Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

[letsJUMP!]

I did a corporate massage gig recently that was...weird. I was asked by a local chiropractor who offered me $10/massage hour (excluding lunch) to massage employees at a wellness fair, with the goal of getting them to book an appointment with the chiropractor and HIS massage therapist (who was not there). I was told not to hand out my own business cards, and if anyone wanted to schedule an appointment with me, I was to tell them to call the chiropractic office (who would try to get them to book with their massage therapist instead).

Personally, it felt very awkward and not totally on the up&up when these people, fully enjoying my massage, would ask me what days/hours I worked, if I did outcall, if they could have my card, etc. and I had to tell them no, be vague about it, or tell them they had to ask the chiropractor for my information. Basically, I was drumming up business for another massage therapist. Is this common?

 

[louis]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

No, most people would not have agreed to work for some one else (as opposed to promoting yourself) for such low pay.

It was not slavery as you did agree to the terms.

Better choice would have been to contact the organizers yourself for a space.

 

[Meshuggah]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

I did a corporate massage gig recently that was...weird. I was asked by a local chiropractor who offered me $10/massage hour (excluding lunch) to massage employees at a wellness fair, with the goal of getting them to book an appointment with the chiropractor and HIS massage therapist (who was not there). I was told not to hand out my own business cards, and if anyone wanted to schedule an appointment with me, I was to tell them to call the chiropractic office (who would try to get them to book with their massage therapist instead).

Personally, it felt very awkward and not totally on the up&up when these people, fully enjoying my massage, would ask me what days/hours I worked, if I did outcall, if they could have my card, etc. and I had to tell them no, be vague about it, or tell them they had to ask the chiropractor for my information. Basically, I was drumming up business for another massage therapist. Is this common?

Why would you agree to such an arrangement? I think that Squash_Blsm is right, I would have contacted the organizers myself!

 

[Lee333]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

I have worked lots of chair massage events for other people, but never for that low. I agree, it does feel a little odd when you have to continually explain that "we are a mobile service" and there is no guarantee they would get me next time.

Personally, I would not work for $10.00 per hour. In fact, I would find it hard not to laugh when offered!

Was it presented to you differently at the start? Was there some other benefit to you - freebies of some sort? The chiropractor is a relative?!

 

[Ashley J]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

Yeah, thats a pretty lousy deal!

I once had a Chiro offer me a job and when he showed me the Massage room there was a phone with a long cord hanging on the wall. Part of my job would be to answer the phone while performing massage!



Love the thread title!

 

[happygirl888]

Plumbing the depths of massage exploitation

He had a position open in his office, for which I applied. He hired someone else before I even met him, but he emailed me (among others) and said he regularly used LMTs from time to time for corporate chair massage events. He said it was a "quick way to earn some cash." Since $10/hr was better than $0/hr., I thought I would try it out. The reason I didn't contact the organizer myself is because we (the LMTs) were not told where we were going until we got there.

 

[AAinBoston]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

Yeah, thats a pretty lousy deal!

I once had a Chiro offer me a job and when he showed me the Massage room there was a phone with a long cord hanging on the wall. Part of my job would be to answer the phone while performing massage!

Vivian, that is hysterical. Do you know if anyone ever actually agreed to work for him?

 

[Stan]

Plumbing the depths of massage exploitation

He had a position open in his office, for which I applied. He hired someone else before I even met him, but he emailed me (among others) and said he regularly used LMTs from time to time for corporate chair massage events. He said it was a "quick way to earn some cash." Since $10/hr was better than $0/hr., I thought I would try it out. The reason I didn't contact the organizer myself is because we (the LMTs) were not told where we were going until we got there.

Well, live and learn, right? Hopefully you will not have to take a job like that again - especially since it has such negative feelings for you. I imagine that might come across during the work as well. Not the best foresight for that chiro either!

 

[itsme.green]

Plumbing the depths of massage exploitation

He had a position open in his office, for which I applied. He hired someone else before I even met him, but he emailed me (among others) and said he regularly used LMTs from time to time for corporate chair massage events. He said it was a "quick way to earn some cash." Since $10/hr was better than $0/hr., I thought I would try it out. The reason I didn't contact the organizer myself is because we (the LMTs) were not told where we were going until we got there.

And "using" those MTs is exactly what he is doing. A good lesson here is to make sure you don't undervalue your time when considering offers of work. NEVER do any work for a lower rate than you feel is acceptable. It's obvious here that you feel resentment over having worked for such a low rate, but you did have a choice therefore it's not "slavery."

Well, live and learn, right? Hopefully you will not have to take a job like that again - especially since it has such negative feelings for you. I imagine that might come across during the work as well. Not the best foresight for that chiro either!

I'm not sure why the chiro's foresight is being questioned. He got exactly what he wanted - CHEAP labor to promote his practice. I doubt the MT who works for him was unavailable that day, probably just UNWILLING to work for such a low wage.

 

[Negeshia]

Plumbing the depths of massage exploitation

I'm not sure why the chiro's foresight is being questioned. He got exactly what he wanted - CHEAP labor to promote his practice. I doubt the MT who works for him was unavailable that day, probably just UNWILLING to work for such a low wage.

I linked up the chiro's foresight because if he's hiring MTs that are either likely to feel resentful, or be so desperate to take a job at a compensation amount that isn't what is 'usual and customary' that their new hire might not do such a great job.

So they have these resentful/desperate MTs that are, for all intensive purposes acting as the DRAW to get more people in their business for more massage? Does not sound like a sound business plan to me. I would want to put my best foot forward in such a scenario!

 

[zoetodman]

Plumbing the depths of massage exploitation

I'm not sure why the chiro's foresight is being questioned. He got exactly what he wanted - CHEAP labor to promote his practice. I doubt the MT who works for him was unavailable that day, probably just UNWILLING to work for such a low wage.

I linked up the chiro's foresight because if he's hiring MTs that are either likely to feel resentful, or be so desperate to take a job at a compensation amount that isn't what is 'usual and customary' that their new hire might not do such a great job.

So they have these resentful/desperate MTs that are, for all intensive purposes acting as the DRAW to get more people in their business for more massage? Does not sound like a sound business plan to me. I would want to put my best foot forward in such a scenario!

Well, usually the MT is putting their best foot forward DURING the event; the negative feelings come later and the chiro is most likely unaware. There is a prevalent opinion out there that MTs make about $10/hour but we did that to ourselves. How many salons and spas pay that to their MT? TONS! As long as we (MTs) continue to accept such low paying work, that work will continue to be offered. If this chiro was unable to find ANYONE to accept $10/hr, he'd pay more.

 

[DierWriftex]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

I wouldn't do this job for such low pay, but it was obviously an interesting learning experience, and sometimes that is more valuable than other forms of compensation. You certainly learned some things, right?

 

[trillville]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

Nice sig, Jason. Yes, I did learn stuff, although I'm not quite sure what. I have since seen other ads for outcall massage jobs through chiro offices, paying $10/hr. I guess I was naive enough to think there'd be some way to get clients out of it somehow, since the pay was so low, or the chiro would see what great work I do, and would hire me for his office. ::sound of shattering illusions::

I guess they see people working for ME for $15, and think some will even go for $10, not counting that at places like ME, tips bring the rate up to $25-35/massage.

 

[fancy_argonaut]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

Yeah, thats a pretty lousy deal!

I once had a Chiro offer me a job and when he showed me the Massage room there was a phone with a long cord hanging on the wall. Part of my job would be to answer the phone while performing massage!

Vivian, that is hysterical. Do you know if anyone ever actually agreed to work for him?

I ran into that Chiro when i was green and fresh out of school. Eventually I ended up meeting several MT's that had worked for him, none for very long, and they had plenty of stories. The chief complaint was that he would barter the MT down on her price for a massage for one of his patients, right in front of the patient. So the MT would accept a discount fee over looking like a bad guy in front of clients.

 

[Heline B]

Plumbing the depths of massage slavery

[quote="Vivian"I ran into that Chiro when i was green and fresh out of school. Eventually I ended up meeting several MT's that had worked for him, none for very long, and they had plenty of stories. The chief complaint was that he would barter the MT down on her price for a massage for one of his patients, right in front of the patient. So the MT would accept a discount fee over looking like a bad guy in front of clients.[/quote]

That's almost like what one chiro I worked for wanted me to do. They wanted me to offer their clients a first time discount - I had no problems with that - then still expect me to pay the full amount of commission as if I hadn't given them the discount. So, I would end up losing money on the deal.