Interesting point re: charging for massage

[Parviz E]

Soooo, I know this topic's been brought up lots on this forum, but here it is again! wee! :roll:

It still feels strange to me to consider setting a price for something I love to give for free, and it's especially hard for me to think of charging someone, even if he/she wants to spoil him/herself, if money is tight for them. Part of what I love about giving massages now in practice is that I can tell people that I can't receive money of any kind while I'm in school; though I do hope to go on and make this my primary profession (for a living), things re: payment are still gonna feel awkward for awhile. It's hard for me to connect to someone through massage and then stop & say okay, you owe $3466456322.

However, my psychologist brought up a good point. He struggled with the same issue for a long time in regard to his helping people. He really does go out of his way sometimes for patients, I can attest to that - his resourcefulness has really helped me in my pursuits, he's got a huuuuge network of connections. When I mentioned my dilemma to my psych, he told me that he had to ponder his standpoint for a while before he started working, too, and he decided that people can't buy his caring, but they CAN buy his time. Thinking about it like that helps me a little in figuring out my justification for charging, though it'll still take some pondering.

Thought it was an interesting point either way

 

[Tejinder]

That is a nice way to think about it.

 

[R...]

That was indeed a nice way to think of it.

Back in the day..... the massage instructors at school [also practicing LMTs] explained to the class very early in our education that getting over the idea that charging for doing something that we loved, be it massage, secretarial work, whatever, was an absolute necessity to give it a value to the person receiving it. Even if it was $1.95 for whatever kind of work was done, charging that $1.95 gave a tangible value to what was received as a result of that work - massage, an answered phone and typed letters, whatever.

For what it's worth - my 2cents.

 

[KAL]

I felt that way for about the first half of school. Now I'm quite alright with the whole getting paid part of it. I love what I do and for my family and some close friends a little free work is better than none and I give massage as a gift to them. In a world where so few things are appreciated and people expect everything for nothing, putting a price on something that feels priceless gives it more reality and validity. I think charging for massage helps people to really look into the benefits and realize how valid massage is. Many people look at it as a feel good pampering service and dismiss the therapeutic value being completely unaware of it. I LOVE massage. I love being in tune with the tissues and helping someone to dispell pain, anxiety, and chronic wear and tear. It's fun, its touching, but I also have to eat and pay bills. If I didn't like some millionare plastic surgeons I would still charge based on the principle of the value of the work and knowledge plus the benefits delivered. I rejoice in giving wedding day massages for friends, graduation presents, etc. Get taken advaneforum.xxxe of once or twice for your giving spirit and you might change your point of view. Would you expect your friends to work for you for free? It's all about balance and maintaining joy and love for the work. That's my two cents anyway. I totally had to deal with that as an issue early on so that's my take so far.

p.s. Even when you work for free lots of people will still give you money. My first free massage on one of my moms friends the women wrote me a $100 check. I refused to take that much even if she wanted to pay me but she insisted. I called her the next day after she would be over the massage endorphins and she still insisted I cash the check. I did and she now pays me a discounted fee. She never did get a free massage. I have a few other clients like that. Insisted on paying me anyway.

 

[blahh 90210 is on]

Interesting point re: charging for massage

Soooo, I know this topic's been brought up lots on this forum, but here it is again! wee! :roll:

It still feels strange to me to consider setting a price for something I love to give for free, and it's especially hard for me to think of charging someone, even if he/she wants to spoil him/herself, if money is tight for them. Part of what I love about giving massages now in practice is that I can tell people that I can't receive money of any kind while I'm in school; though I do hope to go on and make this my primary profession (for a living), things re: payment are still gonna feel awkward for awhile. It's hard for me to connect to someone through massage and then stop & say okay, you owe $3466456322.

However, my psychologist brought up a good point. He struggled with the same issue for a long time in regard to his helping people. He really does go out of his way sometimes for patients, I can attest to that - his resourcefulness has really helped me in my pursuits, he's got a huuuuge network of connections. When I mentioned my dilemma to my psych, he told me that he had to ponder his standpoint for a while before he started working, too, and he decided that people can't buy his caring, but they CAN buy his time. Thinking about it like that helps me a little in figuring out my justification for charging, though it'll still take some pondering.

Thought it was an interesting point either way

Well that seems a bit high priced...$3466456322. Where can i get a job to make the money like that...

just kiddin'

 

[kneady]

Another way to look at it is that your paying clients are there to make sure that you are available to help in other ways. If you had to do other work to earn money to live, you'd be limited in how many massages you could give. By paying you, they allow you to do more. If you start making too much money, you can give the excess to me, if you'd like.

 

[imin34]

If you start making too much money, you can give the excess to me, if you'd like.

t046

I like to look at it as a type of energy exchange, I'm not above exchange for services in kind.

The universe abhors a vacuum. But yes I agree, you can't someone's care and concern, but you can buy their time.

 

[ivantop]

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