Dupree Piercings

Author: Chris Dupree

  • Client Comfort IS Cool!

    There’s been tons of times I’ve walked into a tattoo shop, to be met with signs plastered all over the walls about whining and pain. Smells of cigarettes and marijuana throughout the building. Obvious signs of people under varying influences working and being worked on alike. Sanitation questionable , questions disliked, and generally the air is thick with the idea that as a client you’re small and should be thankful to be there. It’s no surprise this environment breeds discomfort, misinformation, and in many cases abuse. In this blog I wanna talk about the importance of fostering a safe environment for clients but also artists / employees. Discuss the seemingly infinite benefits it offers and some of the things that others may gloss over in their own expectations.

    Blurred Lines

    As a piercer it would be remiss of me to speak on these things without explaining some basics of working in the industry. We explicitly work in and with arbitrary areas. Lots of room for guessing and interpretation, little pushback from clients (we’re seen as the “professional”), and just a general entitlement and freedom that lets us create an image that others have to accept to work with us. Despite my efforts , I’m no different and have crafted my own little world in my room. I like to imagine it’s for the best and I don’t do anything harmful or negligent, I don’t put people down or make anyone uncomfortable ever. However that’s a big reach when it comes to the reality that it’s almost impossible to keep every client happy and comfortable. All that to say , as a client more often than not, you’re walking into an illusion, a crafted space, and are expected to make all the right choices with the assistance of whoever you meet that day. It’s important to remember that we are , at the end of the day, sales people. We want you to buy our services and our products, and that creates a wide range of practices. I like to joke it’s like buying a car or going to a mechanic, but the general public doesn’t view it as negatively as those situations.

    Benefits of Transparency

    As time goes on and the world progresses, so do business models and consumer knowledge. One thing people subconsciously know about tattoos and piercings is that they don’t know much about them. The industry bred artists to walk into appointments nose up, confidence high, and no task impossible. The transparent reason for this being , it’s faster and easier to soothe your anxiety or doubts with blanket confidence than to educate ourselves and give you long term benefits as a client. After decades of this it makes it hard to change tracks and admit your shortcomings as a professional. Expose the things you don’t know and what you want to change. Meet your clients with compassion and understanding of their past experiences and offer them a new take on what our industry can be. It’s easy enough to type, it’s hard to do in practice. There are safe places to start though , beginning with things like price transparency, material quality and sourcing, and overall just a more pleasant attitude towards your clients aspirations and ideas. One of my favorite parts of this approach is the trust and acceptance you get back. I don’t fear making mistakes in the same ways I used to, because my clients trust me enough to tell me and let me find them a solution. I’m met everyday with an honestly thought out faith and compassion , and I get to give it back in a beautiful circle. I never have to struggle with my clients telling me the truth because they know I’d never berate them. I don’t have to dance around admitting my mistakes when it comes to troubleshooting problems, and they don’t either. Genuinely it makes the job a pleasure , even during the hardest days. The list goes on and on , as you begin to foster an environment so open, your clientele increases , you get more access to fun projects and opportunities, you spend less time doing the same thing over and over, and more time developing your interest and skills. It really is a domino effect , and that’s just my perspective as a piercer. I’ve heard countless votes of confidence from clients who in one word describe the feeling as safe/comfortable. It’s actually kind of ironic that eventually it just morphs into a safer way of blanket fixing those fears and anxiety , after enough time has passed and people know what to expect of your studio.

    A Final Note

    This obviously is extremely anecdotal, and my personal opinion. To fellow artists, I don’t mean to infer that if we don’t share identical business models , you don’t care or are negligent. To clients , don’t expect everyone to show their knowledge and passion in the same ways I choose to. Going back to the beginning , this is an industry of nuance and individuality. We get to create these places in the same ways you get to choose which ones you enter. I never want to put down on anyone for being different than me, especially as much as I change regularly. The main take away from this is trying to preach the benefits of transparency in our workplaces and interactions. It’s a gradual process, that takes years to change , but even little efforts show and make everyone more comfortable. As I continue to grow and practice blogging , I want to leave some doors open on these topics so I can come back to them and foster the conversations more. Just like with my short post on jewelry , I have a massive interest in client focused topics and intend to expand on these ideas more in the future!

  • Component Based Jewelry

    Component Based Jewelry

    Just a quick post this week while I still try to work out all of the kinks in building this blog. Who knew it wasn’t a one day thing..

    Today I’m wanting to write about different jewelry types, and some of the benefits they each offer. Particularly jewelry built piece by piece, designed to be interchangeable and custom. At our studio we typically use threadless or internally threaded jewelry, which on its own is fantastic. However, for some of our more long-term wears (think navel, nipple, etc) I find immense benefit in building each piece for my clients. There is plenty of access online and in store to butterfly backs, standard labrets with weird threadings, and corkscrews/ L shapes. One problem these all share, is that they’re not unique to each client. Essentially sold as a one size fits all, too good to be true is the case.

    Feeling the Benefit

    At a quick glance you may not recognize some of the differences between two pieces of jewelry until they’re exploded (fun way of saying broken apart).

    By being able to separate each piece, I can take control of sizing you might not typically consider. Is the disc hitting the back of your ear too often, but smaller ones are too long? This is an easy solution to that problem. It also ends up being quite cost effective as a client, you only buy parts you need! No need to build up a collection of backings if you only need a new gem, etc.

    On top of just being handy, learning about the pieces that go into what you wear empowers you as an owner. Your better understanding will ultimately lead to a safer and happier piercing experience, that you can hopefully pass on to others who haven’t learned yet!

    Now there always has to be some negatives, naturally. I’ve spent the last few years becoming familiar with all these different styles, parts, and companies. If I had to be honest about one thing – its a logistical nightmare sometimes. With so many different parts and pieces, keeping track and maintaining a “collection” is a bit of a learning curve. If you’re interested in fully committing to the interchangeable, super deluxe, mega custom jewelry lifestyle, bring an organizer.

    Why Bother? My Earrings are Fine.

    A perfectly fair statement, met with a perfectly fair answer! You don’t have to bother, and here is a few reasons why!

    For the vast majority of clients, changing jewelry or keeping large collections is done bare minimum if at all. So don’t take this as a rally cry to throw away all your old stuff (unless it turns your ears blue). Traditional L shapes for noses, butterfly backs for lobes. All of these things have a place for a reason, for most people they work just fine. My only gripe is the material quality is lacking in many cases, but that’s easy to sort out by just checking for safe titanium vendors.

    I could go on about the benefits I see of flat backs, and push ins, yada yada, and I probably will, regularly. In this post, I just wanted to introduce some of the differences, and expose the tip of the iceberg that is modern day body jewelry.

    The Take Away

    If you’re just casually into body piercings, have a few pieces of jewelry, and don’t intend on adding much more, then how did you find this blog? All jokes aside, you don’t have to spend thousands and revamp your whole collection just to be safe. If you have plans to move forward and continue adding to it, then consider talking to your piercer about interchangeable pieces. Ask about sizing, companies, threading type, and overall just involve yourself in the process. You wont regret the knowledge, and you’ll see so much improvement in the piercing side of your life.

  • I’m Doing Blogs Now!

    Since the beginning of my apprenticeship, I’ve always dreamed of using my passion and experience to fuel an educational space. When I say space , I genuinely mean one for everyone, from people within the industry to those skeptical of it from afar. I feel like this blog will be a good place for me to start my journey as an educator and advocate for Safe and Approachable Body Piercing.

    Frequency and Topics

    I have intentions of maintaining this blog weekly , while bringing topics to the table that interest both piercers and our clients. I have no desire to gate keep information , be it technique, pricing, or anything else. This industry is built on being an individual, and while I love that aspect so much , sometimes the ways it can bring us together are passed over. I’ve formed so many special relationships with my clients over the years. During these formative times I have heard countless horror stories of piercer behavior , shop quality , and just a blatant disdain for my peers from clients. These aren’t all “Karens” (sorry not you Karen ily <3) , they’re genuine people with expectations and goals. It’s so easy to get a big head in our line of work, in fact we’re encouraged to. In doing so clients often become a commodity, and their individuality is siphoned away by the artists own ego. I hope to stay grounded and in touch with everyone who makes my life possible , and this blog will hopefully serve as a weekly reminder of who I owe thanks to, and who I want to be.

    Sharing and Discussion

    While I’ll be sharing my posts , I’d love for anyone else to as well. I still have learning to do as a Piercer , as a Blogger, a Father, as a Person entirely. I crave discussion and interaction in areas I love, and I truly love this job. So please message me , comment (if I have those set up right), share any opinions or questions you have as well so we can grow together.