ToddBlog Celebrity Interview

With APP just around the corner we thought it was only right to interview someone who everyone attending this years conference could learn a lesson from. Unfortunately, this individual will not be attending this year, so this is as close as you are going to get. We have set up a great interview for you guys, so sit back with a glass of Kraken and relax, while we proudly present.





BEARDS, BEARS, AND MORE BEARDS: AN INTERVIEW WITH JOHN JOYCE.



We also included a few facts you may or may not have known about John Joyce.



ToddBlog: Ok lets start this off. So John, tell our readers a little about yourself.





John Joyce: Well, my name is John Joyce. I own Scarab Body Arts in Syracuse, NY. I have been piercing for almost 13 years, I'm a scarification artist, and a NY State Licensed Massage Therapist. But everyone knows that stuff, so let's see... I also ride a harley, hunt bears, prefer to be outside, and wouldn't be half the man I am today if Shawn Porter wasn't my life coach.



Did you know? John Joyce built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, John Joyce met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.



ToddBlog: "Life coach" huh? So that's what the kids are calling it these days? Hunting bears and riding Harleys are pretty manly things. Would you be so kind, and tell our readers how one can be so manly and still be one of the nicest people on the planet?

Speaking of which, we did a little research on you before this interview, and we found an interesting little tidbit. Is it true that you once single handily saved 120 children from a burning orphanage?

Did you know? John Joyce has the greatest Poker-Face of all time. He won the 1983 World Series of Poker, despite holding only a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game UNO.

John Joyce: Yup, "life coach". Despite what he may say, I find that Shawn is a good person to have on your side in this industry. I am also lucky enough to be able to call him a friend. Most importantly though, he is kind of like my moral compass. hahaha

As far as being so manly and still being one of the nicest people on the planet... Well, I'm going to answer this one a bit more seriously. I was raised by the ultimate manly man. My father is hard working, intelligent, responsible, loyal, humble,and has every quality you could possibly want in another human being. I was taught from a very young age that being a "man" wasn't about acting tough and being an asshole. Being a "man" was about responsibility, to your family, your friends, and yourself. It was about being mentally tough and knowing you can accomplish whatever you want, without acting tough and being a dick to other people. It was about helping other people out when they need it, not taking advantage or other people, and always sticking to your personal ethics and morals. It was about never taking the easy way out of something, and if you're going to do something then do it right and put 100% into it. Knowing when you need help, and not being afraid to ask for it, but try your damn hardest first. Should i go on... haha

These things have stuck with me, and I put those views into everything I do. It's how i run my business, it's how I run my life. I treat people with respect, I work hard, I don't cut corners, and I am loyal to my friends and family. Now to make this a little less serious, I also think it has to do with the music i was brought up on. I grew up listening to Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, Motorhead, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kiss, etc.... Music that kicked ass, talked about working hard, and earning what you have. Today's kids, listen to a bunch of whiny, feel sorry for me bullshit! harden the fuck up already. If you're in your 20's have never had a real job, and still live in your parents basement, you'll probably never be a real man! just sayin...

As for single handily saving 120 children from a burning orphanage... It was actually 147, but who's keeping track. I had to save them to pass my test into manhood. I manned up, sprouted a beard from pure will. Then i pulled a beard hair out, when i did that a single tear ran down my cheek. At that exact moment the heavens opened up and it started to rain. The children were saved.







ToddBlog: Well, we feel it's safe to say that your father should be very proud of your accomplishments. As far as 20 year olds listening to whiny bullshit music, we couldn't agree more. They should definitely "harden the fuck up".

You mentioned that you sprouted a bread from pure will, something like that takes talent. Do you have any other
talents like this you would like to share with our readers?

Did you know? Once a grizzly bear threatened to eat John Joyce. John showed the bear his fist and the bear proceeded to eat himself, because it would be the less painful way to die.

John Joyce: 2 words for you, cock push ups! yup!!

More importantly though, I seem to have a natural ability to make people around me feel comfortable and calm. It helps a lot as a piercer and as a scarification artists. To be honest it's probably even more relevant with my massage clients.

ToddBlog: Enough cock push ups will make any whiny angst filled teen into a bad ass with enough effort.

Good bed side manner is a definite must to be a quality piercer/scarification artist/rubber downer. Having had at least one of the three performed by you on myself i can say that your bed side manner can definitely put a client at ease (I'm still waiting for my rub down).

We want to touch on a somewhat sensitive subject for you. You mention Shawn Porter being somewhat of a life coach to you, and we know there is a bit more to it than you are letting out. How does Natalie feel about your intimate (and I'm stressing intimate here) relationship with another man? I can't imagine the thought of her future husband having relations with another man which may or may not be taking place on top of a bear skin rug sitting well with her.

Did you know? John Joyce was the fourth Wise man. He brought baby Jesus the gift of “beard”. Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wise men, jealous of Jesus’ obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have John omitted from the Bible.

John Joyce: I'd like to elaborate more on this relationship between Shawn and I, but... "we said we weren't gonna talk about Cincinnati ever, okay?"
And that is all i have to say about that. However, as a manly bear hunter, I do happen to keep a bear skin rug handy. You just never know when the situation will call for one.

ToddBlog: Agreed. I for one have found myself in many situations where a bear skin rug would indeed come in handy, but unfortunately i am not manly enough to own one.

It's been great chatting with you John. Thanks for giving us a little insight on the man behind the beard. Are there any last words you would like to share with our readers?



Did you know? They once made a John Joyce toilet paper, but it wouldn't take shit from anybody.



John Joyce: you really should look into the bear skin rug todd. It truly is an essential.

It's been great chatting with you as well. last words, hmmm lets see....
First...
For everyone out there right now that thinks they want to be a piercer, don't do it. that is of course unless you can get an apprenticeship with a well respected piercer in this industry. If you can not, just don't do it, there are enough half ass piercers out there and I'm tired of fixing your mistakes. If you're not sure if the piercer you are thinking about apprenticing under is well respected, send Shawn Porter a message and he'll set you straight.

Second... If you are sitting around right now listening to some depressing emo shit, have never had a real job, still live at home, and use phrases like Fuck My Life on a regular basis, harden the fuck up already! Your self deprecating view on life will get you no where. When i was growing up, it was always "fuck you", it was never "fuck me". I don't know when it became cool for guys in their twenties to still act like teenage shitheads, but it's absolutely not cool. Life is what you make it, if you are going around everyday saying fuck my life then that is what you'll get, a fucked life! Shit or get off the pot already, go do something with yourself.
Third... Whatever you are doing, give 100% and do it right. If you want to be a piercer, be the best damn piercer you can be. Don't decide you're going to be a scarification artist when you are still figuring out the basics of piercing. Don't start doing surgical mods when you can't pierce a navel straight. And maybe most importantly, put some thing other than microdermals and corset piercings in your portfolio.

I could keep going but we'll need a whole other interview just for last rants. haha So let's end this on a more positive note. I'm grateful that I've been able to make a career out of doing what I love. I'm even more grateful that I've been excepted into the cranky old piercers club. To all the young piercers out there, keep up the hard work, do your best, keep learning and progressing, know your limits, and stick to your morals and ethics. Do that, and I'll save an easy chair for you so you can bitch with the rest of us. And with that, my coffee is getting cold, so I'm out!





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New type of implant

Well apparently the famous Mr. Brian Decker has tried his hand at a new type of implant. This picture of his newest work is sent in by none other than Miss Joy Rumore (AKA The Milkmaid). Joy is the first recipient of this new type of implant, although we doubt she is the last. We here at ToddBlog suggest you keep your eyes peeled for more of these, after all Brian does travel a lot.

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ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Round Table 2

We here at ToddBlog realize that every once in a while you will get to eavesdrop on a very interesting conversation. We were lucky enough to catch this one, and felt we should share it with our devoted readers. Both Shawn Porter and Stephen Detoma were kind enough to chat with us for this latest entry.

ToddBlog is proud to present:

Flies On The Wall 2: The internet and Body Modification

ToddBlog: We realize that body modification would not be where it is today without the internet. With the help of websites like SPC, BME and social networking tools like IAM the modification community has grown more than anyone could have imagined. What we would like to know is, are there any negative effects the internet has had on the industry?

Shawn: Several months ago I was going to do a class on behalf of the APP on the history of contemporary body piercing.

The last chapter was "BME, SPC, the rise of the Internet and the Death of Body Modification."

Stephen: I think out of our breakfast club, Shawn is probably the only one who has a practical experience with body modification with OUT the internet; I know I started getting pierced and then discovered BME by searching for piercing info online, probably about '98ish or so.

I think just like everything else, there's two sides of the fence. Did the internet make it easier to trade info, find quality artists and research ideas? Sure. Did it create a shitshow of a culture akin to the fucking Tyra Banks show? Absolutely.

If you were to ask if body modification is better or worse due to the internet, you'll find people that are staunch advocates of both opinions and while both will have strong thoughts to back up each of their arguments, you can't declare a winner in that war.

Here's where my brain is headed: I feel like this goes back to the gauging argument. If the use of the term gauging in common speech can change the validity of the use of said word, while people may abhor the internet's influence on bodymod, you have to accept that it's carved out it's own little niche.

Shawn: You just called me old.

You did hit the nail right on the head though, Stephen.... the internet IS the best and worst thing that ever happened to the contemporary body modification scene. (and a million other scenes, I'm sure)

On the one hand, you have immediate access to lifetimes of information just by using a search box. On the other, a good argument can be made that the internet has inspired people who would have normally never done some of these mods to attempt them. Which itself is a double edged sword.

It's funny though... I think it's the youth culture's appropriation of the body mod scene that's had a bigger impact than the internet- the two sort of tie into each other, I guess. You go back and look at the late 1980s and early 1990s copies of PFIQ, Piercing World, Body Art and Tattoo Savage and you start seeing the average age dropping and the piercings going more aesthetic and less sexual.

Once it hit pop culture (I promise I'm not going to mention Paul King in the Aerosmith video) the shift really started happening.

Stephen: You still look good for an old man.

When I was a kid, I wore boots and braces, Fred Perry's and DM's and listened to a lot of ska and Oi! I remember a friend of mine and I were rolling around Boston and talking about the stuff we had seen happen in "the scene" around town and he brought up a really good point: The Scene is a youth cult.

What he meant is, a a certain point, despite the lyrics and slogans saying we would all die with our boots on, ultimately, everyone grows up, grows their hair out and hangs up their boots in favor of a more comfortable pair of shoes. The parallels in that scene and the body mod scene are startling. The major difference is; in both areas, you can spend a bunch of money to look like you belong, but where as growing your hair out is an easy option, trying to remove a tattoo you got on your face when you were 19 to look cool is a little bit harder.

Shawn: And that, for the most part, is what the internet did- make it a scene. Back in the 'dark ages' when we still had to correspond via letters, VHS tapes and the occasional meeting at Jack Yount's house or a tattoo convention or what have you, people were just into what they were into. And usually not much else.

Guys who were into silicone were INTO silicone. The amputees were into amputation. Most folks had tattoos, but just because they had tattoos and not because it was part of a bigger picture. The internet sort of brought everything together.

I used to pay a ridiculous amount of money a year to be a UNIQUE subscriber. Unique was a contact group owned by Ken of "Ball Club Quarterly" magazine. It amounted to nothing more than a few pages of hand typed photocopied personal ads. You usually didn't see much variety in the ads. People with certain mods looking for people with certain mods. After paying the yearly fee to be a member, you'd send other members a stamped letter via Ken (with $1 in cash) and he'd forward it.

The internet made that all unnecessary. You were able to keep up with people for free. Ideas were much more easily exchanged. And thanks to (or curses to) BME, you had a scene begin to form. But when I look back at it I realize that it was a BME scene that was forming, not a body modification scene. Dilution began to happen (which isn't necessarily a bad thing) and all of a sudden there was an aesthetic all it's own.There were t shirts and backpacks and belt buckles and stickers and conventions and a hierarchy of who and what is cool

Stephen: And not to say that all of that is bad: how many SW shirts do I own now? And I don't cut or get cut, I just like the shirts and to support my friends endeavors.

But hell, you don't need to look any further than LA Ink or any other of the "reality" shows out now to see that a subculture is being marketed to everyone with a TV...

Shawn: And with all that said- body modification will survive. After the fads, after the websites and t.v. shows...

Stephen: I don't see why it wouldn't. People will always do things because they feel they need to, not because the feel other people want them to. Not that the other side of the coin doesn't apply as well...

Every wonder why none of those shows ever have anyone that any of us recognize as "legit" on them?

Shawn: Garver had a strong reputation before all that hooey

Stephen: Good point. And I wouldn't say he's lost any respect, near as I can figure..

I guess the more I think about it, we see a lot of our friends in the Nat Geo, Discovery Channel shows, but initially I was thinking, Inked, Miami Ink, LA Ink and all of the World Traveler bullshit: Some button up douchebag traveling on TV's dime to get tattoos from around the world..

I remember seeing a bunch of the guys on The Pickup Artist(?) get taken off to some shop that looked less than reputable just in the short time I watched it. It always amazes me that the lowest quality gets the highest attention..

What was it Sailor Jerry said? Empty drum makes the most noise?

Shawn: "the lowest quality gets the highest attention"...

that explains my luck with the ladies.

Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

May The Blog Be With You

Do you like scars? Do you like blogs? Do you think you would like a blog about scars? We here at ToddBlog would like you to check out our good friends over at scarwars.org .

Tell em' ToddBlog sent ya!

Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Robert Smith?

Salutations ToddBloggers! We all hope you're doing well and hopefully you haven't grown impatient with us as we sleep off the effects of the long weekend.

What better way to rub the sleep from your eyes and sweat the rum out of your system than with a nice picture of a pretty girl wearing a t-shirt promoting our Editor-In-Chief's business? We here at ToddBlog don't think any better way exists, so here goes.




This image is of the lovely Atilla and comes to us via Ms. Jessie Campbell of Bella Gore Photography. We can't say that either ladies could have done a sexier job...well...we could, but what happens behind closed doors...

Stay tuned ToddBlog, we'll be in the lab working on new stories and breaking news for all our loyal readers to enjoy.



Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Cool Stuff That Happens To Female Piercers

The submissions just keep coming in. This one come to us from Erika Gomez. Erica writes:

"Hi,
This is Erika from Chicago. I thought I would share with you gentlemen some of the joys of being female piercer. Last night I did a 4g PA and a 6g guiche on a guy who drove all the way from Tennessee to get pierced by me. He was cool and we had a good little rapport going. Also, he had a stunning mullet.
Now, my cell number is on our aftercare sheets so that a client freaking out about her nostril piercing can call. I stress to everyone, as do Micah and Sarvas, to call with concerns, questions, etc, just dont call pasts midnight because I'll either be drunk or sleeping! When I told my client last night, he cracked a joke about "not giving my number out to weirdos." He, Micah and I all had a good laugh and he paid me and left. This morning I had the pleasure of waking up to a text with the attached picture. Inappropriate! and funny. If you can use it on Toddblog, please do.
Erika"

Well, we certainly can use this. We agree that although incredibly inappropriate, this is just down right hilarious. We found it necessary to share Erica's unfortunate findings with all of you. So enjoy.

Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Flies On The Wall 1

Hello loyal readers,

Here at ToddBlog we are constantly striving to help out the future generations of piercers by dropping little hints of advice here and there. We recently decided to ask for a little help from some of the more "well known" people in the industry. So please sit back and take it all in, you just might learn something.

ToddBlog is proud to present it's first in an on going series titled:

Flies On The Wall: A Round Table Discussion.

Lets first meet the esteemed panelists.

Cameron , Stephen , Shawn

Vyky , Cere

ToddBlog: first topic: Drama, lies, and everything in between. We all know that the industry is filled with it. Everything from piercers lying to gain the respect of their peers, sleeping your way to the top (more commonly known as "Star Fucking"), trying to make others look bad to cover their own mistakes, the list goes on and on.

What we would like to know (along with our readers), is what do some of the more important people in the industry think of these methods? We hope that your answers will enlighten some on why these aren't always the best methods to use when trying to gain respect in the industry.

Cameron: Well, I'm not important by any means, I mean shit Shawn O'Hare doesn't know who I am, so that should immediately disqualify me as an "expert witness", if you will.

I'd like to think that most people who have a good head on their shoulders would be able to see through the yarn spun by these folks, but unfortunately the ratio of bullshitters to smart people in the industry, excuse me The Hobby, is in favor of the bullshitters. So that leaves us to where we are today, stuck in an industry that has become a professional farce. I saw a lot of "fucking to the top" at APP this year, granted this is no different than any previous conference that I've been to, but it seems that hot tubs may provide a false sense of privacy. Sure you're underwater, but I can still see that foreign girl eating that drunk chick's box on a dare from "Famous Mod Guy", and so can everyone else. Maybe fucking in public is your thing, go for it and have a blast while your letting every watch you get your fuck on, but we all know that genital osmosis of knowledge is a myth so there really is no point to it and know matter how many body fluids you ingest, it's still not going to make you a better body piercer. (Sorry Cere, I didn't mean to blow up your spot.) Actions such as that are really no different than people who wait outside a tour bus to be the next hole for some dude in a band. Sure you fucked so and so, you're still not cool and now we we all know embarrassing stories about you and how you have a funny shaped vagina and we'll all probably laugh about it in front of your face because, well, it's funny and you obviously don't have too much respect for yourself so why should anyone else?

As for lying to get somewhere, Shawn nailed it in his interview. Nobody checks references, so why not embellish the truth a little, or a lot (looking' at you Greg Duffek), to get a job or to get clients. I can't really follow up on that any better, suffice it to say that when you get caught in your lie you look like a complete and total fucking ass

Shawn: I got quite a few emails when my old friend Sean Philips was doing his "degrade yourself to become an apprentice" thing a while back. Since Sean and I have (good) history, I became a "sounding board" for people who wanted to know if the "Reality Show" culture had finally started influencing the piercing culture and to see if I was, as they were, offended by some of the tasks Sean made the hopefuls do in order to become a piercer. (which, lets be totally honest here- is an occupation with an expiration date for most of the people who get into the business)

The more I thought about it, the more that I realized I was more impressed that people were still even interested in apprenticing than offended at the silly tasks they were given.

As for "fucking to the top"... again, let's call it like it is: Most of the gals who put out to "get somewhere" don't get much farther than being an in-joke between those of us who've messed around with them. Modification is still a boys club when it comes to being a "big name" (which on a long enough time line means nothing anyway)...

Cere: Perfect timing for this topic! Thanks Todd!

Ahhh, the age old topic of star-fucking. It definitely has its advantages and drawbacks. I see nothing wrong with a woman who is impressed that she is in the presence of someone such as myself and understands how great I am and that she should offer herself to me. Actually the fact that she recognizes this just shows that she, more then the regular public not involved in "the hobby", understands the things that are truly great in life... namely myself.

Its when these same women think that the knowledge one contains can be swallowed where the issues arise. Sure you can get a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of wonderment by in taking my glorious nutrients, but will that impart knowledge to you? No. Even if you trick someone using manipulation into giving you a shot at learning, like some stupid-fucking-cunt-who-works-at-a-shop-where-you-wont-find-titanium-oh-wait-they-now-have-full-lines-of-titanium eventually you are found out and in the end you realize that no knowledge was gleaned. Just a lot of cum.

Whew. Let me switch gears to lying about yourself to pump your own fame.

I remember a story of a piercer who believed they were famous. Their claim was based on the idea that they invented a certain kind of style, lets call it "kick and papering" so that I don't out anyone. Anyway they went around claiming they invented it years ago. Well the truth came out eventually that not only did he not invent it, but he only did his FIRST one a week or two before he made those claims! He now has fallen so far he turns to hacks for ear sculpting advice.

Last I heard he was off somewhere correcting a lot of Brian Deckers procedure

Vyky: I'm proud to say I've not banged anyone in this discussion forum.

really? is that all I have to contribute to this conversation?

Cere: Cmon Vyky, let's let the truth out. I'm really your baby's father. I know we were trying to keep it a secret but with Wayde Million about to be born in about 8 1/2 months, we should let the world know about our power couple baby now.

Vyky: On the topic of star-fucking

really? where does it get you? to the top of the vagina transplant list because your own gash looks like it has leprosy from all the disgusting venereal diseases you've accumulated?

Vyky: Secret's out. I banged Cere in Philly and saved his seed for a year and a half and turkey-bastered that shit.

Stephen: Seriously, if you're sucking dick to get to the top or even jump starting an apprenticeship.. Its kind of the same thing as sucking dick for crack.

I think a lot of people take themselves too fucking seriously in The Hobby. But as Kelly Bundy put it on that classic television program "If you think you're hot everyone else will too". To a certain extent it's true. But you do have to have a little grain of truth in there for it to work. And if you put that shit on a hook and cast it out into a sea of noobs, there's always going to be some snapper that bites. Go go scene whore.

ToddBlog: So what you guys are telling us is that those types of behavior not only won't actually get you anywhere, but you will be ridiculed and joked about by the very ones you use these methods on?

Cere: First off Todd if you're in this industry you deserve to be ridiculed and joked about, so thats not the issue really. The real issue is "Will it work?", "Will star-fucking really get you the attention you want?" or if its actual knowledge whether thru an apprenticeship or thru just bullshitting with people you are now spending time with, will star-fucking get you all that.

The answer is Yes, it will. Star-fuckers will have other people not only notice them because they are on someone's arm but also they will be able to pick and glean information from those around them which now include "the elite". So yeah, they'll be joked about and made fun of, but if they didn't star-fuck their way there it would just be something else that they would be made fun of or ridiculed for.

So star-fucking works. We've established that it gets the endgame it wants. What it will NOT get you though is respect as an artist. Everything that star-fucking will get you, the info, access to "celebrities", the exposure, you can get from just walking up to someone and talking to them.

Vyky: So my question to you then, Cere:

Why is a certain horse-faced ugmo still stuck poking holes in silicone in the middle of the desert?

You'd think she could have banged her way into a better job title.

And wait.. Doesn't she know Sarvas?!?!?

Cere: Just cuz it gets you the introductions and knowledge you need doesn't mean you'll use those contacts and information properly. And look, did it work? Look at the attention she has. Really, almost everyone now knows who she is, I mean, here we are discussing her in a roundtable. It worked. her name is known. And being where she is she has access to artists and can pick them for information at anytime. Too bad she isn't smart enough to do anything with it though....

Cameron: I think, Cere, you may be giving star-fucking too much credit. After all we pretty much all agree that piercing has an expiration date, right?

So. Chick sucks a dick, learns some things while she is in the company of people smarter than her, takes that to a shop and pierces for what 3 maybe 4 years before she gives it up for a job with benefits and insurance (or just marries a tattooer), and is titled "that dirty slut that used to pierce."

it all works itself out in the end really, but in the meantime it's just a headache.

Cere: Actually i think we just gave it the same amount of credit. All star-fucking is meant to accomplish it DOES accomplish. Its just not meant to accomplish anything more then 10 minutes and a google search could do.

But what about the other aspect? The part where the girl has no aspirations to be an artist and just wishes to bask in the company of those who are "famous"? Obviously I cant expect you to have met women like that Cameron, since you know, you're no Shawn O Hare, but what's wrong with someone meeting (and then sucking off) a childhood hero? NOTHING I SAY!

Cameron: It's not for me, personally, but if someone else can opportunistically get their rocks of by some else's folly, then game on!

Vyky: Even just reading this conversation makes me feel dirty.

Shawn: When you make a list of world-class practitioners... how many women are on it?

Just saying.

Vyky: What makes a person world class, exactly? Seems like an arbitrary description. Is it by whose name spreads to further corners of the earth or who can stand 100% behind their work?

Shawn: An keep in mind that O'Hare stands 100% behind his work.

Cere: I think both Vyky and a lot more. Not only does a world class artist produce good solid work that they can stand by 100% but they do so with their clients safety and happiness being foremost in mind. A world class artist pushes boundaries safely and add insight and knowledge back into the community they are a part of. They are able to take criticism and give it back constructively both elevating themselves and their peers.

Because of the above traits they earn respect and their name does get around. You can DEFINITELY be well known and not be a world class artist.

Shawn: When I say practitioners, I don't generally mean piercers. Are there "world class" female piercers? Absolutely. But piercing, as much as you'd like to call it an art, is a skill.

You look at the worlds of scarification, tattooing, surgical work... it's a boys club. That's not to say women aren't CAPABLE of surpassing their peers and becoming what I'd consider world class- it's just that they haven't.

ToddBlog: Well, i guess that concludes our discussion. We wanna thank you guys for taking time out of you busy schedules to be a part of this. We hope to hear from you all again when we have our next discussion. Until then, we hope our readers enjoy what you have had to say.

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ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

This Is Your Mentor

We here at ToddBlog would like you to meet Mr. Sarvas Berry. Sarvas is well known for many things. He's a mentor (as this picture shows), a Man - Baby (as we have posted before), some like to call him a hack, and he apparently may or may not be the illegitimate love child of Shawn Porter (read below).

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ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

ToddBlog's Much Anticipated 2nd Celebrity Interview.

Hello loyal readers,

For our second celebrity interview, we here at ToddBlog chose a very interesting individual. He has been a part of the modification community for longer than most of you have been alive. He ran his own modification based website called SPC, has hosted all 3 Scar Wars events, hosted and co - hosted many others, thrown countless parties ( some of you may have attended these. if so, i think you dropped something.), and holds an archive of some of the most fascinating stories and moments of the modification community. Ladies and Gentlemen we are proud to give you,

Jars Filled With Wisdom:

An interview with Shawn Porter.

Pictured above: The infamous Shawn Porter.

(Although it may look like Shawn is praying, he isn't.

God just asked him for a personal favor in hopes that people would follow.)

bitch bitch bitch. gimme a damn minute will ya?!

ToddBlog: Shawn, could you please tell our readers what you are doing right now?

SP: Hello Todd-

Thanks for the opportunity to spend some time with the ToddBlog readers.

It's been a pretty long day, so I'm unwinding the same way I normally do; I'm laying fully clothed in my oversized bed while my semi-naked, barely legal girlfriend gets dressed so she can run to the ATM to treat me to Chinese for dinner. As I type, I hear the Ice Cream truck driving by, so if she hurries she can also buy me a a Ninja Turtle icecream bar- those have gumball eyeballs. I hope she'll get Donatello, but I'll take Raphael if they don't. If she brings me back a Michaelangelo, it's going straight to the trash. Sure they all TASTE the same, but I do have some standards.

ToddBlog: Coincidentally, we are having chinese food for dinner at the TBHQ as well. I guess great minds do think alike. Although we wont be fortunate enough to enjoy a tasty Ninja Turtles ice cream bar before hand. So as we have mentioned, you have done a lot for this community such as hosting and organizing major events, passing on stories and interviews with some of the founders of the tattoo and piercing industry, running web sites, and much more. After all this, you only needed to know Sarvas to be recognized as an part of the industry. That seems a bit off, don't you think?

SP: Not really, Todd.... and I should point out that I'm much more readily identified by my string of star-fucking exes than I am my connection (and possible parentage) of Sarvas Berry. Hell, there are shops that are primarily staffed by women I've been intimate with. That said, the piercing industry (which I've taken to calling "the Hobby" of late) is a young man's game these days- and if it takes a man-baby like SB to prove my connection, which in turn keeps the steady stream of young trim coming, then by christ I'll take what I can get. I could have a worse legacy than that.

ToddBlog: We have no doubts of the countless women you have been intimate with in the industry (and out). Would you say that being intimate with you has somehow gotten them where they are today? And if so, would you recommend any women new to this industry, seek you out for help with making a name for themselves?

SP: I'm more the patient old bull than the rough and ready young calf these days; truth be told I feel it's my place to encourage and mentor the next generation or "morally flexible" practitioners out there to seize the opportunity to trade what they know for a little slap and tickle. I saw a bunch of business cards in Las Vegas that let me know that the practice is still alive and well. Besides, I have much more respect for the lladies who got into this industry the old fashioned way: by making up their references because no one checks anyway.

ToddBlog: You mentioned that lately you have been referring to piercing as a "hobby", would you care to enlighten our readers on what you mean by that?

SP: In fairness, Todd, I did give it a little more respect than that. I didn't call it "a" hobby. I called it "The" Hobby.

It reminds me of that old joke: Those who can, Tattoo. Those who can't... become a piercer.

You'll have the coolest job outside of Hot Topic for at LEAST a couple of years; which is MORE than enough time to get heavily tattooed on your hands, neck and face. That should allow you to catch up to the 3.5" you "gauged" your lobes and nostrils to.

If you time it right, it should coincide with your 20th birthday and your fifth year as a piercer. After that... its time to start looking into "buying in". Learn to tattoo, buy a shop, grow marijuana... anything that will actually yield you a consistent income and provide you with some sort of tangible, realistic future.

ToddBlog: We apologize for miss reading what you wrote, and thank you for clearing that up for our readers. We would hate for all the ToddBlog fans to feel you didn't support their drive to be a part of this industry. Which leads us to our next question. As you've pointed out, heavy mods are becoming more and more popular with the younger generations of (dare we call them) modders. Do you think that this is something that will stand the test of time, or is it more likely a fad that will soon die off leaving a lot of work for those who do correctional procedures?

SP: The body modification community, particularly the online community, has been living in a reality bubble for the last few years. The ideology was sold that you're somehow a cultural revolutionary for getting your pecker pierced, and that not only do you have the right to get your face modified till you don't look human anymore, but it's damn near your obligation.

But as my old friend Erik said to me in Dallas recently- "you always hear people talk about rights, but you never hear anyone talk about responsibility" (which is totally paraphrased... I was drunk and he's a human lizard) The lack of responsibility in the BodyMod Community (tm) is at an all time high.

Modification itself will stand the test of time; sure. But the echoes of what we're seeing right now- increasingly younger "kids" with questionably safe certainly inadvisable modifications- won't die down for a while. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, but the tunnel is long and the path is populated by a bunch of people who are out to make a name for themselves and to get exciting pictures for their portfolios but who by and large could care less about the client.... Jesus. That got serious there, didn't it?

ToddBlog: We can't thank you enough for taking time out of your very busy schedule to chat with us. Before we conclude this interview, are there any last words you would like to leave our readers?

SP: No worries, Todd... you know you're one of my favorite piercers out there- I knew when I apprenticed you (seriously, who's actually going to check your resume) that you'd eventually "get it". And you do. Final words? Sure.

"It's grammatically correct to say gauging. Stop being an elitist douche".

cheers.

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ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Now thats a big hunk of metal.

We here at ToddBlog like to keep up on what's new in the industry. With the dermal anchor craze continuously growing, the demand for larger and larger pieces is growing as well. Well eat your heart out kids. This picture of a very sizable anchor was sent in my Stephen Detoma, who has been previously featured by us. One has to wonder, who will be the first to tackle such a large implant? I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Love Is In The Air

It seems that you really can find true love in Vegas. The two love birds in this picture are Spike and Ashley. They met poolside at the Tropicana during the APP opening party, and it was love at first sight. We here at ToddBlog can't help but get a little teary eyed over such a beautiful moment. We wish you two the best, and cant wait until the wedding.

Want to be featured on ToddBlog? Please send your photos and stories to
ToddBlog * Please note that although we here at ToddBlog appreciate your support, not all submissions will be posted. *

Buy the ticket, take the ride.

Thats right, ToddBlog will be going to Sin City, May 3rd through May 6th. We will be rubbing elbows with the who's who of the modification community, for what will surely be an interesting couple days. We will have our cameras ready, our eyes and ears open, and our party hats on.

As they say - What happens in Vegas, stays... er... will end up on ToddBlog.

ToddBlog celebrity interview

We here at ToddBlog like to keep up with who's who in the modification community. We recently had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with one of the community's heavy hitters, Cere. Its not everyday that we are able to get a glimpse into the life of such a highly regarded individual.

Without further ado ToddBlog is proud to present:

Star Struck - An Evening With Cere.

ToddBlog: Cere, it has been brought to our attention that you have had a major impact n the modification community. Is this true?

Cere: Of course its true. Until I came along most people who were into "tattooing" were just recreating imagery in a game of one-upmanship. There weren't any real artists with vision to push boundaries. I was the first to really show that tattoo ART (which i have essentially created) could be used to express ideas. Even if many of those ideas are far beyond the ability of most to comprehend it still touches them on an basic level. Never before has anyone been as influential as I.

pictured above: Cere

ToddBlog: I'm sure that being one of the more recognizable faces within this community comes with it's own level of "celebrity status". Has this status changed your everyday life?

Cere: Oh it hasn't really. I mean, sure, its hard going through airports now with all the teeming fans asking me for autographs, but really, who can blame them? And sorting through all the fan mail and woman asking me to bed them just so they can say they were ravaged by someone of my status is endearing but really my day to day life is the same. Im still a really humble person for someone who is so better then everyone else. Above: One of Cere's more complex pieces

ToddBlog: Would you say that you use this status to further the modification industry?

Cere: Absolutely not. The modification industry is essentially stagnant and needs to die. Sure, there are some people out there that i admire, like the amazing Shawn O Hare who is constantly pushing the boundary, but i find the modification scene is filled with far too many hacks like Cameron from Virginia. If only the world was filled with individuals like MikeNite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! then truly the scene would be vastly furthered.

Above: John Cere, truly a masterpiece.


ToddBlog: Its has also been brought to our attention that you are quite the tattoo artist. Any advice to those looking to break into the tattoo industry?

Cere: Yes. Simple advice is don't. You'll never be better then I am. I mean really, as I've been quoted before, there are really only 2 great artists in existence. Myself and Mother Nature. The rest shouldn't attempt. Because in the words of Ricky Bobby, "If you're not first, you're last". Actually I personally think even mother nature shouldn't try anymore. I mean with me as competition you might as well just hope that i will acknowledge you.

Above: Yet another mind blowing pierce of artistry



ToddBlog: A little while back you had mentioned how humble you are. We can clearly see that you are speaking the truth with that statement. Do you find it hard to be so humble, given you're celebrity status?

Cere: Not at all. See in order for my celebrity status to affect me in any way mentally, id have to actually value the opinions of others. See its one thing when you are faced with the views of your peers. Seeing as I have none, really the opinions of those who are nowhere near the level of greatness that i am, well they don't matter. So its easy for me to be humble, for the simple fact that no one out there can really appreciate how great I truly am.



ToddBlog: Your tattooing is constantly gaining popularity within the modification community, is there some sort of message that goes along with it?

Cere: Yes.

Above: Need we say more?


ToddBlog: You mention admiring artists like Shawn O Hare and Mike Nite, any chance we may see some sort of collaborative work between you and one of these individuals?

Cere: Unfortunately not. Although Id love to work alongside Mike, I've tried corresponding with him a few times online and it turns out he doesn't read or write English. He actually cant read or write at all. He just mashes the keys and gibberish comes out on the keyboard. At first I thought he speaking some hidden language, but it turned out that NO ONE knew what he was writing. As for Shawn, well if he can ever get some free time! I mean, between blowing his apprentice and looking for new ways to disfig... ummm, i mean modify people, he's a very busy man!


ToddBlog: Well Cere, it truly has been an honor to be able to talk with you. And with this interview coming to a close, do you have any final statements for our readers?

Cere: Yes. I prefer it if you don't look at me while blowing me. Pay more attention to the cock.

*Editors note*
Although we at ToddBlog realize that Cere is always right, because he is perfect. The opinions in this article are not the opinions of ToddBlog. Even if they are most likely true, because Cere said so.