Hi All
would you recommend replying to these type of e-mails, Would it not be better to regard them as spam?
If they had read your website, they would know which treatments were mentioned.
You would only have to engage with a client if this was in person.
Has anyone experienced this in a treatment room,if so, how did you handle it?
🙂 x
Hi All
would you recommend replying to these type of e-mails, Would it not be better to regard them as spam?
If they had read your website, they would know which treatments were mentioned.
You would only have to engage with a client if this was in person.
Has anyone experienced this in a treatment room,if so, [COLOR="Red"]how did you handle it?🙂 x
Wearing Marigolds?;)
Sorry, couldn't resist.
I had a text from a guy this morning saying something like "I'm a decent honest guy who enjoys massages and is looking for a nice massage with happy ending. I can provide you with a face picture.". Riiiight, does he really think that a face picture is going to impress me so much that I will give him what he wants??
It's sooo annoying, I even say on my website and advertisements that I only treat women and this guy has already sent me a few texts asking for massages (although it's the first time he asks for a happy ending!). I normally don't even reply to massage "demands" by text, but this time I was so pissed off (I was just having my morning coffee - bad timing, mate!) that I replied "stop texting me or I'll report you". I know it was maybe OTT but it really makes me mad that men think they can just text professional massage therapist asking them for sexual favours! I am just hoping it will make him think twice before he tries it again with another therapist.
Now I hope he's not going to come to my house and kill me! 🙂 He did reply saying "oh sorry" so maybe he was genuinely surprised I didn't like his question...
Hi Claire
No you were not over the top at all. These things have to be nipped in the bud.
I have a theory: some blokes get off on how far they can push things or even they get turned on by the uniform. Of course I'm not like that, but being a bloke I can think more like what they are thinking. Lots of females therapists have this problem, do things properly with the letters after the name & so forth, and naively believe that this is going to stop such attention.
I believe that the colleges should do more in preparing therapists for the big wide world. A world in which has it's fair share of knob jockeys. Consider this: most blokes are honourable, but there is a small minority that are complete a***holes. Don't let the minority disturb the fine work I'm sure you do.
best wishes
rp
Thanks rp! 🙂 It's good to hear that you don't think I over-reacted!
Hi again Jo, yes this was by email too. I didn't make it clear earlier, sorry. I had a good laugh with my husband, not the gentleman concerned! He was very gracious when I replied that it wasn't an area I would help him with, but never the less, its unpleasant to get the email in the first place. Sorry it happened to you too. Love Melanie x
Haha Mel was gonna say 😀
Hi,
I agree the minority ruin it for the majority, i spend a good bit of money on my personal health, majority of my treatments are with women therapists, the stories i hear from these ladies is terrible.
A few years ago, we had a fantastic beauty therapist rent space with us, i said if you ever get a problem that you cannot handle, SHOUT. One day she shouted, i came in to her room, this chap wanted a few fringe benefits, i grabbed him and escorted him out of the door, i threw him out on to the high street, it was only after i locked the door, i realised he was still naked. I got his clothes and threw them out of the door, he was promptly arrested by the police, never heard from him again.
Still smile today.
Therapist1960uk
Sorry if this offends anyone on here but I am sure others must have encountered remarks like this before.
You think you've got problems! I'm listed in the Yellow Pages under Holistic Treatments, Reiki and Reflexology. And I still get phone calls from men wanting a ****k! I've had to change my phone number because of it.
Hi,
it was only after i locked the door, i realised he was still naked. I got his clothes and threw them out of the door, he was promptly arrested by the police, never heard from him again.
Hahahaha... that must have been a sight! Weird, isn't it, though, that men still pester legitimate therapists when it's not exactly difficult to find what they're really looking for. (Er, so I've been told...)
Getting back to the original thread, I've got used over the last few years to friends/colleagues joking about me offering "extras". Never come across anyone being hostile, but you do sometimes hear stories about churches that have an odd attitude to therapists.
RP - laughed out loud at 'knob jockeys' !
Two hoots - I know what you mean about feeling deflated, it's quite reassuring to know it happens to others! In my case it's been other things, but it's still disheartening.
There are certain things that seem prone to producing a knee-jerk reaction from people that they would not have if they knew anything at all about the subject - hence the assertion that a taster session usually produces a convert.
Sometimes people aren't even aware they have a misconception until someone in the know puts them in the picture.
And I've been there too - I thought breastfeeding beyond a year old was quite weird until I met people who were doing it, and had my own child, and read ! I'd just heard the usual comments from others on the subject, and they in turn were just spouting the same old same old that they had heard without questioning.
Your friends will either be converted by your enthusiasm, and perhaps a taster, or they won't - but it won't be your fault. If you tell them it upsets you, and they still can't keep their comments to themselves, then they really aren't the kind of friends you need.
Strange though - I thought generally women saw massage as a luxury treat, linked with spa weekends and beauty treatments!
Good luck with your course x
Hi TwoHoots - don't let the comments that your "friends" make put you off. They might acutally be jealous that you are learning something that you enjoy. Don't let them rain on your parade. Are they learning new skills and improving their lives? When I first started learning massage none of my friends made any negative comments. Even if they had I would have ignored them as I knew why I wanted to study massage. In general I tend to stay clear of nay sayers.
Like the person who replied to you first - you are probably now going to attract different people. As a side comment but kinda relevant. I had a male friend who was a bit fo a bad boy (petty crime) in his youth. He decided to study law and found that he had to distance himself from his old friends as he was moving in a different direction and they had limiting beliefs. I always believed in him and encouraged him with what he was doing. He is now fully qualified and I am so proud of him.
same weirdos
well, to the original question i would say - don't argue; smile and let them see and how professional and comfortable you are with your new skills - never explain, never complain as my friends mum used to say.
but, sad to say, men do often get the wrong idea about women advertising as massage therapists. i had one who asked about sensual massage and would i do it topless etc...well, as it happens i had been told about a lady - former page three girl - who does massage topless and she lives very nearby (it's not my alter ego, honest). So, i was GOOD enough to email this fella and he promptly replied "But she charges 160 an hour - whereas you're only £30 - please can you do it"...so, there's the nub as it were...these guys know this market very well and they're trying because they think we the Primark of the w*** massage world.
Think yourself lucky, i once told my EX-builder - who up to that point had been a nice guy - that i was studying massage and he asked if could have a treatment...i said yes...come to the college I'm looking for case studies. on the last day of him completing our work...he - bold as brass - asked if he could take a picture of my boobs on his mobile camera...hence to say I was not topless at the time but in my matronly cardigan plus marks and sparks jeans. sad to say, I pretended i hadn't heard him...
oh goddess, thank you for the giggle,
from a fellow primark massage therapist lol
Have to say
after studying Holistic massage most people were very interested in what exactly it was and wanted to know more. Some men yes think it is automaticaly a sex service:eek: but i think there is a lack of understanding about it. These "massage parlours" do us no favours.
I have recently started doing spray tanning and Ive had some strange texts and phonecalls from men about it. I dont know if thats me being naive but i never thought that was something i would get strange phone calls about.
Two Hoots I hope you're feeling better about your new adventure. I have had a giggle from this thread... I've had a few phone calls from men who've wanted more details about my 'head massage' - they skipped the word Indian :rolleyes:.
It's always difficult when you take a new direction from the norm. Next time someone makes you feel flat, put it down to their ignorance and offer them a taster treatment.
As long as you're enjoying what you're doing keep on doing it with pride. Welcome to the world of holism. 🙂