| St. Catharines, Ontario is home to Sonic Tattooing and Piercing. Just before Christmas, Sonic, the owner/operator/piercer took some time to answer a few questions for me about piercing, his shop and what it was like expanding his piercing shop to a tattooing/piercing shop. He is such a nice guy and so personable, you really feel comfortable with him after just a short while. A++ for the bedside manner. I'm not that far from St Cats at the moment, so you can bet the next time I'm out there, I'm getting something pierced! When Sonic made the leap to open Sonic Tattooing and Piercing, he was a piercing apprentice at another shop. Opening his own studio was 'a huge step for me financially I don't think that anyone truly knows how hard it is to open a business on your own', he says. The studio being his only job, and the time and energy he put into it himself, made it a huge step in his personal life as well, 'not to mention how it seriously effects your social life and personal relationships', he adds. On breaking out on his own, he says 'there really wasn't ever a fear of my studio being completely modern and professional but, as a new studio without a clientele there definitely was some concern there until we became established.' Sonic describes leaving his apprenticeship as the easiest part of opening his own shop, because 'the physical part of |
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Total time from the moment the decision was made to the opening of his own place was just six months, and about $6000. 'I managed to open sonic piercing in only six months mostly because it was basically a single room operation not a studio', he explains.
'Once I decided to expand into tattoos I realized that I would now need a studio which meant more money.' with a 'spotless credit rating' and money managing skills passed down from his mother ('who managed to raise three kids on her own and became an accounting major later in life'), he was well on his way.
With $60,000 in his treasure chest (from two lines of credit) he set out to find a location and some tattoo artists, two chores he describes as 'fairly easy'. The future home of Sonic Tattooing and Piercing was found on a busy strip and, with his powers of persuasion, he accomplished getting the first 6 months rent free! His second to-do was finding tattoo artists, not a daunting task because 'at the same time I quit my apprenticeship about five tattoo artists quit as well so it was as simple calling up some old co workers and asking them if they wanted a job', he explains.
Since tattoo artists own their own gear, all that was needed to get the shop ready for tattooing was some more booths.
Sonic does not have a lot of piercings, he describes himself as 'a piercing minimalist, you don't have to be a poster child for the industry if your a piercer. I prefer going to large gauges in the piercings that i have. I have my tongue pierced with a 1 gauge 1/2 barbell, my septum pierced with a 6 gauge 7/16 circular barbell, my conchs with 4 gauge 5/8 barbells and my lobes stretched with 5/8 double flared eaglets. All custom made by Stainless Studios in Toronto, Ontario.'
As far as refusing to do a piercing, 'the only piercings I would refuse to do is any one that would put a persons health at risk during the piercing or because of the after effects of the piercing.', he explains.
Sonic's advice in looking for a good piercer (assuming you can't get to him, of course), 'the only thing I can really say [is] anyone who is looking to get pierced somewhere is to ask questions and if even one can't be answered then leave, after all this person is supposed to be able to answer any piercing related question. Here are two really important but overlooked practices a lot of tattoo studios [neglect] that should make you refuse to be pierced. One, single use markers for oral and genital piercings. There are some studios that do this, markers are felt tipped and can hold saliva and genital secretions. If you get marked with a marker prior to your piercing and the piercer [doesn't] throw it in the garbage right after using it, leave and don't let them break your skin with the needle. Two, never allow yourself to be pierced with an ear piercing gun. Why, because they cause tissue damage and can not be sterilized in an autoclave (the only acceptable means of sterilization).'
He adds, 'the most common mistake made by almost all customers who are pierced is to constantly touch it with dirty hands during the healing period. Also, customers very rarely ever follow the aftercare that is given to them after the piercing has been done.'
On trends in piercing, 'piercing is here to stay it's not going anywhere. People of all ages are get piercings these days. Piercing trends haven't changed much navels, eyebrows, nostrils and tongues are probably still the most popular of all of them.'
What made a piercer that opened his own piercing shop and later extended the operation into tattoos start taking a tattooing apprenticeship? During the previously mentioned piercing apprenticeship, Sonic was not 'allowed to learn anything about tattooing', he continues, 'so as soon as I opened my studio I started having my artists teach me more tattooing. My tattoo apprenticeship will be a long one because of all my other responsibilities and the fact that my time is limited. Plus I think if you own a studio [and] you know both disciplines it make you more valuable to yourself.'
Noting that the three year anniversary of Sonic's shop is coming up, I asked about any memorable moments, his response; 'the only memorable moments about the last two years is that it has been the hardest and most stressful work of my entire life. Everyday is a memorable moment.'
A last interesting tidbit about Sonic, he also has a side business called Sonic Skydiving, run in the spring and summer months. He's both an instructor and coach, been skydiving for 10 years. 'I am also a base jumper', he says, 'I have competed in provincial and national competitions. I've traveled in the U.S. visiting other drop zones (places where skydivers jump).'
Whether you're looking for a piercing, a tattoo or a lesson in skydiving, check out Sonic Tattooing and Piercing.