Massage Confidential: Plan & Protect the Most Relaxing Hour of Your Week by Deb Petrosky

Author:Deb Petrosky [Petrosky, Deb]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, pdf
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2019-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

9

Safeguard Your Session

“I hadn’t imagined that anything could go wrong.”

“I’ve never had a massage. I’m not sure I want one.”

“I’m afraid to go to a male massage therapist. But he’s the only one available this week. What should I do?”

When scheduling a massage, you have to weigh benefit versus risk. Do you need to forego massage completely? No. But you can increase your safety by being specific when you call to book a session.

You may not know this, but many places make a concerted effort to nudge you toward scheduling with a man. It may be your only option to be seen quickly if you’re in pain. But sometimes booking you with a man solves a thorny scheduling issue for the business. When you call, you may feel more comfortable just knowing you have options.

Understand the Strategy

A lot of resorts, spas, and massage businesses face a major challenge. Generally speaking, clients don’t want to schedule with a male therapist for a variety of reasons. Women may not want to put themselves in that vulnerable of a situation with a member of the opposite sex. Men may want someone more nurturing, preferring a woman. Some hesitate being touched by another man.

Imagine you’re working the front desk at a spa or massage business. You check the online schedule for the day. Amanda, your top therapist, is booked solid. Jessica has one opening. What about Jake? He’s got one client in the morning, another at 1:00 p.m. Nothing after that. But when new clients call, they’re reluctant to schedule with the one massage therapist who has a wide open schedule.

What do you think that does to camaraderie and employee satisfaction? Do the women wish the one guy would pull his weight? Does Jake wonder if he’s the target of reverse discrimination? He may think you don’t like him, or you’re playing favorites. If he’s not getting booked, is it because he’s a new grad—or a guy? Does the business owner regret not hiring another woman instead of Jake?

If a male massage therapist can’t get his schedule filled on a regular basis, he’s not making money. And neither is the business.

How does management help him to fill his schedule? What strategies might the business use to get you to book with a male therapist?

Chair massage in a public area

Male therapists provide shorter chair massage to fully clothed clients in a more public area of the business. Once a woman feels comfortable with his touch, she’s more likely to book an hour-long session with him in a private room.

Perks for front desk personnel

Some spas include a monthly free massage in their employee benefits package. These women work alongside the therapists every day and may eventually schedule their freebie with a guy. Since they book the appointments, they can offer personal recommendation for you to try him too.

Gender as a non-issue

If you do not bring it up first, the front desk may downplay a therapist’s gender. They assume you would just as well spend that hour with a man as with a woman.

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