Growing Pains

[sazzle]

Have been a CMT since June 2001.  Started working out of a chiropractors office paying minimal rent and bringing in my own clients.  This was a great start as the chiropractor refered some of his clients to me and also promoted me in his monthly news letter.  After about six months I decided to lease a small two room suite.  The space was fine for a while but almost unusable during the day due to the noise in the adjacent office.  I didn't mind the noise for a while, as I had built my practice with business hours primarily working evenings and weekends due to family constraints and client demand.  I knew I wanted to expand my business by offering small yoga classes and adding another therapist so when another suite opened up I decided to take it.  My rent more than double by taking this larger space but I knew with my solid client base and strong work ethic it could be done.  Up to this point I had been a one woman band.  For a short time I rented out one of the 2 massage roms to a fellow massage therapist in need.  Going into this agreement as a friend and not as a business person was a mistake and eventually had to be rectified by her moving out.  So now I have this wonderful space which allows me to conduct small yoga classes and further build my practice but I am still a one woman band.  I have tried bringing in other therapists but none have been able to build a clientele of their own despite newsletters and advertising.  I specialize in deep tissue massage and have had great success in helping those with chronic pain/tension.  This has been the building blocks of my practice.  I have yet to find a therapist who provides this same level of treatment or somewhat close to it.  I even tried bringing in therapists who received their massage training from the school I attended with little or no success.  I currently have a massage therapist willing to work part time but she is geared more toward the relaxing swedish massage techniques.  So when someone calls for that relaxing massage I try to book them with her.  The problem is I have more clients requesting deep therapeutic work than I can handle.  I recently contacted a massage school to seek out a therapist who might have wanted to specialize in deep work.  I have interviewed 2 others from this school and to me they posses inadequate training in working on the neck and shoulders.  I am certainly willing to give further instruction on deep tissue work but is this the way to go?   Should I try to advertise for a deep tissue experienced therapist or train someone the way I learned?  Any suggestions or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.                        

 

[Linda Lu]

This was an interesting post, and I'm not sure I have any advice for you. Mainly a couple questions. Are you a landlord, or an employer? Is it possible that maybe you have unrealistic expectations with another therapist? That maybe you want them to work the same way you do, even with your years of experience? I don't wish to offend you- I was thinking maybe there might be another way for you to look at the situation. Possibly a need to reevaluate (sp?) the whole thing and decide what you really want.Best wishes and good luck to you. I hope it all turns out.  

 

[jimbeam958]

Growing Pains

Is the other MT on board interested in learning your deep tissue techniques? Would she take classes in your specialty to work more closer to you as a colleague? There is the option of training her yourself, if you have the time to do so. You would know that her techniques would not conflict with yours. That's a big job, however, and there may be matters of certification involved. And of course, she would have to be interested. It may be that Swedish is what she feels most comfortable. Actually Swedish is Medical Massage, but there are versions that are geared more for relaxation. I think you should "do lunch" and have a good heart to heart. There's no loss to her either way...more work if she is interested in further training...referral for Swedish relaxation work if that is where she wants to stay. I'm reading that you would really like to have a colleague already trained, and experienced. You know what you aiming for, what you envision your practice to be, cbia. There's nothing wrong with that. There's a part of the board where you can advertise for the skill level of therapist you are seeking.  Or you may get response by this thread!

 

[Chris Masin]

Growing Pains

cbia, while it would be nice of you to train a new therapist just out of school, it sounds like you're looking for an experienced therapist who can suit the needs of your clients and business. I wouldn't settle for a student if I were in your position, I'd go ahead and aim high. Most businesses don't want someone fresh out of high school to do a professional job, they want "experienced help only." You should be the same way if that's how you feel, have an interview massage, and if you don't feel they're up to par, don't invite them along. You worked hard to get where you're at, don't settle.

 

[SIR CUSTAC CANT]

Thank you jujubean for your input.  As for an answers to your questions, yes I would be the employer and  yes, I do tend to have high expectations.  I must admit my perfectionism does sometimes create difficulties in finding the right candidate.  But ultimately it comes down to the clients needs and their adapting to someone elses touch.  Due to a balance of home and work I can only give about 25 hours per week to scheduling masages.  At times I cannot squeeze someone in for several days.  This is why I feel I need to find a therapist who is proficient in applying different massage techniques to help aleviate the clients area of discomfort.  All in all, I just want to have unwavering confidence in the therapist I trust to work on the clients who come through the door in search of relief.  Is this too much to ask?  My heart tells me no but my mind says perhaps my expectations are too high.    

 

[Love & Happiness]

Thank you gutehands and seforum.xxxgnant for your advice.  I have tossed around so many ideas in my head of late that I'm swirling but thanks to your input my thoughts are resting.  I have a massage interview this weekend with a recent MT school graduate.  I am hopeful she will have potential and willingness to learn.  If not, perhaps I should advertise for the type of therapist I am searching for.  I have emense faith and so perhaps I should just let it go and in the end it will all work out.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

Cbia:  Where are you located?

 

[rhonda]

Growing Pains

mtnmassage...I am in New Jersey.

 

[Mommy to Max ~*6-11-09*~]

Too bad!  I'd love to talk to you about your opportunity!   I'll be moving to Vermont in March.   Good luck with the interviews  

 

[Molly Holly is a Hottie.]

mtnmassage...thanks for thinking of me.  Wishing you great success in Vermont!Be well  

 

[sunshine11]

Growing Pains

What is wrong with being booked out a couple of weeks in advance? Personally, when I don't have openings for client inquiries it sectretly makes me happy! I tell them I'll keep their number handy if I have a cxl or rschedule, but I do suggest they go ahead & book into one of those available spots next ___, etc. At their appointment, I mention the benefits of booking regular (or standing) appointments, but let them know that I am happy to work on them whenever they can make it... its just that I may (happily) be booked if they call on the fly. You sound like a success story that might have some old attachments to break (being there & ever-available to those in need, etc). Its wonderful to become nonattached to those 'pulls' & simply help as you can while enjoying your success. I think we all commonly have those personality traits as Massage Therapists. It might be a little co-dependent. It might be a good thing to explore. Sure hope I'm not sounding judgemental, cuz I count myself included.If you were to rent your additional space (as opposed to employing somebody), then you could be in the position of enjoying a different kind of specialist 'in house'. You would also have to trust that they are the professional(s) that you are & let them run their biz as they see fit (within lawful boundaries, etc).I hope you find exactly who you want to fit into the environment you've created. Don't settle for less if that is what you need.Good luck!Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[kaz716]

Where in NJ are you?  I'm in NJ......maybe I know someone in your area I could refer?

 

[kld726]

KneadedMassage...My business is in Cream Ridge which is located in Upper Freehold Township.  I am about 10 minutes west of Great Adventure.  Thanks, C.

 

[Zahid]

C.........Wish I knew someone in that area.......sorry, I don't.  I know approx. where you are though.  I grew up in Jackson.......did the working at G.A. as a teenager of course.   My sister's first husband was from Cream Ridge.  Well, I will keep an ear open and if I come across anyone, I will let you know.  Which massage school did you check with?  Where did you go?  I went to Somerset.

 

[Fantabulous]

KneadedMassage...I checked with The Institue for Therapeutic Massage since they just had a class end in January.  I studied at The Center for Therapeutic Massage which was in Holmdel when I attended.  Since then they have moved to Long Branch.  Thanks for trying to help out.  All the best.Be well,C.

 

[Lisa W]

C......You may want to check with the Somerset School of Massage in Piscataway or Wall.  They put out a job listing for their students and graduates at the beginning of each month.  If you post on that, you may get a response.  

 

[David D]

Growing Pains

Personally, I'd still be kinda hesitant to hire a student fresh out of school. When I first graduated, I may have been a great therapist (this was told to me, I didn't think so at the time), but I didn't have a lick of business sense. I didn't know what I wanted out of massage or where I wanted my business to go. I had high hopes, many ideas, but no organizational structure at all. Just something to consider.

 

[astutewoman]

Seforum.xxxgnant...Although many new MT's may lack direction, I do believe they are eager to learn from successful MT's.  I have worked extremely hard to stand were I stand now and only hope  to find the right candidate so that together we can share technique and in the end both reap the benefits.  At times I wished I had started out with a partner.  Someone as dedicated and passionate about massage as myself.  I know partnership too has it's up's and down's (the grass is always greener on the other side) but at least I wouldn't have to shoulder everyhting on my own.  Have tried explaining to my husband, who has no real clue, only to become defensive.  He doesn't seem to understand why I am having such a hard time finding am MT to do some work for me.  By the way had to reschedule with the recent MT grad for next Saturday, due to scheduling conflit.  If she doesn't work out...heck I don't know!  Can you tell I needed to vent?   :'(Thanks ever so much,C.    

 

[t.lovaas]

Have tried explaining to my husband, who has no real clue, only to become defensive.  He doesn't seem to understand why I am having such a hard time finding am MT to do some work for me.

You can use my post to help explain to him... MOST therapists are not like the ones on these boards, who are pretty well rounded and normal, which, I think lends to another reason we see them on the boards.MOST, are basically flakazoids.  You can't count on them and they end up massaging because "today seems like an ok day to do it - but, if they wake up tomorrow and it is a shade too cloudy, then they just may not want to then!"Just my two cents, from the types I've seen over the years.We have a wonderful business we are in, but that doesn't mean all of the people are adequate for actually being dedicated.

 

[jack skellington]

Growing Pains

Seforum.xxxgnant...

Although many new MT's may lack direction, I do believe they are eager to learn from successful MT's.  I have worked extremely hard to stand were I stand now and only hope  to find the right candidate so that together we can share technique and in the end both reap the benefits.

I admire you very much for that. If that's the case, where you'd like to actually mentor a student fresh out of school, then I only wish I lived where you do when I got out of school. Or heck where are you from? I may move there! Hehehehe.

If you're wanting to take on mentoring a new MT, then I'd say go for it. I assumed you wanted someone who was already experienced and established.