And generally five minutes later they would turn up again with their boyfriends or husbands and begin the process of trying to convince them to have it done.
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Q.What are your thought on body piercing tools
A. Firstly tools do not make people a good or bad body piercer. I have colleagues that pierce freehand and I have colleagues that use tools and I also have colleagues that use a mixture of both methods. We find that the use of quality tools can increase accuracy in many piercings and provide a safer and less stressful experience for the customer. We have had a lot of stick over the years from many of the British piercering establishment, who had never seen our tools actually work.. Giving people the opportunity to see the tools being used, usually goes a long way to convincing people of their benefits.
As piercers begin to use the tools they quickly begin to notice the ease and safety the tools and accessories range, bring to the table. The Prince Albert tool especially is a clear example of this. This is a a particular tool that we are now seeing a distinct increase in usership throughout the country. The tools have always sold well in America, as blade piercing is more prominent there and it's always fun to show the tools there. We recently went over to New York and spent a complete day going round Grenwich Village showing the tools and meeting some old clients. It was absolutely amazing. This Christmas Tim and I are going to Africa, for some research and a well earned break.
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Q.What do you enjoy most about body piercing
A. It's really about what body piercing enables me to do. I get to meet different people every day. I am able to express my artist nature on human canvas. I get to travel all over, we go to America three times year to see clients. I travel all over the country providing training services and this christmas I am in Africa for 5 weeks. Travel is probably my favourite aspect of the job.
Q.Youv'e been in the industry for 11 years what are the biggest changes that you have seen.
A.When I opened my first shop, most town did not have a place you could get pierced. Now there are piercing services everywhere. Another thing I have noticed is that the age range of people being pierced has got very much wider. |
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Q.What advice would you give to someone considering getting into the piercing industry
A. Get well trained. Find a good course to at least get some fundamentals and then get an apprenticeship of some kind with a senior body piercer, with a good reputation. Be open to new techniques tools and piercings. Be aware of and adhere to the health and safety aspects of piercings and Pierce as much as possible.
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