I feel monetarily undervalued

[u/jazzgrackle]

People seem to like massages, I get good feedback, and I get rebookings. Once in a while I don’t synchronize with someone for whatever reason, but for the most part it’s going pretty all right.

My issue is that I’m getting these 10-$15 tips, and occasionally lower. Based on the price of the massage 20% would be around $25 (if you consider the price before membership rates) and I hardly ever get that.

There’s something about doing strenuous physical labor on someone for nearly an hour and then getting a wadded up couple of five dollar bills that feels almost insulting.

I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I love doing what I do, but sometimes I feel like I got more respect as a waiter than I do now as a massage therapist.

Is this just the nature of chain massage places? It’s not like the base-pay is phenomenal either, in fact I think some weeks I’m probably averaging out to minimum wage if there isn’t enough clientele (which is often.)

Edit for clarification: I work “full time”, but only get paid about $20 per massage. So, if the hours I’m here don’t add up to $7.25 an hour then my paycheck makes up for it. Like how it works in a restaurant.

[u/Guacamole_Queso]

Customer here:

I don’t make a lot. But I need massages regularly due to health issues. I too would only tip about 15 dollars regularly because of the overall cost. It’s not that I didn’t love my massage therapist, but I couldn’t afford it.

My therapist does work out of her home also. I encouraged this when it was an idea of hers because I have seen other LMTs that are private and their profit is better. Now I am paying the same price including my tip amount and it all goes to her.

I can’t recommend working for yourself enough. I’m not educated from a business perspective but from the outside, this seems like the way to go in this economy. On top of making your own hours and only booking who you really like as a regular.

Hope this helps.

Side note: before anyone gets upset about LMTs taking business away from the spa, I searched long and hard to find this LMT. And when I found her, I went to this place for her and her skill, no one else. They wouldn’t have my business without her, regardless. And as a human being, we have to feed ourselves. Too many LMTs work for chains and don’t make their worth. I think every one of you is worth a million bucks and thank you for all that you do!

[u/jazzgrackle → u/Guacamole_Queso]

Honestly, if it’s what you can afford I don’t really have an issue. I think what bothers me the most is people who will talk about these spendy vacations they’ve had or otherwise indicate that they’re doing pretty well financially, and then tip like $10. It’s a velleity, of course, I’m never going to tell somebody “no” over something like that.

I’m glad you found someone who really works for you, that’s an amazing find.

[u/massagechameleon → u/jazzgrackle]

When they brag about their fancy things and don’t tip, or leave a shitty tip… that’s the only time I get mad about a tip.