Massage To Go

I figured I might also make some money in the process, so I called the number and scheduled an appointment to enroll.


It was pretty great and not all that hard, really. I’ve always been pretty good with my hands, so the mechanics of massage were easy to learn. The study of bones and muscles was harder, but I managed a decent grade. Only one thing was a disappointment – to learn massage, one must practice under the watchful eye of the instructor. My practice sessions seemed to always involve a hairy guy instead of a sensuous woman. At least they kept their clothes on.


The day we received our certifications, a dozen vendors were present with a nice lunch, free samples of massage oil, and displays of all the things I’d ever need to massage anybody. I bought a portable massage table, a massage chair, a few types of oil, some nice fluffy towels big enough to cover a person from head to toe, and a couple pads of standard release forms. I was in business.


Now, all I needed was some customers, preferably of the svelt, sexy, feminine variety. The Business Practices course I took as part of the certification requirements had some suggestions. They seemed not to work as well in real life as in the class. My newspaper ad yielded nothing except a couple hundred dollars to the paper’s advertising profits. I had business cards printed and distributed them to every health food and herbal remedy shop in the city. The print shop was happy. I was not.


I started to think about how I used to sell products to customers. After all, my newfound skill was a product, wasn’t it?


The hardest part about selling anything is getting your product in front of consumers so they can read about and try it. While walking through the mall one day when I had nothing better to do, I found my customers.


It wasn’t hard to talk Janey, the salon owner, into letting me set up a massage chair in the waiting area. I explained that I was just starting out, and would give her customers a short massage after they’d finished their appointment. There would be no cost to her other than the space I used, and we’d both benefit. I’d get my name and skills out in the world, and she’d have something she could advertise to bring in more customers. The short massage I gave her clinched the deal.


The second part of my plan was the gift cards I had printed up. Every customer likes the idea of a free sample, and my arrangement with the salon was for them to let each customer dig into a covered box and pull out a card. Most of the cards were my business cards, but there were also several gift cards for a free, at-home massage in the box.


It all went well from the first day. Most people like being touched, so even a poorly done back rub feels great. To get a massage on that one spot that’s been tense lately, and to have that massage done in the correct manner feels incredibly nice. I’d just ask a couple of questions like, "Has your neck felt tense lately?" or "I’ll bet carrying all those bags has your shoulders aching, doesn’t it?" They’d either say yes, or tell me their legs were stiff or some other complaint, and I’d spend five minutes making that go away.

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