Massage sessions....

I'm a massage therapist, rarely does anyone come in for a 30 minute, and if they do they usually have a gift card and are doing exactly what you talking about. But I won't even attempt to do a full body in 30 minutes, especially since a 30 minute is really 20, a 60 minute is really 50. I have them pick an area they need word on, that's generally neck and shoulders or back. I had one guy who came in for a 30 minute massage that just wanted work on his legs, but that only happened once.

FYI 90 minutes are the way man. Especially if you want a full body massage and you want deep tissue. 60 minutes is fine for a full body relaxation but if you have actual problems you need worked on, deep tissue work, I'd go 60 minutes just upper body....well or lower if that's where your problems are but that's rare. 90 minute sessions are my favs though, hate 2 hour ones, I'm bored and drooling during those.

Why O why call it 10 minutes less than it really is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Why O why call it 10 minutes less than it really is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because we massage people back to back, we need time to change the sheets, get the next client, talk to the client about what they need, time for the person to undress and get on the table, do the massage, time for the person to redress and get the hell outta of our room lol, walk them out, change the sheets, get the next clients etc etc. I do an average of 6 1/2 hours of massage in an 8 hour day. I usually get at least one 90 minute that throws it off. I do have days though where I'm booked for 7 hours and have an hour break. We can't magically get the people naked and on the table, and dressed again, plus it's really important to talk to the person about what they're looking for.

You're booking the time slot, not actual hands on time. If you show up late, you're going to get even less time, because that causes a domino affect and pisses all the clients off behind the late person. If don't show up at all, and don't have a really good reason, expect to get charged anyway. Now if you went somewhere that isn't a spa and doesn't have 50 million people going in and out the door all day, or had a massage therapist come to your house and give you massage, you'd probably get the full time.
 
Because we massage people back to back, we need time to change the sheets, get the next client, talk to the client about what they need, time for the person to undress and get on the table, do the massage, time for the person to redress and get the hell outta of our room lol, walk them out, change the sheets, get the next clients etc etc. I do an average of 6 1/2 hours of massage in an 8 hour day. I usually get at least one 90 minute that throws it off. I do have days though where I'm booked for 7 hours and have an hour break. We can't magically get the people naked and on the table, and dressed again, plus it's really important to talk to the person about what they're looking for.

You're booking the time slot, not actual hands on time. If you show up late, you're going to get even less time, because that causes a domino affect and pisses all the clients off behind the late person. If don't show up at all, and don't have a really good reason, expect to get charged anyway. Now if you went somewhere that isn't a spa and doesn't have 50 million people going in and out the door all day, or had a massage therapist come to your house and give you massage, you'd probably get the full time.

So when you say "30 minute is really 20, a 60 minute is really 50" are you referring to on table time? The client does really get 60 minutes for example when discussion, undressing and re-dressing are included? So you pay for the time you get out of and into your clothes even though it doesn't involve the therapist during that time.
 
So when you say "30 minute is really 20, a 60 minute is really 50" are you referring to on table time? The client does really get 60 minutes for example when discussion, undressing and re-dressing are included? So you pay for the time you get out of and into your clothes even though it doesn't involve the therapist during that time.

Yes the 20, 50 or 80 minutes is actual hands on time. For example, say you booked an 11-12 o'clock appt. I'd get you at 11, we chat for a couple minutes, I'd leave the room while you got on the table. I'd come back and start the massage at 11:05, and would stop at 11:55. You get dressed and leave and would be up front paying, and hopefully leaving your therapist a big fat tip at around 12. You'd probably be out of the room actually around 11:58, I'd then get you a cup of water and walk you up front. that would leave me about 1_2 minutes to get the sheets off the table we used for you and get clean sheets on for the next client that I'd have booked at 12. yes the appointments are that close together.

This is why I don't like 30 minute massages, it still takes just as much time to talk to the person, them get undressed and dressed as it does for a 60 minute massage. So I have very little time to actually do the massage, I feel rushed and unsatisfied with the quality of my massage. I know the person would be more satisfied with a longer session. I'n fairly convinced that knots and taut bands of muscle bother us therapists as much as they bother the clients :D We want to help, we want to work all that out.
 
Yes the 20, 50 or 80 minutes is actual hands on time. For example, say you booked an 11-12 o'clock appt. I'd get you at 11, we chat for a couple minutes, I'd leave the room while you got on the table. I'd come back and start the massage at 11:05, and would stop at 11:55. You get dressed and leave and would be up front paying, and hopefully leaving your therapist a big fat tip at around 12. You'd probably be out of the room actually around 11:58, I'd then get you a cup of water and walk you up front. that would leave me about 1_2 minutes to get the sheets off the table we used for you and get clean sheets on for the next client that I'd have booked at 12. yes the appointments are that close together.

I feel that rates should be set such that tips are not expected. But it seems more and more services have their hand out for a tip. I would much rather be paying a known living wage price to begin with.
 
I feel that rates should be set such that tips are not expected. But it seems more and more services have their hand out for a tip. I would much rather be paying a known living wage price to begin with.

The thing with restaurants, salons and spas, is the owners don't actually pay their workers that much, it's supposed to keep costs for the customers down, we most of our money from tips, so if you don't leave good tips for people you pretty much making them work for very little money. I'd rather know beforehand how much someone is going to tip, I've found people don't really tip according to service, people are going to tip what they're going to tip depending on if that person is generous, cheap or somewhere in between. Some people pay for their massage first and leave a tip on the credit card before we've ever even touched them. I want to know 1st so I can give a massage according to how much I'm actually making. it really pisses me off when I kill myself on a deep tissue, yes massage is very hard on the therapists body, and only get $5. Makes me wish I could take my massage back.

On second thought I'd rather not massage a cheap tipper at all. That spot could have been booked with someone that would actually pay me what I'm worth, for my skills and my knowledge.
 
The thing with restaurants, salons and spas, is the owners don't actually pay their workers that much, it's supposed to keep costs for the customers down, we most of our money from tips, so if you don't leave good tips for people you pretty much making them work for very little money. I'd rather know beforehand how much someone is going to tip, I've found people don't really tip according to service, people are going to tip what they're going to tip depending on if that person is generous, cheap or somewhere in between. Some people pay for their massage first and leave a tip on the credit card before we've ever even touched them. I want to know 1st so I can give a massage according to how much I'm actually making. it really pisses me off when I kill myself on a deep tissue, yes massage is very hard on the therapists body, and only get $5. Makes me wish I could take my massage back.

On second thought I'd rather not massage a cheap tipper at all. That spot could have been booked with someone that would actually pay me what I'm worth, for my skills and my knowledge.

You are talking about what I am well aware is the case now; but I am wishing (out loud on the keyboard) that you did not have to depend on tips. Wouldn't you much rather have a good known hourly wage?
 
You are talking about what I am well aware is the case now; but I am wishing (out loud on the keyboard) that you did not have to depend on tips. Wouldn't you much rather have a good known hourly wage?

Oh absolutely!! And sorry, this is topic that burns my butt lol, get;s me all worked up, I apologize. But I think if the owners didn't expect the clients/customers they might not pay us significantly more, but they would probably charge the customers more to make more $$ for themselves. The spa I work at now, has been called the Walmart of Massage lol. It's a franchise, and you can be a member. So you pay a monthly fee, but massages there are significantly cheaper than other places, but us therapists get paid significantly less than other spas. But they hire therapists right out of school, so I'm not going to complain since I got a job right away. I get paid, by the spa, $16 for an hour massage, plus tips. So depending on the tip I make anywhere from $21 (bad tip) to $36, or $41 if I got an exceptionally good tip of $25 for an hour. But, the spa I want to go work for, some of my coworkers from Massage Envy (where I work now) have gone over there and they pay $40 for an hour massage. From what I understand though all the clients are doctor referred, there is some insurance coverage, and tips aren't really expected but some clients do leave them. So I would make more there, but perhaps not much more. But it would certainly be more consistent income! If I really wanted to be able to make good money I need to work for myself. Which actually makes me nervous since I can't take phone calls to book appointments and what not.

Actually if you saw a massage therapist that worked for themselves I wouldn't leave a tip, it's not necessary, because that person would get all the money for the service except what they have to pay for taxes ;)
 
I know that my next door neighbor used to rent space in food store. She would pay to rent space in food store, then pocket the money. I don't think she pay anyone any share. I believe she get paid for massages and maybe tips if anyone wants to give her tips.

I didn't realize massage was a hard job. If I was getting a massage, I would discuss ahead of time what I wanted to work on, get massage. Save time discussing what needed to be worked on.
 
I know that my next door neighbor used to rent space in food store. She would pay to rent space in food store, then pocket the money. I don't think she pay anyone any share. I believe she get paid for massages and maybe tips if anyone wants to give her tips.

I didn't realize massage was a hard job. If I was getting a massage, I would discuss ahead of time what I wanted to work on, get massage. Save time discussing what needed to be worked on.

Oh yeah, it's brutal on your hands, if you don't use good body mechanics you can blow the joints in your thumbs and wrists. Some therapists careers only last 2-3 years before they can't do it anymore. It's also rough on your upper body, shoulders back and pecs. It's kind of like doing modified push ups all day on people, pushing your weight into them and supporting your weight with your arms. In my case I don't have much weight to push into people, gravity doesn't cut it for me. i'm 5'1" and only weigh 100 pounds, so if some one wants a lot of pressure, which is almost everybody, I can't just lean my own weight into them, I gotta give it a bit more umph than that lol.

She works for herself, that's the way to do it!!! I want to eventually rent a room at a gym, and maybe set up a website where they can book appointments on line, or maybe people would be willing to text me to make appointments, seems like everybody has a cell phone nowadays, I might be able to get away with not actually having to talk on the phone.
 
I would go for the full hour. I have serious back issues and am always in need of a good massage. I used to get 20 minutes massages when I was receiving physical therapy a year ago. They were never long enough. Never good enough. Never enough of anything for me from a 20 minutes massage. I want to go to a spa and have a full hour massage to the point where I fall asleep.
 
got anotha massage.. :).. She was very impressed with how I finished..smh
 
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The only massage sessions I will receive and give is to/from my future wife.
 
Why? it wouldn't be nearly as good as it would be from a professional. A massage isn't sexual :eek3:

Don't twist my words, Ms. Ambrosia. My point is that if I were a massage therapist, I shouldn't see someone naked (to any degree) if I am not married to that person. This is just my conviction on this stance. :)
 

Don't twist my words, Ms. Ambrosia. My point is that if I were a massage therapist, I shouldn't see someone naked (to any degree) if I am not married to that person. This is just my conviction on this stance. :)

I wasn't twisting your words, I was just curious why it would matter whether you were married because a massage isn't sexual.

I've never seen anyone naked on my table either. I leave the room, they get undressed (most people leave their underwear on btw) and they get under the sheet and blanket on the table. A therapist only undrapes the body part they're working on. So when I'm massage their back, I pull the blanket and sheet down to expose their back, cover it back up when I'm done. Undrape A leg, cover it back up, or arm, etc etc until I'm done :D I've never even seen an entire butt crack lol
 


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