How to get started

[Sageandscholar]

I am a student who plans on getting my license by the summer.  I have a question about spa/massage parties.  I have tons of ideas about what to offer,etc. my question is about fees.  Do I charge a set fee for all those attending or do I rely on those attending to purchase gift certificates.  I would like any and all input that you all have to share.  I live in a very small town in TN. and am concerned that having a set fee to attend may put people off.  Help.

 

[Steveman3014]

I think it is best to charge a set fee .  I would need more info though. Are you selling product? If not then a set fee would be better as you do not want to waste your time and energy. What would you be offering at the spa and massage parties. is it just you or someone else. If it is just you then you would want to keep the massages fairly short. Give more info about what would happen at these parties and then maybe we can help.Have a great dayP.S. I have given my email- I have soem ideas

 

[Pam Beasley]

How to get started

What I've done in the past is have a minumum. Example...I charge $135 per hour for out calls. So the party planner can give you $270 to show up (2 hours of massage), then you can set aside the whole day and your day would at least be paid for. Every minute above and beyond the first two hours could be drastically discounted ($1 per minute). If you did 5 hours of work, the party planner would owe you $450 ($270 +$180). If you only end up doing 1 1/2 hour, at least you'd still walk away with $270, because you left you're schedule empty for the day. My opinion is to bill one person, and leave it up to that person to collect from the guests.

 

[Allen]

Great idea about billing the party planner and having that person collect.  I was just contacted yesterday about hosting a massage party, and if it goes through it will be the first one.  I haven't yet had a dialouge about the details, and I'm glad I read your post first!Thanks

 

[SoSeiru]

Okay, at the risk of sounding stupid, what are massage parties?  What happens at them?  Do you sell stuff?  How many people attend these sort of things?  Can someone give me the low-down on this?  There have been other posts about them but I never really got what actually happens at these gatherings.  Thanks, Joe E

 

[Angela]

Ditto.   ???  Please inform me also.

 

[good y tu shoes]

This is how I work it in my practice, others may have slightly different twists...I sell it as a "great way to enjoy a night in", and for a minimum of 4 people, who each receive a 30 min massage (either back/neck, or foot... their choice) I'm willing to head out to someone's home and provide a "spa" setting at their place.  I take a portable CD player, candles, CD's as well as my table, sheets, etc.In general I don't do outcalls, but if I can do a minimum of 2 hours work at one place then it makes it worth my while.  I charge a bit more for my time (like $35 for each 30 minute segment rather than my standard $30) and I have a caveat that says additional charges may apply based on distance traveled.I had a client the other day ask if it would work for 2 60 minute sessions back to back... and since it still gives me a two hour minimum I said, sure.  (less laundry for me to do!)If you wanted to proactively market this it works well as an idea for bridal showers, baby showers, annual special event for book clubs or cooking clubs... the list goes on...  I don't sell product, but if you do, it might be a way to boost your retail revenue.  Also, a potential goal would be to book future appts. with the clients who receive your 30 minute intro touch.I hope that helps!Good luck with it if you go for it!

 

[Sue C]

HealingJourney, thanks for the info.  Let's see if I have this right.  So basically, you go in and do 4 - 30 minute outcall massages.  I assume the others hang out, viist with each other and have a get-together of sorts, yes?  I also assume, you talk to them before hand about your massage, benefits, other services, what have you....  The idea is to offer your services to a group in hopes of getting them individually to come in or buy gift certificates for others.  Okay, that seems logical.  Second round of questions, do you market this service and if so, how do you do it?  Do you offer it to existing clients so you can meet their friends?  Does the host get something extra for hosting?  What's the incentive to open my home and have to clean up after a party?  Doesn't tupperware or those companies give the hostess a free gift?  Is the massage her gift?  Also, does anyone else do anything differently, other than potentially sell products?  Thanks, Joe E.

 

[NoBodyyy]

How to get started

Hi Joe E.

Your assumptions in paragraph one are correct... personally I'd love it if there were more like 6 folks there, but 4 is fine.   Indeed, they hang out, play cards, drink wine, gossip, watch a movie, plan a wedding, or whatever, while I whisk them away one at a time to offer 30 minutes of massage.

It is great when I get further bookings out of it, but since it has already generated reasonable revenue for me, I'm not disappointed if it doesn't.

At this point I market it solely as a web link on my website, and the few folks (none of whom are current clients) I've talked with about it have approached me--solely because they saw it on my website.  At this point I'm not counting on it as a way to build my biz quickly, it is just another option on my service menu.

From the other things I read about it, if you choose to do go this route to build your business, then you could talk to friends/clients to see if they would like to host something in their home.  This would be more like a tupperware party where you hope they buy, but you may not be asking for $ up front.  They would bring their friends in and you could either do 30 minutes and charge, or just do a 10 minute sample for free in hopes of generating future sales.

Here are a couple websites with info on spa parties with a couple of different intentions behind each:

http://www.healingjourneymassage.com/id7.html

http://www.4onsitemassage.com/Massage%20Party.htm

http://www.stressaway-massage.com/free.htm

 

[Ya-Kno-Im-Riight...]

Thanks for the additional information.  I get the concept now and I think it definitely can be used as an added service to introduce a therapist's practice to others.  I'm not sure how it would work in my practice and its direction but I love hearing how others continue to re-invent massage based on their clientele and focus.  Thanks so much for the info and "party on".  Joe E.

 

[philchelt]

Hi HealingJourney, I'll be doing a spa party next Saturday, the theme is its a birthday party for one of the guess. Do you have the party planner sign a contract before hand?  I was wondering should I provide a contract to the host. Dee

 

[Shay Shay KAY!!]

Hi Dee,I haven't gotten so formal as to have contracts.  If I don't know the person, I usually just ask for payment in advance, for example a check via the mail (and any tips are paid out at the time of service).  If I know & trust the person I just accept payment at time of service.I hope it goes well for you!Amy