My latest hole: a guiche!

At A Glance Author sailor jake Contact sailorjake@webtv.net Artist Joe Studio Venus Modern Body Arts Location NYC

Having already been pierced with a frenum, a PA and an ampallang, I had just begun to feel as if maybe I'd reached a plateau of sorts (at least a temporary one) where I would resolve to be content with the piercings I have. I thought "That's it for awhile." As soon as the ampallang stopped being sore all the time though, my eyes once again began to wander around BME, in search of what would be my next piercing. "Just one more" I thought to myself. Yes. This one will satisfy me for a good long time.

In my job, I have to travel to NYC every couple of months for meetings. I'd taken advantage of the trip to the city to get pierced once before. It's tempting, what with the facilities right there and your boss not expecting you back for the rest of the day. I had been flipping through back issues of Body Play when I came across the write up for Venus Modern Body Arts in Body Play #15. I decided, if it was good enough for the Fakir stamp of approval, it was good enough for me. So after my meeting, I took a cab way down to the East Village and caught my first glmpse of the shop. It's in a nicer area, kinda quiet, and it has an open, comfortable feel to it.

I chatted with Joe, who as it turns out, would be piercing me. I really feel I need to say that Joe's professionalism was exceptional. You know, as someone with a suit & tie job who's into piercing, it's a little strange to go into a piercing establishment dressed like I would be for work. I mean, now I'M the one out of place, the one who might make people do a double take, as if to say "What are YOU (your kind) doing here?" It makes you feel like you need to display some sort of universal card that identifies you as a body mod enhusiast, somethg that says "It's OK, I'm one of you."

Joe and I discussed jewelry options. I decided on an 8 ga 5/8" CBR. I wanted a slightly heavy initial piercing, to accomodate future stretching. I also just happen to feel that bgger jwelry just looks nicer in a guiche. I waied on one of the store's leather sofas while Joe set up & the jewelry sterilized. There was only one girl in front of me, there for a navel piercing. Before I knew it, I was snapped out of my revie and summoned into one of the shop's 4 piercing rooms. The room itself was comfy and inviting, albeit a bit small. Still, it was more than adequate for the purpose. I appreciated the decoration and soft lighting. The ambiance made me instantly comfortable. Good thing, too, because I was about to put myself in a very, very compromising condition.

Joe, in his good natured and reassuring way, calmly explained that this piercing would be a "bit different" from the others I'd had in that he'd need me to get into a "strange" position on order for him to do it. Before I realized it, I was on the table, on all fours, my head down, and my ass in the air. I really think that had it not been for Joe's demeanor, I might not have gone through with it. He set me at ease perfectly, and I hno problem at all "assuming the position. Next, Joe began to probe around the piercing site to pick a spot for placement. I thought it was great that he was concerned with placing the piercing where it felt nice to me. Up till now, I thought that all piercings were done "by the book" or not at all. This was my first experience where my own preferences played a part in the placement of a percing. I relaxed even more.

Joe marked me up and applied the clamps. This caused a little discomfort, but I was calm enough that it really didt phase me at all. Another second and the needle was through. I honestly didn't realize that I had been pierced. The pain sensation felt like Joe had maybe tighteed the clamps a little. The discomfort of the clamps was literally more painful than the actual piercing. I was incredibally pleased by the whole experience. I stood up and Joe gave me a hand mirror so I could look at the piercing. The lacement was perfect, and I loved it instantly.

The piercing did not bleed at all initially, but it did bleed several hours later. I lost about the same amount of blood with my PA. It wasn't alaming by any means. By the next morning, the bleeding had stopped altogether. This piercing is unique in that it's a piercing you can feel in there all the time. I love my new guiche and would reccommend Venus Modern Body Arts (and Joe in particular) whleheartedly and without any hesitation at all.