mobile massage
Right now I can't afford to set up an office. The stress that having that responsibility would be too much for me to handle right now as well, so I am strictly outcall. I take only cash or check (so far no problems taking checks, but I have only taken them from clients that I know well). I have a website, but I don't promote it heavily because I want to be extremely careful about whose home I go to. There is a lot of misconception about massage, even more about outcall services so while I am strictly outcall I rely on referrals. I have a 16 year old son who can easily look on our calendar to see when I have massages, and we talk about the schedule each day.
I have heard often about the idea of letting a friend know about when I am going to start with a client and when I finish. I am curious about the logistics of carrying this out though. Let's say something does happen and I don't call, and when they call me I don't answer... then what? HIPPA says I can't give out client information like name and address so they aren't armed with that information to give police if something should happen.
As far as how I organize things? I had a four door sedan and it was very hard on my body getting the table in and out of the back seat. I bought a Subaru Outback which has helped a ton. I bought it for the hatchback, but also it is AWD so on the rare year that it actually does snow in Seattle I can be sure that I am still getting to my clients! I also have a box on wheels that I purchased from an office store (Office Max or Staples or something like that) where all my other stuff goes (table warmer, blanket, sheets, cream/holster, laptop for music). When it is raining I throw a towel over it to help protect stuff. I carry my bolster in when I carry the table in, then I go back and get the box.
In regards to space in a client's house; I have not had any problems with that. Recently a client wanted me to massage in her room using a table that she had purchased. I had to laugh to myself when I went up there and saw the table leaning against the wall showing very obviously that there was less than a foot on either side of the table. I'm not a size 8 anymore, but even when I was I don't think I could do that! We moved the table downstairs. The following week she had her husband move the heavy bed over and I had plenty of room.
I get a lot of grief about my pricing. Clients think it is a lot and other massage therapists seem upset that I charge so little. It is the low-average rate for Seattle at $65 for an hour, $90 for 90 min. I'm basically throwing in my travel time and gas for free at this point because the economy sucks, ppl are struggling and I need to keep clients on my table. I don't charge this fee to undercut my colleagues, but rather keep food in my son's tummy. I am thinking I will have to raise my rates next year though because gas is getting so expensive. I need to do a cost analysis and find out how much I am spending in gas each month vs how much it is to pay rent for an office, coupled with the fact that I would be able to work with more clients if I had an office.
I have discovered something about mobile massage. It would be very good for the elderly and there doesn't seem to be enough ppl working with this group of ppl. I was hired by someone to massage her mom who lives in one and they actually had a massage room already set up. I have considered going back there to promote myself, but I am feeling led in a different direction. I mention it because I do think it would be very valuable for both client and therapist. It's just not for me at this time.
