Massage on the honor system

[zebrierty]

Found a neat article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5377559/although it uses the word "masseur"  You can contact the Associated Press at info@ ap.org and tell them they need to add an entry to their style guide regarding proper use of "massage therapist".But what do you think of offering massage on the honor system?

 

[Mrs. Shana]

Wow, what a touching article!!!  It's nice to see that there are still people in this world who aren't just doing something for the money!  That reminds me of Bryan Kest, famed yoga instructor, who recently opened a new yoga studio in Santa Monica, CA.  They don't charge for the classes, but they do have a donation box and the 'suggested' donation is $10.  That just gave me an idea, perhaps for a month each year, I'll offer my clients something similar, pay what you like...I'll let you know how it works out!

 

[Violet Schuyler]

Massage on the honor system

Awesome. This is definitely something I'm interested in.

 

[LMT]

What a great article!  I read something similar recently about a doctor in VA doing the same thing - taking whatever amount the patient could pay, or in lieu of $ - chickens, vegetables, a couple of hours of labor.  I like the whole idea.Be sure to let us know, Reba, if you decide to try it.  I'd be interested in the results!  

 

[High Roller]

Bumping- just curious if anyone does this or something similar?

 

[ariamna d]

I have heard of several chiropractic offices being very successful with it. One is here in Minnesota, another was further south. They particularly love how much it simplifies their paperwork. No tracking billing of any kind.

Sounds like a dream!

 

[JerseyGirl]

I've been doing this for years. There is a certain ceiling to how much you can charge for a massage and I was in that bracket and I decided to do something radical with my fee structure. I have a rather high end client base but I want to work on everybody. So many people would try to give me too much just because I work on "so and so" and they think I require that. I don't. In fact I would often give some money back as I didn't want people to pay me so much they could not afford to ever see me again. I'd hand back some cash and say "Put this towards you next visit." Then I'd have another client for life.

So I was thinking about this a lot and what I decided to do was just not have any fee at all. I told people to give me whatever they wanted, whatever they felt comfortable giving even if it was nothing. This isn't my j-o-b, this is who I am. No matter what they give me I am going to give them an amazing session. That's just how I'm hardwired. It's worked out amazingly well for me.

I can do this because I live a life of voluntary simplicity. I don't work for anybody, have very little overhead, no employees, don't take insurance, never bill and mainly because I don't really think too much about money. That bores me. I have actually made a lot of money doing this and I think it's probably due to the fact that I am not attached to making money. It's not my chief concern. My clients seem to appreciate this and I have never been taken advaneforum.xxxe of. Sure I've done a few free massages under this policy but I was glad to do them!

I see so much on this site about nitpick pricing for every second worked, every modality used and working over time limits and all. I honestly don't ever even think about these things. I just do what I do and everything works out great.

If anyone is interested I've averaged about $100.00 an hour over my career. I work about 20 to 25 hours a week. Best paying part time job I know of. This gives me time to play my harp and appear in my friends movies. Both also lucrative hobbies.

I also do the same as Bryan Kest (who someone mentioned in this thread and is one of my favorite yoga teachers.) I have a yoga class I put together that is a "Community Class- Donation Only" every Friday night in Studio City. I play the harp for the class while my yoga teacher leads the class. We split the cash at the end of the night and it's actually pretty lucrative too! Plus I snag a lot of new massage clients there.

I just thought I'd share a few things that have evolved in my practice. Creative pricing, marketing and networking have worked for me over the years. It's unconventional and not for everybody but maybe someone out there can relate.

 

[Hello K]

There is a new Community Acupuncture clinic in our town that operates on this system. I hope they do great! It's not for me but I like the energy generated - something new.

 

[Josie]

I know a guy who does bodywork sort of like this.

He has a sliding scale - which basically allows people to pay whatever they want for his services (he works out of his home so that he doesn't have an overhead or rent to pay).

The way it works is that he tells people in the paperwork they sign when they first come to him that, "Therapy like this with a massage therapist, chiropractor or physical therapist can run anywhere from $70-200 depending on where you go and what they do to you, with the average being around $80-100. That being said, I allow you to pay whatever you feel is approriate for the sort of work I do for you."

He said he has had people come in and pay $150 and some people come in and pay him only $10 or $20. He said that he does this because he understands that not everyone can afford this sort of work at its normal price and a lot of the people that need this work are the ones that can't pay for it.

patrick

 

[Mari C]

So I was thinking about this a lot and what I decided to do was just not have any fee at all. I told people to give me whatever they wanted, whatever they felt comfortable giving even if it was nothing.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea... wish I could do it.... right now my student loans and other past won't let me. :shock: Maybe someday......



This was an old thread we had a while back, regarding non-profit clinics... it may be of help to someone too:

Charging for Massage

 

[Andielep]

So I was thinking about this a lot and what I decided to do was just not have any fee at all. I told people to give me whatever they wanted, whatever they felt comfortable giving even if it was nothing.

ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea... wish I could do it.... right now my student loans and other past won't let me. :shock: Maybe someday......

pueppi- I forgot to mention that once I decided to do this I made MORE than I did with my set price fee. Don't forget it also gives people free reign to be generous. People like to be generous with no prodding. It makes them feel good about themselves.

 

[lolaloveschachi]

You know I really like this idea. I have a coue of clients that have stopped seeing me due to ecoonomic stress. Maybe I should contact them and work out an arrangement like this..

 

[svyatoslav]

You know I really like this idea. I have a coue of clients that have stopped seeing me due to ecoonomic stress. Maybe I should contact them and work out an arrangement like this..

That might work Premo, that's more in line with an actual sliding scale which can also be effective for some. For me personally I think I have found it to be most effective offering this across the board. It's more in the spirit of it and then your other clients would not feel slighted.

I know it's hard for many to free themselves up from the mindset we are used to in our way of doing business, but for the independent MT it can be a radical and effective means to pursuing what you love to do and doing it for all the right reasons. And as I have experienced it can be very fruitful financially too. It takes price right out of the conversation. This has an amazing psychological effect on your clients, your business and yourself.

 

[stupidone!]

I have been toying with the idea since I read the post a few days ago.
Right now my personal business is at a standstill (90% because I am on medical leave, 10% because of the economy)
Even before i went on leave, it was slow. So i have been picking up the slack working at 2 chrio offices (which I said I would only do until my business picked up....) and oncall for another company.

My dream is to just work for myself and the oncall co. But with the way my personal business is I have had to work for the 2 other companies. I make an hourly rate with the two chrio offices that would make me feel comfortable working on a sliding scale or by donation only.... (as in if i can make at least this much an hour I would be comfortable)

But the drawbacks I have come into so far are this~ 1. Will my current clients take advaneforum.xxxe of me. 2. will new clients see that I don't charge a set price and assume "you get what you pay for." 3. What happens if it doesn't work out? 4. Is it legal in my state to provide bodywork without having a set fee structure?

My hubby suggested promoting it as a "limited time only" thing to be able to try it out. That way if it doesn't seem to work I can go back to my regular fee schedule.
I am giving it some serious thought. Maybe the surgery was the kick in the pants I need to get on my own...

 

[to be continued ...]

But the drawbacks I have come into so far are this~ 1. Will my current clients take advaneforum.xxxe of me.

My experience has been that they do the opposite, they have "rewarded" me.

2. will new clients see that I don't charge a set price and assume "you get what you pay for."

I don't think so. Unlike some providers who have a set low fee what I do is just offer my services magnanimously without expectation. It's as if you offer extreme confidence in your work and this is what they pick up on.

3. What happens if it doesn't work out?

In the case that it doesn't you make adjustments. But my advice is to not let that even enter your thoughts. Consciousness creates form. Only do this if you are in the right frame of mind. That's a big part of it for me. I have never advertised, I don't have a web site, have never worked for anyone else (there is nothing anyone could do for me that I cannot do for myself so why offer a perceneforum.xxxe of my earnings) and have a really great attitude. I truly love this way of life. I am very comfortable and confident in my work and that draws people to me. It's an energetic component that is hard to describe but in my opinion is essential to success in this work.

4. Is it legal in my state to provide bodywork without having a set fee structure?

I don't see how it could be illegal but of course check your local requirements.

My hubby suggested promoting it as a "limited time only" thing to be able to try it out. That way if it doesn't seem to work I can go back to my regular fee schedule.

It's worth trying. I bet you'd be pleasantly surprised.

I am giving it some serious thought. Maybe the surgery was the kick in the pants I need to get on my own...

I hope you are recovering well. What better time to re-invent yourself.

 

[_Justified_]

Forewarning: I have the flu and am on some meds so I am trying to be as clear as possible but I may have to come back and edit later if some of my prose/ideas are hazy. My deepest apologies if this is not comprehensible.

Premo, I'm so glad you posted this. The same idea has been going through my head for a very long time and in the past 6 months everywhere I look there is encouragement to go to this system.

Like you, I wonder if I will be taken advaneforum.xxxe of. I want to attract people who truly want to make their health a priority but sincerely can't afford massage. In particular I'm thinking of my Oncology Massage training and how people who are in the process of treatment are usually strapped financially. I go around and around in my brain regarding marketing and I've come to the conclusion that it all comes down to your intent. There are no guarantees. It's an adventure and there is risk. As far as "getting what you pay for", I think the results will speak for themselves

Perhaps more marketing that focuses on your training? I have some extensive Lymphatic Drainage training and have built a bit of a reputation based on it. I also have Oncology Massage training which is rare in my area. I also teach at a local well-respected massage school which may give some creedence. I may make people more aware of these things so the people who might need these services could find me.

Also, perhaps you could begin doing treatment plans with people so there is a constant evaluation going on and you can refer out those who come to you and aren't seeing a change in their massage goals. This may help weed out some people. Maybe this can include a committment to a price they feel they can afford for the amount of sessions you feel they need to complete in order to reach their goals.

Perhaps elsewhere can shed some additional thoughts on this.

 

[fabiolapistola]

Those are really great and valuable ideas Vita!

Sorry you have the flu. Rest up!

 

[Davey]

i agree vita, thanks for the imput! and do get better soon!

 

[Jippee]

I'm with premo, this topic has struck a chord within me as well.

Elsewhere, I think I understand that you have both a location your clients come to and also travel out to some clients, right? Mostly, I am on the traveling out side of things with a few clients coming in to my studio. Do you find you are compensated (seems like a weird word in this conversation) just as well considering the driving time, etc. involved in outcall? I suspect your answer may be like "abundantly so"!
Would you mind telling us how a conversation about your fees goes when you have a new client, for instance? I really want to visualize and try this on.

How long have you done your practice this way, and what was it like in the beginning for you as you made the shift?

For many years I studied with a spiritual teacher who operated solely on a love-offering basis, so the concept is a little familiar to me.

As I was reading along here, I had the insight that setting a fee does state a particular value to my work, yet it also limits it as well, if that makes sense. Like I put a bit of a ceiling on myself. And if I was free to just do my thing with a client, trust their/my/our process without worrying "am I doing work good enough to justify my fee" blah blah blah, it could make room for magic.

Wow. You know the feeling when you suspect the universe just made a decision for you? Hmmm.

Anyway, thanks elsewhere for your help!

 

[AFR-CAM]

elsewhere, I think the fact that you don't advertise and are available by referral only is an important piece of how this works for you.

I can't imagine putting "pay what you wish" massage out there in public in my city and neighborhood lol. But I can imagine switching to referral only and (de)structuring the fee in the way you describe.

OMG, the referrals would be virulent!