Foot Massage Tips for Newbies

[HELP! i lost my keys!]

My pleasurable experiences at Foot Massage places mirrors Uncle Dongs recent review http://www.massageplanet.net/showthread.php?t=140230 and others. I have had lots of fun with the chase and the unexpected at these places and they are very much YMMV which makes it all the more fun. I have become a FM addict and probably hit one 2-3 times/week sampling a dozen or more of them in the last few months as well as sampling the different ladies at each one multiple times (becoming a regular at some). The FM strip seems to be mostly on Bellaire from Mary Bates out almost to Hwy 6 with a concentration just inside Beltway 8. As you get away from China Town and a major street or two the price jumps from $20 to $25-30 and up to $60/hr in Caucasianland. Most are Vietnamese owned/managed with Chinese men and women labor that speak very little English. Just ask for a female at the door or they may push you to a male. You usually dont need an appointment, just walk in and usually they get right to work. Saturdays and workday evenings seem to be the busiest and you might run into a wait. Most are open till 9 or 10pm.

This is probably a no-brainer for experienced hobbyists, but here are some tips for a Newbie trip to Foot Massage Land:
1) If you stay in the reclined chair and common area the whole time, just relax and enjoy the hour long foot massage. Massage is done thru clothing, so wear loose pants that pull up above the knee and a one layer shirt they can get under the neck and skip belt if possible so they can work around your waist, thin shorts and tee shirt is best. Since they massage your thighs and sometimes pelvis leave your pockets as empty as possible but you can store stuff in your shoes. Expected tip is around $3 (what the local Asians tip), but I usually tip $5 because I know they dont make much and Im getting such a great value.
2) If the last 15 minutes is in private room with only curtain, possibilities good for FBSM or FBSM+ if not crowded or too quiet. She needs to know things will not be heard next door.
3) If the last 15 minutes is done in a private room with one table and a closed door, there is very high potential for +, up to +++ with some diplomacy and patience.
4) If she is wearing heels and has long fingernails, that is... not trimmed to a nub for real LMT type massage, all you have to do is let her know what you want with sign language... + for sure and probably more. May want to get her phone number for meeting outside.
5) Unless you speak Mandarin dont even try to communicate much in English so dont get frustrated. Just roll with the sign language. They know the words "ok, hard, soft, good, thank you, and FINISH!". The exception is the ladies with heels and nails... they speak decent English and are experienced. Expected tip seems to run $30-40 for L1.

 

[Ticallion Stallion]

You are a newbie!

 

[Season Rain]

Thanks for the info!

 

[freshfromrwc]

Well Dad... share with us what you think the market is for L1. Ive seen $30 tip as the low side on most reviews for Massage+.

 

[TonyWithLove]

thanks for the information, daynjrus

 

[mynameismud]

Come on Dad. Where's your foot massage FAQ ?

 

[Pompal 09.]

Even the old "full service" Emperor Spa is now converting to Emperor Foot Massage!

 

[adam/penny]

Cindy's on Bellaire at Eldridge is converting also.

 

[Semra]

yeah, i went there the other day. They have 3 chairs in one room, three in the other.

There was a cute girl there, I think her name was Anna, but I never got any privacy, the owner or the guy at the front door kept walking back to check, even during the back massage parts.

What are some good foot massage places where there is a private room for the back massage?"

 

[Tim O]

The cracking down on workers without massage licenses prompted a new and largely unregulated market of reflexology. Classic "New bottle, old wine" Chinese proverb.

 

[JadeMerik]

My understanding of the Texas law for Reflexology is they are supposed to only touch hands, feet and ears unless they have a full Texas CMT license so I imagine some are on shaky ground. I hope these places stay in business cause its a great $20 deal for us while it lasts.

 

[parade of jills]

Thanks for the information. I would not have guessed it would be more than knees and below.

 

[Pompal 09.]

The $20 deals will be here for a while.

New places are popping up weekly, e.g., one just opens right next to Chiun Li. Actually right around Bellaire and Ranchester intersection, there are at least 6 foot massage places! The old Mary's massage is also converted to it.

The competition is fierce. Coupons are being hand out, as low as $15 per hour.

 

[Baby Blue]

Thanks Dad. Guess I need to cruise deeper and find those coupons to help my 3-4 X/week addiction. Ive signed up twice for "buy 5 for $100 and get 6th free" deals and currently working one off at my favorite straight foot massage place at Mary Bates and Bellaire. All 3 Chinese ladies there give the best professional straight-up foot massages I have found.



I did get a FM at Emperor yesterday and that place has apparently been remodeled under new owner and converted to straight-up $20 Foot Massage and Reflexology in common rooms. Saw no private rooms.

 

[brookeandy]

Foot massage is a latest technique for recover body treatments.

 

[bobchum]

Thank You for the suggestion

 

[texas2010]

I am dumb... I still don't get where to get some special services