Why Free Chair Massage?

[JGV]

Why Free Chair Massage?

Lots of folks on this board object to the fact we are not MTs and can't possibly understand what it is like to be an MT. BS! OUr clients - and your clients - are business people or employees of businesses and understand and respect us better when we speak a language they understand -- that of business -- a language too many MTs are virulently opposed to learning.

I have to err on the side of "most-MT's-who-object-to-you" do so, because much of the time you do not speak the "language" of MT's but mainly that of business.

So, although you speak with regard to our mutual businesses, you have done so, enough times, in a degrading fashion to the MT's on this board. And, many MT's, since they come from a different way of feeling the world, are virulently oppossed to being told things in that fashion that has become associated with many of your posts.

I will say that I have noticed you seem to be trying to be less agressive in your overall posts, which I appreciate.

 

[Paco]

Why Free Chair Massage?

Our instructor was very blunt about free massage, she drummed it in our heads "DON'T give it away". Her reasons were the same listed here - people don't appreciate freebies, people will line up for an hour waiting for 10 minutes and you'll kill yourself at all-day events, and it doesn't get you clients in your business. The week after I graduated, the school was doing a promotional thing at a Women's Conference. As I was the only licensed, equipped student at that point, they asked if (same old song and dance) wanted to do 'free chairs, great way to build' yada yada. I looked at my instructor, took a deep breathe and asked if I was allowed to charge. The conference wouldn't allow anyone to sell anything. I told the school I'd be happy to go, hand out my cards and talk to prospective students about the curriculum etc but I wasn't going to do free chair massage all day.

What I did do was have people sign up and once an hour had a name called out and I gave them a free chair. I have since expanded on that, in places where I can't charge (health fairs, etc) by having a jar filled up with paper slips. Most of them say '$10 off any single service at (name of shop)' and a few say 'Free Chair Massage!'. People love it and we do get a few of the $10 coupons back at the shop, and I only end up doing a few free chair massages that day. None of them have ever translated to paying clients for table at the shop though.

To others I simply say I can't afford to work for free. I have donated for specific charities and we have done things in the shop like give a free chair massage if someone brings in a donation for, say, the SPCA during s given week. If I ever hit the lottery, I will continue to do massage probably just donating a day to Hospice or something like that. I love what I do but face it, we're professionals and we're in a business. This is the way I make a living.

 

[? Mrs. D?]

Why Free Chair Massage?

AMEN!!

 

[1+1=3]

Why Free Chair Massage?

Well said, tranquilspirit2006. My sentiments exactly.

 

[pugpaws2]

Why Free Chair Massage?

I told the school I'd be happy to go, hand out my cards and talk to prospective students about the curriculum etc but I wasn't going to do free chair massage all day.

What I did do was have people sign up and once an hour had a name called out and I gave them a free chair. I have since expanded on that, in places where I can't charge (health fairs, etc) by having a jar filled up with paper slips. Most of them say '$10 off any single service at (name of shop)' and a few say 'Free Chair Massage!'. People love it and we do get a few of the $10 coupons back at the shop, and I only end up doing a few free chair massages that day. None of them have ever translated to paying clients for table at the shop though.

What a great alternative. Thanks for sharing!