Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72343
BUSINESS SIDE Your massage technique, general demeanor, and communication skills need to be self-examined periodically. Calling a client "Honey" instead of "Mr. Smith" or "Bob" can send the wrong message. Keep your behavior and language professional. There may not be a defi nition of "sensual" massage that everyone agrees on, but I'd know when I've had one, wouldn't you? PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS I have this idealistic vision of all massage therapists together in one big happy family of hands. In the real world, things are different. Professional jealousy rears its ugly head all the time—in spite of the fact that there are enough aching bodies and stressed- out people to go around. Some therapists view competitors as "the enemy," which is ridiculous and petty. Competition is the American way, but it doesn't need to include trying to put the other guy out of business through devious means, like talking negatively about them to clients or spreading malicious gossip. Professional jealousy has caused a lot of irrational behavior— even among therapists who work in the same offi ce. One therapist who was sharing space with another told me she was wondering why she couldn't seem to get any clients, while the therapist she was sharing the offi ce with was thriving. She then discovered that the other therapist had forwarded the offi ce telephone to her cell phone so she was the only one getting calls! I'm constantly stealing a phrase from my friend and spa expert Felicia Brown: "cooperative competition," or sharing knowledge and experience with others—even your competitors. (See Brown's related feature on page 54.) If there's not a massage therapist meetup group (www.meetup.com) in your area, you be the one to start one. Instead of steering clear, consider other therapists as mutual referral sources, support systems, or professionals with whom you can trade massages. GIVE HONEST VALUE If you advertise massage rates by the hour, do you give an hour of massage, or does that include the time you spend doing an intake interview? Lots of therapists seem to be on the 50-minute hour—and that's fi ne—as long as you accurately represent it to the public. Many massage therapists also practice energy work. A guiding principle of energy work is that you don't practice it on people who don't believe in it or don't want it. Yet, many therapists will take up 10 minutes of the client's session "clearing energy" before getting on with the massage. One client told me the therapist informed him that she spends the last 10 minutes doing reiki. He said he would prefer to have the massage he was paying for and she was offended. Imposing energy work on clients who don't want it and haven't requested it isn't appropriate. If clients are paying for massage, give them massage, unless you have discussed energy work with them before the session begins. Your rates should be clearly posted in your literature and on your website, along with your cancellation policy. If you're going to enforce a cancellation policy— which I highly recommend you do in order to protect your income—you must treat everyone with fairness. At my own offi ce, I allow people one missed appointment without penalty. After that, they have to pay for the missed session. Since I live in a small town, this policy has tune in to your practice at ABMPtv 23