Chair translating to table clients?

[LVLYLASHES]

Has anyone had experience getting chiar clients to turn into table clients?

 

[Jebediah S]

Mine generally do not, but I think that's because of who I seek out as chair clients. I like to do corporate work that is company-paid, and generally people are not going to pay for what they are getting for free! (Sort of free, anyway.) So if you had self-pay chair folks that could be very different.

The times that it does happen for me are when I see paying clients at an event (doing a festival this weekend) -- but it's a very small perceneforum.xxxe.

What's your situation now?

 

[Sam Fisher]

I've done a few chair gigs. I haven't done many, but then again I don't do "free" ones (I put "free" in quotes because it's certainly not free to me!)

I really like doing chair massage. We do it like BJB, where there is one coordinator on their end who pays an hourly rate. I have not gotten many table clients from chair massage. It's sort of apples and oranges.

I have an MT friend in a nearby city who got her private practice started by doing chair massage, but then again, she had to do a LOT of "free" chair massage on her days off, just to get a few clients. Nothing against her, but I put a little higher value on my services/spare time than to give them away for free.

 

[oibenoi]

I've gotten quite a bit of clientele from chair massage. But it's not typically the person in the chair who becomes a client- it's the friend or family member they tell. I always have business cards available for people who say "my sister (mom, brother, cousin, next-door neighbor) could really use this!"

It's not a significant portion of my business, but it's not insignificant either. Last year I probably made $4-5k from people (in office) as a result of chair massage contacts.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I think I've had one chair massage client get a full session... that was at a non-profit fundraiser where I was donating my services.

Had lots of bites at other events... no calls though.

 

[Miss Revenge]

I'm working at a chiro office and myself and the chiropractor are in the process of growing (we just moved to a new office location in February). To meet the patients I offer free 10 minute sessions to most everyone that comes in and hand out a business card.

 

[Texas Patriot]

It does for a few, but won't for the overwhelming majority.

 

[Lord Darkclaw]

Oh, and I should add that this is from a regular, scheduled chair massage gig at a corporate location. I work for 3 hours twice a month. There are nearly 500 employees at this site, so it's all about visibility. I'm only in contact with the smallest fraction of the employees, but every one of them goes back to their work group and tells the others.

I do not do a routine unless that is what they want. We choose a "problem area" and spend 15 minutes on that--this way they actually have something to say other than "I had a nice 'rubdown'."

I have never, ever, not once, gotten an office client from any type of health fair, event, volunteer gig, fundraiser, or any other chair thing I volunteered for or was paid to do.

Personally, I don't think it's the most effective way to build a business. It's hard work for little return, and unless you are very good at sales, and have an opportunity to become a "fixture" in one place, it may get you few returns.

At the place that has benefited me, there is an email sent every other week to the nearly 500 employees. I'm told it contains my name and business name. After 18 months, I'm sure most of those 500 people are more familiar with my name than the names of the HR people who process their paychecks. They certainly have a ready answer if anyone says "do you know a good massage therapist?"

 

[Mr McGoo]

Not Many

I haven't had very many chair clients become table clients, but as mentioned previously I have received relatives and friends of chair clients as table clients. I really don't do a chair massage event with the specific intention of gaining clients anymore because so many are from out of town or otherwise unable to come in for a table massage session.

 

[Artism]

Hi

Hi folks, brand new here, but 6 years in biz. Excellent thread, Most of my clients have come from chair work, but I don't do it free. events and volunterring didn't get me anywhere.

I do need to expand this, insurance offices are a good place to look. I think it's in the follow up. When you do a chair session, get their email adress, send 'em a newsletter, have them log into your site if you have one, just a gentle nudge here and there. I love the bi-weekly email idea, awesome !

 

[Karamazov]

Most of my work is chair massage. I don't do free work and I only volunteer for 2 groups....the Lupus Foundation and the Scleroderma Foundation. From my corporate regulars, I do have a few regular table people....they even buy gift cert. I've never gotten any table clients from health fairs or fundraisersor volunteer events. I've received more referral work for chair rather than table from my corporate clients (for spouses working elsewhere). I've got a health fair scheduled by a word of mouth. Like Breathe said, everyone there knows who I am and when someone wants a massage therapist.......well, there you go.

My convention work will sometimes pull up a few table massages, but not often. A therapist I work with at conventions has 4 clients that book him every time they're in town for a show....twice a year.

I'm not really looking for a lot of table work, so I'm ok with what I've got and can handle a little more if it happens.

 

[JAMES]

I built my clinic practise with chair massage alone....

No paid advertising, no asking my friends/family for referrals. I set up my massage chair at my local Farmer's Market every Saturday for a few months (now only every 2nd or so) and charged the usual $1.00/minute. My clinic practise is "full" after just over a year in this new career (its worth mentioning I am male). The key I found is if they are not willing to pay for chair massage (read: NO volunteering unless its for a worthwhile cause of course) they sure as heck are not willing to come to your clinic and pay for it. **I bring a copy of my clinic schedule with me for the following 2 weeks for every chair massage gig and book people on the spot who are remotely interested** --> follow up with them a couple days before to make sure they make the clinic appointment and watch your number of appointments go up.

Dave

 

[Hi!]

that's how it's done, Dave. Make it tangible. follow up, and "close the sale". I do it exactly the same. Places like farmers' markets are a blast.

Rob