How to Succeed at a Massage Franchise
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- How do you keep a full book and make money at a massage franchise? More tips in the description below!
0:00 Introduction
4:12 The sink-or-swim situation
8:15 Tip 1: Finding time for communication
10:25 Communication in the massage room
12:45 Allaying client concerns before the session
13:20 Communicating during a massage
15:25 How to know how much to talk?
18:22 Tip 2: How to increase client retention
24:00 Bonus effects of having a high rebooking rate
26:30 Tip 3: Differentiate yourself by showing off
30:43 Tip 4: Upselling to longer sessions
33:06 Clients remember how you made them feel, not how smooth you are
Other tips:
1) When you're starting to fill up, let clients know this! "By the way, my massage schedule is getting a little busier these days, so you might want to go ahead and make your next appointment when you check out." It's okay to say this when you're only 30% full, you don't have to wait for a full-on traffic jam :) This starts a snowball effect where more people ask for you in advance, causing more people to need to ask for you in advance to get their preferred time!
2) Make friends with the front desk staff, and make their jobs easier. In a perfect world they'd be impartially doling out new clients to whoever is slowest, but in reality they're trying to make good matches between new clients and massage therapists who make it easier to sell memberships. And... they might be more likely to think of you if you're both effective AND not a source of frustration. Basically, put paperwork where it's supposed to go, be clear in your communication so there's no double-booking or other snafus, don't get in their way when they're hustling to clear their inbox, etc. The front desk job is hard, and it can breed some resentment between front-of-house and back-of-house. If they feel relieved when you come in because they know you make their lives easier, they'll do what they can to make your life easier.
3) How to get a raise at a massage franchise: Start by doing any built-in, guaranteed methods that they make available. If they'll bump your pay by $1.50 for doing a certain continuing education course, every massage that goes by without that bump is money lost! After you've got those out of the way, asking for a raise sounds like this: "Hi [manager], could we set up a time to talk? I'd like to discuss the possibility of a raise." This can be done in person or by email. When you go to the appointment, show up with two copies of a bullet-pointed list of ways that you provide value for the franchise. E.g., "I've worked here for one year; 50% of my clients choose the 90 minute session; I have a rebooking rate of 75%; I was in the top 5 therapists for new memberships for the last 3 months." Stuff like that. Have a raise amount in mind (3 bucks is fine but not particularly ambitious; go for a fiver!), and if they're not willing to bump you at that time, try again in 6 months, or after your next performance review. The worst thing they can do is say no, and a consistent, well-performing massage therapist is worth their weight in gold.
4) Help out your fellow massage therapists. Realize that you're not actually in competition with them (there are tons of clients filtering into these places every day), and that the more members they bring in the more opportunity there is for everyone. Help them get people off that client treadmill, share your favorite ways to work with the neck, refer clients to them if you think they'd be better at working with a certain problem or style preference. This starts up a virtuous cycle of everyone referring clients to other therapists and sharing information and techniques, eventually leading to a more harmonious ecosystem. Mostly, help out those new, fresh out of massage school therapists who are feeling overwhelmed and adrift. I know it might seem like wishful thinking to say that you'll be paid back tenfold for your kindness, but I've seen it happen again and again. You'll get a reputation as a mentor and a leader, and even if that's not directly rewarded in a franchise environment, it will carry over if and when you eventually strike out on your own.
If you've got tips for succeeding at a massage franchise, leave them in the comments below!
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I currently work at a spa, and I definitely have trouble at times with being a male. It can be a bit disheartening, but luckily my receptionist and my manager have been great advocates for me. They always talk me up and it's meant a lot to me 🙂
That’s so key, people have to feel safe
Just follow this advice, when I use to work in a spa I did all of the advice in this video. I learned most of it by watching other star therapist in the spa specially when doing couples. Also try to differentiate from other therapist. It could be doing a technique that other therapist don’t do. Try to master the first impression. Also don’t get sad if you get rejected, isn’t your fault, some people have traumatic experiences, it still happens to me. I just get use to it. When that happens I explain to them that I’m a professional and they don’t even need to take their clothes off.
I’m a guy getting my license currently. What problems do you, have you, ran into?
@@rmorph33guests/clients request female therapists most of the time. People who don't have a preference will usually be booked with a male therapist.
If one good thing has come from this Covid situation, it's that I now get 15 whole minutes between clients, it used to be 5. I'm only at the franchise 1 day a week, at the other place I work, its 30 min. So nice to not feel rushed.
I think helping clients with self care during or post session is a way to show our expertise in a very supportive way.
as a male therapist working at a franchise atm everything you talked about was spot on. during those quiet hours when i first started i read up on new techniques and reviewed anatomy rather than scroll through twitter or instagram and it helped immensely. thanks for the content you make. much love m8
It is harder as a male you really have to work hard and it will work out
I'm liking these long-form videos talking about topics like this
This is good to hear, I was a little scared to post them 😅
@@MassageSloth it's things that we all think about and deal with for the majority in the industry so I think they're great
I think that's one thing we all often forget is to give client permission to tailor the massage anyway they want because if we say nothing much to them will just let us do what we do
@@MassageSloth I was excited to see the video up :)
Hi Ian. Good to see you back. I like your longpost with all the detailed inspiring words of experience. Thanks for sharing the love for this profession.
I’ve been in this industry for over 10 years and everything you said is spot on!!!
Actually I’ve slacked a little in a couple of areas you brought up.. thanks for the reminder..
For example, something as simple as saying “Ask for me” is SO important!!
We assume as therapists they know they can ask for you specifically, but people may be surprised that this is not always the case.
Thanks again
Great!!! So very true . Great videos I followed you for years but recently I don’t know why I wasn’t subscribed. Glad to get back onto great massage tips
I’m so happy to found your channel recently.
You make all of us better! Thank you so much for all your tips and tutorials. I’ll watch one of your videos and notice myself improving during the next massage.
Hi Ian, I just wanted to thank you for your work on this channel and on Body Mind Conspiracy. Your videos help me relief some neck pain that's been building up throughout this awful period of home officing
Dude this is seriously awesome. im in school for massage therapy and this was super insightful. i really appreciate your vulnerability with your struggles in your early on career, very relatable.
Thanks for making this video. I just started at Massage Envy and found this to be really great info.
I struggle with client relations so hard so this is a much needed topic
Hey great video Ian, love this podcast style. I struggled as a male for years, work hard, make people feel safe. The clients will come, word of mouth will travel
It's been super hard for me to get my clients to come back with the pandemic, I tried Massage envy but I felt like I was going to die in there. Was like working in a dungeon.
I hope you are doing voice over work for extra income. Your voice is pleasing.
Excellent points. Sensing energy in the moment is so essential.
Wow!! Thank you for these great tips!! They are so very helpful.
I ask if they need me to revisits sports before I flip the client. I think I started doing that in school! Made me happy you mentioned this in your tips! I am most likely heading back to the franchise environment, which I'm not super thrilled about, but survival is essential. These are great reminders. What you mentioned about conversations, I need to be more aware of what I say and how much I share. I tend to overshare with people I've gotten close to and see frequently. I don't want boundaries to get muddy because that's caused me problems in the past. Also, about male therapists. I prefer to see them over a female and I always talk up my male coworkers!! I've learned so much from the guys I worked with at M.E (my 1st massage job) and I still use those techniques today with my clients!
Thanks for sharing your experience and background, it's nice to know how everything started for you.. best wishes. André.
You know what’s funny? While watching this video I found that I naturally do a lot of this! But, I did find there’s a lot I could be doing better too! This was so incredibly helpful?
I haven’t started my career yet but have kinda been dreading the thought of possibly working somewhere like Massage Envy to start out, but you’ve actually made this type of environment sound like an exciting challenge and great learning experience :) thanks for the video!
These are the questions I really wanted answered. Thank you!
Fascinating insights into the industry and you make some great points.
hey Ian! Glad to see you again!
Very valuable advice! Thanks!
So beautifully shared. Thank you very very much!
I do appreciate these videos. Getting another massage therapists perspective is so valuable. This work can alienate us so conversing about different topics with one another is much needed.
I've never thought about it precisely like that, but yes, massage can be an alienating profession. Insular, separated from the world, often managed by people who don't get it. Even if you create a beautiful sanctuary, it's still a place apart from the real world, for good and ill. Thanks for that clarifying concept!
Your message on Patreon on being open about your depression is super relatable. Wasn't able to log on to Patreon to respond but thank you for that. Being able to move my mind to begin even thinking about doing the things I love is particularly difficult right now. Hope you're doing well!
I empathize there! My therapist's advice in that situation: If you're only able to get 10% of the joy/satisfaction from an activity when you're depressed, take that 10%. Even if it's a slog, find that little joy rather than forgoing joy altogether. And my advice in this situation: Have faith that the sun will come out again. I came to that realization a few years ago, and it helped me keep putting one foot in front of the other. No matter how dark the depression, I was never wrong to have faith that it would lift. ❤
Hello Ian,
I have been watching your channel for a while, your videos are easy to follow, and your voice so soothing!
I am at the current time doing a sports & therapeutic massage course, as I wanted to learn more and how to massage professionally.
I hope to train a lot a reach a level where I can feel confident to work independently. Your tutorials are definitively helping, so thank you so much!
Since one of my future focuses will be to massage children, could you do a video on that? I'd love to know what your techniques are.
Love from sunny Portugal :)
I too had to learn all these things you mentioned. I’ve been at a franchise since finishing school, a year and a half ago. My retention is currently 51% and I need 65% to make tier two pay. I have incorporated a lot of the things you mentioned on top of improving my skill and it’s growing faster. Your are very right.
However! I want to learn more about how to educate my clients. I’m more intuitive, I use a lot of myofascial deep tissue and sports stretching but I think I’ve lost the science behind it.
I’d love to take a class from you by the way!!!
51% retention is awesome! As for educating clients, check out my "talking to clients on the table" video in particular. Don't feel like you need to have definitive answers to how massage works or how we help the body modulate pain; you can just talk about why you're working where you're working and how it might tie into their pain. For instance, if you're sinking into the teres muscles on a client with shoulder pain, you can ask, "Any sensitivity here? That's not too much? Okay, I'm going to stick around here for a moment, and I'd like you to take some easy, deep breaths. This is one of your rotator cuff muscles, and I'm starting to get the idea that they might be involved with your shoulder pain." You could get technical here and explain teres' role in stabilizing the shoulder and being in a tug-of-war with the rhomboids, or you could just stay general like in my example above. As a client, it's nice to know your therapist's reasoning, and to learn more about your body. It helps expand your picture of your pain, and it keeps the massage from feeling like the therapist is just poking painful points :)
As for classes, I hope to get those going in the post-vaccine world! If you'd like to be kept up-to-date about any workshops I've got available, drop your email here: massagesloth.com/mailinglist/
3 more videos to shoot to hit 100 :) Go Sloth!! LOVE ur videos thank you
Congratulations for a successful business.thanks for the tips
I had signed up for your myofascial in Tucson for March last year and it got canceled because of the pandemic. I saw a video that you had posted I think it was in August and it looked like covid was pretty hard on not just me. It's nice to see you posting another informative video. Still want to take the class 😊.
Im in Tucson too and would like that course as well.
Man, having to cancel that was such a bummer! I'm really hoping to get out there this year once I've got that artificial immunity going. I'll make sure to send an email blast! Oh, and if anyone else would like to get emails about my future workshops, you can sign up here: massagesloth.com/mailinglist/ 😁
Excellent!
I work at Massage Envy now, I hate that everybody and their grandmother want deep tissue but are cheap tippers and we don't get paid enough for deep tissue, it's like working on Groupon. I have 12 years experience so I guess I should move on out the state I'm in because there are no other places to work and there's massage therapist with their own business on every other corner, it's really bad😥
My advice here, which might sound crazy, is to ignore the appearance of over-saturation. Only about a fifth of the adult population gets a massage in any given year, meaning that 80% of the people in your city are ripe for the picking! Of that 20% who get massages, a lot of them are less than satisfied with the service they've been getting, or are desperately trying to find that massage therapist who can do a really great job instead of the "pretty good" stuff they've been receiving. It might seem like the franchises are scooping up all new clients, but really they're creating an army of somewhat dissatisfied people who are craving consistently great massage! That's something that's much easier to get from a sole practitioner than from a massage factory.
Consider the fact that, as a 12-year massage vet, you've got leverage that other massage therapists don't necessarily have. If you strike out on your own, you can tell potential clients exactly how you work, you can articulate your massage philosophy, and you can show your pedigree of education and experience. As someone who has thoroughly paid her dues, you can also avoid the groupon/franchise race to the bottom completely by charging a lot! Unapologetically, no discounts, 85 bucks per hour and 120 for an hour and a half. Many people with your experience are charging more, in fact. This puts you in a different tier than the people offering 45 dollar sessions, and it avoids a lot of the annoyance and heartache of trying to deal with bargain-hunters. And now that you're charging what you deserve, whether and how much they tip suddenly stops being an issue.
It can be a slow build at first, but that's where advertising and consistent online best practices come into play. I talk more about that stuff here: czcams.com/users/postUgx8n1lNi45Ove1GNd14AaABCQ I know it's a big leap, but it's something that you can do in steps. For instance, you can rent a room part-time from another massage therapist who is already all set up, but who only uses their room for a few days a week. Look for ways to start gradually rather than taking a big plunge... or just go all in :) If you need any help, find our group on Facebook called the "Massage Sloth Clubhouse." Good luck, and may you escape Envy soon!
@@MassageSloth thank you so very much for everything! Perhaps it's time to stop the Fear thing and slowly start treading the waters of entrepreneurship, I'm definitely a little nervous about it seeing as I'm 58 1/2 yrs old but I need to get out of the rat race, I'm starting to hate what I do and I absolutely do not hate being a massage therapist, I just hate the unfair pay and petty tips so, it's time now for me to Just Do It🙂
I've never thought to ask them is there anything else they would like for me to go over before I flip them that is a good nugget that I got out of rewatching this video
Thank you for this. I am in key west and working at a lovely spa here at a resort now moving to Melbourne Florida and probably will be goin to a hand and stone or massage envy. Gonna be so different. It's been sooo good here. Kinda nervous but open to what may happen. I like to think of myself as massage sloth myself and enjoy communicating with people I will be exchanging energy with. I just wana say you are amazing. That's all :)
Just remember that they're lucky to have someone with your spa experience, and the jittery energy from having to move so quickly between sessions wears off in a week or two :)
@@MassageSloth thank you, thank you, thank you!
@@MassageSloth my nervous system is always so shaky even though I'm so calm lol. Hands shaky but I just add a lil vibration to the mix lol
Ha, same here! I've got that vibration effect in my hands, especially when I'm nervous. I used to worry about it, but yeah, it's a free add-on!
@@MassageSloth hahahhah, I'm not alone! Yay! Hug to you, love
thank you
Thank you Ian, so nice to see your video post. Appreciate all your help. I get stumped when clients wear underwear and they want their low back worked on and I’m stuck because I can’t get hands on their glute medius. I find it awkward to talk about wearing underwear or not.
Underwear can be tricky. Over time I developed this language for the pre-massage talk: "I'm going to step out of the room. Undress to your level of comfort and set your clothes right over there. Completely undressed is best because I'd like to work directly with your hips, but if you choose to leave your underwear on we'll work around it. Just know that you'll always be well-covered and should never feel a draft." I think that this is a good combination of direct and reassuring, and if they do leave their underwear on they know to expect some discussion so that we can work around it (i.e., asking them to pull the top down so that I can work with the upper pelvis). The first few times will feel awkward, but just know that the more concise and clinical you are, the more comfortable your client is likely to be. My language for asking them to move their underwear sounds something like this: "If you're comfortable doing so, go ahead and take the top of your underwear and scoot it down a few inches." I'll hold the drape as they do so, and then say, "as I work with your hips, do let me know if I'm ever too far into your personal space, okay?"
If you intuit that the client feels more secure with their underwear firmly in place (or if they state this preference outright), you can always ask if you can work with the area through the drape. I'll say something like, "Janet, would you mind if I work on the side and back of your hips through the sheet?" (at this point I'll point out exactly where I mean on my own body) "Great. Do let me know if I'm ever too far into your space." Check out my "working through clothes" video for more tips on this, but basically I'd apply broad static pressure with my fists, pinpoint pressure with paired thumbs, and circular friction with various hand tools. Take your experience with chair massage and apply it and see what you can come up with. I still prefer slow steamrolling directly on skin, but there's still plenty of good stuff to do with a drape in the way.
@@MassageSloth Thank you for your reply. I’m still in “celebrity mode” shock that you answered my comment, and you did it so completely and thoughtfully. I will try the “completely undressed is best” talk; I’ve always left it up to them, but inside I’m thinking “please don’t wear your underwear”; hoping my telepathy will get through to them, ha ha. You are a blessing to my career, I hope you know how much you are appreciated. You and Allison (Rebel) rule the top of my most-respected and helpful LMT youtubers ( kind of makes you sound like a potato🤔).
@@hi-leehi-lohi-la9276 Totally agree. Sloth and Rebel rule
I had a "never had a massage before" guy the other day and when I came in the room he was on top of the sheets and was wearing those big baggy basketball shorts. We got him under the sheets and just did upper body lol. His heart rate was going a mile a min for the first 10 minutes or so, but I talked him into a nice relaxed state.
Excellent video....Would you please do a series of Franchise style massage videos, like the neck work, foot work, and etc. What would you do technique wise, like is it reflexology or circulatory work .You have some profound points when it comes to growth in the franchise industry. As I type this someone is asking you to put this in script form. I would like to see you do a series on truncated massages . Thanks Ian you helped me so much throughout my career. I didn't come into CZcams resources until 2018 so there is a lot for increasing SUCCESS! Thanks much Love!
Hmm, I can talk more about my treatment strategies in a franchise setting in the future. For now though, just know that my advice is: Let your client lead the way, and don't be afraid to stand out by doing what your colleagues aren't doing. A lot of clients commented on how nobody else worked with their hips, for instance, and I got similar comments about jaw work and extended foot work. Don't lose your curiosity or your experimenter's spirit just because you're in a high-pressure environment. Do start from a relatively safe and broadly-applicable base, but look for opportunities to customize the massage for clients who seem open to different approaches. As always, the best way to determine that is through robust communication.
@@MassageSloth So true about hip and jaw work. So many people comment about those areas not having been addressed before. Such a simple thing makes a huge difference in their bodies and experience with you personally.
thank you Happy New Year 2nd year wanta be rmt just worrying about the op rooms and the big exam they give us here in ontario, canada
I had several comments I wanted to make but ill go with the most important.. Pee while they're changing!
This is the way
What y suggest to mee as a beginer in this industri???Thank y so much
About to enroll in massage therapy school would be interested in a video about the draw backs of being a male therapist
Thanks
It felt like I was talking about myself; this is pretty much like myself. Still I learned a few points that I was missing though. And one more important thing, your dealings with reception/front office is important. If you have rapport with front office you win. Even if you are the best Therapist in the world, if you have a hostile receptionist, that is it. By the way, receptionist is there for a minimum wage, if you are getting more Clients in fact it is adding on their work for which they are not getting any direct benefits.
Absolutely, it helped me a lot when I realized that (despite the adversarial relationship that seemed to predate me joining) the front desk was doing a difficult job with little money and less thanks. Making their lives easier is just a kind thing to do, and it can help ensure that your name doesn't fall to the bottom of their brain when a client asks, "is there someone you recommend?"
@@MassageSloth I work evenings and noticed that the morning receptionists hadn't gotten a massage from me since I started a few months ago. So I went up and invited them to get one. And told them that when a client asks "whos good" that I want my name to be the first they think of.
They call me " la rebouteuse " 🤣🤣🤣 when they are coming again means that y can handle it and it works, they become a fidèle client, bon courage à vous les thérapeutes 🤞👍
Would love to hear your thoughts on what you mentioned about being a male massage therapist!
I'll need to make a video on that, because I do feel like there's two big things men need to know in this field: Some clients might need extra information for their minds to be set at ease, and some front desk staff might need encouragement to be an effective advocate. On that first point, it's just a matter of what I think every independent massage therapist should be doing: Presenting who they are and what they do in lots of different ways, front-loading potential clients with information. Some clients are concerned that men automatically = deep pressure and pain, and that's a concern worth allaying. Others are worried that there will be judgment of their bodies, or (following from the same thought process) that it would be inappropriate to receive massage from a man. In both cases it's worth emphasizing the safe environment and the primacy of client communication, as well as our goals as massage therapists and how we go about working toward them. Basically, no matter who you are, assume that clients have specific worries and general nervousness, and try to speak to those fears. That can be done just by showing pictures of your studio, discussing your draping policy, etc., or more specifically through blog posts and FAQs that address those fears directly.
As for the front desk: When I worked at a spa, I more trouble than usual as a male massage therapist. For one thing, I'm not certain that everyone recognizes "Ian" as a dude name, especially when said over the phone. I don't blame people who have a preference there, so I'd prefer that the front desk find an excuse to use my pronouns before finalizing an appointment. Seeing someone's face fall when you walk into the waiting room is pretty brutal 🙂 For another, I overheard the reception staff asking someone, "would you prefer a male or female massage therapist?" That kind of question seems innocuous enough, but it kind of plants the idea in the mind of the listener that there might be a wrong answer! That's my theory in any case. I'd much prefer the front desk to be an active advocate for every massage therapist there: "We've got Ian available at 3, and he gets great reviews. Would that work for you?" Ideally they'd rotate through available MTs with an emphasis on those with empty books, but that varies from place to place.
Anyway thank you for giving me an opportunity to start getting my thoughts organized on that video 😁
@@MassageSloth I find it especially annoying/frustrating of those stereotypes... and the "pressure" rating system that is imposed on me. I'm a gay man, sensitive, a listener...non judgmental of people, and can apply very light pressure to pretty deep. You have to do all your convincing in those first few moments of meeting them and your first touch contact with the client.
as massage therapist owner, small office, I want to learn new skill, share story, or what ever. but am so lonely now. no one and my business seem to be down now. i need solution from friends world wild. am ready to listen from you or be a good friend.
I just love you :)
Hi dear! Just came to say hi and hope u r doing well! I miss hearing you x
Love you
I’m only looking to have massage as a side hustle. What the Max Hours/clients to have in a week before I get burnt out?
The front desk people are always so shocked when I say a client said something on the table they didn’t say before the massage or include in the paperwork. Duh, you rush them and us through all that, and the result is finding things out later
A good touchpoint is remembering how it feels when we don’t feel good having had a service from a massage therapist, doctor, etc. What was it that turned us off?
Hi will you please let me know the uses for adjustable face cradles? Are they used for anything other than a top heavy chest?
They can usually be left at about the same height as the surface of the table, with that being comfortable for most people. But with first time clients especially, I always ask, "how's that face cradle? Could that stand to go up toward the ceiling, or down toward the ground?" Asking in a longer form like that usually prevents people from just answering with the word "fine," and it gets them to think about what would be comfortable for them. I'll follow with, "okay, let me know if your neck ever gets uncomfortable and we can make some adjustments."
Like I said, most people are fine with a standard height, but for about a quarter of clients, a tiny adjustment up or down can make all the difference in the world when it comes to being comfortable face-down for thirty minutes or more. This can be from people having different cervical curvature, or tight anterior neck muscles, or being used to a strict military posture. I've got pectus excavatum, and I find that my natural concavity makes a lower face cradle more comfy for my neck. Whatever the case, I don't try to intuit it, but rather follow the client's direction.
If you're pondering whether to swap a static cradle for an adjustable one, I think it's definitely a worthwhile investment. Feeling like your neck is a little squished for a full half hour can really take you out of the experience, and if you're the one massage therapist willing to help a client finally feel comfortable during a massage for the first time in their life, you'll have yourself a true believer.
I always used to have 15mins between clients until the pandemic and I've since started having 30mins, it makes such a huge difference! I always thought I just wanted to get them done and have more free time but actually having time to do all the aforementioned things, write proper client notes and still have a 5-10min break is a game changer and is something i'll keep doing going forward. I've never worked in a franchise, we don't really have them in the UK. But I am considering getting in a couple of other therapists to feed clients too. I'd be interested in the kind of percentage the US franchises take? presuming about half?
Yeah, I still manage to eat up most of that break with room turnover and notes, but just getting to chill for a full 5-10 minutes is such a big difference! As for percentage, from my experience and what I've gathered from other franchise workers, most people are getting a little less than $20 per 50 minute session while the franchise charges the client something like 50-70. It's a huge problem here in the States, because in two short decades a lot of people have started to see this split as normal. I'm hoping to undo some of that in my lifetime, but I'm just one tiny sloth against a huge multi-billion dollar industry.
@@MassageSloth As a busy therapist have you ever taken on newbie therapists to feed clients too? I swore I'd never do it, but a decade in and I've got more work than I can physically do and I recently had a change in circumstance in that the chiro centre I was working in closed and I couldn't find anywhere else locally to rent a room hourly so I feel like if I'm gunna rent somewhere on a monthly basis, I might as well be making the most of the space and client list. I'd be interested in more videos on these kinds of subjects please. I.e different places you've worked and how they compare. Most therapists I know work from home. But I've never fancied that and don't really live in an appropriate place for it.
That's a great problem to have, and one that I've purposely avoided my whole career 😅 Basically when I get too busy I go into silent running mode. Stop advertising, slow my social media and emails. I hate "hectic," so I've organized my life around preventing it. It's very bad for maximizing income though! For your situation I recommend looking into the Massage Business Blueprint. They've got blog posts and podcasts about starting up exactly the kind of business you're talking about, as well as navigating the logistical elements. I do have one tip I'd like to pass along, though. A lot of massage business owners eventually grow to resent their contractors/employees, talking about how it's "like herding cats." These same people seem to expect to run their business very much like a massage franchise rather than like a partnership between peers; they expect to pay just above franchise levels, control schedules, and prevent clients being "stolen." My advice is to be discerning about who you bring under your wing, and to then have minimal attachment to their business or your clients. Treat both clients and therapists as peers rather than as resources to be shepherded; expect some of each to migrate away, as is their right; be generous with your time and knowledge, and treat these as gifts rather than as debts to be repaid.
These tips would all seem frankly insane to anyone who runs a highly profitable spa or franchise. Everyone knows you must have ironclad noncompete contracts and strict expectations of how contractors and clients behave. These same people are also balls of stress who often find their own expectations frustrated, frequently having to go to the well of new massage graduates, training them up again, just to watch them fail to measure up, or flee and take clients with them. They make lots of money, but they leave burned out therapists and dissatisfied clients in their wake. I'm certain that this isn't what you have in mind, but in my experience it seems to be how these businesses evolve. If instead you think of it as being a value-added therapy room rental service, or take on actual employees who are treated as equals, I think that you can avoid those pitfalls.
Ah, sorry for the rant, I took a "I'm looking to expand" question and turned it into a blog post I've been writing in my head for a couple of years. Go forth with generosity of heart and you will do well!
@@MassageSloth Thanks for taking the time to reply. I respect your opinion and agree with what you're saying. Hopefully if it's meant to be then I'll attract the right therapists and it will work well for all of us. Otherwise I can just sub-let the room to a different style of therapist.
Any tips on sitting more in a tiny room or on adjusting to a small room in general?
I used to sit a lot more in school, but now I feel it interrupts the massage so much, especially if I accidentally bang the wall.
Oof, that's a tough one, and I remember that struggle. I think the solution I came up with was: Carry the stool more often than I roll it, do so slowly and carefully, and make sure that if I were to drop the stool while carrying it that it would not land on the client(!). Also, if it interrupts the flow, and if you smack into a wall, so be it. Seriously, do your best to adapt to the space limitations, but don't forego important body-preserving stuff (like sitting) just because the room makes it a pain in the butt. Do it for future Kaylee!
@@MassageSloth I'll give it a try, thank you!
Great topic. Encouraging! Can’t massage people that fast,tho. I don’t like the pace
@Liz Sutton I agree there is no way you can do a great massage that fast back to back, it's really exhausting 😥
Hello, question, how much should I charge for gas and mileage? I usually charge $20 when they near me ( I only work in the patient house ) but when is kind of far I struggled on how much should I charge
Please and Thanks !!!
I'm not sure on this one, but definitely charge for both your time and your expense! In other words, if you have to drive an extra half hour (a full hour out of your day), I'd charge as much as half a massage. If you'd like to check with MTs who do more outcall work, join us on the forum by searching "massage sloth clubhouse" on Facebook.
How many hours were u working at ME Ian??
I think I topped out at 30 hands-on hours per week, which was just way too much for me. I had to ask for no more than 5 total hours per day with a break in the middle. That was still a bit hectic, but my body wasn't actively rebelling. As of 2020 I was working a max of 20 hands-on hours per week, with a half hour between clients. And I made more money than I made with 30 hours at a franchise, but that's a topic for another video...
I am so nervous to get started. Like in my head it sounds simple but like actually real life application outside of school is terrifying to me. Idk how to feel right now.
I just graduated too and feel the same way! We will be okay, I think our confidence will grow once we start massaging in the real world. Plus we have the GOAT massage sloth❤
@@stephaniebillings2306 true, it’s just so hard to be pushed beyond my comfort zone. I really struggle with it. Just hoping I made the right choice. Life is hard
Just know that there's a version of you a couple months from now that wonders what you were so worried about 🙂 Those first few WILL be scary, but your hands will know what to do. You'll stumble over your words at first, but that's part of the process and the client won't even remember that part. They'll just remember how much better they felt afterward. Trust the process, anticipate that initial discomfort, and have faith that you'll get to the other side. And for you and @stephaniebillings2306 - please feel free to join us on the message board (search "massage sloth clubhouse" on Facebook). You got this!
@@MassageSloth I’m going to remember your words for comfort once I begin at Massage Envy, I just got hired! It’s my first massage therapist job so finding this video was a blessing. I’ve been a little obsessed with your book and CZcams videos because it feels like you made them for me lol, they just resonate so much. Thank you for all the help you give, it’s so cool how accessible you make yourself to your cause. I’m blown away you took the time to reply, you’re a role model to me! THANK YOU for everything you do! ❤️
@@tinkerbellgradI completely understand, going beyond our comfort zone can be terrifying, but when I look back on all the times I pushed through comfort, it makes me feel strong and proud. Try to focus on how you’ll feel on the other side, and with every massage you’ll gain a little more comfort. Let’s take baby steps and one day we will shout, “we got this! We did it!”
Not a massage therapist and this video started autoplaying after your self massage TMJ video, but I wanted to comment about just how bad male massage therapists at Massage Envy have been in my experience. I surprised there are qualified ones there since I've had nothing but bad experiences. It should be common sense, but in terms of talking, don't spend the entire massage interrogating the client on their diet, exercise habits and making them feel uncomfortable about their weight. Both times I've had male massage therapists at Massage Envy, this was a problem and one nearly left me in tears. The worse time, the male massage therapist was so completely oblivious that this was inappropriate. As I was leaving and he gave me a water cup, he had this smirk and said that now he had "fixed" my neck pain, I needed to start working out and getting healthy and made a joke about drinking water instead of soda. It was so clear he was grossed out by having to deal with someone like me.
wow thats awful. i’ve only ever had one massage from massage envy and it was a very good professional massage from a male practitioner. i hope you have better experiences in the future
Bathroom breaks.......yes necessary so many times after 4 in a row ....even with 15mins between you realize how long you needed to go 😂
😂 true
Hello love. im a massage student. i would love to be a model for your next video. ❤❤
Is not that easy for everyone 🤢 yr philosophe is so good, observation the body when they lay-down on on the table or floor, can give a lot of informations to you, Once y touche this, surely they will come back and send others to y😇👍 merci pour ton discourt de philosophe ça peu fonctionner que comme ça 🙏👍
How do you overcome the gender discrimination as a male massage therapist and how do you stay busy outside of a franchise?
I'll probably have an episode on this at one point, but my main recommendation here is to get all your cards on the table and allay potential fears. That just means having enough information about yourself available on your social media sites that people can get to know you and recognize your professionalism before they step foot in your office. Take pictures, make videos, answer questions. Write about your massage philosophy. Show how welcoming your space is. This is a problem that mostly solves itself as your schedule fills and you see lots of return clients, so focus on retention and communication and let that do most of the work. Oh, and as for staying busy outside of a franchise: Advertise! Word of mouth is great, and I guess flyers and business cards and volunteering work for some people, but I prefer to just pour a hundred bucks a month into online ad dollars and let those reach my ideal clients. I talk about that more here: czcams.com/users/postUgx8n1lNi45Ove1GNd14AaABCQ
@@MassageSloth that’s all well and good but it just seems that no matter how knowledgeable or professional you are people will still be uncomfortable with letting a man touch them lol. People care more about the gender of their therapist than actual skill. It’s really hard to stay busy anywhere else besides massage envy where they work you to death for bottom pay
You were missed.
😮 oh lord why? I prefer male massage therapist for a stronger pressure 💪! I constantly hear women clients say oh too hard😂and I'm thinking why are you here especially Asian bodywork therapy is stronger deep tissue method. ❤😊
Also wanted to ask about vaccine shedding from clients who have been vaccinated ? And if anyone ever wears gloves . I am massaging for 20 years and we are in unknown times regarding reactions to covid or vaccine . I cannot and won’t massage anyone for 4 weeks after their vaccine. I’ve heard some terrible reactions following it. And I heard that a pharmacist reassured someone that it wasn’t covid jab reaction , it was most definitely the after effects of sports massage
Hey Lizzy, while virus shedding can be an exceedingly rare problem with live attenuated virus vaccines, like the rotavirus vaccine we receive as infants, it's not something that happens with the current generation of covid vaccines. The spike proteins we produce in response to the mRNA vaccines do induce the production of antibodies which can be found in saliva, but the antibodies can't be transmitted in any sort of meaningful quantity to others, any more than any of the other billions of distinct antibodies rumbling around on your B cells or hanging out in your bodily fluids. For instance, some men who undergo vasectomy will develop antibodies to their own gametes, but such people are no danger to other men, even in the case of blood transfusion (there's just not enough of a response without your own body producing the antibodies in abundance). As for the spike proteins themselves, we're no more likely to encounter them in the wild than any of the other millions of proteins that each of our cells is constantly producing.
I think that people are taking a very microscopic process and blowing it up into something that can somehow affect our macroscopic world, and they've ended up with something resembling the miasma theory of disease that predated germ theory. There's no physical principle that could explain the reactions people are reporting and amplifying, and I suspect that this is somatization: The conversion of fears and anxieties into real physical symptoms. This phenomenon is not uncommon, and indeed it's something that we'll encounter in any number of clients, so it's a good topic to explore.
So, I think this fear is baseless, and that the shedding rumor is causing harm. If we're going to turn away clients, I want it to be because of solid clinical reasoning, not supposition or "just in case." That thinking leads therapists to needlessly turn away (and thus stigmatize) people who could safely benefit from massage.
@@MassageSloth yes I did think a lot of it is over the top. A client of mine who went elsewhere because my business Was not opened . Had her covid jab on the Friday. Had sports massage that evening. Took a crazy reaction and of course the pharmacist reassured her that it had not a thing to do with her jab but it was all the fault of her sports massage . So I suppose we are up against all them situations
I’m NOT a massage therapist but I have seen men getting into trouble because of their manners and behavior on television
men need to be more professional in massage therapy
Massage franchise???? For christ sake…… it loses all its personal connection with the client/patient…..
It doesn't have to lose the personal connection. My massage therapist works at a small local chain. She's been great. I chose the place because friends recommended it and it's a 5 minute walk from my place.
I worked for massage envy although I was busy they lied to me about the pay . They had me thinking I would be getting X amount per massage but I was only making minimum wage. . I at one time was made to do 7 massage sessions in a row.. I was exhausted!! I got people to get 90 min sessions many times.. I made a tone of money in tips. I ended up getting fired because someone complained that I used too much lotion on her hairy arms. So I was written up and fired... I hate those franchises !!