50-minute hour?

[magul]

Hi all,

After one false start and a lot of wasted energy, I have found a place to practice. I will be renting from a lady who has some rules for her establishment. Most notably, I cannot charge less than she does as a regular rate (promos, specials, and discounts are OK). She charges $55.00 for a "therapeutic hour." That means 50 minutes.

Now, I'm a $60/60 min kind of girl but I'm OK with this for the short term of our agreement (6 months). What I don't know is how to advertise this. Do I list on my service menu, "One hour relaxation massage - $55.00" and hope no one wigs about the missing ten minutes? Or, do I list, "50-minute relaxation massage - $55.00?"

I am fresh out of school. For at least the first month, I will be charging a "grand kickoff" rate of $30.00 for 50 minutes just to pull new clients in (I'm doing other things as well).

I sign the agreement Monday afternoon.

Thanks in advance!

Emily

 

[phat_face1989]

Be upfront about the time of the service. If not, you will have some mad clients.

 

[Magic Dance]

We have a sign in our lobby that clearly states that a "Professional Hour" is 50-55 minutes. We book on the hour so there is no way to do back-to-back clients and give them 60 minutes. I've been there for over 15 yrs and we've never had anyone get mad. If anyone questions their time, then we point out that our policy is posted for all to see.

Now before everyone starts getting their panties all in a wad, this is done at the chosing of our therapists. Years ago we took a vote when it was suggested that we start scheduling 1 hr and 15 minutes per client. Only one therapist voted to change, the rest were concerned that it would cut in to how many massages they could do and therefore they would have to either work longer days or make less money.

It works for us but to each his own.

Just be clear as to what the client should expect.

Angie

 

[Darlene]

Is the requirement that you cannot under price her hour, or that you can't under price her hour AND you cannot outlast her hour? Why can't you do $60/60 min? You would not be priced less than her, unless she is mandating a per-minute rate. It's a per hour rate, and your hour happens to be scheduled a bit differently. I'd think as long as it isn't a blatant competition, such as advertising 60 MINUTE HOURS HERE in neon, it would not matter that she works in 50 minute slots and you work in hour slots. It might be worth asking about.

 

[Holt]

I did ask her if I could do the $60/60 minute thing, and I think she must be looking at the per-minute rate because she said "no". Hers equals up to $1.10 per minute, I think. It seems a little silly to me that she'd worry about me, brand new to the profession, underselling her (17 years as a MT) by a dime (or $6 per "hour") but I think she was burned somehow in the past with this, so I am willing to compromise.

I am leaning toward stating "50 minutes" because I'm just stupidly and overly honest about everything, sometimes to my own detriment. :roll:

Any other opinions?

Emily

 

[money maker]

I would state "50 minutes" too. Openness can save a lot of grief!

 

[ets_bond_trader]

how about this:
offer 60 minutes at $70. this way you are not undercutting her minute-ly price. i say $70 since this is $1/1min + $10 gratuity built in. (accept but don't expect a tip on top.)
also, if you set your price a little higher, when you do promos or specials you still take more money. you are paying rent after all.

whatever you decide, i agree you should always state how many minutes the client gets in their treatment, provided the client is on the table on time.

 

[regular american]

My guess is that this person wants consistency in client expectations at her clinic. That includes price & time. If you start offering 60-minute hours (even if you charge more) you highlight the differences between you. She won't want that.

The sign in the lobby's a great idea. As far as advertising goes, have you asked her what she does? It would make sense for that to be consistent, too.

 

[wuttup]

A funny thing I have encountered with time frames for massages is....the client shows up 15-20 min early, and wants to get started. If Im not busy, fine. Well, time starts when we begin the massage, NOT when their original appointment was for. This created a small problem a couple times when I had "clock watchers". They stated they didnt get their whole timehour, and I gently reminded them that they did arrive early. Just to add my 2c, I do 50 min massages, but I let it be known so theres no confusion. Since I only have one massage room, and I tend to book back to back some days, I take into account the time it takes for them to change, and the time they like to rest (or fall asleep!) after.

 

[*w0wZ* [mALiSSa]

Hi. I thought you might like to see a few ways other list a 50 min. session. I googled "50 minute massage", in case you want to look around some more.


"50 minute Spa Services"

"You will be treated to our 50-minute..."

"Please note all massages are a professional hour at 50 minutes on the table and are full body unless otherwise noted. Extended sessions are avaliable."



And, here's something you may want to consider incorporating at some time in the future:

50/50 Duo Massage - 100 Minute

You get 50 Minutes with one massage therapist giving you one type of massage, and then another massage therapist seamlessly steps in and gives you another 50 minutes of another type of massage.

Choose between Sports, AudioSensory Technique, Swedish, Deep Tissue, Thai, or Pre-Natal. Or just choose two different therapists to experience a tailored massage session.

 

[servingseniorcitizens]

Personally, I hate 50 minute hours. My hours tend to be 65 to 70 minutes anyway. I feel that I offer more value and exceed my clients expectations. I do offer 75 and 90 minute sessions for additional $$$, and I have one regular who asked for (and got) a two hour massage.

BTW, I'm an IC renting space, so I have a lot f flexibility.
Ella

 

[Nazar]

I work at a spa and have a private practice at home. At the spa we just switched to 50 minute hours and yes, it makes for a more smoothly running spa environment, but I hate it as a treatment timeframe. I feel like I always have to either skip over something big time, or give everything a quick going over. I just don't think it's enough time for a full body treatment. I barely think 60 min is enough time. At my own home practice I offer 60 min and 90 minute massages. I like the idea of offering a 75 minute, Ella, and I may begin to include that. Some people need more than 60, but not quite 90.

Everyone at the spa wants full body and I feel like 50 minutes is a jip for full body.

 

[Annabelle]

I know this is taking the thread off subject a bit, but I too like the idea of a 75 min. I offer 60/90/120 (and I wouldn't mind going longer if I could get a ten min. break - but no ones asked for that yet 8) ). I just may incorporate that 75 at some point. Thanks for the input.

 

[wishnuwelltoo]

My treatments last at least 75 minutes- often more. I agree that 60 minutes is too short-- 50 minutes definitely too short for me. I find that I have a hard time relaxing when I'm pressured to squeeze a full-body into to such a small window.

Oh, back to your original post... It's too bad that you can't have more autonomy regarding your treatment lengths and prices. I guess I can appreciate that the owner doesn't want someone coming in and completely undercutting her. I'm surprised that she doesn't value her years of experience more. It would seem to me to be acceptable to charge less for a massage therapist who is straight outta school (although I'm sure you rock like the best veteran therapist).

If you won't be massaging for a full hour, I wouldn't call it a one-hour massage. Some people are very aware of their start and end time- and the last thing you want are clients feeling like they've been cut short. You want people to leave happy and tell all of their friends so you can build a thriving practice.

I am also an IC at a club that offers massage as a courtesy more than a $ maker. I've talked to them about adding a 75 min. option. I've tried to appeal to them- telling them people will receive a much more thorough treatment in 75 than 60. They haven't done it because they would have to change too much in the computer... :roll (They really are great people to work for otherwise ) I just request 30 minutes between clients and if I find the client needs a little more time (or if I've mismanaged my time ) I'm able to give them a little more. Are you comfortable not getting paid for the last 15 minutes if it insures a more complete massage? Do you think the owner would object? Maybe she's more concerned about how things appear on the price list.

Anyway, this is your first job out of school? Enjoy the experience and learn from every body you touch. A more ideal situation will probably present itself. My first two places weren't perfect by any stretch of the imagination-- and now I'm working for myself in a space that I LOVE with excellent, supportive, non-competitive people. t060

Sorry if I rambled. I had a margaita with dinner tonight

Wishing you prosperity!

 

[KoKo]

50-minute hour?

I am fresh out of school. For at least the first month, I will be charging a "grand kickoff" rate of $30.00 for 50 minutes just to pull new clients in (I'm doing other things as well).

At this seforum.xxxe of your career, you're not time poor, but you will be financially challenged. There is always another bill to cover. A $25 discount could be the difference between paying that bill or not being able to. Don't hand out financial discounts, make it bonus time, you have the time available.

People that come for a $30 massage don't seem to turn into people that will pay $55 next month, they just look for the next #30 special elsewhere. People that will pay $55 this month are more likely to be prepared to pay $55 next month, even if they got some opening special bonus 'gift with purchase' being a 15min add-on or whatever.

As for 50min sessions, be consistent with what the owner phrases it as - if she calls it 50 min or 1hr, call it the same thing. Does she do 75min or 80min for longer appointments?

 

[Lucy]

My session times are
30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 mins long
Prices are
$30, $40, $50, $60 and $70

75 seems to be the perfect time for some people [/i]

 

[Goethe]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Melb, I wish I had seen yours before I put my advertising out there. Oh, well. Lesson learned. We'll see how it goes and it shouldn't be bad since it only runs thru Dec 5th.

Just another worry to add to my plate (seriously, just what I needed right now - not). I met the business-owner's land lord tonight when I went in to do a practice session with my hubby. He said, "Oh? I didn't know "Business Owner" had anyone working with her!" You could have knocked me over with a feather. One of the girls I'm sharing this room with has been working with the business owner for no less than 14 years!

Great.

I'm lucky he didn't call the police on me.

We'll see if I still have an office space when the landlord talks with the owner.

How am I supposed to know if someone's allowed to sublease or not? And why the *%@# wouldn't the owner have told the landlord I would be working there unless it isn't allowed?????

ARG!

Trying not to worry. Hopefully it's nothing. t013

Emily

 

[Taufiqur]

Got the office situation straightened out. Everything's all good.

Kemilyna