New Opportunity

[Pompal 09.]

I had a recent post asking about what to charge for parafin dips. Well, today I called my school to see what they charged. When I found out, my teacher asked me "Were your ears burning? I was just about to call you." Turns out my friend that works there is leaving the profession to get a full-time job as a hotel clerk. The school wants me to go down there today and discuss with them what possibilities we can work out. We're not sure if her clientele would go to a male therapist or not. We don't see an issue with it, but some of the clients that call there do. I'm pretty sure most of my clientele would follow me there, and this should be an outstanding opportunity to get new clientele. They also would probably let me start out on a comission split then change to rent when business picks up enough to even out. Sounds great? Well, there are always drawbacks...I just applied again at my old job. They should be hiring again in early to mid January, from personal experience (I know how they work, hehehe). Last time I was offered my job back, I turned it down to be loyal to my clients, and I ended up getting burned (they cancelled and no-showed). I've told myself that this time, I am not turning down the job offer, and I will reschedule clients if need be to be able to work there. The job would be able to support ALL my bills, and I would have time to do massage after- or before-hours, and on days off. I'm not sure how the school will take that, with me not being able to be there a lot.I have also sold a few gift certificates this past month. If I start out at the school working comission, I have to find out if they'd be willing to let me work on these customers without paying them the comission split, as the money is already in the bank.The office will be a little smaller, and I have a lot of stuff in my office, all of which I use. Not too hard to work around, but just to throw it out there.~~~~Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know what's going on, and am excited that I may finally be able to work in a spa setting, allowing me to perform spa services! YAY!!!  ;D

 

[Costin]

Seforum.xxxg,What is meant to happen is going to happen.  My wish for you is whatever is in your best interest and highest good.  Good Luck!

 

[nOtPoOdLe]

New Opportunity

Seforum.xxxg - congrats! I'm always happy to hear when 'the plan' comes together especially for someone who loves what he/she loves.Keep us posted.

 

[Maxwell Murder]

New Opportunity

It sounds like 2005 will begin with many opportunities for you! Congratulations!Sally

 

[iLyAnA]

Yea!  Super-yea!I know you have been just waiting for this opportunity!

I've told myself that this time, I am not turning down the job offer, and I will reschedule clients if need be to be able to work there. The job would be able to support ALL my bills, and I would have time to do massage after- or before-hours, and on days off. I'm not sure how the school will take that, with me not being able to be there a lot.

That doesn't sound like a bad idea, and I am betting the school will go with it, since they are worried their clientele may not want a male therapist.  I think if you are upfront with them about the situation and that just as soon as you are making it, you'll be quitting the comp. job, they wouldn't give you too hard a time.  At least I hope not.I can't wait to hear how it turns out!As for the gift certificate people (money in the bank)... if the school still wants a cut, maybe ya'll can work something out where you pay them off on those, a little at a time.  Once again, explaining you used the money when it came in for bills, but that as soon as you can get the perceneforum.xxxe back to the school for letting you honor the gift certificates, you will.Congrats, Seforum.xxxg!  

 

[overthemoon]

New Opportunity

I've told myself that this time, I am not turning down the job offer, and I will reschedule clients if need be to be able to work there.

That sounds a much more sensible way to work, but it didn't seem to agree with another post you made

I was having lunch at my boyfriend's parents' house yesterday (Sunday) when a loyal client called in pain. I told him I could be there in about an hour. My bf looked at me shocked because I was going to work on a Sunday. When he was driving me back to my car, he was saying "I can't believe you have people calling you on Sunday. I can't believe you're actually GOING!" I explained to him that I was taking Sunday appointments for this client in particular way before I met him, he's always been a faithful client, and he's in pain. Therefor, I am going to work on him.

If it was 3pm and you had been there since 11am and were probably leaving soon, fair enough, but I have images of you mid-mouthful answering the phone and going into super-hero mode Your client had waited a while to call you, he/she could wait a bit longer than an hour for you to get back.  I hope it was the first case where you were leaving shortly anyway.  I have no problem with working Sunday for a client in need, but dropping everything doesn't sound like you're quite ready to reshedule clients happily if you need to.

Sounds like a good opportunity though I hope it works out.  Sounds like you're going to let them take the same cut from clients you bring as clients they provide, so I think it sounds fair that you keep the full amount for the few clients that are going to be redeeming gift certificates - no money is changing hands at the time, and they may become new clients.

Good luck  And don't let the clients control your life  There is a difference between being flexible and accomodating and being a doormat.

 

[FUHummer]

New Opportunity

Congrats Seforum.xxxg! ooo...I was quilty of the same thing for a while, when I was happily single at the time and had no one to gripe about my hours...good thing too, because I was working just about every day. I think one reason why my business thrived in a busy metropolis, with many available therapists, was because I was so miraculously dependable...but Melb brought up a very good point about setting up boundaries of availability...i.e., I realized fast that I couldn't often take appointments past 9pm, since I was up every day at 4am. And God! once in awhile I had to take a Sunday off.With this job will come an expansion of referrals...which can lead to great success, and even more opportunity...the best of which we all wish you!I was always eager for this, and it did me well...but there's good common sense in not wearing yourself out...I know its hard to think of burn-out at this point, but its a very real thing that can take you by surprise if you haven't got limits planned...so don't forget to take care of yourself first.

 

[Irenie Leigh]

New Opportunity

If it was 3pm and you had been there since 11am and were probably leaving soon, fair enough, but I have images of you mid-mouthful answering the phone and going into super-hero mode

Well, it was about 1pm when he called and I was eating at the time, but I told him I'd have to wait until about 3pm to make it there, to finish lunch and get my car, set up the table, etc. He understood. Hi didn't rebook, never does, but he usually comes in once a week at least, and this week he said he would try to come in again before he visits the chiro to get adjusted. He knows that there's no way I'd stop eating lunch to go to the office unless he brings me a plate lunch to compensate, hehehe.

Thank you all for the encouragement. I went yesterday and talked to the owner / my teacher, and she said not to worry about the gift certificates, because of the reason you all said, that I sold them with my own clients and not on their part. At first she said that usually she'd ask me to pay the perceneforum.xxxe when they came in, but I told her I wouldn't have the cash for that, and that I offer different pricing than they do, with my buy-3-get-1-free discount I am offering on my gift certificates. I told her if that were the case, I'd keep my office for another month or two and see my clients there, taking full price of the massage, and she said she'd let me use the office if I bring her a list of gift certs sold so they have an idea of what's coming in and how to track them.

Another issue we talked about was outcalls. She said that if she schedules the outcall, then they still take the 40%. I told them I would still require the entire travel fee, only they would get the 40% from the actual massage, not the outcall fee, since it would be me taking the time to go out and do the massage, my car and gas that are being used, my own table, etc. She kinda avoided that one like the plaigue, not sure if she complies with that or not. If not, then I just won't do outcalls.

Well, I'm really excited about the move, and will feel much more comfortable there than at my office now, it's just talking to my chiro that'll be the hardest thing. He's been great to me, a really good friend also, so I'm hoping he will understand this is strictly a business move and nothing personal.

 

[Scabs]

New Opportunity

Good for you Seforum.xxxg. Sounds like a great move for you. I really want to do more spa things and am interested in all the info you will be sharing.