Much of what I am about to say will sound negative. But I assure you my aim is positive. I hope to find a solution to an all too common problem. Name one massage therapist who does it for a living, with no additional source of income. I have been doing massage since I was a child, professionally for over ten years, and I know only one. No, it is not me. Name a hairdresser/tattoo artist who does it for a living with no additional source of income. I can easily name a dozen! I know that to clear $500/wk I need to do about 12 appointments, with zero overhead in a magical situation where I also keep 100% of what I charge clients. If I add in the cost of last year's overhead, I need to be doing about 19/wk to be on par with the amount of money I used to make at a coffee shop ten years ago. Have you ever tried to get a massage therapist to tell you how many appointments they average each week? I have. I have never received a straight answer. I suspect this is because NO MT does as much business as they'd like. I'll tell ya. I've been at this consecutively over four and half years, and my average is about 12. If this trend continues, in seven years I will be back to what I was making at the coffee shop. Does anyone else find it strange that so many massage therapists work at schools as instructors, earning $15-$18/ hour when they have a skill that allows them to earn four times that? Something is wrong here. Do you know any hairdressers that moonlight at the local beauty school? We all know that the demand for massage services is fairly elastic. People still need to LOOK good for a job interview, and if you've just lost your job, you are likely to KEEP your hair appointment and cancel your massage appointment. We can't do much about the demand schedule for massage therapy. What we can do is look at models that work. Similar service providers that seem to thrive include: Stylists Dentists Lawyers Physical therapists Many of these providers exist in a business framework that SHARES rescources. Do you know a stylist that works alone? Most either rent space in an existing salon or work for the salon itself. Even lawyers join forces to make things run smoothly. It just makes sense to share some of the burden. Things like: receptionist phone line internet access tools heating,lighting, water Many MTs go into massage because they think they are going to make a lot of money, have a flexible schedule, and be their own boss. Please, show me all these rich, leisurely, independent massage therapists. I really love massage. I must do it. I want my business to succeed. I can't do it alone. For my model to work, I need more MTs to join the party. I can't find very many who understand that sharing is good. It does not mean you have given up on your dream. Every tattoo artist I know, even the ones who work on commisssion feel they essentially work for themselves. A: I am all wrong. Please introduce me to the fabled MT. B: I am right. Please introduce me to MTs who would like to share resources. 2008-03-18T22:02:13Z -25.0764 415 497 true 16 7216 lone-wolf-syndrome 6 2008-03-26T06:59:32Z 2008-03-26T06:59:32Z

aka: Why every massage therapist thinks she can go it alone AND succeed.

1 2009-02-24T09:43:27Z