Sharing a room......sharing my table?

[shepherdschapel.com]

A former classmate and I just rented a room in an alternative healing office. We both have 2 days a week, alternating days. She doesnt have a table and I have a brand new one. I dont know how I feel about sharing my table. Do alot of people do this and feel its no big deal? What about when I want to bring it home to work on my husband? The person thats renting the room to us said its up to me, but I wanted to get some feed back. Am I being too *Royal* about it.....I mean, it is more wear and tear on my table.

thanks!

 

[xXBlackRoseXx]

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[adam_l38]

My first day at work, upon my first meeting of the cosmetologist, I knew she was a "you owe me" kind of person and the first thing she asked me after she said Hello was can I borrow your table for my facial clients. I nicely told her no that I hoped to be using it very often. I knew that no matter if I told her I had a client coming in, she would still be on my table telling us to 'wait'. No thanks. I'm in this to make it and someone not having a table was not going to slow me down. They have them at Sam's Club for $200 and they're not bad tables. Gratelakes had a good suggestion, but if you don't want to keep the money, maybe tell her you are holding that amount for her to buy her a table.

 

[meandmyspam]

I like Gratelake's rental idea. It makes perfect sense, really. You have a new table, and spent good money on it, and you want to take care of it. I would not offer to return the money, just because I think that could get into a discussion of why she/he should give it to you in the first place. Maybe a portion of the rental fee (a fourth or even half) could be refundable after a time, when she is buying her own table.

Or you could just say no because you plan on using it outside of the office.

 

[milfordbum]

One thing to consider is what a hassle it is to have to move your table every day. Believe me when I tell you that will get old fast! Especially since you have alternating days in the office. If it was me, and I didn't want to share my table, I would try and switch the schedule so you rent the room 2 days in a row & only have to set-up & break-down your table once per week.

 

[sammyy772]

While I do this it's fair for her to compensate you in some way for the use of your equipment, I would not personally be willing to fork over an addtional $30 a week to use somebody's table. That is an extra $120 a month!

Do you both pay the same amount in rent? She should be paying more, (she is in essence "getting more" out of the room by having a table provided). Then you get a reduced rent!

 

[Pompal 09.]

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[ABCtyle]

I am really disturbed about some of the comments here. Some do not have the means to buy a table, new or used, especially when first starting out. Not many of us have a "rich aunt or uncle" to borrow the money either. Gessika has a very nice idea. The other MT should be given the opportunity to be able to have some time to get a table. But with out having a table to use to be able to get clients, your rental agreement is down the chute. Just my two cents.

 

[jw2par]

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[molly_m]

I guess I never thought twice about this. When I had my room set up in a practice, we all shared our tables. We all pretty much went to school together, so it didn't seem like a big deal, and there were no problems.

I used fleece pads on the table, which reduces wear and tear on the surface of the table.

If you are concerned about damage, talk to her. Maybe have a little contract that if there is damage to the table she is liable for repairs.

Not to mention the fact everyone and their uncle has a credit card.

Just a side note, I didn't have a personal credit card until 6 months ago. I run an internet retail business too, and we have a number of customers with no credit cards.

 

[Craven]

I do agree that she should compensate you somehow for use of the equipment, which actually becomes part of the office once it is in there, and it is your risk. Because if you didn't have a table, neither one of you could have a practice. The other issue is, if you need to work on your husband, why doesn't he come to the office, that way you don't have to take it down. But yes, it does cause problems if you "need" to use it for other times, and that should be your perogative. Is she providing any of the other equipment besides lines for the office? It should be worth it to you in some way for her to share the space evenly with you.

 

[Simon C]

I didnt think of this b4, but Ive been working out of my home, on friends as well as my husband.......and not everyone will be able to come on the days/hours that Im going to be working. I dont want my husband to have to take time off of work to get a massage. Id rather give him the convenience of having a massage at home.

I did speak to my friend and she asked me if she could use my table just for the first month, after that she'll be caught up enough to buy her own. Im not worried about it, both of us wont have very many clients to start off with, she's my friend, and if its a matter of 2 or even 3 months, its not a big deal for me. She has limited funds, so Im not going to charge her and wouldnt feel right about it anyway. I did tell her it could be a potential conflict if I wanted to bring my table home to work on friends/family.

I was just wondering what other people did and if they shared tables where they worked.

 

[jacob]

so, my friend ended up backing out of the deal. (Not bc of me.)

So now Im sharing a room with another healer, not MT. I met with her the other day to discuss the room decor. she wants to bring in all her own artwork, a quilt for the wall to replace the beautiful silk hangings that are there, and some furniture she wants to bring in. (bookshelves, chairs table)

she also assumed she could use my table and was very surprised that I would be needing it in my off hours. she has a table, but it doesnt have a face cradle, so cant be used by me. she was not pleased at the idea of having to use her own table and take it down.

We left it that she would send me pictures of what she wanted to bring in to the space. I told her the only thing Id like to stay are the silk wall hangings, but she said the rod they were on wasnt "feng shui" and therefore not suitable for her.

how do I handle this diplomatically? We dont start until next month

 

[Chris L]

Do you have the option to say NO to this new person who is going to "share" your room? She doesn't sound like a very nice share-girl.

If you need your table for other gigs, you need your table. She shouldn't get bent out of shape about that OR about needing to remove hers from the space. Especially if it's part of the agreement. And "sharing" does not mean she gets to come in and change the whole decor. Is she really as uncooperative as she sounds?

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree with Breathe. This sounds like someone who wants her own room -- meaning she has complete control of it. However, she probably can't afford her own room, so she's trying to be "in charge" of the shared room instead. I think this is a situation where you need to be firm with your boundaries now, or you'll regret it later. I wouldn't worry about being diplomatic. In my experience, forceful people only hear you if you can be forceful in return.

 

[Ummar]

She wasnt pushy, she just went on and on. I felt kinda run over, as decor has been the absolute last thing on my mind regarding my new work space. (promotion has been my focus!) So bc I had no ideas, i think she just ran with it.

the office has a beautiful asian decor throughout that is awe inspiring and very restful. the thought of alot of bulky pieces of furniture and artwork that doesnt go with the flow, pains me.

I feel like Im being unreasonable about my table, or appear to be so. But as a new MT, I am going to be needing to promote myself in the off hours, which is not the case for the other practitioners in the office.

 

[.....]

I think youre right Bliss.

she is sending me photos of her stuff by email, so it'll be alot easier for me to say No. I also want to be fair too. just want to say it in a diplomatic way........

 

[babydoll]

Well, you could tell her exactly what you told us: that it hadn't occurred to you that she'd want to change the decor, so you weren't prepared for that conversation. Tell her you've now had time to think about it, and share your opinions.

Keep in mind that if you do share a room, that means you both will have to compromise. For example, if she thinks the rod for the silk hangings isn't feng shui, perhaps she could puchase a new rod, and the hangings will stay on the wall. She also might legitimately need some furniture for her healing practice, but clutter is NOT feng shui. Maybe you could speak to it from that perspective and ask what furniture she feels she can leave out of the room.

Sometimes email is easier than face-to-face confrontation. Good luck!

 

[Hey Arnold!]

Thanks Bliss, Ill keep you posted on what happens........

 

[feelingless]

UPDATE

Ugh, Im so irked. This woman just phoned me and basically wants me to compromise on everything. Then thru it in my face that Im not signing a year lease for a couple months (an agreement I have with the owner) so why is she discussing decor with me! I cant believe this. She actually threatened to NOT take the room bc she doesnt want to lug her table in and out, why cant I use her old table, why dont I change MY days to accomodate her so she only has to move her table once a week, and she doesnt want an asian decor (which is what it is now, and its an acupuncturist office) she has her own stuff........

I called the owner and she isnt around. Im so irked right now I cannot tell you! I cant even think straight.