ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL PIERCERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO
The APP Conference is truly a special transformative event, different from other conventions or seminars you may have attended. For an entire week, hundreds of individuals dedicated to their profession come together from around the world to learn, share information, socialize, peruse new jewelry designs, make new friends, and see old ones; the focus is on body piercing, our livelihood, and our passion!
Education is the primary focus of our event. Each year we offer over 75 hours of courses presented by some of the most experienced piercers in the industry. The APP also brings other industry professionals to the conference for special offerings. Alongside our courses, there are group meetings and roundtable discussions to facilitate networking with industry peers.
Our classes range in topics covering everything from the fundamentals of our trade to complex analysis of topics for those who are interested in furthering their existing knowledge.
The APP is committed to offering a variety of courses each year for all levels of piercing professionals. We offer core basic courses and new and/or advanced courses every year.
Education is the primary focus of our event. Each year we offer over 75 hours of courses presented by some of the most experienced piercers in the industry. The APP also brings other industry professionals to the conference for special offerings. Alongside our courses, there are group meetings and roundtable discussions to facilitate networking with industry peers.
Our Conference is held in Las Vegas, NV typically during the summer. Please see our calendar for future dates.
The Conference Information website usually launches towards the end of the year prior to Conference. Registration usually opens in January / February of the year of the Conference. Scholarships to the Conference are available. Applications for scholarships usually open in October/November and run until January. The APP Conference is open to all professional body piercers, apprentice piercers, studio owners, jewelry specialists, front counter professionals, & health inspectors. You need not be an APP member to attend.Â
GENERAL CONFERENCE POLICIES
CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE
The APP’s Conference is an industry-specific continuing education event designed for professional body piercers.
- In 2022 all Attendees, Exhibitors, Booth Workers, and Conference Volunteers must be fully vaccinated as defined by the CDC and WHO. This will require uploading proof of vaccination in advance of registration. This will include any friends, partners, or spouses who wish to attend the social events.Â
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, as defined by the WHO and CDC, will be required to attend the 2022 APP Conference in Las Vegas.
- Their definitions of fully vaccinated may evolve to include boosters but do not include them at this time. As such, these requirements are subject to change as the definition changes.
- Proof of vaccination will need to be submitted prior to event registration.
- If you are traveling from outside of the US and are a noncitizen/nonimmigrant, please be aware of additional travel requirements. For more information, please visit: CDC Traveler Information
- For more details about this requirement
Adult friends & family members will not be granted access to the Conference or Expo, however, they will be allowed to attend the social events (Opening & Closing Parties) by providing proof of vaccination; registering, and paying for a ticket.
In 2022, children or minors (under the age of 18) will not be granted access to the Conference, Expo, or any social events (ATTBs, Opening & Closing Parties).
In 2022 only those persons able to prove employment at a retail/resale establishment will be allowed to attend Conference. Both Full Conference and Day Passes will include scheduled Expo Access. There will be no Expo Only passes sold.
For those in-between jobs, proof of prior industry employment since June of 2019 must be provided.
Non-industry attendees will not be allowed to attend this year; except for Health Inspectors.
RIGHT OF REFUSAL
The Association and its Board of Directors & Officers reserve the right to refuse entry to the Conference to anyone for any reason. However, the APP never refuses entrance based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin.Â
AGE RESTRICTIONS
Minors (those under the age of 18) are not allowed to attend our Conference as Attendees due to the adult nature of our course content.
In 2022, children or minors (under the age of 18) will not be granted access to the Conference, Expo, or any social events (ATTBs, Opening & Closing Parties).
Individuals 18-20 may attend the conference without a parent/guardian but are not allowed in the gambling areas. They must share a room with someone at least 21 years of age and the room must be registered to that person per hotel policy: “Each guestroom must have at least one registered guest twenty-one (21) years of age or older.” -Planet Hollywood’s website.
It is illegal to drink or gamble if you are under 21 in Las Vegas. If attendees from the Conference do so and are caught, the APP’s contract with Planet Hollywood can be affected.
MEMBERS-ONLY
Members-Only offerings vary from year to year. Only active members in good standing can attend Members-Only offerings.
Our Annual Members Meeting will take place online in the Fall.
GOING TO CLASS & GETTING CREDITÂ
Attendees will need to scan their badges with the scanner(s) located by the entrance. If you fail to scan your badge you won’t get credit for the course. If your scan results in a red warning – please see the volunteer at the classroom door for assistance.
Classrooms will have an entrance and an exit. While both doors can be used to exit in an emergency, we ask that you use the appropriate door otherwise. Please enter and exit the classroom swiftly so as to not create a bottleneck.
Remember to be respectful of the Presenters and other attendees at all times. We ask attendees to refrain from talking loudly during class or creating any disturbances.
Masks need to be worn at all times and Attendees are encouraged to be socially distanced when able. Both spaced and regular seating will be available.
Do not bring alcoholic beverages to class.
Please utilize the Event app within your session to ask any questions.
Please understand our volunteers are doing their jobs—you might not agree with the rules, but please be nice to our volunteers.
If you have a concern or complaint, please take it up with a Board or Conference Committee Member after the class is over.
EXPOSITION FLOOR ACCESS AND PURCHASING
Our Exposition is a trade show floor – and is not open to the general public. The APP reserves the right to restrict access to the Expo for Attendees who fail to provide us with the proper proof of industry affiliation. Multiple forms of proof may be required to meet the threshold of evidence. Acceptance of industry affiliation remains the sole discretion of the APP. Only persons that have proven to be qualified to resell as retailers or distributors may attend Conference this year.
New Attendees to the Conference will need to submit two forms:
Proof of industry affiliation will need to be uploaded during online registration in order to complete their registration.
Pay Stubs, Tax Certificates, Business licenses, Body Art Licenses, web URLs, Business Card, or letter of Reference are all acceptable forms.Â
Exhibitor / Exhibitor workers will not be allowed to purchase on the Expo Floor unless they pay and register as Attendees this year.
The APP expo is a wholesale-only industry event, ANYONE that purchases for personal use is solely responsible for reporting and paying Nevada State sales tax for those items.
CANCELLATION POLICY for 2022
The cancellation policy has been modified to reflect the exceptional circumstances we are all having to navigate with the Covid-19 pandemic.
If the APP has to cancel the Conference in 2022 all Attendees/Exhibitors will be offered a full refund.
Otherwise, the following cancellation policy stands:
Attendees
Prior to May 13th, 2022 the APP will refund 75% of Attendee Registration fees if the Attendee cancels.
On May 13th or later the attendee will receive no refund. Please plan accordingly.
If your cancellation is due to emergent and unforeseen circumstances – we will consider alternative arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of the conference (on or after May 30th, 2022), we will provide you with a full refund upon presentation of the test results.
If within 1 week of the conference, you have been informed of a clear exposure to Covid-19 (15 or more minutes of close contact within a 24-hour period of someone who has tested positive) AND you are unable to get Covid-19 test results back prior to departure to the conference, then you should stay home. We will provide you with a full refund with testing dates and results substantiating your situation.
Exhibitors
If an Exhibitor cancels before April 2, 2022, the APP will refund 100% of the contracted space.
From April 2, 2022-May 12, 2022 the exhibitor receives 50%.
May 13, 2022, or after the exhibitor receives no refund*.Â
*Exceptions may be made for small Exhibitors without backup staff who are canceling due to Covid related matters.
ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR READING AND AGREEING TO BOTH THE CONFERENCE POLICIES & THE PARTICIPANT CONDUCT EXPECTATIONS.
 EXHIBITORS WILL ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL POLICIES PERTAINING TO THEM.
The APP reserves the right to cancel the registration and to expel from the Conference any participant found in violation of any of the Conference policies, Exhibitor policies, and/or Participant Conduct Expectations. This applies to ALL participants including attendees, exhibitors, presenters, scholars, and volunteers. Depending on the violation, the participant may be removed from the hotel premises. A violation of policies and/or Participant Conduct Expectations at this Conference may result in restrictions from attending future APP events.
Association of Professional Piercers’ 25th Annual Conference & Exposition
June 12-June 17, 2022
Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV
2022 Disclaimer:
The APP recognizes that due to the pandemic circumstances may change and be out of our control. We ask that you remain flexible with us as we plan our event this year. Everything is subject to change. We are committed to open communication, financial fairness, and health & safety. If changes need to be made to the event we will inform you, and we ask that if circumstances change for you that you inform us.
Link for more information or to register for the event:
https://web.cvent.com/event/4e964497-6442-40df-bd45-c1fd7a1ffeeb/summary