JamesBirmingham's Massage Interview
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
After a 10 year career in corporate marketing and project management, I succeeded in hydroponics but found indoor agriculture to be too stressful. Becoming a massage therapist was a natural transition after that, and I have found my life has more personal freedom and flexibility than ever before. It is rewarding to provide a service that I know is valuable and helps my clients feel better.
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
Yes, I am confident I can work anywhere in the world. I have performed over 500 massages without any major incident or client injury. The two markets I have experience in, Los Angeles California and Birmingham Alabama, I have quickly established myself as one of the best with the most competitive rates. I have never tried a travel schedule, as I am always able to establish regulars at any incall location I set up. I've been told many times that the massage I gave someone that day was the best they ever had. This brings me satisfaction and fulfillment as I value delivering a top-notch service more highly than money.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I take an obsessive approach to my own personal health, and invest heavily to make sure my body is always in peak condition to deliver a great massage. I also invest heavily in products that I use on clients, even though my rates are always at the lowest in any market I advertise. I am 100% certain no other masseur spends as much money on materials as I do. I would rather squeeze my own profit margins, knowing that the great products I use are getting on my hands as well as the client's body. I also have a holistic approach to pain management that I believe sets me apart from my peers.
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
Refreshed, renewed, in a state of relief with notable reduction in body pain. Improved range of motion.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Stick with a vegetarian or vegan diet, with as little meat and dairy products in your diet as possible. It is important to have a regular massage trading partner as you are supposed to get a massage yourself for every 20 sessions that you deliver. Do not just invest on the massage products that are used on the client, but also invest in your own health. A good collagen supplement is very important to keeping your own joints and muscles from hurting/overexertion, as is understanding which supplements are best on an empty stomach and which ones are better taken with food. The more you learn and understand about your own health, and how it is affected when giving massages, you can better understand your clients and any problem areas they may be having.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
It really depends on the person. Knowing what techniques feel good, and a history of receiving good massages yourself is very important. Being able to identify muscle groups and assess where problems originate is something I specialize in and am always looking to improve.
Physical fitness for a masseur has to emphasize pliability, conscious breathwork, diet, and range of motion, not just having big muscles and being able to exert downward pressure.
Proper communication, acknowledging the client's presence, and generally demonstrating a friendly demeanor are also important.
Certain areas of the body need to be massaged slower so as to not make the session feel rushed. Sometimes too much lotion can become slippery and give the client an impression that you are rushing through the session.
More important than certification or training, is just knowing what it means to make someone comfortable and provide relief using certain massage techniques. People skills need to be there along with developing your own massage routine.
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to formulate my own drinks and sprays. I have a wide range of drink recipes that I have put together, using either water or coconut water as a base. I would love to someday make a health drink company, as I believe popular brands such as vitamin water and body armour are highly overrated and command market share that is ridiculous compared to how good my drinks are.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I want them to feel like it was money well spent! I also do my best to make sure all of the client's pain areas are significantly improved.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
I believe the basis of addiction is an unhealthy fixation, along with a loss of priorities and goals in regards to why we are doing something in the first place.
I would not say that being a masseur is addictive, but that it has been very fulfilling for me. Anytime you can provide a service, make a client happy, and know that service was valuable, you're motivated to continue. I suppose the Masseur's mindset truly determines whether they are addicted to the fast money or personally fulfilled by being able to provide a unique, valuable service.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
I have been doing it consistently for about three years. I believe I could continue another 10 plus years, however I have other business ideas / possibilities that would be far more lucrative if I ever had a business partner. While I understand that I had value as a massage therapist, I know that I could add far more value in other fields of industry if the right opportunity came along.
Why did you become a Masseur?
I understood very early on that I could add value to my local community by providing massage and taking a holistic approach to pain and body relief. Another element that started me off was a genuine interest and attentiveness in others' well-being that I understood could be improved with massage therapy.
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
I prefer to be a homebody, as I attract regular customers wherever I work and doing laundry/washing massage sheets every day is not feasible if you are traveling on the road all the time. I believe masseurs that are constantly traveling may not have the skillset to stay in one place and build a steady clientele. But I also understand that some people prefer to live out of a suitcase than be a homebody like I am.
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
I remember my first client asking me tons of questions via text for about 90 minutes, which was honestly pretty annoying back then but it was his first massage so I had to put him at ease. I also remember that it was a birthday gift to himself at the time, and while I had not put together a consistent massage routine at that point at all, he left satisfied and I became more confident in my ability to provide a good massage.