The British School of Body Piercing
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How to get into the Body Piercing Industry
We receive considerable numbers of emails and phone calls because there are so many conflicting views on how to become a Body Piercer. The Body Piercing industry is unregulated and it's a minefield that is also compounded by some very bad advice on the Internet and elsewhere.
These are actual questions received by email.
I have finally saved up the course fee to come on one of your courses. I have always wanted to do Body Piercing and I have a job waiting for me, but I saw a posting on a forum that says that no reputable studio would give you a job on the basis of that course and they are really just cowboys. I was really looking forward to coming.........
The posting by a character called alex.holey-skin I presume. We cannot say much because it is in the hands of our Solicitors. However, Holey Skin are highly respected Tattooists and Body Piercers in Bristol with a number of branches and have also opened a branch in Wiltshire. Alex Roberts firstly does not own Holey Skin, she is employed by them and we would like her to explain to us the following:
- There are already two people working out of Holey Skin in Bristol who have successfully completed our course. Davey Gibbs who completed the course on 28 April 2007 and Klara Florianova who completed our course on 15 April 2005. At the time she was living and working as a Piercer in London, but moved to Bristol. Both are excellent talented Body Piercers.
I recently found a website where some of the wording and phrasing is the same as yours. Are they anything to do with you?
As with any well established business with a good reputation, there will always be those who wish to align themselves with you and try to secure trade off your good name. For instance, the term 'live' clinical environment was coined by us as long ago as 1999 and we have kept the phrase ever since. If this site and others have a phrase like this linked with other similarities to our site, then it is obvious they are trying to copy what we are doing. If they lack the innovation to use something which they have devised themselves, then what must their courses be like? Are they just doing it solely to earn money? We have sued individuals and nearly sued an individual for breaching our trade mark, copyright and intellectual property rights and we will do so again to not only protect ourselves, but also people from being ripped off. If you do see any copying of our site, teaching materials etc, we would be very grateful for your time in reporting it to us.
I was wondering what qualfication will be achieved from the course?
Unfortunately the Body Piercing industry is unregulated and as such there are not any recognised qualifications despite what people may infer. It's a case of the standing of the course in the industry. We do receive considerable numbers of recommendations to the course from Body Piercing and Tattooing Professionals and elsewhere. The course is well known and to give you some examples:
- one of our trainees was working in Brighton and decided to move to another town. The studio where he was working stipulated they only wanted a replacement with someone who we had trained.
- we have numerous Tattooists and Body Piercers contacting us, asking if we know of anyone looking for a Piercing job. A recent case was a person in London who had just finished the course. We married her up with a Tattooist who had contacted us, she showed him what she could do and she got the job.
- a person had applied to a studio for an apprenticeship, but was turned down because they did not have anything going. When she contacted them again sometime later and told them she had just completed our course, she was offered a job as a Senior Piercer.
Is it such a course where it is all through practical and hands on that there is no paperwork to prove?
Our course is highly intensive and extensive. Not only is there lots of background information stretching back over ten years, which begins to create foundations and so give knowledge, but also the teaching of exacting measurements for the depth of the piercing, length of bar, correct placements etc. This is then linked with the correct use of clamps, needles and other equipment. By applying the techniques taught on the course, coupled with appropriate clean operating procedures and specific aftercare, it means there will not be any problems and you will be performing precision piercing. Trainees have continuous assessment throughout and complete a written exam.
To back-up about the course and how good it is, it's always a good idea to speak to those who have actually done it. If you go to www.bbpa.org.uk web site the members page lists some of those people, though it is being updated.
Do I have to do an Apprenticeship to become a Body Piercer?
The short answer is no!
It's very important to do an Apprenticeship if you want to become a Tattooist being taught by an individual who is highly proficient and approachable. An Apprenticeship normally last for 3+ years.
Trying to secure an Apprenticeship in Body Piercing is impossible and then how do you know the person 'teaching' you is skilled. It also self limits the industry by not allowing new blood into it. We receive enough emails and phone calls from people who are very disgruntled with their so-called apprenticeships in Body Piercing and also with other so-called recognised qualifications.
But it says on an Internet Forum that the only route into Body Piercing is by doing an Apprenticeship and your course is worthless.
Yes, we've seen that too. Have you not thought that these posters and Forums are uninformed. Read some of the posts and responses, is it professional? Make up your own mind. Have they completed our course? How do they know what we do? Have they spoken to us by email or phone or made a visit? Have they spoken to any of our previous trainees, people who have actually successfully completed our course? Exactly, they are basing all the rhetoric on assumptions and sweeping statements without facts. In any case, who originally said you have to do an apprenticeship to get into Body Piercing? The industry is only around twenty years old in it's current form and some would say it's a complete mess. Anyone can call themselves a Piercer, even buy 'stuff' off ebay and off they go.
Six days isn't long to learn Body Piercing, is it?
True, six days in the great scheme of things is not long. However, are there intensive courses to learn to drive a car? Our course is highly intensive and extensive. See above. The rest is experience which is built up over time, the same as after passing your driving test.
Do people get jobs at the end of your course?
See above. Most of our trainees become self employed and open their own studios, however, others are working out of Tattooists, Body Piercers and Beauty Therapy Businesses around the U.K. and overseas.
I have seen a distance learning course on a web site. What do you think of it?
You cannot possibly learn Body Piercing by distance learning. You need proper supervised training and this cannot be achieved by reading a few books, watching videos and punching holes in objects. Can you learn to drive a car by distance learning?
There are people selling DVD's and Videos for Body Piercing training. How does that work?
I would like to know myself! See above.
I see you say that you receive recommendations from the Industry, who are they?
The most prominent was Lal Hardy in London who recommended someone onto the course and so have many others who we do not know. Trainees whilst on the course often say they were recommended to the course by their local Tattooist or Piercer. To be quite honest, if the course was crap we would not get considerable numbers of people (roughly 30%) recommended to it by THE Professionals in the Tattooing and Body Piercing industries.
..... these Forums say different.
Well like has been said above, you have to figure out what the agenda is behind it all. All we can say is, we have been going for eight years, we have a good reputation within the industry, or rather in the Professional part of the industry. Would THE Professionals in the industry waste their time and energy in such a medium as an open forum. Professional Body Piercers and Tattooists do what they do and do not need to justify themselves if they are good at what they do. At the end of the day, money is a by-product of what you do, not the reason for doing it and doing this protects your integrity. We could put energy into responding on these forums, but the people involved and the posters are coming from a completely different direction than the professionals and time can be better spent in helping people to fulfill what they want to do.
I have seen courses advertised on ebay. What do you think of them?
We cannot really make any comment, but would you consider ebay is a good medium for a professional course?
Has your Body Piercing School trained people from overseas?
Yes, we have trained people from Greece, Malta, Sweden, Slovakia, South Africa, Japan, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Austria, U.S.A. and Dubai to name but a few.
What happens now?
If you are serious about becoming a Body Piercer, for goodness sake do the research and don't become involved with those people who believe they have the monopoly of truth and have a grudge to bare. Talk to us, speak to previous trainees, give us a ring, email, pay us a visit by appointment. We are completely transparent with nothing to hide.
At the end of the day, it's your choice. Make an informed decision based from lots of research and facts. Go by your own 'gut' feeling, but above all, be careful!
To conclude, some time ago Sharon Larratt of BME said:
"Actually, you'd be surprised how much can be learned in a week or two. The head-start you can get on technique is worth it... In that period of time you can develop good habits and get the hang of the basic piercings. You can't replace hands-on demonstrations and walk-throughs....."
Enough said!!
Copyright © 1999 - 2008 The British School of Body Piercing TM
We receive considerable numbers of emails and phone calls because there are so many conflicting views on how to become a Body Piercer. The Body Piercing industry is unregulated and it's a minefield that is also compounded by some very bad advice on the Internet and elsewhere.
These are actual questions received by email.
I have finally saved up the course fee to come on one of your courses. I have always wanted to do Body Piercing and I have a job waiting for me, but I saw a posting on a forum that says that no reputable studio would give you a job on the basis of that course and they are really just cowboys. I was really looking forward to coming.........
The posting by a character called alex.holey-skin I presume. We cannot say much because it is in the hands of our Solicitors. However, Holey Skin are highly respected Tattooists and Body Piercers in Bristol with a number of branches and have also opened a branch in Wiltshire. Alex Roberts firstly does not own Holey Skin, she is employed by them and we would like her to explain to us the following:
- There are already two people working out of Holey Skin in Bristol who have successfully completed our course. Davey Gibbs who completed the course on 28 April 2007 and Klara Florianova who completed our course on 15 April 2005. At the time she was living and working as a Piercer in London, but moved to Bristol. Both are excellent talented Body Piercers.
- Holey Skin has suggested to another two people to come to the School and do the course.
- Holey Skin offered a job as a Senior Piercer to someone who completed our course, but she declined so that she could continue to live in London.
Please do not let someone with an ego put you off following your dreams, especially as you have a job waiting for you.
I recently found a website where some of the wording and phrasing is the same as yours. Are they anything to do with you?
As with any well established business with a good reputation, there will always be those who wish to align themselves with you and try to secure trade off your good name. For instance, the term 'live' clinical environment was coined by us as long ago as 1999 and we have kept the phrase ever since. If this site and others have a phrase like this linked with other similarities to our site, then it is obvious they are trying to copy what we are doing. If they lack the innovation to use something which they have devised themselves, then what must their courses be like? Are they just doing it solely to earn money? We have sued individuals and nearly sued an individual for breaching our trade mark, copyright and intellectual property rights and we will do so again to not only protect ourselves, but also people from being ripped off. If you do see any copying of our site, teaching materials etc, we would be very grateful for your time in reporting it to us.
I was wondering what qualfication will be achieved from the course?
Unfortunately the Body Piercing industry is unregulated and as such there are not any recognised qualifications despite what people may infer. It's a case of the standing of the course in the industry. We do receive considerable numbers of recommendations to the course from Body Piercing and Tattooing Professionals and elsewhere. The course is well known and to give you some examples:
- one of our trainees was working in Brighton and decided to move to another town. The studio where he was working stipulated they only wanted a replacement with someone who we had trained.
- we have numerous Tattooists and Body Piercers contacting us, asking if we know of anyone looking for a Piercing job. A recent case was a person in London who had just finished the course. We married her up with a Tattooist who had contacted us, she showed him what she could do and she got the job.
- a person had applied to a studio for an apprenticeship, but was turned down because they did not have anything going. When she contacted them again sometime later and told them she had just completed our course, she was offered a job as a Senior Piercer.
Is it such a course where it is all through practical and hands on that there is no paperwork to prove?
Our course is highly intensive and extensive. Not only is there lots of background information stretching back over ten years, which begins to create foundations and so give knowledge, but also the teaching of exacting measurements for the depth of the piercing, length of bar, correct placements etc. This is then linked with the correct use of clamps, needles and other equipment. By applying the techniques taught on the course, coupled with appropriate clean operating procedures and specific aftercare, it means there will not be any problems and you will be performing precision piercing. Trainees have continuous assessment throughout and complete a written exam.
To back-up about the course and how good it is, it's always a good idea to speak to those who have actually done it. If you go to www.bbpa.org.uk web site the members page lists some of those people, though it is being updated.
Do I have to do an Apprenticeship to become a Body Piercer?
The short answer is no!
It's very important to do an Apprenticeship if you want to become a Tattooist being taught by an individual who is highly proficient and approachable. An Apprenticeship normally last for 3+ years.
Trying to secure an Apprenticeship in Body Piercing is impossible and then how do you know the person 'teaching' you is skilled. It also self limits the industry by not allowing new blood into it. We receive enough emails and phone calls from people who are very disgruntled with their so-called apprenticeships in Body Piercing and also with other so-called recognised qualifications.
But it says on an Internet Forum that the only route into Body Piercing is by doing an Apprenticeship and your course is worthless.
Yes, we've seen that too. Have you not thought that these posters and Forums are uninformed. Read some of the posts and responses, is it professional? Make up your own mind. Have they completed our course? How do they know what we do? Have they spoken to us by email or phone or made a visit? Have they spoken to any of our previous trainees, people who have actually successfully completed our course? Exactly, they are basing all the rhetoric on assumptions and sweeping statements without facts. In any case, who originally said you have to do an apprenticeship to get into Body Piercing? The industry is only around twenty years old in it's current form and some would say it's a complete mess. Anyone can call themselves a Piercer, even buy 'stuff' off ebay and off they go.
Six days isn't long to learn Body Piercing, is it?
True, six days in the great scheme of things is not long. However, are there intensive courses to learn to drive a car? Our course is highly intensive and extensive. See above. The rest is experience which is built up over time, the same as after passing your driving test.
Do people get jobs at the end of your course?
See above. Most of our trainees become self employed and open their own studios, however, others are working out of Tattooists, Body Piercers and Beauty Therapy Businesses around the U.K. and overseas.
I have seen a distance learning course on a web site. What do you think of it?
You cannot possibly learn Body Piercing by distance learning. You need proper supervised training and this cannot be achieved by reading a few books, watching videos and punching holes in objects. Can you learn to drive a car by distance learning?
There are people selling DVD's and Videos for Body Piercing training. How does that work?
I would like to know myself! See above.
I see you say that you receive recommendations from the Industry, who are they?
The most prominent was Lal Hardy in London who recommended someone onto the course and so have many others who we do not know. Trainees whilst on the course often say they were recommended to the course by their local Tattooist or Piercer. To be quite honest, if the course was crap we would not get considerable numbers of people (roughly 30%) recommended to it by THE Professionals in the Tattooing and Body Piercing industries.
..... these Forums say different.
Well like has been said above, you have to figure out what the agenda is behind it all. All we can say is, we have been going for eight years, we have a good reputation within the industry, or rather in the Professional part of the industry. Would THE Professionals in the industry waste their time and energy in such a medium as an open forum. Professional Body Piercers and Tattooists do what they do and do not need to justify themselves if they are good at what they do. At the end of the day, money is a by-product of what you do, not the reason for doing it and doing this protects your integrity. We could put energy into responding on these forums, but the people involved and the posters are coming from a completely different direction than the professionals and time can be better spent in helping people to fulfill what they want to do.
I have seen courses advertised on ebay. What do you think of them?
We cannot really make any comment, but would you consider ebay is a good medium for a professional course?
Has your Body Piercing School trained people from overseas?
Yes, we have trained people from Greece, Malta, Sweden, Slovakia, South Africa, Japan, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Austria, U.S.A. and Dubai to name but a few.
What happens now?
If you are serious about becoming a Body Piercer, for goodness sake do the research and don't become involved with those people who believe they have the monopoly of truth and have a grudge to bare. Talk to us, speak to previous trainees, give us a ring, email, pay us a visit by appointment. We are completely transparent with nothing to hide.
At the end of the day, it's your choice. Make an informed decision based from lots of research and facts. Go by your own 'gut' feeling, but above all, be careful!
To conclude, some time ago Sharon Larratt of BME said:
"Actually, you'd be surprised how much can be learned in a week or two. The head-start you can get on technique is worth it... In that period of time you can develop good habits and get the hang of the basic piercings. You can't replace hands-on demonstrations and walk-throughs....."
Enough said!!