Is it just ME??

[hungry heart]

Don't know if this is the right forum to post this, but here it goes anyway....  Anyone else going to school now and have at least ONE other student in your class who can't seem to talk about doing massage without saying something about CHARGING clients?  We haven't even gotten to the mid-term of our first quarter and I think I can pretty much tell which ones will fail as Therapists.  They keep talking about whether they can charge someone outside of class, or if they can accept tips from clients who come to the student clinic at the school. It got to the point today that the instructor had the School Director come in to talk to us about it.  He told everyone that the first thing is that you should be INSULTED to be offered a tip.  You are suppose to be a HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL, not a Beautician (no offense to those who are).  Do you tip your DENTIST?  Your Doctor?  No...So why should YOU as a Massage Therapist expect (or worse...ASK FOR!) a tip?  But...He also said that he can understand a "starving" student wanted to be compensated in some way for their work.  So he said that IF the client wanted to tip the student, that was up to the client and the student was IN NO WAY to "encourage" someone to leave a tip.  But even after that....There was still one student who was trying to find out if it was ok if he sold LOTION to the clients. ANYTHING to make a buck!   ???Is it just me...Or is that just totally wrong?  :-/Arnold

 

[neil the grey wolf]

 We are allowed to accept tips at the student clinic.   We have never been told that we should be insulted for accepting a tip (nor would I be).   Your school is making money from the clinic?   I always tip when I get a massage (if its good that is) No, I don't tip my Doctor/Dentist;  they make about $200 an hour.    

 

[Cody j]

Arnold,Yes you are a health care provider but if you decide to work in a spa or health club, you will be receiving tips.  If you decide to work in a medical office or hospital, than you probably won't be receiving tips.  As far as getting tips in your school clinic, check state laws.  In New York State it is illegal to accept ANY form of payment while in school.  As far as asking for a tip, I think that is rude.  If they want to tip you they will.

 

[Justin Walker]

Is it just ME??

Yes, the school charges $25 for an hour of massage.  As far as I know they are only charging enough to cover their operating costs (sheets, oils, tables, etc.).I understand if you are working in a spa or salon you will, and should probably even expect, to be tipped.  But I think the point of the talk was to get it into some student's heads that they will NOT be making any money from massage while in school.  As far as I know, it's illegal in Alabama (where I live) to receive ANY form of payment while a massage student.  I'm not against receiving tips.  I just thought it was in poor taste that these people haven't even finished HALF of their FIRST QUARTER and they're already trying to figure out how to make a buck while in school.Guess it really WAS just me....  :-/Arnold

 

[LivinLife4MySavior]

Arnold (DigitalShaman),It's interesting... but the arguement by your instructor is the Exact one my MT teacher gave our class seven years ago when I was in MT school.  LOLI'm not sure exactly what the state laws are for charging while you are going to school... but I know Most Schools Discourage It, because while you are in school, they bear the burden of your liability. If you harm someone doing massage, the school bears the legal burden. Once you graduate, and meet your state's criteria for certification or licensure, you usually get your own liability insurance.  And it's at that point that many MT begin to "Charge."I DO work in a Salon/Day Spa, and I still don't Expect to get a tip. It's quite common for people to come in to me at the salon with gift certificates, or to be referred to me at the salon by a chiropractor I network with and not leave tips.  I'd certainly never ask for a tip, to me it's definitely bad manners.Yes, schools charged for our student massage, I guess I look at it as a way of reducing the cost of tuition. If it were given totally free, perhaps the public would not so value our work?I don't want to be nasty... but maybe if your fellow students want to "make a buck", they should get a part time job?They'd never make enough in tips to support themselves anyway.  And if the classmate wants to start a separate business making or selling lotion, that's fine... but to me his clients at the school are NOT an excellent source of consumers.  (Think about it, they're coming to get half price massage...)So, to answer your question. No, it's not just you...I know, I'm not just in school now, but thought you might get a kick from seeing that things haven't changed all that much.  :BTW, Armold, I have a sister in Alabama.  ;DAnd JanetA... I think you have a reasonable dentist.  I never seem to get out of there for that amount of money!  

 

[Finnegan Vegan Again]

Glad someone sees where I was coming from.  This guys whole point is he doesn't want to "work" (He's currently a Manager at a local clothing store.) anymore while in school.  That's what I gathered from the conversation and since I was sitting right in front of him, I'm pretty sure that I didn't misunderstand him.The School Director made it pretty clear that, by law, you COULD NOT receive ANY money while a massage student.  In fact, he repeated the statement so many times in a row, we all started laughing about it.   ;DI guess saying that you should "expect" a tip while working at a Spa/Salon wasn't appropriate.  You're just as much a professional as someone who works in a medical center.  I think what I meant was just in that kind of environment it's much more common to receive tips.  Sorry if I offended anyone.   Arnold

 

[Pompal 09.]

Arnold, first off, I'm not offended but I don't agree.  I do agree that expecting tips in your school's clinic is ridiculous.  It's a learning environment and that's what you should want to get out of it - nothing else.  But once in the real world, it's a different story.  Many therapists salary is commission only and like any other commission-based employees gratuities are a significant perceneforum.xxxe of your income.  If you're planning on going into chiropractic work, no you probably won't receive tips but you'll probably work on salary vs. commission.  Look at it this way, if you work at a spa and perform 4 massage a day, 4 days a week -that's 16 a week, 832 a year, imagine if each of those people tipped you $10.00, that's $8,320.00 at the end of the year - If you don't want the extra 10 grand a year, be my guest.  I work as a massage therapist and happen to be lucky enough to love what I do, but it's still the way I make my money, pay my bills, go on vacation and the like.  It's a business like any other and viewing it as such is in my opinion the only way to go.  Longevity in this business is not commonplace and I think it's because many therapists don't see it as a business.  Of course, that's only my opinion.  Also, how many of us would go get a massage and not tip?  Doesn't that say in and of itself, we think we should be tipped?  Joe E.

 

[Dave87gn]

Is it just ME??

Look at it this way, if you work at a spa and perform 4 massage a day, 4 days a week -that's 16 a week, 832 a year, imagine if each of those people tipped you $10.00, that's $8,320.00 at the end of the year - If you don't want the extra 10 grand a year, be my guest.

I don't mean to be picky, but how do you get 10 GRAND out of $8,320?  ;D

Like I said, I'm not against tipping...I'm against students who are trying to figure out how to make a buck BEFORE they are even properly trained.  I can understand that tipping can be an important part of your income and have no problem with that.

Arnold

 

[Marmalade]

Is it just ME??

Arnold, I think you are not chosing your battles well. The instructors have laid out what they see as appropriate information. Each student must digest that as they can. Maybe there are some in your classes who cannot see beyond the big buck, but they are dealing with their own experience. Maybe they have been chasing financial security all their lives. They may even become very successful massage business practitioners because of their money-minded nature. If you feel offended and have expressed yourself and decide to stand on a certain principle, that is awesome for you. Tips and gratuities are a universal gesture of gratitude. You can refuse them if you like. If I went to a student clinic to get massage, I would leave a gratuity for the student on top of whatever the school decides is the appropriate fee. I accept gratuities in my practice. I also claim them as income (my choice). There's another interesting subject on ethics & practices.The title bar of your post is "Re: Is it just ME??" It is just you. Learn everything you can, practice within your lawful scope, and try not to let others get under your skin too much. When I say it is just you, I'm talking about your opportunity here. The 'work' is about others, but the learning opportunities are for you (and each of the others on their own). Try to keep your concern over this early term issue in perspective.I am a very marketing-minded person. When in school, I was always scheming & dreaming of how to make my practice lucrative. I kept a notebook of good & bad ideas... you learn from them all! School is a safe space for all of you to learn on many different levels.Let go of this issue for now so it doesn't cloud your learning environment with these others. They are the people who will be a very important part of your discoveries in school. You said it yourself... it's early on in the term. Don't sweat the small stuff. Good luck to you.Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[jkhdjsadg(:]

Arnold, I didn't really disagree with you, and I think Jill is absolutely right in that your experience is your own and you shouldn't let anyone affect it.  Massage school was the greatest experience of my life.  It stretched me (no pun intended) in ways I never imagined.  I hope it will be the same for you.    But to answer your question, I got to 10 grand as my estimating process was very conservative.  I'm not sure where you live but a conservative average for a Swedish massage in a metropolitan area is $75.00.  At that price, you'd rarely get only 10.00 as a tip.  The likely scenario is you would get higher gratuities and potentially do more than 4 treatments in a day so I rounded up to emphasize my point.  Good luck, Joe E.

 

[Euphoric Endeavors]

    I just wanted to make a comment to the person who said we do not tip our doctors or dentists.  How or why would you compare yourself to either of those professions?  I live in Az and even if I would have taken the the most hours of education I would not have the gall to compare myself to a physician of any sort.  Neither should you.       I would never feel inappropriate excepting a tip from anyone, unless a Gift certificate was given out by myself.  I work very hard to care for my clients and in my area most people do not charge more than $50 for an hour massage.  By the time they tip me I feel the total is totally appropriate for the the engery I put out.  Also, I have many regular clients who never tip me.  It doesn't bother me.  They are regular clients who keep returning because they like what they receive.  After all that is the most important thing.

 

[dark horse]

Hi,I am currently a student in Atlanta and at our school we are not allowed to receive compensation or tips for any massages we do while we are a student.  Something about the liability insurance policy.  I have had several clients offer tips after their massage and have had to turn them down.  I think that if your school allows you to accept them, you should be grateful, but no means should you expect them.Brett

 

[momofosho420]

When I was working at the clinic in school, there was a small sign posted in the lobby that says "gratuities are appreciated" or something like that, some clients would tip, but most wouldn't, but when you get 3 clients in a row that give you 5 or 10 dollars and the 4th one doesn't, it is a little disappointing, but you have to remember that you ARE still in school and you ARE still learning....now, at the day spa I'm at now, our massages start at $85 and it is a bit of a letdown when someone doesn't even leave you a $5, but then when your next client leaves you $20, it softens the blow  And I have come to rely on tips as extra income, and I'm reviewing everything as that is an extra $200-$300/month!  That's a car payment for me.

 

[BiGstylin]

I agree with Jill about addressing the issue with the faculty and then letting it go.  When I was in my 20's I would get so bent out of shape about what others were doing/not doing and now that I am soon to be 32, I am FINALLY letting myself worry about "minding" and not minding what others do.  Believe me, I am failing more than suceeding, but I am getting there.  It is annoying when you have those classmates you just want to be quiet.  I had a guy in my class who we all just wanted to be absent!  

 

[India]

Is it just ME??

We are also not allowed to accept tips in Florida. However the school collects "tips" towards our graduation party.

 

[Violet]

My 2 cents:In San Diego, as students, we are not allowed to accept any monetary compensation for practicing on friends or clients at the school.   However, "love offerings" are perfectly acceptable.  I may still be a student and practicing on friends is something I need to do, but they are also getting something from me.  Don't get me wrong, I don't expect or tell them they have to give me something.  I have a friend who just graduated from barber school; he offered free hair cuts for practicing on him.   Another friend asked what I would charge him.  I explained to him how I couldn't, but that if he wanted to take me out to dinner or a movie sometime, that would be acceptable.  I want to give massage because it's rewarding and I enjoy giving.  At the same time I want to earn a living doing it.  The way I see it, we should be professionals from the getgo and learn to be comfortable with accepting/asking for compensation so to add value to what we do/learn.I do not tip my massage therapist.  He charges $85.00 an hour.   He's incredible, but I also can't afford much more than that.  I know I could find someone cheaper, but they wouldn't be him.  He doesn't expect to be tipped though and treats me no differently than his "wealthier" clients.  Jeffrey

 

[Pompal 09.]

Is it just ME??

Jeffrey,If you rebook, or recommend to friends, etc, that's the best tip you can ever give your awesome massage therapist. Believe me, I get some awesome gratuities, and sometimes none, but its very rewarding to me, personally, when a client is fully pleased, I've done my most present best & that I see them again whenever they need/can afford. I wish they would all tip, rebook, refer others, but at the same time, its not ALL my 'peaceful practice' is about. Great comments!Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[goodfella]

Hi Jill,Yes!  I'm sorry I didn't add that very important detail.  I do rebook and do recommend him to others.  Jeffrey/yogadude

 

[Mimi resurrected]

Is it just ME??

as far as im concerned I would have no problem accepting tips from the clients. I see no ethical problem what so ever. If a client chooses to tip then it is there right to do whatever they please with the money they earn and if they choose to give it to some one who is not getting paid and WORKING at a school well thats just fine, every profession that requires an internship gets paid so why the exception of massage therapists? Doctors who are health care professionals get paid a reduced rate from the hospital they work in during their internship. What about min wage laws; how are these laws being superceeded? sounds like a good court case to me. I think the REAL question of ethics here is how people are NOT getting PAID for WORK done even if the cmt is not fully qualified how about a journeyman, carpenters apprentice, plumber all have apprenticeships during which they get paid a reduced rate why the double standards?. Tipping is not an insult its a VOLUNTARY appreciation of services rendered. In fact NOT tipping a student tells me that one does not appreciate the work that the student is doing or in some way the student is not doing a proper job. JUST ANOTHER CASE OF BEING RIPPED OFF.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Is it just ME??

Jeffrey,

If you rebook, or recommend to friends, etc, that's the best tip you can ever give your awesome massage therapist. Believe me, I get some awesome gratuities, and sometimes none, but its very rewarding to me, personally, when a client is fully pleased, I've done my most present best & that I see them again whenever they need/can afford. I wish they would all tip, rebook, refer others, but at the same time, its not ALL my 'peaceful practice' is about. Great comments!

Jill/Sagetherapist

I agree with you...... We are not allowed to accept tips in our School clinic. But I do have clients that I have worked on and that all ways want me to work on them, But our school also doesn't do requests for students. Our clinic supervisor lets me work on this one Dr's wife when she comes in, we have an externship program over there at his office for those that want to work with Dr's. She really likes the way I Make her feel ( comfortable, She's able to really relax, and my pressure is just right for her.) Her husband wants me to do my externship in his office. And want's to hire me when I graduate from school. So what I'm getting at is tips are a nice compliment, But I'd rather have repeat clients and word of mouth referrals. Thats the most rewarding feeling. I know I have helped someone feel better.