After getting my left Daith pierced three months ago, I'd been feeling quite off-balance (what can I say, I'm a very symmetrical person). My right ear was looking quite bare, so I decided to make it happy and get another cartilage piercing. I remembered looking at some Snug pictures on BME and really liking them, so after some thought and staring at myself in the mirror I decided for sure it would be the one to get (which I'm sure made my friends and family happy; they were starting to think I was an egotistical bastard). The only concern I had was the fact that I already have nine earrings going up the rim of my ear, but there was a space right about where a Snug might go so I hoped it could be done.
At A Glance Author anonymous Contact anonymous@bme.anon When A week ago Artist Rob Hill Studio Steel Sensations Location Calgary, AB I planned on going to get pierced soon after my paycheck, but it turns out my willpower sucks and I blew the entire thing within two days of getting it. So, broke and angry at myself, I put the idea at the back of my mind until I could make some extra cash (not the best time to quit my job I know, but a person can cut beef four times a week for only so long).
Fast forward a couple weeks later, when two girls from my school were talking about getting pierced that day during their spare. I immediately jumped at the chance to accompany them (hey, any chance to watch people cry), and we walked the ten or so blocks to Steel Sensations to see Rob Hill. I was extremely happy when they chose him to pierce them, because he is one of the two people in Calgary I personally would trust with a needle, the other being Rick Gilmour at Adorned.
Anyways, Rob greeted us when we came in by telling us about the discount at the shop that day (something like half off the price of all piercings...to be honest I wasn't listening too closely, having not planned on getting pierced anyways. Let the fools with the money worry about cost). The first girl went in after a few minutes, and I was left to look wistfully at the display of jewelry and think of my Snug. The other girl, Elise, laughed at my expression, and asked if I would like to get pierced.
"Hell yes I would, but I have no money.."
"I just got vacation pay, so I can pay for it"
"..are you sure about that?"
"What else am I going to spend it on? Booze?"
Needless to say, I kissed her a million times and went to talk to Rob's apprentice about filling out forms and such (at least I'm assuming it was his apprentice..). I decided to ask her then if she thought my ear was a good candidate for a Snug, and I was more than excited when she told me it looked okay. After Elise went in for her nostril piercing, Rob called me over and asked what I was getting done. When I told him however, he wrinkled up his face and inspected my ear. Rob didn't think my ear could handle a Snug, but said he could move it down a bit into an Anti-tragus. Disappointed as I was, I'd already prepared for the great let-down and okayed the idea. Rob went through the usual cleaning, preparing, etc. while we laughed about the awesome quote on his wall ("I've Got A Fever, And The Only Cure Is MORE COWBELL"...good ol' Saturday Night Live). I asked about general pain compared to Daith piercings, and was a little nervous when he said most cartilage piercings are abo ut the same in the pain department, because I almost peed my pants my Daith hurt so badly. Ron lined the needle up, waited for me to breathe the appropriate amount of times, and pushed through while I concentrated on controlling my bladder.
There was a crunch, and then a pop, but no pain. I was in total shock, and just laid there with my mouth hanging open. There was a slight tug as the bead was put on, but otherwise nothing. I was so impressed that I think I patted Rob's arm and told him he was amazing, which made him laugh. When I got up to look at it, I was very happy (maybe even as happy as I would have been with a Snug).
I expected a little bit of stinging when I went out into the cold for the walk back to school, but there was none of that either. The only thing that happened with it was the blood caked around both holes for a couple mornings after, which I suspect was from me thrashing around at night. It was easy enough to clean off though.
This was by far the most well-behaved piercing I've gotten out of 21, and I'm planning on getting another on my left side (which completely defeats the purpose of this one, but what can I say...maybe I'll get a rook or something on this side to even it out again). And of course, I have to suggest Rob Hill to anyone in the downtown area of Calgary, because he is extremely talented and very personable.