PupDodger's Massage Interview
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
I love acting and writing. Anything to do with the stage and/or screen fascinates me. In spare time, I’m typically either just hanging out with my friends, tutoring students (of all ages), or jotting down whatever ideas come to mind.
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
The first client is always the most awkward, so of course it was memorable! After it was over, the client was headed out the door. Naturally, I decided to ask, "So, how will you be paying?" Approaching the subject of money is always weird for me. Weirder still when the guy says he forgot to get cash, so he had to run to an ATM. Thankfully, he was a reputable guy and it was an honest mistake on his end. I still can't believe I was that forward, though.
And being a masseur has always been the running joke job in my circle of friends. Any time work or school gets rough, my friends threaten to start stripping, massaging, or selling their bodies. Little do they know...
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
Having worked in a very demanding field prior to my start here, I never really got the chance to travel. Not as often as I'd like considering how much I love it. That said, I’ve gotten very comfortable in my apartment. It’s home. And I love being able to stick around and make it my own place—a place that both speaks to who I am and is inviting for guests and clients alike.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I have an addiction. To game shows. I love learning, and I think my nerdiness sets me apart.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
I likely would! I’ve only been at it a short while, and every client I’ve met so far has been so easy to work with. I’m not used to client relationships coming this naturally.
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
I’d like them to know what the word “undetectable” means. I don’t advertise my HIV status directly because in the case of a massage, it doesn’t necessarily matter. However, if people are looking for an erotic massage, I understand that status matters. I just feel that people are undereducated on the current state of HIV treatment because there was such hysteria not but 20 years ago.
Undetectable = untransmissible. That’s all there is to it. When a virus lies dormant (a.k.a., yes, you still have chicken pox), there’s no potential for spread.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I want my clients to find that happy medium between downright satisfied and wanting more.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
Yes and no. There are details that certified Masseurs pick up on pertaining to muscle groups that the untrained guy can’t tell. But really, more than training, I think...attention to detail is far more important. Ensuring relaxation and being able to read a client’s face to distinguish between good and bad “pain.” That’s what separates the book smart masseur from the street smart one!
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
It depends on the metric. Financially, no, because I still have to work full time in addition to this to make ends meet. However, I do feel like I'm successful on the customer service side of things. I feel like I'm good at making my clients feel like their money is well spent. Not to mention, I love doing it, and that in itself makes me feel successful.
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
Rested. Relaxed. Ready to take on the world...or take a nap. :)
Why did you become a Masseur?
So, fun fact, I was an ****** once upon a time, but that particular line of work puts you in situations that can get uncomfortable. And not in a fun way.
Coming into this job, I feel like my clients and I are both respectful of one another's boundaries, which never happened as an ******--I always ended up feeling cheap and ***** when I did that. Now, once my sessions are over, I find myself (unless I'm on a time crunch) staying afterward a while to have conversations and to just not worry about life for a while. The money's nice, but the personalities that these clients bring to the table (let alone the twenty-someodd personalities I bring with me) seem to mesh well. It makes it that much more rewarding.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Be you, don't undersell yourself, and don't be afraid to get to know the people you're working with.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
2019 is the year of the masseur for me. I just started roundabout New Year's. And I definitely want to keep it going until the end of the year at least. Quite possibly until my student loan debt no longer exists, but I'm not sure I'll want to keep this up into my 60s...