Time Keeping for Massage

[OldPilot]

I believe that if you pay for an hour's massage then that is what you should receive - ie one hour of hands on treatment (assuming that you are running on time).

In my clinic I space out the appointments at 1hr 15min intervals to ensure that this is the case.

I'm curious to know how people operate when providing notional one hour massages on the hour.
Is it something along the lines of

eg 10.00 Welcome client and discuss client intake form/requirements for todays massage
10.05 Leave room for client to undress
10.07 Re-enter room and commence massage
10.53 Finish massage and leave room for client to dress
10.56 Brief discussion with client about the results of the massage
10.58 Prepare room for next client
11.00 Welcome client .....

or do you operate to a different timetable.

How do clients feel about only getting about 45 minutes of hands-on work?

Thanks in anticipation

 

[blues breaker]

I schedule 30 minutes between clients usually. If the client is a talker, an hour usually. I get stressed out when my clients are not running on time. I have two clients I schedule this way. One client has been coming in every two weeks for the last year, and the other just had his first appointment last week and rescheduled.

My clients would not like it if their hour sessions turned into 45 minutes. I would get super stressed if my clients were scheduled any tighter than what I do right now. I do my best to get everything put together so clients do not see a messy room.

If someone is running more than 10 minutes late and I still see them, I work on them as long as I can. which usually means they get about 5 minutes shaved off their appointments. So far, I have never had a compliant.

 

[Pyewacket]

my mobile practice offers 60 and 90 minute hands on service. you are getting the whole hour of work, unless you have been dilly-dallying. i give the client approximately 3-5 minutes grace time. if you make me wait for you to come to the table (after it is set-up) for more than 5 minutes, then time starts ticking.

when i was doing spa work, a 50 minute runs:
:58- :59 - get client to room
:00- :01 - start massage
:48- :51 - finish massage
:52- :53 - escort client to lockers/flip dirty linen/prep for next service

if i need to pee, you might get another minute shaved off your time! :twisted:

 

[heyyah123]

i don't have a set schedule. i book my 1 hour appts with 1 hour 30 mins, and so on for longer sessions. i don't want my clients to see each other when they come and go, i like to check in with them about their week, and i like a minute or two to return phone calls if there are any. i'm sure i lose the ability to book another or two appts, but not being rushed is far more important. i worked in a spa far too long with clients every hour and that time schedule doesn't work well for me. maybe if there were an assistant to change sheets and check client out, but there's only me.

good luck
amanda

 

[Goodness]

Livingwell's schedule is exactly the way I expect to do business as well. However, my problem is that I can't seem to get my massages down to 50 minutes, which is what our internship requires.

 

[Beckk3]

I think in a spa environment less than 60min of hands on work is the rule, similarly for chiro office, you're booking for appointment time, not treatment time, or at least that seems to be understood. Out in private practice, the one hour is one hour of hands on work seems to be the norm.

I think most clients seem to accept whichever way it is done. It's usually therapists that get upset about some people doing 50min massages for one hour appointments, not the actual clients.

 

[betty s/nikoly]

This is definitely a big issue. I prefer having time in between clients, because no matter how much time I leave for the person to get off the table and get dressed, I seem to be behind when I am back to back. And I really don't want to rush, it isn't fair for those that are waiting.

I have discussed it with my manager, to put 15 minutes in between clients, she said that was a good idea, but then never inforces it!!! And she does the booking!!!

At the spa where I used to work, the owner insisted that you give everyone a full hour, but she would book them on the hour. That used to bother me to no end because she would yell at me constantly that I gave them only 55 minutes!!!

I can't wait till I am on my own and do what ever I want with my clients!!! I do plan on leaving 30 minutes in between appointments so that I can cover all bases and not be stressed out.

 

[M D]

I work for a clinic that books on the hour. We have a sign in our lobby which states that a "professional" hour is 50-55 minutes. We've never had any clients complain, probably either because we do have it posted or because our price is competitive so it's still a good deal.

That said, I usually will only do two or possibly three clients back-to-back and then take an hour break so I have a little "wiggle" room if I do get behind.

Normally what we do is take the client back on the hour, allow 1-2 minutes to check in with the client and go over any problems they are having (most of my clients are regulars so for me sometimes this is done in less than a minute or even while they are on the table since I already know their history) allow 1-2 minutes for undressing, then 50-55 minutes hands on and then 2-3 minutes to redress and another minute for us to change the sheets.

We have a receptionist to take care of payment and rebooking so we don't have to do that.

Yes, it gets hectic. One of our therapists will do 6-9 clients back-to-back four days a week. I don't see how she does it (although it helps that she has her clients "trained" to get dressed and out of the room quickly.) I don't mind (and neither do my clients) being 5 minutes behind but anything more than that makes me very uncomfortable.

If I had my way, we'd allow 15 minutes between clients but most of the other therapists working there prefer it the way it is so I'm out-numbered.

Also, a lot of my clients book for 90 minutes so for them I can give a full 90 minutes and then have the rest of the time until the next hour as a break. That helps a lot!

Angie

 

[Ummar]

The spa here advertises 60 min sessions and states that the session time includes the time taken for preparation.

 

[Beckster]

I have been in my solo practice for three years. My average one-hour massage is actually about 50 minutes hands on. I allow the first 5 minutes to briefly chat with client (more time allowed for new clients) about their needs and to undress and settle in. At 5 minutes after the hour I am usually into my massage and complete 5 minutes before scheduled hour ends. I tell the client to take a few minutes to relax and breathe deeply and to rise SLOWLY from the table, get dressed and come on out. I then meet the client up front for rescheduling and explanation of further treatment options.

I used to put 15 minutes between each client. This was not enough time for me so I now put 30 minutes between each client. This allows me (especially as a solo therapist) to change linens and clean room. Record session notes and file. I also review records for my next client so I can be better prepared when they come in.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[Steve]

I work from home but I keep a similar schedule. 60 full minutes, if they aren't late, and 30 in between. I like to give my clients my full attention and have time to check calls, let the dog out, get a drink, let go of and get ready for the next client..yadda yadda.

I used to get massages from another therapist that worked from home, but she scheduled on the hour. Clients were overlapping all the time, and if she heard the next client pull in the driveway before she was finished, she would hurry to finish which ruined the massage, for me anyway.

I haven't received a massage from a spa in awhile, but most of my clients prefer therapists with their own offices.

wellnessgarden

 

[Allary]

I like to have 30min between each client as well so they can take the time they need. After running my own business for a couple years, it was hard to work for a spa and deal with the whole time issue. (Married and moved to another state). When I had my business, at first I would mark an hour but found that encouraged too many clients to sit and talk with me after their sessions when I wanted them to go home and relax. I don't mind hearing a little of what is going on with the client, but I don't want to hear about ALL their problems. So I went back to 30min.

Anyway, at this spa, after several unsuccessful attempts to explain to the receptionist and owner about the time between clients I needed, I finally took a black pen and marked it out after each client myself. A couple times doing that and now I always get my half hour.

 

[eloquent]

Thanks for all the responses - guess I'm glad to hear that respondees believe that an hour is an hour.
The intent of the post was to find out how people did operate in a spa type environment - I guess from the answers that people are generally ok that a one hour treatment=one hour of therapist time and not one hour of hands on.

Thanks

 

[Mizz G]

I always say the session is "up to 1 Hour long"
If I can, I will leave time between, but if I have say a 10.00 booking and a 12.00 then get a request for that morning, I will do a 11.00

 

[Steve-O In AZ]

Ooops, forgot to add in my post. I always give a full hour of 'hands-on'--unless the client is late, then it comes out of their hands on time.

 

[William R]

Always always always an hours worth of hands on for an hour massage.
Initial intake will be done the fifteen mintes before the first massage.
I always allow for 30 minutes between clients and will keep this in practice with the bigger place. I might seforum.xxxger the rooms, 3 starting on the hour, the others starting on the half.
We like to set ourselves apart from the regular healthcare workers....how many times have you described your work using the example"
when was the last time a doctor/chiro/pt gave you 60 minutes?".
With the half hour..there is always time for clients to understand "homework", to be shown proper stretching technique, to be given handouts, to rebook etc.
Let's not cheat our clients.
I also ALWAYS note what time it is...and even if everything winds up at 60 minutes on the dot..I will go a minute or two or five, over.....the client notices...believe me...and remembers...they weren't cheated....or better yet, given something extra.
I am NOT wanting to have any internet arguing with anyone if you do less than 60 minutes hands on.....it is something I, nor anyone working with/for me will do. If you do, hey, that's your thing and I do stand behind my remarks above....just am not beating you up about it...k?, k.

Robyn

PS
Even if a client doesn not feel "cheated", how wonderful for them to be talking to a friend about how long their massage is....when it is truly an hour. Happy client....more referrals.

 

[Sebastian]

Working for myself gives me the liberty to be as expansive or stingy with my hours as I choose. If someone is running late, I'm stingy and they get what's left of their time. And, the occasional really annoying client gets a clinical 50 minute hour just because..... If they are on time, then it's 55 mins hands on and 5-10 mins of get dressed, reschedule, chit chat, out the door. There is always a minimum of 1/2 hour between clients - EXCEPT for the husband and wife who always book back to back and understand that I'll be chatting w/ both of them between appts while changing sheets, collecting fees, rescheduling them, etc. We've worked that system out specifically for their needs and my sanity.....

Working from home, the 1/2 hour between gives me time to do any of the following wonderful things: throw the dogs outside for potty breaks, give me a chance to use the loo, start/finish a load of laundry, start dinner, eat lunch, return calls, etc......

 

[Henna]

Time Keeping for Massage

I believe that if you pay for an hour's massage then that is what you should receive - ie one hour of hands on treatment (assuming that you are running on time).

In my clinic I space out the appointments at 1hr 15min intervals to ensure that this is the case.

I'm curious to know how people operate when providing notional one hour massages on the hour.
Is it something along the lines of

eg 10.00 Welcome client and discuss client intake form/requirements for todays massage
10.05 Leave room for client to undress
10.07 Re-enter room and commence massage
10.53 Finish massage and leave room for client to dress
10.56 Brief discussion with client about the results of the massage
10.58 Prepare room for next client
11.00 Welcome client .....

or do you operate to a different timetable.

How do clients feel about only getting about 45 minutes of hands-on work?

Thanks in anticipation

I've filled in before for colleagues at a chiropractor's office and I have felt extremely uncomfortable attempting to give "one hour" massages to as many as five consecutive clients who are scheduled one after another at the top of each hour with no breaks. About the best I could ever manage was around 52 to at most 55 minutes of massage when the clients were scheduled back to back with no break in between.

If all the client is actually receiving is a 45 or 50 minute massage then I believe this is what the clinic needs to advertise. I primarily do outcalls and I only charge for the actual hands-on massage work that I do. When I receive calls from potential clients who are asking about my rates, I make sure that they know that a one hour massage from me is a full hour and that this is one of the many advaneforum.xxxes of receiving a "Nordic Touch" massage in their home.

 

[Glee]

Quality and Quantity go hand in hand

nybor7, I agree with you completely.
[We like to set ourselves apart from the regular healthcare workers....how many times have you described your work using the example" when was the last time a doctor/chiro/pt gave you 60 minutes?". ]
Exactly, who caters better than a MT?
[Let's not cheat our clients.
I also ALWAYS note what time it is...and even if everything winds up at 60 minutes on the dot..I will go a minute or two or five, over.....the client notices...believe me...and remembers...they weren't cheated....or better yet, given something extra. ]
I do this too, sometimes I feel like 60 min. isn't enough and giving them that little extra not only makes them feel good but makes me feel good, which gives me "a little extra" too.

 

[zonkers85]

When a client books a timed massage with me, be it 1 hour or more, they get that amount of time on the table. I also try my best to give them that, even if they happen to run late. Now, if they make it a habit to be late, then they may not get the whole hour - depending on my mood.

I schedule 1/2 hour between clients, and for my rush hour traffic times, I have an hour sitting in there when possible, because I know how our traffic is, and even when you do your best to leave way ahead of time, things don't always go as planned.

I am lucky, my clients are great, they rarely cancel and they rarely show up late. But I have that fudge time in there, just in case.