Event Information - Association of Professional Piercers' 29th Annual Conference & Exposition. Online registration by Cvent

OPENING PARTY DETAILS

Opening Party is Monday Night.
Party runs from 7:45-11:59 PM Entry time based on ticket purchased.
Bar available - Credit Card only
Location: Flamingo Go Pool
Shuttles provided but may be slower than walking
- All shuttles ADA compliant.
- Walking map provided in Conference phone app.
- Shuttle stop is outside the hotel registration area to the left, follow the sidewalk to the end.
At entry all bags will be searched by security and ID’s checked for drinking age (those under 21 will be required to wear wristbands). Participants are encouraged to bring the bare minimum with them. There will be an expedited entry line for those without bags.
No outside food or drinks are allowed. Empty water bottles are allowed. Water stations will be provided. No smoking / vaping is allowed.

Why is the APP pool party at another hotel?

Very few pools in Caesar's properties allow swimming after dark! Safety regulations require certain types of lighting etc. which many of the pools have done away with. If we could have our pool party at the host hotel we would!

INNOVATORS AWARD COMPETITION

In 2026 the contest returns and is going ALL digital!

The Innovator’s Award program is a chance for Exhibitors and Attendees alike to showcase new and innovative designs they want to promote, test at the show, and gain recognition from those in our Industry.

Single item showpiece? Introduction to a new line? Never-before-seen jewelry concept?

We welcome your submissions!

There are two (2) categories – Technical Innovation and Creative Innovation.
Each Exhibitor/Attendee is allowed one (1) entry per category.
Exhibitors are encouraged to display their entries at their booths.
- The APP will supply small official “signs” with entry # for voting and a QR code to ballot.
Entries will be posted in the Event app (phone app).
Voting will take place via a linked google form.
APP will be doing both email and social media posts about the contest in order to encourage attendees to vote!

Winners of an Innovator of the Year award will be formally recognized at the Closing Awards Ceremony for their contribution and achievement and given an interview in The Point.

Fees: None in most cases. If the submission comes from someone other than a (paid) full conference pass Attendee, or an Exhibitor (with a booth on the floor) – there is a submission fee of $300 (less registration fees paid).

Please read the submission information here - before signing up!

CLOSING PARTY INFO & TICKETS

Celebrate another amazing Conference and dance, dance, dance!

Thursday from 9:30 - 11:59 PM

$15.00 per person
No food will be at this event
Bar available - Credit Card only
No outside food or drinks allowed

Must have a wristband to enter. Wristbands provided on the Mezz / Info booth prior to the party.

Location: Planet Hollywood’s Gallery & Cabaret Lounge

Gallery:

Club atmosphere
Club style seating
Multiple bars
Music & dancing

Cabaret Lounge

Club style seating
Close to the club but quiet enough to talk

SUPPORTIVE OFFERINGS

Meditation
- Wednesday & Thursday
Yoga
- Monday-Thursday
- 8:00-9:00 AM
- Open to all
- Bring your mat (the room is carpeted)
12 Step Recovery Meetings
- Daily meetings during the week; some in the morning and some in the evening.
- Open to ALL 12-Step program members and anyone interested in attending a recovery meeting.
- It is not required to register for these meetings. However, they will be available should you wish to register for the meetings.
- If you register, that information will be available to the APP administrators, Board Members, and potentially volunteers.

WHAT IS THE SILENT AUCTION?

The Silent Auction is a fundraiser for the APP!
It is also a way for qualified industry persons to win big discounts on jewelry, aftercare products, services, etc.!
It is open to industry professionals, including those who are registered for the Conference, those who don’t plan on registering, or those who haven’t registered yet.
The Auction takes place online using the 32auctions platform.
The Silent Auction starts and ends prior to the APP Conference. Don’t miss out!
It will have bidding open for one week, from May 13-20.

IMPORTANT DATES

May 1 - Auction Site opens for registration and preview.
May 7 - Bidder Deadlines:
- All bidders will need to use a 32auctions.com account to "request access to participate" in the auction.
- Bidders need to submit industry affiliation documentation — only applicable if Bidder is NOT registered for the 2026 Conference.
May 13 - Bidding starts at 10am Pacific Time
May 20 - Bidding ends at 10am Pacific Time
June 7-12 - 29th Annual Conference & Exposition

See detailed Silent Auction schedule below.

SILENT AUCTION PRIZES

Are available in the following wholesale value denominations only: $5000, $4000, $3000, $2000, $1000, & $500.
Are redeemable for credit towards wholesale purchase. Specific product/jewelry cannot be a Silent Auction winnings.
May have restricted claim dates that occur prior to 2027’s Conference (June 27, 2027). For example: “This winning is valid only for orders placed during October, 2026.”
Cannot require an additional purchase to redeem credit. For example: a credit of $1000 cannot require the purchase of $2000 worth of product.
Values stand alone; promotions and/or discounts cannot be applied or combined with the Silent Auction winnings.

SILENT AUCTION SCHEDULE

Auction Site opens for registration and review May 1, 2026.
All participants will need to register at the 32auctions website prior to the Auction start date; by midnight of May 7, 2026.
Bidders who haven’t yet registered for the 2025 Conference will have to submit proof of retail license/business by midnight of May 7, 2026 to be authorized as bidders.
Bidding opens: Wednesday May 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT .
Bidding ends at 10:00 am PDT Wednesday May 20, 2026.
Payment will be required at the time the auction ends. All payments will be collected online through Stripe, using a credit card, debit cards, and Apple Pay.
Winners will have 24 hours - until 10:00 am PDT Thursday May 21 to make payment through the auction website.
Items not paid for by the deadline will convert to the next-in-line winner. They too will have 24 hours to make payment until 10:00 am PDT Friday May 22.
If both the 1st & 2nd winner do not pay by their respective deadlines the prize will convert to the next highest bidder for 24 hours to pay, etc.

OFFICIAL SILENT AUCTION RULES

Auction winnings

The actual number of winnings and the values will be announced by April 10th.
Silent Auction winnings are in the following wholesale value denominations only: $5000, $4000, $3000, $2000, $1000, $500 (with limits).
The Silent Auction winnings are for wholesale credit toward purchase ONLY.
Example: $5000 is donated by Manufacturer, winning bid is $4500 - winner gets $5000 jewelry at 10% off. Winner gets to select from $5000 worth of jewelry from the Manufacturer,but only pays $4500 - money which goes to the APP.

Bidder Qualifications

Participation is open to persons 18 years of age and older.
Participants must meet eligibility requirements at the time of bidding.
All bidders must register on the Silent Auction website prior to midnight PDT on May 7.
Bidders MUST provide their full name, phone number, email as a part of registering as a bidder online. Phone numbers allow the APP to text notifications about winning in a timely manner.
Those bidders who have not registered for the 2026 Conference by May 7, will need to provide retail/resale/business documentation prior to midnight PDT on May 7.
A registered 32Auction account bidder must be bidding for themself. An account created for a third party will be considered in violation of this auction’s rules.
It is the responsibility of the bidder to ensure that payment is available should they win the prize. This includes checking credit card limits and bank holidays, etc. which may affect fund availability.
Violations of rules or non-payment of winning bid may result in disqualification of current bids and bans from future auctions.
Silent Auction winning certificates cannot be transferred, gifted, or resold. Only the participating recipient may bid; a registered bidder cannot be bidding on the behalf of someone else nor can they use another’s credit card for payment.
Auction participants must be industry affiliated with the ability and intent to resale these wholesale auction winnings. If the winner chooses to keep their auction purchase(s) for personal use and does not resell their auction purchase, the winner will be responsible for filing and paying the area’s sales tax where the transaction occurred. This may be your home state or may be in Nevada if your winning is redeemed at Conference.

How to Enter a Bid

The bid is a contractual agreement to purchase. Bidders who win but who do not pay for their prize may result in disqualification of current bids and bans from future auctions.
The bidder must register in the 32auctions site in order to place bids.
Non-Registered (for Conference) Bidders will need to submit proof of retail/resale license in order for their registration to be accepted.
The purchase of a Silent Auction winning is final and non-refundable.
The starting minimum bid must be at least 10% of face value ($50 for $500, $100 for $1000, $200 for $2000, $300 for $3000, $400 for $4000, $500 for $5000).
All new bids will increase by at least $100 increments.
Bidders will bid solely by proxy bid.
Proxy bid — the maximum amount the bidder is willing to spend with the goal of winning at the lowest possible price. Proxy bids will be processed by the system and continue to bid up to the limit if there are competing bids made on the item.
The proxy bids increments will be just enough to beat out the current bid, and will not be in $100 increments. The overall proxy bid must be $100 more than the current bid.
Bidding will occur online in the official online auction only.

How to Win

The winner is the qualified bidder who has the highest eligible bid at the time of the Silent Auction closing.
Check the Silent Auction Schedule, available in this text on the 2026 Conference website and in the Conference mobile app.
Bid entry deadlines are subject to change by the Association of Professional Piercers.
Initial Winners will be notified by email (via 32auctions) on Wednesday May 20 after 10:00 am PDT. Winners will also be text messaged to the phone number listed on their Silent Auction registration.
Winner notification stating that bidders should check their email/text messages will also be pushed out through the Conference phone app to which all bidders will have access.
Winnings will be sent in a single invoice at the end of the auction and/or when another bidder defaults. Bidders are responsible for all winnings and should be financially ready to pay for all winnings. Budget and bid accordingly.
APP WILL allow winners to pay for only some of their winning items and opt-out of paying for select items.
Admin will remove the highest bid for the selected items and it will immediately trickle down to the next highest bidder who will have until the end of the following payment period to pay. Deadlines will still follow the 24 hour (10am - 10am PDT) schedule.
Payment defaults will NOT affect the current auction, but the Treasurer/Board may ban defaulters from participating in future auctions.
Once paid, winners will receive an email of official claim notice to be used to show to the contributor and claim their winnings.

Deadlines

See the Official Silent Auction schedule for details.
Silent Auction wins must be paid in full 10:00 am PDT Thursday May 21 or they will be awarded to the second highest bidder.
Second Winner payments must be received by 10:00 am PDT Friday May 22.
If both the 1st & 2nd winner do not pay by their respective deadlines the prize will convert to the next highest bidder for 24 hours to pay, etc.

Additional Terms

Participants are responsible for complying with these Official Rules.
Proof of age, eligibility, and identity must be furnished upon request.
Participants agree to the use of their name, likeness, and studio for advertising and publicity purposes, without compensation.
All taxes, import duties, shipping fees, and declaration forms are the responsibility of the winner.
By participating in the Silent Auction or winning any bids, participants agree to and do release and hold harmless the Association of Professional Piercers (APP) and its volunteers, employees, agents, and officers from any claim, demand, judgment, award, and/or any liability of any kind whatsoever.
The APP reserves the right to modify or terminate this Silent Auction at any time.
The APP reserves the right to make changes to the list of Silent Auction winnings due to contributor cancellation or disqualification.
In the event of a conflict, these Official Rules supersede any applicable general rules or advertisements of the APP Silent Auction.
Any unclaimed Silent Auction certificates (either not bid on or not paid for) revert back to the Contributor. There are no rollovers.
All proceeds from the Silent Auction go towards offsetting the costs of Conference.