% of clients that are male or female?

[natasha s]

Hi guys,

I haven't been set up that long, but recently business has really picked up. However i am surprised at the level of male clients that i am getting and i mean that in a very nice way. Currently most of my regular clients are male clients and last week i got another new male client and this week i have already picked up another new male client.

I was just wondering if other therapists found they had a higher female or male ratio. As a new therapist i am finding it quite interesting to see the different types of people that come for massage.

 

[Hieldonaigh]

I'd say I have more male clients who visit me than female. Probably 60/40.

 

[basketball addict]

I discovered the same thing - my mix was about 70 male / 30 female. However, this year - so far - I'd say it's 60 male / 40 female.

I'm also mobile - if I refused to treat males I wouldn't have a business. Thanks goodness for enlightened men

My theory is that men don't like going to beauty salons and are less likely to go to spas for massage.

 

[Dee Dee]

I'd say 100% of my pregnancy massage clients are female, who would've guessed that! And Preg clients take up between 20-80% of my business depending on the time of year. Of the rest of them, it's still fairly heavy on the female side since a lot of them are ex-pregnant clients. Most of the males are partners of the preg or ex-preg females, but there are a few males and females that have managed to find me without being pregnant, of those it's about 60-40 female to male. I'm usually booked up about a week or 2 in advance (peak baby season it gets up to 4 weeks) and lots of men don't want to commit/plan a week in advance, women seemed more inclined to wait, so of the non-preg callers, I probably get more males making enquiries than females but more females actually make bookings.

 

[Desertrose]

Glad to see your pregnancy massage is going well Cola, especially as i have completed a course in this and am about to start advertising it. I have done it for a few people and they really loved it, but unfortunately were only here visiting otherwise they would have continued treatments. I think its such a lovely treatment to give and a real benefit to the pregnant lady.

I was just surprised by how many of my clients are males, as i had it in my head that i would hear more from female clients. I have been to male clients houses where they have partners yet their partner doesn't want the treatment but the man does, its all very intersting for me!

 

[Poon Tang]

As a sports massage therapist I always assumed I would have more male than female clients. Originally I really wanted to focus on sports specific work such as football and rugby etc. like a lot of the sports massage guys do.
However this has proved to be the other way around. 70% of my clients are female and we now focus on remedial techniques and corrective exercise. So much so it has inspired me to open a ladies specific fitness, exercise and wellbeing studio which we will go live next month.
I think it is rather strange how my business has developed in a totally opposite direction as to my original vision. Although I very happy with the way it was worked out.

 

[SunGodess]

Sounds great philbo and good luck with it all, sounds very exciting.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I get quite a few male clients too, at least 50% I would say. I offer deep tissue massage, which is what most male clients go for.

Men tend to come in because they want something sorted out.

Many female clients also come in with specific problems, but the percentage of them coming in for a more holistic experience or a more gentle, re-balancing relaxation massage, is clearly higher than with my male clients.

 

[Delilah ?]

This is causing me problems... I am mobile and since I recently trained in Deep Tissue I have been getting more male enquiries... and I have been turning them down. I know this is foolish but I had made a decision to not massage men in thier own homes and now I am beginning to regret it as I am now loosing work.

How on earth do I get over this hurdle. I think a mindset is now in place and I have inadvertantly put the same mindset in my husbands head too and he is afraid for my safety in this situation. I have discussed it with him and he has said that he doesnt mind if treat male clients at home. But how do you sort out the good from the bad?

 

[evekembok]

I've been a little surprised recently at how many of my clients are male - and in some cases they are not after something specific, but wanting a "re-balancing relaxation massage". When I was first training in massage, a female therapist told me I would have to specialise in sports massage because I would only get male clients and they wouldn't want something "girly". Well, I'm certainly getting male clients - and I'm getting as many men as women wanting aromatherapy.

 

[Rachael]

I see where your coming from supersub, as i have had a few enquiries and male's book in just because they want some relaxation, with another male client today looking for swedish.

It just continues to surprise me the level of male clients i am getting. For example i am a new business and have had two new male clients this week and have taken a female booking but for a pamper party.

I have been advertising on gumtree more though, so am wondering if thats where they are finding me from and maybe more men look for people via the internet.

Karen, I think there is always the potential for risk when it comes to treating men in their own home, but at the same time as i have taken more male bookings, i have realised that although i should be aware of risks, it doesn't mean every male client is dangerous. There are some good threads on here regarding male clients and safety and how you can talk to them to find out if they are serious about massage or not. I have found this useful and used it when talking to new male clients.

 

[Shut up, no one cares]

I think that some people are now coming to massage as they see it as a way of relieving stress caused by the recession/fear of redundancy etc. And men seem to be at the front of that particular queue.

 

[Cake.]

As I mentioned in my earlier post in this thread, I get more new enquiries from males than females, but many of them don't want to book more than a week in advance. I've found that not accepting same day or next day appointments from unknown males is the easiest way to filter out those thinking in terms of something other than a massage. And even of those looking for something other than a massage, 99% of them are embarrassed rather than stroppy about expecting some other kind of treatment, that 1% of stroppy, only a fraction of them are a concern. It means it is highly unlikely to be a concern.
If you make unknown males wait a couple of days, they might not be able to wait and see someone else, but lots of them can wait, so you will probably still loose some of them, but not all of them.

The thing to remember is that a massage is not a pizza, they should not expect you to be able to drop everything to get your table to them in less than 30mins to work on them. A massage emergency is not a life and death situation, if they can't wait 2 days, if they continue with seeing you, they'll probably be a high maintenance client, expecting you to always be available same day or so, and as you get busier and can't fit them in they'll probably find someone else anyway. Making unknown clients wait 2 days for an appointment adds safety and helps filter out later high maintenance issues. It's really difficult to turn down same day appointments when you have a bill to pay, but in the long run, it is worth it. Repeat 'I am not a pizza, I am not a pizza'
Same day appointments with known clients, is a different situation, then you can be as accomodating as you want to be, it's just the unknown ones.

 

[sheldonlinker]

This is interesting to read. I'm getting more male clients recently and many of them are becoming regulars which is great to see. I'm not sure of my exact percentages but I think I still get more female than male clients despite the recent increase in male clients.

 

[msbluenv@sbcglobal.net]

thankyou Andan you are so right . I just need to get rid of this irrational fear I have developed learn some techniques to deal with male clients and find out who is who. Ironically I had 2 male clents yesterday but I treated them both in my own home.

many thanks and great thread!

 

[Meag]

I am a male practitioner, and feel the whole male/female thing is a funny business.

It varies according to so many factors. I've worked at many different places and it varies according to place - when i've worked at spas in London the ratio has usually been 60% women to 40 men - but then again, it can depend on what treatment you are giving.

In my private practice, I find stuff like deep tissue and sports massage is roughly 50/50, though again, with me getting most of my clients through the internet that can affect the ratio, with some women being a bit anxious about coming to my home.

Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, on the other hand is virtually 100% men!! I wish some women would come for a Lomi Lomi but how many women would come to my house, and lay naked on my massage table while i massage them Lomi style???

I have found that many women therapists are anxious about male clients and this can affect the quality of the massage. I have known women to avoid a guy's abdomen, buttocks, adductors and even the upper half of their hamstrings!!! Guys dont like it when theyre made to feel unaccepted, shameful or whatever. I feel this is one of the reasons my girlfriend does well massaging - she is happy and comfortable with giving massage to guys who like to receive it naked.

What do you think???

J

 

[eiivbiyc]

It's a question of education and building up trust. Most of my femail clients originally come to me for deep tissue on back, neck and shoulders. After two or three sessions they are usually enquiring about lomilomi. I have a load of stuff about hawaiian massage up on the wall. Most will ask to try it and most stick with it once they have experienced how powerful an experience it can be. I talk a lot about body acceptance and being happy in your own skin. I practice temple style so draping is minimal an I only have one client who still insists on keepng her breasts covered.

Having said all that, females accoount for about 20% of my client base.