Meet Sam Montgomery Riley | Professional Piercer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sam Montgomery Riley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sam, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I always wanted more from my environment. The shops i was in previously were like all of the shops id ever visited: they got the job done. However, it always felt very much like an old school idea of a tattoo shop. Clients would walk in, and immediately feel like a burden. Like they werent “cool enough” to be there. They would stumble over their words while the artists asked what brought them in—and i could FEEL their discomfort. Im super empathetic, and the feelings of others imprint on me. I wanted to create a place where EVERYONE felt like they belonged. Thats why we called it Elevated—because we wanted to Elevate the shop environment. Come out of the stone age. I wanted teachers, lawyers, doctors, children—everyone to feel right at home. It occurred to me that no where i went would provide to me what I wanted to offer my clients. So we decided to create it. Visually comforting, great customer service, and high quality everything. Exactly what our clients deserve, and the only thing Ill put my name on.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I CURATE! I live to style my clients in a way that moves with them, and not against them. I understand placement and aesthetics. When I look at you, I just see it. Then I learn about YOU. What is your lifestyle? Whats realistic for you? What are you attracted to? Piercings are no longer this sub culture thing without rhyme or reason. I style my clients to bring our their personal style. To elevate them, without muddying up all of their God given beauty.

How did I get here. Hmm. Thats such a loaded question and the longest story ever. Ill sum it up to say this: Im an extremely hard worker. I dont stop. Im relentless. I want to be the best. I want the best for my clients; and I wont accept any less of myself. I want this to be an experience for you. I want you to leave here somehow mentally better than you arrived, filled with joy and having made a new friend. I want to unlock confidence and fun in you. I want all of that, and I only accept THAT. At a bare minimum. Thats how I got here.

Im super well known for my work with children. I dont know what it is about kids, but its like people are afraid of them in this industry—its so strange!!! I believe what Whitney said, “the children are our future,” and im thrilled and honored to play a positive part in any childs life. Not only does it make me extremely proud to provide safe piercing to children who might otherwise have ended up at Claires, but I spend my days being part of something that empowers these children. They come in, and of course they are fearful. They are nervous, excited, everything an adult feels before skydiving, or some other big new thing riddled with fears of the unknown. To a child, this may as well be skydiving. This child is meeting a STRANGER, who has yellow hair, and is entrusting this lady to do something that will be slightly uncomfortable for them. Put yourself into a 4 year olds mind.

This is a big deal.

Working with these amazing kids and having a part in something that brings them such pride is such a beautiful thing to me. My workroom has a board in it covered in the artwork of little girls and boys Ive had the honor of piercing. They trusted me and remembered me enough to bring me art afterward. Maybe kids are the most important thing I do and can tell you about. Its certainly one of the reasons for my success. I owe thank yous to countless little girls and their families. Shout out to the Tanglewood Moms, Aledo Moms, and Weatherford Moms Mafia—these moms have shared their stories of my work on their kiddos for years. Im so incredibly grateful for every tag, every mention, etc.

That word best describes me when I consider my career—GRATEFUL. I GET to do this. i GET to meet these men, women, and children and share my love of piercings with them. I GET to answer their questions and follow up to help them through their heal. I GET to see my clients again when they bless me by bringing in their sister or friend, or end up in one of my artists chairs for a tattoo. i GET to do all of that. Our clients allow us to live this beautiful, blessed life. My brand is all about giving back to those clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh this is easy. Food would be PERRYS STEAKHOUSE if the mood was fancy and Charlestons if it was more casual. These are our family’s fav spots. We also love BOULDER ADVENTURE PARK! If you havent been, you GOTTA TRY IT! Its massive! Ropes courses, huge rocks to climb, scaling mountains, games—you name it. We can be in there for 7 hours and barely scratch the surface. Id insist on taking them sky diving as well.

If youre reading this and youre too scared, ILL GO SKYDIVING WITH YOU! Youd love it. Its nothing like youd think!!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband Sean brought me into the tattoo/piercing world, as a long time tattoo artist. I would never have considered piercing, nor opening a shop without him. He has encouraged me to grow since the day we met. My brother and sister in law, Mat and Ali, deserve endless thank yous, as they invested in Sean and myself when we opened up Elevated. Theyre very special to me. Our kids, Char, Georgie, and Liz have always been the reasons why.

Oh, and my Dad. Who told me to stop crying, and that I COULD do it.

Website: Www.elevatedtattooandpiercing.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/samelevatedpiercing?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artistrybysam?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Ashley Bryan