Dodgy Men Booking for massage...

[nickij]

Please help,

How do you guys deal with strange men booking massage appointments?
I work on my own upstairs in a lesiure centre and hate the thought of being alone with a potential weirdo.

When i first opened in april i was doing full body masage on both maes and females, but after one man pushing his luck i decided to only offer back, neck and shoulder massage to men...

now on monday another man came to book an appointment, originally wantint full body massage, but i tole him i only do back, he said that was fine and would still like to book.... he then started gettin really excited and fidgetty, its hard to describe but it made me feel very uncomfortable... but by then i'd already booked him in... i really dreaded this appointment all week and have just phoned and cancelled saying I'm ill.

I know this isnt the best way to handle it but I really don't know what to do... i can't tell him that i think he's a creep, he hasn't actually done anything wrong.

what would you do?

x x x

 

[jes]

Hi,

I know what you mean. Alarm bells always ring when a man, just, wants a speedo wax!

Anyhow, when an unknown man book in for waxing or massage I often, either, tell them our therapist 'Mark' normally does these treatments, but he's away for a couple of days and can they wait until next week for an appointment (even though we have no male therapists:lol. If their genuine they won't mind a male therapist or I simply insist that I have another member of staff with me for 'training purposes'

HTH
Jes

 

[collin]

If you,as you seem to be,are way outside of your comfort zone treating this guy then definitely don't do it and or get pestered into doing it.

There are many many good male customers but it only takes one jerk to completely shatter your confidence.

Fair or not to the male species it is important and prudent to stick with your gut instincts.

How to deal with canceling him..well you've already kind of done so on the pretence of being ill so the short term is sorted...if/when he rings back to try and book again...well maybe the best is simply to say sorry but no can do as fully booked so cant take on any new customers or appointments for the foreseeable future.

HTH :hug:

 

[oldgaltherapist]

Hi Nicki

Now this is a tough one and has just recently been discussed. I can understand why you felt the need to cancel, sometimes instinct is telling us to be careful.

Personally I would do the same as you - the reason being that I have now decided not to do male clients at all .......unless they have been recommended by a wife,friend, partner etc. This way they know I am genuine as I do them.

I recently innocently took on a client and was happy to do a full body but then he started to get rather excited and yes I know this happens but you do know when it is not right. I ignored it and at the end he apologised for his behaviour. He then rebooked within a couple of days, I thought ok, lets not tar him with that particular brush, I went to a lot of effort to use hot stones (I still can't believe my naivity at the situation) and concentrated on his legs as requested! Again he got excited, I ignored it! However, at the end as he left he apologised for his behaviour and then decided to go further to say that he felt frustrated..........! Alarm bells rang like mad.

I heard from him again and just informed him I would NOT be doing massage for him and he apologised for his behaviour and that it had not been his intention to upset me! Well if he knew why do it, it can be controlled as has been proved by my other male clients.

Nope, I am a believer in that you should trust YOUR instinct and go with what feels right for you! Do not beat yourself up with this, I am more than happy to lose 40 quid to not feel uncomfortable in my own home.

Take care

 

[FlawlessBeauty]

I totally agree with Collin. Go with your instincts.

A few salons i have worked in either required the men to be a relative or friend of an existing client, or to have some form of id.

I do treatments on men and don't have any requirements and they have all seemed to be ok. If they make me feel jittery, i either don't give an appointment, or give them one chance, with someone in the next room, just in case. I've never needed them though.