[clinty]

What do you guys think of a lip piercing? Now, I'm not talking about a labret (http://www.pleasurable.com/assets/images/db_images/db_labret3.jpg), but one off to the side (snakebite, I think it's called. only one though, as opposed to snakebiteS. ) http://www.stiehlsbodymod.com/piercings/lip2sm.jpg. I've been doing as much research about it, and I really haven't found many negative affects on it. I've read from people that play saxophone and flute and what not, and they all say that once it heals, they can play fine if they take it out.

Now, I don't want to hear replies like "it's distasteful!" or "that's just scarring your body" and what not. I'm looking for health risks or maybe what puncturing a muscle (and the chances of that) would do to my playing. I have a 3 month summer then I go back, so that would give me time to heal. I'll be drum major next year, so I won't be playing too much in marching besides in our jazz band. I know my director would slit my throat if he found out I was going to do it, but he probably doesn't know all the things I can do to keep it clean and good for playing!

Thanks!!!!

Clinton

 

[hakukani]

I think you should split your tongue, too. It might give rise to new methods of double tonguing.:|

Look, I don't know why you're asking advice for this, because you obviously are going to go ahead and do it. The health risks or lack thereof are already well known, and it might totally mess up your playing. And for what? To look 'individual'? MLK Jr. had it right. Let people judge you by the content of your character.

 

[heath]

Lip piercing is for little girls.....not men. You want to be a man and thought of as a man? I see a guy with these and I automatically think sissy.

If you play the saxophone never take a chance damaging your lips, tongue or teeth. Enough said.

 

[Ian]

Why do this? Give me a clue to your thinking on this issue. Chronic infection is a real possiblity, and that can, albeit very occasionally give rise to serious health issues. Sensory alterations on the lip are possible though admittedly unlikely. Scarring is certainly possible. There's enough bad stuff that can go wrong with your body without cultural mutilations adding to the risk! I guess if there are pressing reasons you need this done you take these (small) risks?

 

[Agent27]

I saw Dennis Rodman on CMI last week. He had a ring through his bottom lip and I thought, "I wonder how that will affect sax playing." If it's off to the side and you can take it out, I don't see much chance of it hurting anything. You could always go Kenny G and play out the other side of your mouth.

 

[hakukani]

Who's Dennis Rodman?

 

[Rick Adams]

Don't do it

 

[Agent27]

Who's Dennis Rodman?

Are you serious? He's a (now retired) famous basketball player. Played mostly for the Pistons and Bulls winning 5 NBA championships. Has a reputation as a huge freak. Lot's of tatoos and piercings and occasional women's clothing.

 

[retread]

All that, and an absolutely awesome rebounder, too.

 

[clinty]

I think you should split your tongue, too. It might give rise to new methods of double tonguing.:|

Look, I don't know why you're asking advice for this, because you obviously are going to go ahead and do it. The health risks or lack thereof are already well known, and it might totally mess up your playing. And for what? To look 'individual'? MLK Jr. had it right. Let people judge you by the content of your character.

For the splitting of the tongue, that would be mildly gross, but pretty dang funny if it worked, lol.

And no, I haven't already decided, I'm just trying to decide if I really want this. If I didn't already play wind instruments, I would probably already have it. I love playing saxophone, but I really want this. I know it's just a piercing, but I hate tattoos, and other piercings in other places just didn't look right on me. I know the risks are small, but what I was mainly aiming for is if maybe there was a small chance that someone on these forums had the same idea I had.

It's not in any way, shape, or form myself wanting to look more individual. I saw it, and I liked it. There was nothing more to it. I'm fine with who I am, and I don't think a piercing is going to help me "define myself" further than I already have done. However, I just feel like I want one. For some reason, the only piercing I have ever really wanted, turns out to be the most risky (even if the risk is seemingly itty bitty)

 

[hakukani]

Are you serious? He's a (now retired) famous basketball player. Played mostly for the Pistons and Bulls winning 5 NBA championships. Has a reputation as a huge freak. Lot's of tatoos and piercings and occasional women's clothing.

Nope. I don't watch TV and pay no attention to pro basketball. Does he play sax?

Also, if he's retired, he's just another tall freak with tattoos and piercings (and probably plenty of money from being overpaid). I can understand women's clothing, if done tastefully and understated so that it's not a sideshow.

 

[fballatore]

I only have one thing to add to what has already been said by hakukani, heath, Ian, and Rick Adams.

!!!

 

[Dr_sax]

I´m a football pro. Would it affect my playing if I shot my foot?

 

[Grumpie]

At least it might give you a nice ring to your sound.

 

[RootyTootoot]

I'm guessing, but I think a piercing of the lip could lead to some interesting "altissimo" playing. Unintended altissimo, yes, but nice and squeaky nonetheless. Seriously, if you really like playing sax I can't think of a worse procedure to put yourself through.

 

[Frank D]

I'm from the generation that thought it was cool to pierce your ear. Now I sit in groups of my peers and look at all of the ear lobes that show the residual mark of having once been pierced.

It's just a fad. If you're interested in being a sax player, don't mess with your lip. You'll have enough problems with mouthpieces and reeds to contend with.

 

[jmartin]

Anyway, shouldn't your mouth be watertight? It will be like having a permenant dribble glass.

 

[potiphar]

The important thing is that the ring is delacquered, or at least hasn't been relacquered as this will affect your sound. Apart from that, chronic infection, and nickel allergy the only problem is taking your sax out quickly, hooking the ring on your ligature and leaving your lips on the mouthpiece. This does at least save having to re-form your embrouchure each time you play, and could become the next big thing after plastic reeds. Does that help?

 

[jazzbluescat]

You know, I just thought of something. I bet a psychoanalyst could make a boocoup(sp) of money if he set up shop beside a piercing shop.:twisted:

Maybe not...

 

[hgiles]

Clinty, do what you want as long as you're not hurting anyone else -- you've only got one life. Make the most of it, enjoy it (legally and responsibly).