Howard, those were some great tips! I think that your advice on this subject applies to just about all Male Therapists in the profession.
......As for the GET A REAL JOB commentor.....As a rule, I generally don't like to approve comments without an authors name, however, given your past experiences, I could see why you might not.
Your stories belong in the Massage Horror Stories Section . I'll be making a copy, and transfering them over to the other section. Thank you for your input, whoever you are.
----Sean
Dec 22, 2008 Rating
Advice for Rodney & new male therapists by: Howard Northrup, LMT
If you're already doing the basic things you need to do when applying or interviewing for ANY job (e.g., having a professional appearance , being punctual, presenting an attitude of REALLY wanting the position, etc.), you may want to consider applying for a position at a more medical-type setting, where the gender of the therapist is not as much an issue.
For example, working at a chiropractor's office is a good entry level position for a male massage therapist because it's not a "spa-like" environment where approximately two-thirds of the public (males and females combined) will only see a female therapist. Plus, the type of work at a chiropractor's office will give you a great introduction to the many types of soft tissue problems that people have, so you'll learn the therapeutic techniques that you'll need to know to be successful down the road.
In my opinion, the key to being a successful male massage therapist is focusing on being the best therapeutic massage therapist you can be, not the best Swedish relaxation therapist--leave the fluffy massages to the female therapists, since that's the gender that the people looking for that type of massage prefer anyway! So if you didn't learn enough in massage school about using therapeutic techniques (e.g., trigger point therapy, myofascial release, muscle release technique, etc.), I'd recommend that you start taking classes on ones you're interested in as soon as possible. I've found the at-home video courses with instructor Sean Riehl to be excellent.
At the same time you're looking for a position as an employee or subcontractor, you could also be working on building your house call business. Most female therapists avoid offering house calls because of the potential danger of being alone at a home with a perverted male client who wanted more than just massage. We do have an advantage over female therapists in that respect--as a male therapist, I've never encountered that type of situation with any female house call client...and doubt I ever will!
Good luck!
Dec 22, 2008 Rating
Get a Real Job by: Anonymous
I have been a certified massage therapist for 20 years now. I was fired from my first massage job because two of my female co-workers said that when I looked at them ,it was as if I was undressing them with my eyes. They even waxed my eye brows to "lesson the intensity of my look". I tried sueing them in federal court because I thought it was sex discrimination. None of my co-workers were willing to testify against their boss.
My second job was in a spa. Many of the treatments I performed were in a vichy shower room. Both men and women got treatments from me. In most cases they wore nothing during the treatment. After a while they were required to wear desposable panties. After a year of good service and a really good following, I was fired because a client ( a female attorney ) complained that I saw her breasts. My boss fired me because the woman threatened to go public with her complaint. Even though my female co-workers were giving the same treatments for both men and women, I was the one that got fired. I didn't bother going to court because of my first experience. I decided to go into private practice.
Today I work 2 jobs during the day, and I schedule my massage appointments during the evening and on weekends. When it comes to massage ,it's a woman's world. If you can realize this early you won't be as disappointed. If your gay(not that there is anything wrong with that) you have a much better chance. Women like gay men. If you are straight and attractive, it doesn't matter what you say or think, in the minds of most women your a pig.
