Soon to relocate to AUSTIN

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Deborah Herriage on February 8, 2010 at 6:41am

Hi Joseph!

What relocation are you looking for advice for? Where to live or where to work? Check out the website for Massage Envy locations, and send them your resume. Then you might look for a place to live where you could work near a clinic of ME's. That is probably going to be the easiest and most expedient way for you to relocate. Once you are living and working here, then you can decide a different course of action, if necessary.

Permalink Reply by Joseph Williams on February 8, 2010 at 11:26am

Besides simply falling in-love with Austin while attending New Beginning and believing that Austin would be a bettter location for me as a massage therapist, ACC(north ridge & river side) has an associates program that I am highly interested in. So my relocation for the most part is based on my education. I am truly seeking advice on both living and working. My goal is to expand upon my experiences by working for a destination spa or resort, simply something different than what i have been. I am in no opposition to working for Massage Envy, so I really appreciate and agree that may be the easiest way for me to transition. Thank you so very much Deborah. If you have any more advice I would be greatful to hear from you again.

Deborah Herriage said:

Hi Joseph!

What relocation are you looking for advice for? Where to live or where to work? Check out the website for Massage Envy locations, and send them your resume. Then you might look for a place to live where you could work near a clinic of ME's. That is probably going to be the easiest and most expedient way for you to relocate. Once you are living and working here, then you can decide a different course of action, if necessary.

Permalink Reply by jesse crandell on February 9, 2010 at 6:15pm

Massage Envy pays their therapists $15/hr., and makes them supply their own linens (all the while touting about their "competitive pay structure" at job fairs), is what I've heard from my friends who work there (some of those friends have DECADES of experience and education!). This is an approach to business much like McDonald's, compromise your business ethic to undercut the market. I have turned down their job offer, as well as Massage Harmony and Massage Heights, the "Fast Food Massage Businesses" of the Austin Industry. And these are all businesses owned by massage therapists, who understand the value of our work. This equals exploitation.
These business owners know that there are good reasons why people pay $60-150/hr. for a quality massage... Because we work hard, on and off the table! Besides the physical, mental, and energetic (emotional? spiritual?) demands of the labor itself, we must maintain our credentials, license, insurance, continuing education, equipment, study, practice, self-care... My experience in seven years of professional massage therapy has been that I spend more time and energy on the unpaid end of my duties. Our hourly wage does not reflect the actual time we put into our work.
Another therapist told me recently the statistic for the average career-span of MT's is 5 yrs.! This is averaged in w/ all the folks who do it all their life, or for decades, which means many don't even last as long as the 5-year mark! This is either because therapists get burnt out (from too much wear and tear and/or poor body mechanics), or because they can't make it in our field (due to inadequate skills, employment motivation, job availability and demand, etc.).
You make a statement about the quality of your work by how much you charge, or how little you allow employers to pay you. That statement speaks to, imprints upon, and manifests to the payer and the payee- you!
And, the less you make = the more you have to work to make a living = the quicker you burn out. These employers are not supporting our profession by paying quality therapists too little... Or by hiring sub-par therapists for less, reducing the quality of the service clients receive, and lowering the public perception of the value of bodywork.
Plus, you have less pay to spend on continuing eduction, training, and quality bodywork for yourself, the keys to self-improvement as a MT.
It's the Wal-Mart effect in health and healing services. Given more availability, more and more folks can choose the "Extra Value" option over the more expensive, more credentialed therapists who know the value and quality of their work, won't compromise their values for a cheaper product, and don't undersell it.
Customers pay less + customers get what they give (less) + therapists give what they get (less) + lowered public perception of the value of bodywork= less $ going toward the profession of massage therapy> and back to the top- cyclical effect> customers pay less, etc...
It's the same concept as "buy local", "buy organic", "buy fair trade", "don't support sweat shops and slave labor", "don't support environmentally unsound resource consumption and production methods"... People vote with their dollar, not just by choosing what they consume for themselves, but by helping decide which services and businesses survive and prosper.
So, you want to support profiteers who cater economically to the public by taking the difference out of your wages? You want to make the statement to your employer, the public, and yourself, that you are worth $15/hr. in a market where people pay $60-150/hr.?
You make your own decision. We all decide the fate of ourselves and the world. But how long will you and the rest of us last working long and hard hours for $15/hr.? In my experience, you'd do better waiting tables, or delivering pizzas, financially, physically, and sustainably. Just my two cents. Thanks and praises, many blessings, love and gratitude,

Jesse Crandell, LMT, PNMT

Permalink Reply by Lynne Stiller on June 28, 2010 at 11:19pm

I'm a business owner in South Austin. If you are looking for work, check out local business & you may find one that fits what you are looking for. I got my first massage "job" renting space from a multi-disiplinary practice & later I worked at the corporate massage places (2 different companies). You may want to get a job first, I would recommend a Spa to help get you established, then get a "job" working for yourself at a place of your choice. Don't leave out Chiropractic offices, they can be good jobs, too.