SteveAussie's Massage Interview
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
It is pretty addictive - you are able to have a (somewhat) flexible schedule, and meet so many clients and people you might not on a normal daily basis. It's such a social lifestyle - and I love it. When you chat with your clients, you occasionally get to know about their lives, stories, etc., and I'm constantly learning, which is amazing.
YES! I would for sure! I intend to keep massaging for as long as my limbs/joints can take it!
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
I would think so. This year, I have done more than 250 massages so far, and I cover multiple states/cities. Plus, I also deal with quite a few repeat/regular clients, and I'm grateful that they enjoy my style and sessions.
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
Am fluent in 6 languages, and graduated with a Double Major from UC Berkeley - love talking about cultures, history and politics. :P
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
Energized, absolutely relaxed, comfortable and in a total state of bliss.
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Love to travel, learn new languages, visit museums, landmarks and explore new bars, cafes and restaurants.
My guilty pleasure is spending time in supermarkets. Yes, I could spend a whole hour walking from aisle to aisle looking at everything and buying... everything. It feels so therapeutic to be surrounded by thousands of options and endless possibilities - to me, the whole world feels like a gigantic supermarket.
Why did you become a Masseur?
I wanted to do something that gave me more flexibility, allowed me to travel more, and for me to be in charge/call the shots. After massaging and realizing that I was actually helping people feel good about themselves, it made so much more sense. Absolutely no regrets!
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
You have to be a people person. It's really all about PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE.
Do not compromise on oils. NEVER. Invest in good oils, as it's a good investment, and it's important that ONLY good quality oils are used on clients. PLUS, it'll be good for your hands too.
Imagine yourself being a client and ask yourself: what you'd like out of the session?
It's not easy - you're dealing with different people, different personalities; so you have to be patient, be a good listener, and be able to sympathize/empathize.
ALWAYS respect your clients - doesn't matter how old, how they look, etc. They are no different from... you.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I do a Balinese Deep Tissue - which not many people are trained to do. It's one of the only styles, where you don't feel sore after; thought your body will get worked on.
I love what I do and genuinely want to make my clients feel good, and do not believe in cutting corners.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
A little more than 5 years, and for as long as I can. Hells yeah!
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
I travel almost every week, and love meeting new clients from various cities. Definitely prefer to travel, but I do have my days when I love just being a slug at home and watching The Golden Girls on replay.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
I want them wanting more!
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
Both training and experience is probably necessary - apart from the massage itself, conducting a session requires the ability to be personable, setting up a massage space properly, also just being streets smart - in conducting yourself when going to client's houses/hotels, etc., or in booking hotel and organizing trips, and considering factors like location, parking, etc.
There needs to be a balance of friendly and professional.
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
Yes, I do! I was nervous, but we clicked and are friends even till today. (We're even Facebook friends!) He gave me such a crazy tip, that I knew there and then that I needed to do this. It was awesome.