Cold Feet...

[MykellG]

I just finished school 2 weeks ago! Yeah Me! I have sent out so many resumes and made so many calls, about therapist positions, with nothing opening up. I probably had expectations that were entirely too high, but I had instructors and career services people telling me there were plenty of jobs to be had and not enough therapists, in our area. Apparently, there must have been more therapists out there, that nobody knew about because the jobs definitely weren't there!

Anyhow, to make a long story short...I found a room in a salon for rent. The rent is reasonable for the area and the owner is even cutting that amount in half for the first two months. I went ahead and jumped in with both feet, paid the deposit and well start taking appointments on May 1st. However, now, I am wondering if I did the right thing. The room is very small and that annoys me but I can work with it.

While I have nothing against salons or cosmetologists(my daughter is one), I do take issue with the fact that this particular place allows their stylists to smoke out on the front porch, therefore clients must walk through smoke and the gossip mill to even get into the building. And as with all salons, it is not the quietest place in the world. I am trying to have a positive attitude about the whole situation and truthfully I didn't have a qualms about doing this until today. Is is just cold-feet or do I have legitimate issues...Oh and then, what if it doesn't work for me??? Will my clients, presuming I get clients, follow me should I choose to find a new place?

There are 19 stylists in this shop so I am hoping to be able to build up some kind of clientele, by feeding off the stylists...

Any suggestions for "The new kid on the block"?

 

[ahhao]

Congrats on graduating and taking a leap of faith. Cold feet is normal but I'm sure you'll do fine. I work at a tanning/salon/fitness place. Very high traffic even with only two hairstylists, one of which smokes at the front door. I occasionally hear a tanning room door close, a weight falling to the floor from the fitness side, drumbeats from the teenager working up front turning the music too loud, and chatter and laughter sometimes filter back ad well. I've found that if I stay focused and not let it affect me, it doesn't affect the clients. Hot stones go a long way in helping them "zone out" so they don't hear those outside noises like we do. I use a mini crock pot and use two palm stones per client on their back at close of session. They love it. I went from 0 to 80 clients there and am about to move into a rental place of my own. My clients have been nothing but supportive.

Think positive, stay focused, and love/care for your clients. You'll make it.

 

[Chauncey Q. Buttercup]

Cold Feet...

Thanks for your support...

I know one of the reason's I am feeling this way... I had envisioned myself focusing more on Pregnancy and Therapeutic massage, than general relaxation. I'm not really the spa/salon type and focus a great deal on natural health. It bother's me that I practice this way and right outside the door are fumes from beauty products and of course the smoke issue... How serious can I be taken with all this going on? Anyhow, I am just freaking out and I know it but these are some real concerns for me.

Oh and the other thing that kind of pricked me the wrong way... I put my actual business name on my flyers, business cards, and such (along with the name of the salon) and the owner was not at all pleased with that. She didn't say a whole lot but you could tell, instantly by the cold breeze that poured out of her, that she wanted me to put something like... "(salon name) massage". It is an IC place so I should be able to legally use my business name, right? As long as I include the name of the salon? Anyhow, I feel pretty sure that knocked me down a notch or two in her book.

 

[ahhao]

Cold Feet...

Thanks for your support...

Oh and the other thing that kind of pricked me the wrong way... I put my actual business name on my flyers, business cards, and such (along with the name of the salon) and the owner was not at all pleased with that. She didn't say a whole lot but you could tell, instantly by the cold breeze that poured out of her, that she wanted me to put something like... "(salon name) massage". It is an IC place so I should be able to legally use my business name, right? As long as I include the name of the salon? Anyhow, I feel pretty sure that knocked me down a notch or two in her book.

I don't really know what the legalities are, but someone here surely will. I bet you get asked, "Do you have a contract? What does it say?" Then your decisions should be based on what you have in writing. If there's nothing in writing....

It kind of sounds like the ONLY thing you like about your situation is the reduced rent for two months, and the potential flow of clients from the stylists. If you are the only MT in a business with 19 stylists, I am betting it won't take you longer than 6 months to 1 year (if you market well, and give some great massages) to really establish some regular clients AND get enough new clients (or the returning once in a while variety) to keep yourself busy.

Yes, there are ups & downs to working in a salon, whether as IC or employee. The truth is even though the spa side of a salon brings in a lot of money, they usually never bring in as much as the stylists and products sales. For this reason, sometimes a kind of hierarchy is established, and no matter how much you cry and whine to them about making the experience ALL ABOUT the CLIENT, your concerns really may get pushed aside. (Smoking at entrance allowed to continue, noise levels not addressed, room temperature concerns not addressed, so on....) I'm not saying it is like this everywhere. There are some places out there really geared toward wellness, and toward the client. Some people thrive & love being in a salon setting. Others not so much.

I guess my rambling isn't offering much help. I guess (depending on what you have in writing) since you already paid your money, why not give it a shot? It may work out to be a good starting point for you to get your hands on as many bodies as you can. Maybe you get a call for an interview from somewhere you applied, soon. (I got called like 6 mo. later for what turned out to be one of my best spa gigs.) If you are not obligated to stay at the salon, maybe you move on. As far as clients following you, that would again depend on what you have in writing with the salon, and how aggressively you can market to them before/when you leave.

 

[XpanD]

Cold Feet...

MtnTU,

Are you willing to do this for now and later go for what really fits you?
Are you going to be able to get along with someone you already disagree with?

 

[Rizwan]

Cold Feet...

Thanks for your support...

I know one of the reason's I am feeling this way... I had envisioned myself focusing more on Pregnancy and Therapeutic massage, than general relaxation. I'm not really the spa/salon type and focus a great deal on natural health. It bother's me that I practice this way and right outside the door are fumes from beauty products and of course the smoke issue... How serious can I be taken with all this going on? Anyhow, I am just freaking out and I know it but these are some real concerns for me.

Oh and the other thing that kind of pricked me the wrong way... I put my actual business name on my flyers, business cards, and such (along with the name of the salon) and the owner was not at all pleased with that. She didn't say a whole lot but you could tell, instantly by the cold breeze that poured out of her, that she wanted me to put something like... "(salon name) massage". It is an IC place so I should be able to legally use my business name, right? As long as I include the name of the salon? Anyhow, I feel pretty sure that knocked me down a notch or two in her book.

I don't do many spa type massages either. I have been in business 2 years and can count on my hands how many salt glows and facial application massages I have done. I do mainly a mix of swedish, deep tissue, and hot stones. The thing is, if I wanted to do spa services, I would be just as busy doing those. The modality of massage that you love will show through to your clients and that's the type massage you will be doing. So if you want to do therapeutic massages and pregnancy, then do so. Maybe you can schedule your pregnant clients at a time when perms aren't being done as that smell is the worst one. With that many stylists though, that may be impossible. I do know that I am in the back and the smell isn't bad in my room so at least they aren't smelling it throughout their massage. You'll have to decide what route to take with that depending on how much the smells carry into your room.

As for as the other issue... I have always used my name on my business cards and mail outs with this establishment as my location. The owner here doesn't mind at all because ppl don't even know me by my name... they know me as 'the massage therapist at The Beach". So, she will still be getting tons of advertising from you. Maybe you can mention that to her and see if she feels better about it. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

 

[Awesome Dude]

Cold Feet...

If you are paying rent. Then you should be able to put what ever name you like on your card. If you where an IC that would be a different story.

 

[ms bell]

Cold Feet...

I agree with JWL. Are you renting a room, or do you have a contract to provide IC services? If you are renting a room, then as long as you abide by the terms of the rental contract, you should be able to do pretty much whatever you want- including using your own business name. You don't have a contract to "market" the salon itself, do you?

When my husband was renting from a salon for 6 months, he used his own name/business name, his own phone number, etc.. They didn't book sessions or anything. Thankfully, they only allowed smoking outside the BACK door. But the smells in there were horrible (nails as well as hair). I agree with you that the smells in there probably won't be very conducive to "nice, relaxing massage", especially for pregnant clients. But my husband's therapeutic clients kept on coming, even through the smells.

I also agree that if you're any good at all, you will find yourself with a good handful of faithful clients before you know it, and they will follow you to the ends of the earth (well, not really, but probably within a few mile radius, lol!).

Good luck and let us know how it goes!