Think i had my first dodgy call?!

[SpaceInveighder]

Hi guys, just wanted a bit of moral support! Now there is no saying this person is dodgy other than the answers they gave me, but it kind of set the alarm bells off. Client phoned me last night and left a vague message with no name. I phoned them back and left a message today and they just contacted me. It was a male who wanted a full body massage, he wanted to know if i was available tonight, to which i sensibly replied no. I asked him if he had any areas of tension, such as tired muscles in the back, he kind of laughed and said no not really, he hadn't had a treatment before but was thinking of making it a regular thing. I told him my availability and he said he would give me a call next week to book something for next friday.

Its kind of frustrating as i have only just set up so don't have that radar as yet, but also am really wanting clients and don't want to miss out on what could be a nice down to earth client who has nothing untoward planned.

The joys of setting up in this kind of business i suppose, and i suppose its better to be safe than sorry, especially as i am a mobile service.

 

[? Mz Anonymous?]

Don't take it to serious
Let it flow on by
You will get this type of thing from time to time
Just put it behind you and move on

hermie

 

[RALLPAUMS]

what was he like on the phone? did he sound down to earth? your post sounds like you don't trust him....follow your instincts. the last thing you need is to be put in a situation with someone you don't trust.

 

[Ever James]

Well, if he phoned back next week i may feel differently, but from what i have read from other more experienced posters on here, usually the ones who want a different kind of service want to see you that day. Also when he phoned he left a very hurried message and didn't say what treatment he wanted just that he wanted to know when i was availalbe. Also most people when coming for massage are usually coming for some area of tension but when i suggested he start off with a back massage because he wanted to know if he could have a full body but in 30mins, he didn't seem keen on this.

If he phones back next week then fair play to him, but it just feels a bit odd at the mo as this is a whole new ball game for me. Thanks for your rapid responses though and your responses have put me a bit more at ease.

 

[Fallout]

if you wanted to seriously book a treatment would you leave a hurried message and ask what he asked etc.....just because he doesn't 'fit the profile' of being fake doesn't mean he isn't.... please err on the side of caution, especially as you are new to all this.

 

[ytoneyedwardss]

will keep your thoughts in mind, thanks beauty student.

 

[Wems]

It's always best to trust your instinct in these situations. If something's set alarm bells ringing with you then you're not going to be at ease anyway. Is it worth putting yourself through that stress?

 

[Terrel W]

I realise that you're still new to this and want to be cautious, but from what you've said I don't see anything that's ringing major alarm bells.

Speaking personally, I tend to want massage appointments at the last minute, and quite often will contact more than one therapist to see if I can get a massage the same evening. Does it make a difference that I'm female? I'm not sure. But I see nothing wrong with having a really busy/hard/stressful/tiring day and deciding that I want a massage that evening. Maybe we should give the benefit of the doubt that men may feel the same.

Also, you mentioned that most people have a particular area of tension, and hence their reason for wanting a massage. I have to disagree with that as a general statement. Many of my clients say that they just want a massage to make them feel better overall - rather than for a particular reason. And again, speaking personally, my own reasons for wanting a massage vary from needing energised to needing destressed. Yes, maybe my back will be sore too, or my shoulders, etc, but that may not be my overriding reason for booking a massage.

I think we as therapists are sometimes too fearful and suspicious of male clients, and as a result we are perpetuating the notion that massage is a seedy business.

I always state in my adverts what areas of the body I cover during the massage (basically everywhere except genitals), so on the rare occasion I get a call asking for something different I just pleasantly say "no". As long as you are firm and clear with the type of massage you provide I think there should be no problems.

Maybe I'm being naive. But I just feel it's time we stopped treating all male clents as potential perverts, when in actual fact most of them are perfectly lovely, normal human beings.

I wish you all the best getting your business off the ground.

Kitten
x

 

[Inzane]

I receive at least 2/3 per week asking for more than just a massage and I have been advertising as a Holistic Therapist for over 3 years, I just feel its a complete waste of time when dealing with these calls.

If people want more than a massage there are places to go so why target holistic therapists.

 

[Eames86]

While sensible to err on the side of caution, I agree with this post. On the odd occasion that I book a massage (admittedly I usually book IHM anyway), it's nearly always at the last minute due to having a stressful day or muscle tension. Having said that, I only book with therapists I know so I suppose "do you have any appointments today" isn't going to sound any warning bells when they know me anyway! However, I do feel there must be lots of other people out there who have had a bad day or have muscle tension and want the massage when they've thought of it.

Worth knowing if he wanted you to go to his house or a hotel, I would have thought that a large percentage of the "dodgy" clients would be the latter.

 

[Victoria T]

Thanks for everyones responses, its nice to see both sides of the argument.

As i said i don't know if this person was interested in anything dodgy and i feel better erring on the side of caution to an extent, but again like i said if the caller phones back next week to book something then i'm not saying i would turn them down.

However i would turn him down if he did what he did this week and call me up at 5pm to see if i was free within the next few hours, on that occassion i wasn't and would only tend to do that if it was someone i knew well or a good client. Not just because he is male but i personally feel it doesn't send out a good message about your business if you are instantaneously free! I did offer to pencil him in for a day this week and told him my availability with an appointment as early as monday, however he declined and said he would phone again next week.

He wanted me to go to his house, i didn't get as far as asking if anyone else would be home because thats when he moved onto wanting a treatment that night.

Who knows, i gave him the option to book in and good availability, just not immediately like he wanted, he may be dodgy or he may be a perfectly great guy, only time will tell! I will however let you know if he phones back.

Here's hoping the next time i get a call from someone goes a bit smoother!

 

[ILoveYou<3]

I am a "last minute booker"

I can phone looking for waxing same day and on Wednesday this week ran into an acquantences salon looking to get my eyebobs done as I was going to a networking thingy on the Thursday.

I have at least 5-6 last minute bookers coming to me as well. One is a therapist who does what I do and knows the score. She is also invariably late!!

Most guys who have came have been o.k. there has only ever been two have come in the past two years whi I felt were sus'.

Patchouli

 

[Tibiman]

Think I had my first dodgy client!!!
Need advise - do you think I acted correctly???? Am quite new to this.
Had a new male client today, took his details and medical history etc and everything was going ok until I got him on the couch. When I moved the towel down he had a pair of ladies cerise pants on. I carried on and completed the massage although he did keep pulling at the pants while I was massaging his quads which made me feel quite uncomfortable. Luckily I wasn't alone in the building! When the massage was over as I left the room he asked me if the underwear was a problem. I said no, not a problem and left him to dress. He came out and said he wouldn't come again because of this and I told him to forget about it and not be embarrassed. Was I right or should I have told him how I really felt?????? The pants weren't a problem - each to their own -and at no time did he ask for anything 'extra'.
All advise greatly received!
Pixie

 

[09CDsuzan]

I think he was hinting! that he wanted more but didnt dare to ask.Good job!

Amethystfairy

 

[Gina D]

Sounds like he was after a reaction and you didn't give the reaction he wanted, something like he either wanted you to comment in horror or comment on what nice underwear it was. You didn't give what he viewed as an appropriate response so he decided not to see you again. you've got to remember, people looking for something more than a massage aren't always after the generally understood type of extras. Some of them expect you to be a mind reader because they're too embarassed to tell you what they really want.

I think there was no problem with with your response. I probably would've done the same thing.

 

[notHonEndancy]

I've a question for the 'last minute' bookers, particularly Kitten34, do you just call random therapists at the last minute, or are you a regular where a business when try and fit you in last minute? If it is just calling random therapists that you've never been to before, what percentage can't fit you in that day? Are you after home vistis or do you go to the therapist?

There is a HUGE difference between an unknown last minute booker and a regular last minute booker. Regulars that book at the last minute, if they can be fitted in, that's OK, totally unknown caller from unknown source, possible concern. There is also a HUGE difference for mobile work - whatever is just a possible concern in a clinic is a BIG concern for mobile work.

I agree with andan that you don't want to be too available. It is difficult in the begining with no clients, it makes it really easy to drop everything for a a possible appointment, you're not busy, you go over time, all very casual, but if you're clients get used to that, they start to feel like they're missing out when you get busier and you start sticking to what they paid for and they have to plan ahead. I say get them used to it in the begining and that way they won't notice the difference when you're busier.

I've got a good client base where everyone knows they need to book 2-3weeks in advance, I see most of them every month, the regulars rebook when they see me, but they will also ring up at the last minute if something happens and see if I have any last minute availability. I like being able to plan my schedule in advance, and I think most of my clients like to do that too.

I think it's unlikely you'll hear from this guy again, and if you do it will be last minute again. If he does call up last minute next week, he is still unknown, I'd still be unavailable. One plus that he has, is you do have a phone number for him that works, often they won't leave a message, and will keep calling until the speak to someone.

 

[Fuzz]

I am a last minut booker in the same places...only two.

they know me well, just like I know mine

Patchouli

 

[Olivia D]

Cola, thanks for your post, which reflected some of what i was feeling.

Regarding this person, i initially felt strange about his as i didn't have a phone number for him as it came up as withheld, however because he had left a voice message, my phone was able to phone his back, but wouldn't give me the number.

So when i heard, phone number withheld, wanting full body massage, that evening, wanting to know if i gave the treatments, wanting to know if i came to his house, then it set alarm bells off for me, especially as a result of everything i had read on here regarding how to handle male clients.

I have had a bit more work since then, so not overly concerned either way.

 

[hareswar]

Did you ever hear back from him Andan? Withheld numbers always set alarm bells off for me!

 

[Shaner]

Hi curious george, as yet i have not heard back from him, however he did say he would phone towards the end of this week, sot i am still waiting to see!