Massaging on beds? Happy endings?

[StoneHolistics]

Hello,

Not too sure if this has been posted before...if so I'm sorry!!!

When I done my massage courses, I was always told NOT to massage on beds, since it was bad for our backs, and the clients', since it's not really a stable surface. You also lose the sense of professionalism.

However, since trying to turn my hobby into a career, I have found that most agencies are fine with you massaging on beds :/ I am trying to get clients myself but the people who have phoned me up are shocked when I say I use a massage mat or massage table and won't massage on a bed - am I losing potential clients or just losing ones that I could do without anyways?

What are your views on this? Do you or would you massage on the clients bed? etc

Also, how long should I expect guys to be calling asking for hand relief/extras/lingam massage? I knew I should expect some, but seriously, ALL the guys that have been in contact has asked for it. How do you deal with it? I was told I should just outright tell them that if that's what they were after I was the wrong therapist for them.

Why are peoples' perception of massage so sordid and smutty?

How am I to gain confidence in what I love to do when I cannot get the clients I need?

Sorry I ranted a little and there's a fair bit to read...if you have managed to read this far....I thank you kindly

xxxxxxxx

[Jabba The Hut]

Thankfully I don't get calls from the kind of people that you are describing any more, but when I first started out, I did - that was 30+ years ago! I was advised never to take same-day bookings from males - make them wait at least a week - if they legitimately require massage therapy, then they will wait - plus, it makes it sound like you are busy - I always set an appointment time too, not letting them dictate when I should arrive at their home (I was mobile when I first started out). Always let a family member or friend know when you are doing home visits - call or text pre and post treatment. I didn't have that luxury when I first started, which is why I made them wait - timewasters or pests are not willing to wait, that's for sure!

I only ever treat palliative clients on their beds, and will not treat healthy individuals on anything except my portable couch, which is set up to a perfect working height for me. I am unwilling to compromise my health.

If you find yourself faced with an individual who has the wrong expectations, simply say 'I do not offer that form of treatment', pack up and leave.

[SooticasDream]

I've have had a similar response from others when I say that I'm a qualified masseuse. Even if they have known me for years, I have been asked if I do "you know..."
As for why? Brothels tend to guise themselves as massage parlors, so masseuse has unfairly become a bit of a by word for a "working girl".
If you're getting so many clients wanting "extras", maybe the wording of your ad or even where you have been placing it needs to be revised?

I would never massage on a bed again (I did before I bought my massage bed while training) & there's no way you can apply the pressure needed as the mattress (as it's designed to do) sinks under the pressure. Also at 5'9 they are far too low for me.
I'm with Jabba, the only time I would massage someone on their bed is if they are in palliative care.
I tried the floor at one point too, but it wasn't for me. Massage table all the way for me!

[ylangrose]

I wouldn't use anything but my massage table, except if the client couldn't get on it or it would be too uncomfortable for them. Normal beds are way too low and soft and I think my back would break if I were to massage on the floor.

I did have family and friends make comments when I first started out but have only ever had 1 man phone asking for more than a massage. He was fine when I said no, saying he was sorry for bothering me.

[techiefingers]

I'd definitely agree with avoiding beds. Too hard to give an effective massage and far too easy to end up with backache afterwards.
Just a personal opinion but I also think a treatment table helps keep it much more professional (avoiding the happy ending requests) and since you'll find it easier to give a better massage, you're more likely to get a repeat booking.

The wording of your advert and where you advertise will certainly influence the number of dodgy requests you get but you'll always get them. I just accept I'll turn down a certain percentage of the enquiries I get and handle any other problems as they arise.
You just have to have confidence in your own abilities and what you do and don't offer.

Just a thought
What agencies are you using to find clients ?
Probably a silly question but are you sure they're not offering both escort and massage services so clients aren't actually sure which one you are ?
I've been approached by a couple of agencies and although you could say which you wanted to do, they advertised both.

[the beagle]

never ever use beds, its just not professional. you can get a good couch for less than £100, its as much a tool of the trade as your hands. Get your clients to fill in professional forms with name, address, phone number and so on, giving all this detail the client will less likely ask for extras as you have numbers to report to police. You are a professional people should treat you like one.

i agree with others, make your marketing right, in the right areas, and word it so it cant get confused with the wrong sort of massage.

with the dodgy massages, do you actually get a massage????????

[StoneHolistics]

thanks for the replies, sorry it's taken me a while to reply...

@Jabba

That is some very good advice there, and it was along the lines of what I had arranged to do myself...just haven't had the chance yet lol

@Sooticas Dream

I made a poor judgement in where I placed my first advert...Gumtree, purely because I was on a small budget...should have known that I would get many dodgy requests!

@Ylangrose

How and where do you advertise then? I cannot believe that you have only had the one request I would love to be able to do via word of mouth, but I have just moved and don't know anyone in my area I tried Gumtree (BAD MOVE! and currently have some flyers which I will distribute, but not too sure on the return of such advertising :/)

@Techiefingers

I can't actually remember the agencies I tried now, but I have doubts on the professionalism of them when some of their websites were riddled with spelling mistakes! Which agencies approached you?

@The Beagle

Originally Posted by the beagle

with the dodgy massages, do you actually get a massage????????

I have no idea! But not willing to give it a try lol Perhaps you could do the research and report back?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply

xx

[ylangrose]

I advertised in the local free magazine, spent hours putting leaflets through doors locally and got family and friends to get their friends to come along. I haven't been practising for a while but am hoping to start again soon. Not sure how I'll do though as things are quiet with other therapists in the area. Maybe I'll get more requests this time round.

[Reiki Pixie]

GUMTREE, wink wink nudge nudge say no more

Sorry SH, couldn't resist that one

If you are losing clients because it is not on a bed (disabled/palliative clients excluded) then you do not want them as clients.

Advertising and therapies isn't an easy one. You can print as many leaflets as you like and stick them up everywhere, but the return is very poor. Forget Yellowpages, newspapers and magazines, silly website directories, which can be expensive and give little results. Better to have a good quality business card that refers you to your website, and just keep talking to people, offer taster massage treatments, be seen. There will alway be some idiot that mentions about 'extras'. They are not worth bothering with and save your energy for those that are geninuely(sp) interested.

Question: As a massage therapist, what can you offer? What is your unique selling point? Do you have vision and a direction where you want your massage business to go?

Don't let any negative experiences so far get you down. We all have hurdles to leap, it's part of any business. The fun bit is to succeed and benefit our clients.

Best Wishes

RP

[Essence99]

hello stoneholistics, sorry to hear that you are getting calls from guys wanting more than massage. As may have been mentioned already Gumtree does attract those type of requests.

I've seen at least one London massage therapy agency saying that the treatments may be carried out on a bed. It does make things seem not so professional. The only time I carry out a massage on a bed is for voluntary massage that I do for cancer clients. In this instance it is easier than them trying to get onto my massage table.

Have a look on the business and marketing section of this forum for some ideas to help you build your practice. It does take a while but good luck.

[coygina]

Hey, just a word on advertising ... it may sound silly, but honestly in the last week I have had more clients than I can deal with and that is because of where I have done some quick advertising...

It's quick, free, easy ... and did I mention free? Facebook! It may not sound very professional, but trust me MANY businesses actually have facebook pages/groups (or what I have done is make a normal facebook account with first name Rejuvenation and surname Room because they will just keep trying to make you make a page otherwise if you try anything other than one word in each field) but yeah, with doing that you can add people you know from your own friends list (if you are already using facebook) and if not, you can try get in touch with people you know, who will suggest people they know, who in turn ... well, you get the point. But also, I just started a competition today (very popular things the beauty and hair salons in my area here in Norway and in Northern Ireland are doing ) that will run for a week after I got 100 people to add me as a friend, "to win a free 60min (or 30 min depending on what you would prefer to give away yourself) massage of your choice, all you have to is reply in this thread with your best de-stressing tips, they can be funny, serious or both, but not googled. The aim is to get the most 'likes' on your tips so invite your friends to join in and like your comments" etc. and it will run for a week.

I seem to have a habit of talking waaaay to much, suffice to say that if you are low budget, and want to get less dodgy people until you can build up word of mouth advertising is to get your friends and family involved. The hardest part of being a massage therapist is getting them over that threshold in the first place- and what is a free 60min massage when you could possibly have hooked yourself a regular client because you took away the risk for them?

You could also, depending on what massage you offer, write to doctors, physiotherapists, local businesses and try to do a deal with them. Doctors can refer clients to you to destress, physios often get clients who actually just need a good sports massage and would happily have you take those clients for them so they can focus on the innumerable clientele they already receive, and offices. My physio advised me to go to somewhere (like my part-time place of work, a nursing home) and offer to massage 10 personnel for 4-6weeks (30min/45min/60min -obviously 60mins would need to be over 2 days) for a reduced rate like say, £1000 ... that the company pays . Now the idea is, if you present it right, to persuade the company you are actually saving the them money (in the long run, time= money ) because studies prove that in certain jobs, like the health sectors- nursing homes, hospitals etc. they have a lot of people on sick leave because of bad backs, chronic neck & shoulder pains as well as migraines/headaches because of having to lift patients (bad body mechanics), so if you can show them studies (pretty sure google can provide you with statistics) that show massage therapy as beneficial at reducing sick leave, as well as staff discomfort, they would be more than happy to try it out - could tell them to provide it to their staff as part of their Christmas bonus. (The same with approaching offices, and with a desktop chair massage apparatus, you don't have bulky equipment to carry around and can do it at a desk through the clothes).

Sorry again for a long winded reply but hope my incoherent ramblings held at least a LITTLE semblance of good advice

Gina

[natalie8]

Great tips, Gina! Thanks so much for those. I'm moving to London in the new year and I'll be starting my own business in massage and Reiki. I'll definitely try some of what you've suggested.

[coygina]

I'm using it as a pseudo-website of sorts, with having things like customer advice, terms & conditions placed in the "notes" section. It's very amateur and it's not as good obviously as some other methods, but for what I can handle right now, it has gotten me quite a few new customers, so I'm happy


*Gina*

[coygina]

Last edited by myarka; Yesterday at 07:48 AM. Reason: Removed link

Sooo ... I'm not allowed to link my facebook page?!