travisbaker's Massage Interview
Do you remember your first client ? Tell us something about that first day when you decided to be a Masseur!
I got that first call and told the client this was going to my first session and hoped he wouldn't be disappointed. He was more than eager to meet me so said it was fine. During the massage, we talked and he told me what he liked and what he didn't particularly care for. By the end of the massage, he swore I was lying about my experience. From that day on, I made it a point to get to know every clients' likes and dislikes to the point I know, within the first 5 minutes, what kind of experience to give them.
Some people say that being a Masseur is addictive. Would you miss your Masseur days ?
Yes. I recently took 18 months off to travel the world and had a couple side jobs along the way. None compared to my previous massages business and the clients I met over the years.
Do you consider yourself a successful Masseur?
Yes absolutely. My repeat client base speaks volumes. It's 80% of my business.
Tell us a little about yourself, if you were to pick something what would you like your clients to absolutely know about you?
I eat so I can workout. And I workout so I can eat.
I would eat breakfast for every meal if I could.
How would you like someone that contacts you for a massage to feel when they leave?
Like they will never waste another session on any masseur but me!!!
What are your hobbies, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Photography, Drawing, Traveling, Cooking, Anything Fitness related, Snowboarding, Wakeboarding.
Why did you become a Masseur?
Massage therapy, like personal training, is a career that is defined by how well you interact with people. If you can communicate well, are good at making people feel good about themselves, and study your craft, you can't help but be successful. I want my success to be gauged by my actions and work ethic, not by putting in years of *** kissing and climbing the corporate latter, only to be beaten by the guy who's ****ing the boss' daughter.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a Masseur?
Pay attention to your clients needs. Find out why they chose you and exceed their expectations. Don't think about how quickly you can get them in and out but think about how you can get them to keep coming back, because where you make the real money.
What distinguishes you from all the other Masseurs?
I do my job. I show up on time. If I'm going to be late, I communicate that. If someone cancels on me, I try to reschedule in an appropriate fashion. If I have to cancel on someone, I do so in a timely manner and always try to make up for it. Discretion and safety are top priority.
How long have you been a Masseur and how long do think you'd like to continue?
7 years running and this may be my last year unfortunately.
How often do you travel? Do you prefer to travel or are you more of a homebody?
As much as possible. Used to go somewhere every month, now it's more like every other week.
Is extensive training necessary for a Masseur in order to be successful?
No. Pick a niche and learn a few key techniques and then just practice. The massage is only 20% of your business in my opinion. Anyone can go to massage school and get a stupid certificate with their name in cursive letters. That doesn't mean they are going to know how to talk to people or make them feel at ease from whatever situations life is throwing at them. Masseurs in a sense are like barbers. Sometimes people just need someone to talk to and give them a little company. You do need to know a little about giving a great massage but you also need to know how make someone feel welcome in your home and have them leave with a plan to come again soon.
How do you like clients to feel about the experience when they leave?
Amazed. Like they had an expectation and I blew it out of the park. They will already be thinking about their next visit by the time they get to their car.