Massage envy

As an professional, obviously it is up to you to balance it, be at $65/hr with 3 customers a day and do your own marketing, or $15/hour with 15 customers a day. There is a place for everyone.
Instult others on the web, I can only imagine how much you can pretend to be a professional in real life.

3d Armored Cavalry Regiment, Mousl, Iraq

Actually, there is a bit of a problem with that issue. No matter how good you are, and what kind of massages you care to give, there is NO way possible that anybody could give 15 massages in a day. That is just not possible, if it were to actually happen at some point, then that person would not be showing up to work for the next week at least. Or... they could just give really crappy massages. There are two types of therapists that work at ME, the ones who give some pretty good massages (given the time constraints they are forced to work under, and the fact they are making the smallest commission possible for a massage yet care enough to give their clients a good massage) and the therapists who don't care about their clients at all and try to pump as many clients through their schedules as possible while they "suggest" a nice swedish massage for everything. I believe the true argument is about whether or not it is physically possible to provide the same quality of massage and still make the same $ as the fancy spa folk ala, give 5-8 massages in a day.

Thanks that was very helpfull I will step back and look at my options from another point of view. Thank you once again for answering my questions and being helpfull

Re: Ricks comment "I believe the true argument is about whether or not it is physically possible to provide the same quality of massage and still make the same $ as the fancy spa folk ala, give 5-8 massages in a day".

Yes it is and here is why.
First let me introduce myself. My name is Roxanne Grey (formerly Brown as I just got married in April)
I have been a licensed LMT in WA and OR since March of 1992.
It is very much possible, both physically as well as mentally to give the same quality massage as ME as the fancy spas. I know because I do just that everyday of every week.
I work at an upscale Aveda concepts Spa three days a week and at Massage Envy two days a week. I give the same amount of effort at both locations.
Not only that, and here is where you ALL SHOULD LISTEN BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. I get a much better tip at Massage Envy then I do the spa, (atleast $10.00 more per massage) and I only have to sell the massage not the retail product to make my bonuses. At an Aveda salon you will never see your retail commissions because it is not possible to meet the three teired benchmark they set for you to achieve your bonuses for your sales of retail product. (I still do my retail sales though because that is part of the job and I honor that), However, at massage envy you get your bonuses and spiffs when you get your sign ups or you get your return clientelle. I am so happy with the structure that I am contemplating quitting the aveda spa and just working at ME along with my mobile massage business. (I went to mobile massage because the office rent was too much overhead.)
You get better tips and Massage Envy because people still have the money left over after the massage to tip you, and you don't have to pay for the office space nor do you end up sharing all your efforts with the salon/spa owners. It just makes sense.
Roxanne Grey LMT/Business Owner since 1993

What I am getting at in a Nut shell is this.
You will make more money per pay check at Massage Envy then you will at the high end spas and salons, hands down.
Always remember this though, The key to getting the tips is to always be focused on the highest and greatest good for all during the massage time.
Universe will reward us all when we remember what our true purpose is. It is what I like to call. Being Present. Be Present during all your massages and you will notice the difference. Make your intention the greatest good for all and you will find you have energy at the end of your shift and you will not burn out as people tell you you might from over work. Don't buy into the crap about being limited either, you can do anything, you are a limitless supply of energy and you can do anything in this life.
Roxanne Grey

Roxanne you inspire me :)
ME is as good a place to work as you make it. If I decided to quit working for myself ME would be an option for me. I didn't get into massage for the money. I got into massage to help others. I often donate my services and do volunteer work doing massage. I don't get paid for this and will not accept payment or tip for that work. I charge 30/hr for a one hour massage and 40/90 minute session as a private practice, and average 4 to 6 clients a day. I have a license not a degree. I think everyone should be able to get a massage and massage should be affordable not a luxury.

ME Employees, I was wondering what you do during down time when you do not have a booking?

roxanne grey in vancouver, Washington said: What I am getting at in a Nut shell is this.
You will make more money per pay check at Massage Envy then you will at the high end spas and salons, hands down.
Always remember this though, The key to getting the tips is to always be focused on the highest and greatest good for all during the massage time.
Universe will reward us all when we remember what our true purpose is. It is what I like to call. Being Present. Be Present during all your massages and you will notice the difference. Make your intention the greatest good for all and you will find you have energy at the end of your shift and you will not burn out as people tell you you might from over work. Don't buy into the crap about being limited either, you can do anything, you are a limitless supply of energy and you can do anything in this life.
Roxanne Grey

Roxanne: Your post is both accurate and inspirational.

Gray Neher in Castle Pines, Colorado said: Roxanne: Your post is both accurate and inspirational.

Yeah Roxanne. Btw is your alias, "Massage Envy Exec?" LMAO Gimme a BREAK!!

I am a massage therapist in private practice for 15 yrs. My biggest(among many)complaint about ME is the fact that they attract many 1st time clients. This 1st timer is bound to think that this is what a massage is all about. Wrong! Our profession has to provide 1st timers the full benefit and pleasures of massage. We need them back! I'm sure many ME customers leave wondering what all the fuss it about getting a massage.

I have tried ME for myself. It is all about the time clock and fees. If you want a robotic, impersonal, clock ticking massage then by all means sign your life away at ME. And be prepared for the signs "suggesting" how much you should tip. If you want a personal, one on one, professional massage seek out a qualified MT in private practice.

While reading through (most) of the posts about ME, it is clear to me that many of you guys think of ME's therapists as uneducated, unprofessional, and uncaring. I assure you that is not the case. Every therapist in my state has completed massage school & passed the SAME state board. True, not every therapist has the same degree of "professionalism" as that means different things to different people. I've had massages from non-ME therapists who I would consider unprofessional and less skilled as well.

Some of the therapists at ME work at high end salons charging $85 for the SAME massage that they do for ME. Same hands, same techniques, and same knowledge. We continue our education and are constantly bouncing ideas and what we've learned off of fellow therapists. We have a great team of therapists who are there to help each other out!

As you know, massage is very subjective. One person may think a certain therapist gives the best massage in the world while the next person just hates it. It's about finding a THERAPIST who suits you and your needs.

Their are plenty of people out there that are happy with the service they receive at ME. And, for those who do not like ME, they should find another therapist (there are lots to go around)! They are choosing ME just as the therapists who work there are choosing to work there. And, if a therapist believes s/he so superior in skill than those who work at ME... then s/he has nothing to worry about. I'm sure that person is booked 100% of their time right?

I love my job... love seeing results in the people I touch. I was given choice in the kind of massage I wish to do, # I wish to do in a row, and how many breaks in between. Every massage I give is to my best ability.

To make a blanket statement saying that a client will not receive a professional, beneficial, and therapeutic session at ME is just not accurate.

ANC in Mason, Ohio said: While reading through (most) of the posts about ME, it is clear to me that many of you guys think of ME's therapists as uneducated, unprofessional, and uncaring. [QUOTE]

Not me. I just said their LMT's are underachievers. WHO ELSE but an underachiever would go to school for a career that has an earning potential of $80-$120+ per hour, and then settle for an hourly wage of $15? It's easy, it's a no-brainer, and they don't care about the damage the franchise is doing to the massage therapy industry. Why don't they care? Because maybe next year they'll be in real estate sales, or bank tellering.

ME will probably never run out of suckers to work for them, however, hopefully, eventually, they'll run out of suckers to go there for a massage.

When I first graduated from massage school, a friend and I were competing for the same two jobs. One was at ME, and the other was at a medical group consisting of chiropractors, LMT's, MD's. The pay was basically the same, $15/hr. We decided I best fit the medical group, while she took the ME job. After 3 years of working as FT LMT's, I now make a very generous living at my own practice and she went into a different line of work.
She would call me complaining of making no money at all, when she didn't have any clients, while at the medical group I was paid hourly no matter what I was doing. I broke my hand at one point and was taught how to answer phones and do paperwork for the 3 months that I couldn't massage, taking the same pay. Also I was always given free medical treatment so that I could always do my best, while she couldn't even afford ME health insurance. I felt very nurtured in that sort of environment and I feel that I went on to learn so much more and stay interested and passionate about my career and about helping my clients. On the other hand, my friend felt exploited and felt as if ME treated her like something expendable. She felt as if the ME staff where she worked were very racist. She never had a lot of clients, and when she did, they were all black, while the white LMT's got the majority of the clients. How much more obvious could they make it? My advice: if you are just starting out, you can find a good chiropractor or medical group to work for, as they usually don't mind hiring new graduates. After you get some experience, it will look great on a resume. Don't go to Massage Envy!