Where do you work?

[bradley]

I'm still at school and thinking about all my options after I graduate (that's not until Sept next year). I'd like to hear where you all work as in...in a spa? a medical setting? in your own home? your own office? etc. Give me the pros and cons. Are you happy with where you are working? What would you do differently, if you could? Any suggestions, advice, or insight would be very helpful.

I should add that I'm not interested in going to other people's homes, so that's out. I do like the idea of being more in control of what I do and where I do it. After looking at many spa brochures, and in fact, getting work done myself at spas, it seems that you pretty much do what they tell you. If someone pays for an hour Swedish, that's all you give them, regardless of their needs. I'd like the freedom to do more based on my client's needs. But the drawback of working on one's own is...building up clientele. Do I work out of my home or rent space? Decisions, decisions.

Please share with me your experiences and what has made you most happy. For me, I'm less concerned about the mighty dollar (although I do want to make money! lol), than overall happiness with what I do and where I do it. Thanks!

 

[dlutemp]

I agree with your last statement. I just told someone last week that I'd rather love what I do than make a few thousand dollars/yr more. (He was trying to get me to do insurance.)
I have my own office. I started out renting a room PT in a massage establishment. Eventually, I rented a room full time. I am currently the sole MT renting in an office building. I love my office and I have the best boss in the world .

 

[wywy]

When I first started out, I did the house call thing. Realized very quickly that was NOT what I wanted to do, even though when I was in school I thought it would be the main thing I did. Too much lugging and no control over your environment. Ringing phones, barking dogs, too hot, too cold, smoke smell...ugh!

I have also worked at 2 fitness centers. Both allowed me great flexibility with my hours, which I liked a lot. The clientele were also looking for more than just a Swedish Massage. Nothing wrong with Swedish of course, but I'm drawn more to deeper work and I like working on people's problem areas. Neither place had the best facilities as far as decor and nice sheets or variety in music and things like that. It was almost as if the massage department was the ugly stepchild that they didn't pay attention to.

I now have my own office. It was the furthest thing from my mind when I was in school. It is absolutely THE BEST! I have the best boss (me). I have total control over everything. I decide if I'm going to be lenient about my cancellation policy. I get to decide what days I want to work. I decide if there will be a special. Nobody crabs at me if I run over in a session (I schedule enough time in between clients to allow for a slight overage). If I think my table needs a table warmer or a new blanket, I am the one who gets to decide! It's really the best!

When I first opened my office, I had basically no local clients. I had never really gotten far with the house calls locally because I realized so quickly I didn't want to do that. The fitness center I was working in was too far away to draw clients from and besides, that wouldn't have been ethical anyway. So, I opened my office with no clients. It was scary. Money was not my driving force, so that was good. I knew that I would make enough $ at the fitness center to cover the rent in the event I sat there with not one client for the month. So, I knew I would be okay to start. I took a deep breath and jumped in!

It takes some work and diligence, but it is possible to develop a clientele. I will celebrate my 2 year anniversary in my office next month and it has been the BEST 2 years!!!! This is clearly where I am meant to be.

My advice is to keep your options open. Don't be afraid to give something a try. I NEVER thought I would have my own office. Ideally, I was looking to share space with another MT, but I wasn't having success with that and then this reasonable office space came up and I jumped at it.

Good luck!

 

[ani]

Where do you work?

I'd like to hear where you all work as in...in a spa? a medical setting? in your own home? your own office? etc. Give me the pros and cons. Are you happy with where you are working? What would you do differently, if you could? Any suggestions, advice, or insight would be very helpful. Please share with me your experiences and what has made you most happy.

I work in a wellness center that's run by a hospital in a nearby city (and that hospital is run by Fransician nuns). One side is all medical offices (there is a suite for massage over there but it is nueromuscular therapy, pain management, accupuncture, reiki, ect.) and the other side (the one I am on) is a fitness center. We do relaxation, deep tissue, hot stone, pregnancy, trigger point, and sports massage, and some spa services on my side. I am happy for the most part. We have been going through a lot of changes due to restructoring of management. My boss is now the director of the entire facillity, so she is hard to get ahold of.

I'd have to say communication and politics are the biggest problems at work. Because our boss is so so busy it's hard to get department meetings scheduled. Once we do get one scheduled she can cancel it on a moments notice if something bigger comes up. So we haven't had any meetings for over 6 months now. It's very frustrating. Also, advertising our services does not seem to be a priority, that too, is frustrating.

We have to get things approved and all that jazz. Budgets to stick to, as with any business. But since I don't have to pay for any of the products we use I am free to buy products that I like and bring them into work with me. I save the reciepts and I'll be taking them in with me to do our taxes.

I have to say, working for nuns is not really my cup of tea. We have to watch videos about being good christain stewards, I am not christian. That's annoying. We also have prayer before any staff meetings and I don't think that's appropriate for a business atmosphere.

It's also bothersome when my boss waivers our no show, no call policy for my clients. I don't get paid then and it doesn't hurt her pocket one bit. It's a bit of a double edged sword, if that's really the right way to put it. It's nice to have someone to deal with the problems of keeping the business going. Clients are drawn to us becuase it's a part of the fitness center. We don't have to drum up our own clients. But at the same time, I'd like to have more control. I have come up with several specials and other promotions to generate more business in our department but the boss hasn't done anything with those ideas. It's like talking to a wall sometimes.

I would love to have my own business, in an office, not in my home. But that's just not an option for me right now. My work does do certification reimbursement so I'll get some more certifications before I move on from there. The best part of working for someone else is that I can see what works and what doesn't without risking my own business. It's a great oppertunity to observe and learn. I'm trying to soak it all in so. I also plan on taking a course in business at some point.

Okay, so that was a novel. Hope that helped, it helped me! Great topic!
Steph!

 

[Pompal 09.]

I started out working at a B&B, offering massage to weekend stayers and the public. I had a boss that was seriously lacking in any knowledge about massage and I was seriously lacking any experience with what was acceptable treatment (I was fresh out of school, had no MT role-models and didn't have a wonderful site like this!!) I slaved over 9-12 appts. a day - usually one right after another. No, I am not kidding. I got there when she said and I left when she said I could. I was paid $10 per client, while she made $30 an hour just having me there. I was billed for "soiled sheets" if my oils stained. I was personally on call for her family. I was reduced to giving massage in a small souvenier 'store', a room devoted to selling her little crafts and nicnacks - "to increase sales". Joy. But I am thankfull for every moment there, once I came to my senses I RAN from that place. That experience led me to being my own boss. I realized that I hated having my clients treated like cattle, and I hated being told how/when/where to do my job.

The universe took care of me and I found myself in my own space, first in a tanning salon - then a small 'mall' (a historic building with about 5 business' inside). I pay rent and take care of everything, my business phone is a cell. I like being in charge. But sometimes I would LOVE to hand over paper work, etc. to someone else!!! I would love it if someone took care of my continuing ed, or trained me in other modalities, thats up to me now and I never seem to get to more than just the required amount. $$ and time!

You really have to be on top of your game especially in the begining seforum.xxxes. Be prepared to eat, drink, sleep and dream of business for awhile - but its so rewarding when success comes from your own sweat and tears! It is stressfull sometimes, I've been doing it on my own for 4 years now and I'm starting to drag with business a little bit. You will definately feel it financially if you are not quite 'with it' 100%. But I wouldn't replace it for anything....Still....I'd love to have someone else take care of good 'ol IRS at the end of the year...guess you can't have it both ways!!! Much luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Mark]

Where do you work?

It's nice to have someone to deal with the problems of keeping the business going. Clients are drawn to us becuase it's a part of the fitness center. We don't have to drum up our own clients. But at the same time, I'd like to have more control.....

How do you tell your boss that you feel like she is to busy (on top of being the head honcho she has her own clients to work on) and that you'd like to have a bit more responsibility around work without comming off as a butt kisser? Maybe if I ask for some more responsibility it will put me in a position to get some of the things we need done, done?!? Whatcha think?

DoriKaters, $10 per client! OMG, that's slave labor! But at least you've used your experiences to better yourself and your practice! Good for you!

Steph!

 

[Pompal 09.]

well, i have worked at a couple of places. i first started off in a fitness facility. it was a huge gym with a spa. the company is a multi-million $ company that is not hurting AT ALL for money. i loved working there. the things i loved the most were my clients, my hours, my pay & the facility itself (it was a beautiful place that everyone loved coming to). i worked there for about 2 years and then got fed up with being treated like crap (management sucked). sure i could have put up with it but i decided they didn't deserve me to work for them anymore...so i quit. i looked around for where to go next (of course when i quit, i didn't have a plan like a smart person would). i found a suite in an office building that i decided to rent and start my own practice. it's tough but it's great. the things i like are that i make my own hours, wear flip-flops to work everyday, take a half day if i feel like it, i control everything that happens, i can discount a client when i feel like it, i can take my time with my clients. some things i don't like are....having to keep track of EVERYTHING, always have to be thinking about the business, feeling like you can never get away, washing sheets, returning phone calls, waiting for the phone to ring, paying all the bills, every business trying to "sell" me something, coming back from taking time off, dealing with idiots on the phone. ok, that's a big list. but gosh would it be SO nice to have an office manager...that would solve almost all my problems! of course, i wouldn't be able to pay them so i guess that would be a new problem!

basically, it's nice to work for yourself but don't be fooled into thinking that it's always the ideal situation. it's definitely not for everyone. it's a lot of work. really, A TON OF WORK. sometimes i think it would be nice to go back to a place that all you do is show up and massage people and go home. when you have your own place, you can never leave. but it truly is rewarding and it definitely has it's benefits. whatever you do, don't settle for just any job because a place offers you one, wait for the right opportunity. when i was in school, people were taking the first job that was offered to them and they would complain that they weren't happy. there are too many opportunities out there for good therapists. you should make the choice of who you're going to work for not who might hire you.

one thing i do always say is that it is so much easier working for someone else first. you really get an idea of the things you like, the things you don't like, what you'd like to offer, how you want to treat your clients. it's so helpful to make these decisions and learning new things while working for someone else. you really get a better idea of how to run a business. have fun!

 

[johnny j]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! This has given me a lot of food for thought. Keep'em coming!

 

[davght]

First (once I graduated) I did a few massages a month for the DC I was the office manager for while going to massage school.

Then I worked for my massage school after graduation. Teaching, massaging, billing, receptionist, admin. assistant, you name it - I probably did it.

The job after that was working for a day spa. It started out ok, but quickly turned into something I couldn't stand anymore. Not the spa setting itself, but the management and owner. Rediculous!

After that job - I worked as an IC for a Chiropractor. For the first 1-2 years I really liked it there, but at the DC became greedier and the office staff became more lazy - it started to grate on my nerves. After 4.5 years I ended up being lied too and treated disrepectfully, so I left to work for myself.

I currently work solo from my home office. I also do some outcall massage (only a few and they provide the table) and on-site chair massage.
I really love working for myself. I echo what the other say about the freedom and responsibilty. It is so worth it and I am so glad that I took the plunge. Eventually I would like to open an office someplace and work with other professionals.
I am just going with the flow for now and enjoying every minute of it.

 

[Sahara]

Well, I do see your dilema. I recently graduated on Sept. 28, 2005, and I will be working as an independant contractor, in a Chiropractor's office. The con's on this is, I don't have a guaranteed amount of clients, I'll have to pay 40% rent, I have to supply my sheets, oils, lotions, creams, music, etc. etc. However the pros are: I can make my own hours, the chiropractor is supplying me all of his clients (he's a very well-known chiropractor in the area and has a lot of clients) and I know the chiropractor because he used to be my chiropractor, and I know I'll the work environment.
Another option for you, is if you decide to become an independant contractor, you can always make a business plan, and go to the bank and take out a business loan if you want to work out of your home. I would suggest, when you first start, either begin working in a spa, or at a chiropractor's office, and if you work out of a chiropractor's office, you might get hired as an employee or as an independant contractor. There's a million ways to go.
I do agree with you though when you say you don't want to go to the client's home. I wouldn't want to do that either. There's way to many creeps out there, who give massage therapy a bad name, and could even possibly try hurting you and that just isn't cool.
There's also hospitals and cruise ships too to look at. I wish you the best of luck in everything you do.

 

[_/=twihard:)/cc:)=\_]

I've been an MT for about a year and a half. I work both out of the clinic at the MT school I attended and out of my house. I understand that it's probably not legal to work out of my house where I live. However, I do not advertise, I'm one of MANY who work out of their homes in my area, and my business is built almost all on referals. I like it because it saves me LOTS of $$ in rent, which allows me to keep my prices reasonable. I get to write off the square fooeforum.xxxe dedicated to massage off my taxes, which saves more $.

I don't feel uncomfortable having people come to my home. I play it smart, by scheduling male clients for when my husband is home, and I ask questions when the client first calls to make their appt, such as what they hope to achieve thru massage therapy, whether it's pain management/relief, stress management/relaxation, or whatever. I pretty much know what they're coming for and I've had a chance to "feel them out" before they even arrive. Each new client fills out and signs both an intake form and a basic policy sheet, the latter of which in part explains that the work I do is therapeutic only, and not sexual. I also won't work certain areas (like abs or adductors) on a first visit, until I've had a chance to get to know them a little better. Maybe I might seem paranoid to some for this, but I consider it caution and so far it has worked for me.

My work at the school is fine, the school books my appts for me and does all the advertising, but it's much less money than I make at my home practice (about half for the same amt of work). I much prefer to see clients at my house. I do some outcalls, and I like doing them. I do make much more money on them, to compensate for the extra time, gas expenses, and toll fees. I don't go to the homes of clients I'm not familiar with, though; they have to have come to see me at my home studio for a little while first to build rapport.

Blessings,
--Jyoti