As a person who receives massages often, I'm wondering what it is that clients do or don't do that drive you crazy, you think are funny, or are weird, things they do that you wish they wouldn't, etc. Just hoping to gather insight so I can be a better customer!!
Thanks
Steve
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
hi steve 🙂
ive just started massage again after 10 yrs lol but what used to really bother me is when a person would want a massage harder...id be practically laying ontop of them and theyd still want it harder hahaha i imagined myself walking on their back to give it them harder but decided not to do that hahaha
another thing was some men clients..but i dont need to get into that, i think you understand lol
love and light
Helen
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
Being late - that really annoys me.
I also have some clients that as soon as they are dressed they are out the door, sometimes its nice to find out what they thought and how they feel - was it the right treatment for them.
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
When they come late and when they talk too much until i loose concentration and sometimes i don't know which technique to do next.
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
Being late is annoying, specially when I have a few clients. Not turning up is just plain rude!
Picking up and using my throw to wipe excess oil off themselves! Towels are cool, they get oil on them and are washed as such, but my cotton throws are a nono!
People with poor hygiene.
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
As well as turning up late, turning up early can be even worse! It depends if the therapist works from home/one room clinic or from a clinic with a waiting room - I have no waiting room and I've had clients turn up 30min early when I am still with a client and bash on the door. After the first time I started putting a "Quiet Please In Session" sign on the door, but there are still the few that choose to ignore it, thosefew have ALL been first timers, I think once someone has been they know not to knock. At least turning up late you can still end their session on time, if need be.
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
I agree with Cola about clients arriving too early: I've had similar experiences with impatient clients.
But I think my 'pet hate' is clients who arrive with a streaming cold and still think that they are well enough to be massaged! (A heavy cold is a contraindication; and my livelihood as a massage therapist depends on my remaining fit and healthy. I don't want to have to take days off work because I've caught a bad cold from a selfish client!)
Alan
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
I have never had a problem with clients showing up too early since I have always worked in a spa with a waiting area, and there are front desk coordinators who are there to keep them entertained. I have had a problem with clients being late though, I mean a good amount of time... where I would have to reschedule them for another date. What annoys me is when a client is there for the first time because they got a gift card from their husband, and they have never had any spa treatment and don't know to tip. I mean, it's common courtisy to tip someone for their service.
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
In reply to Audible Soul:
I see from your profile that you are in Hawaii, US, where 'tipping'may bethe norm. I have been self-employed on and off for 30 years, and have never received a tip, nor would I ever expect one. When I worked in a Spa in Virginia everyone got tipped, including the girl who floated about acting as a hostess. As I believed I was getting a very reasonable wage, whenever I was tipped, I put it in the charity collection box that was sitting on the reception desk. Looking back I was probably daft, but it was my choice!
Clients annoying habits? Being too early for an appointment, ignoring the 'Quiet please, session in progress' on the door, and barging in without knocking!
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
ORIGINAL: fozzyo
Being late - that really annoys me.
LOL! Being too early! Maybe we should swap some clients fozzyo? 😀
RE: Things clients do to make you crazy
my pet hate?
the client who arrives late and then asks to use the toilet!!!
I'm 'bouncing' this thread, not because I have anything to add to what I wrote in 2007, but because I think it's worth re-reading in view of Vickie's recent query.
Alan
I find most of the annoyances come on the phone.
I recently had a guy ask me if I was gay friendly, and when I said I was, he asked if I would do mutual masturbation with him!!! Hmmmm. I have had a few people ask a number of times for 'hand relief', choosing not to take no for an answer, instead thinking they can convince me to do it if they ask enough times!!
Calling to ask how much you charge, when it is written all over your ad or website can be annoying.
Its a strange world, the world of massage....
Never get crazy or annoyed
Clients can't make me crazy or annoy me. I can, if I chose, get annoyed, but what's the point?
I allow half an hour between appointments (I'm self-employed with my own room) so if client's are a bit late or a bit early it causes no problems. If they are very late (and they would normally contact me in advance to let me know) I can choose to reschedule, or do the massage and finish at the appointed time so they get a shorter massage for the full price, or charge for a missed appointment - depends on my schedule and what sort of client they are and why they are late. Because I arrange my diary like this and advise clients in advance of the above options, no one gets annoyed!
People do the oddest things, and clients are people. They are also with me for a reason and sometimes those reasons are the basis of their quirkiness. If they talk all the way through a massage, or get dressed and go quickly without a comment when it's finished, or wipe themselves on my throw because I forgot to ask them to use a towel, then I just let them. It's obviously what they need to do.
Having said that, I do 'train' my clients during the massage by gently requesting them to do this or leave that or just hold on for a minute while we get this sorted............. and those that have been coming for some while are truly the best clients a therapist could wish for!
So, don't expect anyone to be perfect for you; look at how you can change or improve yourself and be amazed at the way it affects your clients!