After millennia of acceptance in cultures across the world, the practice of body piercing retreated into the underbelly of Western culture. However, as esteemed piercer Johnny Pearce believes, the industry may be experiencing a new era of popular acceptance. “The body piercing industry has evolved so much in the last few decades, and truthfully, it is still growing and developing,” he says.
“What was once thought of as an underground subculture has bloomed into this beautiful world of fine gold jewelry with endless custom options that has recently found itself in the mainstream spotlight.” Johnny Pearce is a professional body piercer and photographer at Nine Moons Piercing, a premier NY body piercing studio specializing in custom gold body jewelry and ear piercing curation.
Johnny Pearce’s Journey into Piercing
Originally born Jonathan Lawrence Pearce of North Carolina, Johnny Pearce began his piercing career in 2010. His recognizable piercing style and comprehension for photography eventually gained him notoriety among the international piercing community and became a key foundation for his success. He’s an active member and passionate advocate of The Association of Professional Piercers, a non-profit international health and safety organization dedicated to the dissemination of information about safe body piercing.
Johnny Pearce attends and teaches at the APP’s educational conference in Las Vegas each year, where thousands gather to freely share information to help fellow members, piercers, healthcare professionals, legislators, health inspectors, and the general public get the best and most up-to-date information about body piercing.
Featured on The Today Show and even as a special guest on Impractical Jokers, his client list includes recognizable names such as Cardi B, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Savannah Guthrie. After settling into a permanent role at Manhattan’s very own Nine Moons Piercing in 2019, he remains a New York City resident, actively piercing in SoHo.
Leaping Over Hurdles in the Path to Success
According to Johnny, working in piercing is like anything else in life. “There are always challenges,” he says. Though there are (and have always been) challenges in almost every aspect of body piercing and the industry, the important thing is that you don’t give up. “You can’t let yourself be defeated by the hurdles that life puts in your way,” he advises. “Even if something doesn’t work out the way you planned, you can’t be deterred. If you fall, you pick yourself up and try again.”
Success is Relative
Johnny believes that success is entirely relative to the perspective of the viewer. “For some people, success is being the head of a prosperous Fortune 500 company. For others, success is making it through another day at work, just keeping lights on and stomachs full, while simultaneously finding the willpower to put on a collected face for their kids. The truth is that the degrees of success are infinite, with none more valid than the other,” he explains. This is a poignant and powerful message, one that Johnny hopes will inspire others to reevaluate their own values and vision of success.
Johnny’s measure of success is simple: applying yourself to the task in front of you and doing the very best job that you can. “Even if you fall short of your goal, you can learn from the experience and grow, which is success in itself! No one can ask for more than that.”
Piercing the Mainstream
Now that the practice of body piercing is finding its way back into the mainstream with widespread acceptance, Johnny feels optimistic about the future of the industry – though he can’t say for certain where it will be headed. As he explains, “I can’t begin to imagine what’s next for body piercing, but if I could say one thing, it would be onward and upward!” Though Johnny is hesitant to share too many details, he plans on releasing his first book soon. The book, which will be a collection of Johnny’s works, is currently in the process of being assembled.
About Nine Moons Piercing
Nine Moons Piercing is an acclaimed body piercing studio in Manhattan. It exclusively carries BVLA, a top-quality gold body jewelry brand, and offers custom options for every piercing service. The studio’s sterilization process is state of the art and its stylist’s jewelry curations are unparalleled. Nine Moons prides itself on providing a safe and luxurious experience for each of its clients.
Learn more about Nine Moons Piercing on the official website. Follow Johnny’s work on Instagram (@johnnypearce).
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