Working in a gym

[Martin A]

Does anyone here work in a gym? How is your schedule structured (do you work alone or are there other MTs who also work there)?

Do you work as an employee or an IC?

I was asked to create a proposal for a gym to offer massage, and I wanted to know what others have done. Thanks.

 

[muncie birder]

Hi Healer,

I worked for a short period of time as an IC for a local gym. Actually it was a trial basis, I've known the owner for 18 yrs. So it was real casual. It would have been a great situation for me except she didn't have the extra room. I was the only MT. I shared a room with her (she had a weight program she used the room for) and I found it to be too much trouble trying to book clients and then calling her to see if the room was open. Now she let's me put my business cards out there and she refers them to my office. If she gets bigger and expands... she has alot of potential..who knows...

Previous to that, I was offered a job at a big club that was opening up north of me, it would have been as an employee. I would have had to work weekends, and I wasn't willing to do that since I had been working weekends for a few years. I turned it down. I wanted the flexibility to spend time with my family. I definitely preferred being an IC.

Good Luck!

 

[Yasmine =P]

I should add, I didn't pay a monthly rent on the room as I shared it with her and had to work around her schedule. We agreed upon a perceneforum.xxxe of the massages I did instead.

Amy

 

[bobjohnson]

Thanks for your response, Amy.

 

[highshoes]

I saw your post about the business proposal inside the gym. From my own experience I see it as a very viable opportunity. Up until this past November my studio was located inside a gym for the past 8 years. I loved it!!

I rented the space. Booked my own schedule, held my own hours, outfitted my room. The biggest drawback was the general noise level from the weights clinking and people talking/walking around outside my treatment room. I would highly recommend talking to whoever is in charge of positioning your room and ask for it to be placed somewhere reasonably quiet -- as quiet as one can get in a gym setting -- but not back in a corner where no one will know you exist. You need the foot traffic so gym members know you are there. I would also want a lock on the door. This prevents employees and personal trainers from using the space when it has your equipment in it which helps reduce general liability for both you and the club.

Many places will try to provide a very small space. Be sure the room size is large enough that you will be able to move around easily and will fit your equipment. The room I had was 10x10. I have worked in spaces that are smaller which really make it difficult to move and work on clients. I would do some research to find out what the square fooeforum.xxxe rent goes for in the area as well as what general rent is for similarly sized spaces and base your offer on it -- be mindful if you are outfitting the room with your own equipment and will be responsible for your own supplies. Be prepared to negotiate a reasonable price. Don't allow yourself to be talked into a higher rent or perceneforum.xxxe than you are able or ready to commit. If you are uncertain you want to commit to a full year right off the bat propose a 3 month or a 6 month contract to start.

I have always found it better to book my own schedule rather than let someone at the front desk do it. I also used my own cell phone rather than book through the club. When anyone would call or ask about massage someone at the front desk would give them my business card or brochure and tell them to give me a call. There was never a problem for clients to call me directly. It allowed me to answer their questions and allowed me to book the best schedule for me. I discovered that the hard way. The person at the front desk doesn't care if you have one half hour at 10am and then another half hour at 4pm and an hour booked at 8pm. IMHO, you want to have control over your bookings and schedule. I found it reduces no shows and late cancellations as well as just being better communication with the client. This is also a great selling point to the owner. They don't have to handle your schedule.

I know it can be daunting to take on rent but in the end run it tends to be cheaper than the perceneforum.xxxe route. Goodluck!! I hope it works out for you. Please feel free to PM me if you have add'l questions or thoughts.

 

[Vamp]

Zoe,

You make many good points, some of which I hadn't considered.

Since they are building to suit, the room can be whatever size it needs to be, and location is important, too, as far as the quiet factor, which I did mention when I initially spoke with the manager. I had not considered that it should be somewhat visible, however - I would have thought a quiet corner someplace.

I once worked in a spa and it was a nighmare as far as scheduling appointments. Since there were a number of receptionists working shifts, there always seemed to be a mixup in scheduling. I definitely would want clients to call me directly.

As far as furnishing the room, that would really depend on whether I would be an employee or an IC, and that hasn't been determined. So I don't know how to approach a proposal - probably from both perspectives I guess.

I would like to ease into this arrangement and work as an IC for a period of 3 months doing a split to see how well this works. This would dictate how much or little time they will require. If it's more than I can commit to, then other therapists should be hired, and I am willing to coordinate this.

Amy and Zoe, thanks for your thoughts.

Donna