Massage Envy - NOT GOOD AT ALL/ from to small to compete

by anonymous
(usa)

NOT GOOD AT ALL/ from to small to compete

I have been solicited by ME to come for employment several times, ( I am really good at deep tissue and also know a lot of other modalities, I am a medical massage therapist). However when it comes to getting employment I am discriminated against again and again. You see, I am a male and repeatedly despite my talents I just cant get employment because they as they have stated have their (1) male massage therapist at their location in my area. I have encountered this in many other places as well here. I am not all about the $$ I do want to make $$ but the objective for me is to give the client great service and treatment. I am repeatedly told that the market will only sustain the (1) male therapist in these places that the clients ask for female therapists and thats fine that would be the clients prerogative, they might have a comfort issue with male therapists. But if they are going to flood the market with their places and make it so I cant even get my private practice off the ground I would at least like the opportunity to get employment. I am only in practice for 2 years but I have significant extra education thinking maybe this was their hangup even though the medical massage program I went to exceeds my states requirements by 100 hours of classes and 100 hours of clinical time.

I cant compete because they do have a lot of $$ to advertise and that is a great note on their success good for them. But they control the market where I am and because of their rates I cant get new clients. I have never had a client that I have actually given a massage to not return except because of financial stress on their household, at that time I do run a sliding scale fee for them but I get no quarter when it comes to employment from them. As far as other franchises there are very few out in my area but they are the same as ME "I'm sorry we just cant hire you we already have a male therapist and cant sustain any more".

I'll be honest I am 3/4 blind,when I give my massage as an interview I am clumsy in their room and would be until I have memorized the dimensions of the I am working in and how it is set up. I have had many a broken toe in my own house because someone moved a piece of furniture an inch or two, but my lack of physical sight gives me an edge when it comes to giving a great massage, I feel everything under my hands because they are like my eyes. Always have been. I have had trouble getting regular employment in every other field because of my eyesight this is one field I did not anticipate having any troubles in because therapists are supposed to be compassionate and caring people.
Anyway it breaks down to this as a newer therapist I cant compete I cant advertise as much because of lack of money and I just cant lower my rates as low because I need to try to make a living and every time I try to lower my rates I get less people even looking at my site that make a query about an appointment " I believe that they feel that if I am charging lower rates as a private therapist that i might be a substandard therapist. So for the most part I am giving my time away to charities just so I can keep up my professional hours so i can retain my license.
But with the lack of employ I am soon going to lose my membership to the AMTA and not be able to pay for my renewal of my license. I have also been on a couple of BLOGS where I have discussed this issue and had therapists who were "female" state that "I am an idiot for going into massage therapy being a guy and didnt I look to see if I could get employment before going to school. Welcome to the womens world where we dominate.G o work for yourself or dont work at all"

MY REPLY IS SIMPLY IN CHINA AS HISTORY STATES THE BLIND WERE USED A MASSAGE THERAPISTS. THIS WAS PART OF MY RESEARCH AS A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO FIND A CAREER FIT THAT I COULD ACTUALLY DO WITHOUT HURTING MYSELF AND BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I GUESS ALL THE THERAPISTS MALE OR FEMALE WHO FEEL THAT WAY WIN BECAUSE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO FOLD UP AT THIS POINT I HAVE NO FOOD IN MY HOUSE I CANNOT PAY MY RENT ANY LONGER AND ALL MY GOVERNMENT FUNDING THAT I USED TO HAVE IS DRIED UP I NOW ACTUALLY GIVE UP.

ME controls the market where I am and it has actually because I cant compete literally killed all hope for me.