The other day another one of my massage colleagues reported feeling unhappy about a massage and just laying there throughout it, while wishing the MT doing the work would do something differently. I asked the obvious question: Did you say anything during the massage? Answer: No, I didnt want to hurt their feelings. *sigh* Can you see why not saying anything DURING the massage is part of the problem? Do you understand why not ending a crappy massage early is part of the problem? Do you see why paying anything at all for a lousy massage is part of the problem? We are professionals who want other MTs to come UP to OUR standards. Why are we rewarding those who suck and not providing incentives (criticism, complaints, education, proactive feedback, diminished income, etc.) for them to improve? If you just dont go back, that tells them nothing at all. Lots of people dont return for lots of different reasons. Ignorant of what they did/do poorly, they just keep on doing it. If they work at a high-volume place, they may never have a financial incentive to improve, so why would they bother? Theyre busy anyway, right? Until we educate substandard MTs about their errors and how to improve, they will just keep on doing what they do. If we want to raise professional standards and protect the future of massage therapy, we need to stop being so damned worried about the feelings of the lousy MTs. Cripes, some of them are going to be the next generation of teachers... and teachers tend to pass their habits and preferences on to their students. The next time you get a massage, tell them in detail what you want before the massage. Tell them your preferences about communications. Tell them your expectations about draping various areas and what has worked well for you in the past. Tell them about health conditions, injuries, and habitual stuff that may be impacting your body. Tell them the things they should know so they cant plead ignorance later. During a crappy massage, tell them if you want a pressure/technique change. Tell them if you want them to finish their strokes, to slow down, to speed up, to stop talking, to check in with you more often, to back off on that sore spot, or whatever. If they creep you out, stop the session. If they dont listen to you, stop the session. If they just dont have the skills to do the work you want, stop the session. If you stop the session early, dont pay for it. If you already paid, ask for a refund. If you cant get a refund, get a voucher for a free massage with another MT. Absolutely, definitely complain to management so they know there are issues to be addressed. (As an owner/manager, I really, really appreciate this. Youd be doing me a favor!) Whatever you do, dont just lay there and wait for it to be over. Dont just pay and leave without saying a word. Dont leave a tip. Dont let them think everything is fine. If its not, you need to speak up, take action, and demand change... because not doing so will just encourage them to stay the same.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Nov 2013 19:46:45 +0000
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