Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

[Mommylh]

Hi Everyone!

So the spa I work at in located within an Athletic Center, and the manager is asking us to perform chair massage for 2 hours once a month. While I have no issue with doing chair massage, I'm a little peeved since it is UNPAID, and we cannot ask for gratuities. (They ARE trying to convince our corporate office to pay us hourly.. so crossing my fingers for something at least!!!). I have explained to my manager that I do NOT give away free services, but I am willing to take a chair out there and talk to members. I'm just trying to find some creative ways to advertise and entice them over, without giving away a bunch of freebies! I am considering just taking a massage table out there instead, possibly offer stretching or compression? I was thinking about maybe creating a slide show with massage facts so that people walking by can learn a little, or perhaps the blissful pics of people relaxing will inspire them to make an appt?? Lol.

I'm just trying to figure out a "nice" response for people who come up and ask for a free massage. I know their are some staff members that promote freebies, but they haven't seemed to pick up any clientele from that. I don't want to rude or turn people away, but I want them to realize free services are not the norm in the industry, nor will I encourage it!
Sigh. What I would really love to do is take some of our yummy products out there and offer hand scrubs and moisturizing lotions! Maybe with some nice hot towels? =) But I suppose I will just try the chair thing and see how it goes, I hope I can interest a few people into coming in and maybe that will give me some leeway in convincing my boss for the future>?

Any advice people have for me would be pretty darn awesome!

 

[I demand a recount]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

The idea I've seen somewhere here that I like best, in situations where "free" is required, is to do ONE SIDE of the body, then have them compare how they feel from one side to the other - and offer to let them "upgrade" to a full B/N/S for the regular price. If you're not allowed to even make the upgrade offer, just let them compare sides. Maybe they'll want a massage after your 2 hours is up. :

Otherwise, looking the manager in the eye and saying, "I will be charging you my usual rate." Or saying, "no". I'm sure it depends on your contract or if you're an employee or IC, whether or not they can require unpaid work, but that is something to get straightened out ASAP and then settled in their minds that they can't require it, or settled in your mind that you signed the contract and gave it to them.

 

[gregory_dittman]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Just say "no" to free demo services.

 

[Gavin]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Well.. the thing is. I don't have to "do" free demos.. I did tell my manager that is not a good utilization of my time. I agreed to "promote myself and the spa" within the club. =)

Rose of Sharon, I love your idea about only doing one side! Genius! Lol, no one will be satisfied with that, maybe they will have to come see me!

I had another thought too.. we sell Mother Earth heated pillows. I was considering moving a microwave out there too and offering an intro with the hot pillows... Hmm.. So many options. I'd really like to do something product based.

I also had the idea of bringing my laptop out and creating a short presentation or video about massage? I'd much rather educate clients than just make them feel better momentarily.

I just feel like I might the only one taking a stand on this matter here though.. apparently there is a therapist who has been doing chair massage for free for the past year, and members will stop by the spa desk and ask when the "free massages" are available.. and of course those clients don't ever book a session so.. But I don't want to be the only one refusing to do free chair massage so..

Sigh~

 

[Normen Bates]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

An alternative to using a laptop could be a digital photo frame. I work at a clinic and they used this to show slide photos of massage and to promote gift vouchers.

 

[toekneetries]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

95% of my business is chair massage. I don't give away freebies. My resources are limited, as far as time and energy is concerned. I've never used freebies as a marketing plan...cause it doesn't work.

One question. Why wouldn't you want to be the only one that isn't doing free massages? You'll be making the same as those who are doing free chair. If you bring in some of your other ideas...then you'll be the ONLY one offering something different. Do you really care about people who just want free stuff anyway? I don't. If the spa had the other therapists only making $15/massage, would you consent to that? Probably not. Think about it.

 

[Sophie Salazar]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

I just feel like I might the only one taking a stand on this matter here though.. apparently there is a therapist who has been doing chair massage for free for the past year, and members will stop by the spa desk and ask when the "free massages" are available.. and of course those clients don't ever book a session so.. But I don't want to be the only one refusing to do free chair massage so..

Sigh~

That is how they get everyone doing free chair massage - separate you out, let you each know "everyone else is doing it", making everyone afraid to be "the only one refusing".....sometimes it just takes one person to speak up, and others follow gratefully.

 

[Uncle]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

That is how they get everyone doing free chair massage - separate you out, let you each know "everyone else is doing it", making everyone afraid to be "the only one refusing".....sometimes it just takes one person to speak up, and others follow gratefully.

Yep, she's totally right on that. I've seen them try similar tactics where I work too.
So, if you can't charge... is there any reason you could not sell gift certificates? You could have GCs and your appt book handy and provide chair massage to those who have purchased a GC or booked an appointment with you. Honestly if you have all this other stuff like demonstrating the use of products you sell... there may not be a whole lot of time to provide "free" chair massage. :

 

[eternalabyss]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

I agree I would NOT do free chair massage or any type of massage for 2 hours a month. The ONLY time I give free massages is when it concerns a job interview and my limit is 30 minutes tops. My time is money. To them it may not seem like plenty of time but it really is for you.Its your income.
Stand up and say no. Like you said though bring in ideas that will better help book paying clients,everyone wins in that situation.
A spa I worked at a few years ago did a charity thing,I was told I had to attend. I told them very politely that I didn't like giving my services away for free nor my time (it was after hours).I was stuck "working" it,our hours worked went to the charity,one of which I would have never gave money to on my own.Needless to say 4 people showed up for the entire thing...no one bought anything nor booked anything.

 

[lollipopsucker]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

A spa I worked at a few years ago did a charity thing,I was told I had to attend. I told them very politely that I didn't like giving my services away for free nor my time (it was after hours).I was stuck "working" it,our hours worked went to the charity,one of which I would have never gave money to on my own.Needless to say 4 people showed up for the entire thing...no one bought anything nor booked anything.

That is why it is called charity. Done without expectation of any return.

 

[gesura]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Thank you all for the great ideas and feedback.

I will definitely be bringing up these ideas to my manager as an alternative! I agree that any of these things would be better than giving away my time for free!

I really appreciate everyone commenting and discussing! This is a wonderful forum for info!

We will be doing this next Monday, so after the event I will write up what happened and if I got any appointments out of it! *crossing fingers.*

 

[deepchick9]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

A spa I worked at a few years ago did a charity thing,I was told I had to attend. I told them very politely that I didn't like giving my services away for free nor my time (it was after hours).I was stuck "working" it,our hours worked went to the charity,one of which I would have never gave money to on my own.Needless to say 4 people showed up for the entire thing...no one bought anything nor booked anything.

That is why it is called charity. Done without expectation of any return.

I know why its called a charity. But what I said was that it is a charity I would never give my money too.
Let me give you the reason why and maybe you would understand, I was refusing to work it and peeved that technically MY money went to these people.
I had a 4 yr old cousin who needed assistance in many ways,my family turned to this charity for help,we were refused. A normal healthy child at birth till 18 months old, then she started to regress. Long story short she got to the point where she could not walk nor crawl and had to be fed through a feeding tube. My family turned to this charity for help with medical supplies because it is a children's charity that helps people in situations like that...refused.Why? Because her parents lived with my grandmother,they were told she could help.Several other charities turned them down as well for the same reason.
So with that I do not believe in giving my time to any charity or employer for free. I rather volunteer at homeless shelters,where you see where your contributions are made. Only payment I need from that is the smiles.

 

[Riddle]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

OK, so here a few additional details...

I have decided to offer hot stone chair massage (since it's so cold here!) and we are running a January Special for hot stone masasages. =) I will also be bringing out our Zents Aromatherapy line of products to sample, smell, and hopefully sell! This is supposed to be a pilates open house event, with approx 100 people signed up to come in throughout the day. Crossing my fingers for a good turn out, (but hopefully not so good I run outta stones! LOL)

 

[SEO]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

So you decide to do free demo services after all?

 

[Leen]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

So you decide to do free demo services after all?

I think she decided to do "a" free demo in the midst of other demos, rather than 2 hours of free chair massage. But yeah, that is still giving away time, if the employer is not paying her for her time.

 

[HOT 1]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

OK everyone! Here is my update!

I was paid hourly (for 2 hours), and I offered 5 min Hot Stone Chair Massage. This way I didn't feel like I was giving away massages, and that if they wanted deeper work, I recommended they come see me for at least a 30 min appt to work on their issue. I weeded out the freebie crowd by asking anyone who wanted one to fill out a bodywork form and to wait patiently in line I ended up doing 10 massages total, and gave out a bunch of cards, spa menus, and had a bid sign advertising our Specials of the Month. I did book 1 appt so far for this week, and we booked 4 appts so far from people stopping by the Spa desk. There were 2 massage therapists and 4 Pilates instructors (showing how to use the equipment and also offering specials). The Spa will be doing this again this evening for 2 hours. Overall I would say it was semi-successful, but it was nice to meet some members and hopefully good news will travel fast about "the new therapist who uses hot stones!"

 

[030407<3]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

That sounds good! I'm glad to hear that it went so well!

 

[i<3 drake]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Thanks Sharon!

And as a side note, if I hadn't been getting paid hourly, I would have offered hot stone placement massage on the table, clothed, only 1 side. =) Ha ha!

 

[mdigitale]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Jenn, it sounds like you came up with a good solution for the situation. One thing we've been talking about is the pros and cons of discounting services (or giving them away for free). One solution that sounds like it may work for some is to offer a client a discount for their 2nd visit, instead of their first, encouraging them to start receiving massage more regularly. That way, you weed out people who will only ever take the free or deeply discounted services, and increase the chance of getting a regular client.

 

[Young A]

Chair Massage Demo Suggestions???

Hey everyone, another update! It has been about a month since the demo and initial post! I actually think in hindsight this turned out to be a pretty great marketing strategy for me! Apparently I am one of 3 therapists who like (and are trained and comfortable) with doing hot stone massage at my spa. The other 2 only work part time and usually have regular clients, so I have been getting all the hot stone sessions! We do an 80 min hot stone with Zents oil. This month I did 8 hot stone sessions, plus one client came in twice! The word of mouth has definitely been going around that "the new massage therapist does this great massage with hot rocks that make you feel sooo good!" (quoted by a trainer who came in for a session and thankfully blabbed to her clients for me =) I've been relishing the success and I can't wait to plan something for this month!