To buy a chair or not?

[Pompal 09.]

Not sure if this is the right section for this but I figured it fit. I work full time in another field. I want to get back to massage and hope to be able to go back to massage full time in one year. For right now I want to just schedule on the weekends and maybe offer an evening appointment for "regular" clients. My dilema is this... Money is somewhat tight right now. I am trying to figure the best way to get massages booked. I still need to buy a table and am also looking at a room to rent by the day (or just stick to outcalls if I can't find a room). I am wondering if it would be worth my money to buy a chair (found one for $80) to do some freebies... like at my work (at a hospital, nurses are always excited to hear I am a CMT) to gain some clients (vs. advertising on something like Craigslist which has brought me some people looking for more than massage). I know when I first moved to Colorado I did free chair massage at a Curves and got a few regulars... I just don't know how well that works now or if everyone just sees it as "hey look, free massage". Thanks for your input!

 

[Cal]

To buy a chair or not?

I don't like to give away chair massage at all (and not too much table massage - except on occasions I am happy with). But, it sounds like you have a willing audience. Why not charge them an introductory rate instead of making it for "Free", if the hospital will let you do that. At least you'd get your money back on the chair purchase.

Now, here's another thought. If the hospital won't let you do it, why not see if the nurses would get on a rotating schedule of opening their homes once a week/every two weeks/month, and you work for a full afternoon/evening on them. Donation of: "x" amount. Someone can bring snacks and they could make a get together out of it. Do you think they are friendly enough with each other to go for something like that?

Welcome to the forums! Post often!

 

[CANUK]

To buy a chair or not?

I don't like to give away chair massage at all (and not too much table massage - except on occasions I am happy with). But, it sounds like you have a willing audience. Why not charge them an introductory rate instead of making it for "Free", if the hospital will let you do that. At least you'd get your money back on the chair purchase.

Now, here's another thought. If the hospital won't let you do it, why not see if the nurses would get on a rotating schedule of opening their homes once a week/every two weeks/month, and you work for a full afternoon/evening on them. Donation of: "x" amount. Someone can bring snacks and they could make a get together out of it. Do you think they are friendly enough with each other to go for something like that?

I actually work at the hospital but am doing this on my own for the nurses on the 2 floors I used to work on when I did patient care. So I am not doing it for the whole hospital. We have our own "Alternative Medicine" clinic here that covers massage and accupressure (but of course they charge almost above spa charges!!). This is mostly for the nurses I regularly work with as a type of "hey, feel how good I am" kind of thing. There was discussion before about someone throwing a "party" and having a few people come over for massages in one location (at one of the nurse's house). I just don't know if I should just skip the chair all together and just get my table..... I can't afford both at the same time. I guess I am just thinking outloud and trying to justify the cost of the chair. I mean some co-workers have said "yes" to me brining a chair in and charging something.. that they would pay. I just don't know if they really would.... know what I mean?

 

[starburst71795]

To buy a chair or not?

I actually work at the hospital but am doing this on my own for the nurses on the 2 floors I used to work on when I did patient care.

I see. Well, I figure you will have to get clearance from the hospital to offer this service on site, even if it is only for your friends on two floors. There is a certain liability that the hospital will need to be prepared for. What happens if someone falls off the chair and breaks their wrist? That sort of thing. I'd be very surprised if they would just allow you to do what you wanted without asking first.

Regarding chair or table... will you be taking on out-call clients with the table in the near future? Will you be renting an office space and need to fill it with a table? If no to both, then you may want to consider the chair, if you think you can make money with it.

If there was already a discussion brought up by the nurses, then you may want to work that angle with the chair. It is not going to be near as festive of an atmosphere with a table. At least not in my opinon.

There was discussion before about someone throwing a "party" and having a few people come over for massages in one location (at one of the nurse's house).

The main thing I see, is that you need to figure out a way to get re-imbursed for your $80 chair, if you go in that direction. You could do a donation party where $15 gets each person a 20 min. chair massage (roughly a 2½ hour work day/night).

You'd only need 6 people to come in and you would make $90. Since money is tight, the chair would be paid for and you would have made your impression on them for the "feel good". It's better for you than the "freebies" you were planning on in order to gain some clients and/or at least get your name out. You could knock all of that out in one house-party visit.

If it went over well, you could tell the nurses that you are planning to offer this a few more times (knowing that you are aquiring the money in order to purchase your table and get your first few months rent - they don't necessarily need to know unless you want to tell them), until you are able to get your business space set up. That way they would be aware that this is a brief option they are allowed to participate in, but not something that will be ongoing. This would potentially turn them into table clients at your office.

 

[Saraccureflef]

To buy a chair or not?

If it's either/or, I'd definitely get the table. However, you might want to look for a previously owned table and/or chair rather than buying new. Generally speaking, you'll end up paying about 1/2 price for equipment that is still in good shape and sturdy and you can always sell it later and upgrade to newer/more expensive equipment.

As for freebies - it's VERY difficult if not impossible to convert freebie clients into PAYING clients - especially when they're already accustomed to paying a high rate (the Alt Med clinic in the hospital.) IMO, you'd be better of pricing yourself at market rate and, like Pueppi said, offer an "introductory" rate.

 

[Aquariuzdiva]

To buy a chair or not?

Use the chair to make money. Do paid gigs and have clients see you strictly for chair massage services. Some MTs make their living doing ONLY chair massage. Some massage businesses only do clothed massages, whether on a table or a chair.

Chairs have many advaneforum.xxxes over tables, depending on how you use them and market those services. Save that money and buy your table later.

 

[mom-to-be]

To buy a chair or not?

Go with the chair you can make a good living with chair massages. I have found lots of extra work doing hourly chair massage gigs. I wrote a blog post about where to find chair massage work

http://ifmytablecouldtalk.com/2010/11/18/where-can-i-find-a-job/